Tell us about the job.
Choose daily training or race day, then describe your terrain and road-to-trail mix.
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Vert trail running tools
Find trail shoes that match your terrain and goals.
Use Vert’s trail running shoe finder to get three personalised matches based on your terrain, race goals and preferences.
TerrainRace distance & elevationRoad-to-trail mixYour preferences
A useful starting point
Start with the ground you run on—not a brand.
A shoe that feels right on smooth, dry local trails may be a poor fit for steep, wet or technical terrain. And the best choice for easy weekly miles is not always the shoe you want for a long race day.
The Shoe Matcher turns those trade-offs into a short, practical list. It does not replace trying shoes on; it gives you a smarter place to start.
Add the race details.
Distance, elevation gain and technicality help us prioritise grip, cushion and protection.
Get three ranked matches.
See terrain, cushioning, drop, weight and a clear reason each option fits your run.
Match the shoe to the job
What the tool considers.
Terrain & conditions
Soft, steep, technical or wet trails call for different grip and protection than a mostly road or hardpack route.
Distance & elevation
Longer races can change the balance between cushioning, durability and weight. Climbing and technicality matter too.
Your preferences
Weekly mileage plus preferences for stack, protection, minimalism or lightweight feel help fine-tune the match.
The trade-offs, in plain English
There is no universally “best” trail shoe.
Grip
More aggressive lugs help in mud, loose ground and technical terrain. They can feel unnecessary on smooth hardpack.
Cushion
More cushioning can be welcome on long days; a lower, firmer ride can feel more precise on technical trails.
Protection
Rock plates and sturdier uppers can matter on rocky trails, but they often add weight and change ground feel.
Drop & weight
These are personal trade-offs. A useful match reflects your running and preferences, not a single rule for everyone.
Choosing your first pair
New to trail running?
You may not need trail shoes for every first run on smooth dirt or gravel. But once grip, protection or durability becomes the limiting factor, it helps to choose for the trails you actually run.
Read the beginner trail-shoe guide →Use the matcher when you are ready to buy.
It will ask the questions a generic “best shoes” list cannot: your terrain, road-versus-trail mix, what you are training for and how much protection or cushioning you prefer.
Find my matches →Recommendations are a starting point. Always check fit and comfort before committing to a pair.
Questions, answered
Before you start.
Can I use road shoes for trail running?
For smooth dirt, gravel and well-groomed paths, road shoes can be enough at first. When grip, protection or durability becomes a real limitation, trail shoes are usually the better tool.
What matters most for technical or wet trails?
Grip, secure fit and protection usually become more important as terrain gets steeper, wetter, rockier or more technical. The matcher uses your terrain details to prioritise those trade-offs.
Can the tool help me choose shoes for an ultra?
Yes. Select race day and add the distance, elevation gain and technicality. The tool uses those inputs alongside your preferences to rank suitable options.
Does the Achilles question provide medical advice?
No. It is an optional preference input intended to help prioritise conservative shoe characteristics. It is not a diagnosis or a replacement for advice from a qualified clinician.
Vert your next trail run
Find the shoe that fits the run ahead.
Get three personalised trail-shoe matches based on your terrain, race goals and preferences.
Find my trail shoe matches →