Best Trail Running Shoe Under $180

The best high-performance trail running shoe under $180 for everyday trails.

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Ideal for runners wanting premium trail capability without flagship pricing.

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Inputs cover primary terrain, cushion level, foot type, drop, and waterproof to find high-value trail shoes with reliable grip and durability. These ensure the recommendation offers solid performance for everyday training. Limitation: under $180, carbon plates and exotic foams are unavailable.

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Best Trail Shoe Recommendation

For the selected terrain and requirements (muddy, moderate, neutral, 4-8mm drop, Gore-Tex), here’s the top recommendation:

1. Hoka One One Speedgoat 4 GTX

• Price: $180
• Stack Height: 32mm (heel) / 28mm (forefoot)
• Why it's Reliable: The Speedgoat 4 GTX excels in muddy conditions due to its aggressive Vibram outsole that provides exceptional traction. The Gore-Tex upper ensures your feet stay dry while maintaining breathability. Its cushioned midsole offers comfort for long distances, making it a great choice for varied terrains.

Runner-Ups

2. Salomon Sense Ride 4 GTX

• Price: $160
• Stack Height: 28mm (heel) / 24mm (forefoot)
• Why it's Reliable: The Sense Ride 4 GTX features a versatile design that balances cushioning and ground feel, making it ideal for moderate terrain. The Contagrip outsole provides excellent grip on wet and muddy surfaces, while the Gore-Tex lining keeps your feet dry.

3. Brooks Cascadia 16 GTX

• Price: $160
• Stack Height: 29mm (heel) / 21mm (forefoot)
• Why it's Reliable: The Cascadia 16 GTX offers a stable ride with a versatile outsole that adapts well to varying terrains. Its BioMoGo DNA midsole provides adaptive cushioning, while the Gore-Tex upper keeps your feet protected from the elements.

Brought to you by TheToolCollective.com

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The Tool Collective are a group of diverse and talented hobbyists on a mission to create thousands of ultra specific, and helpful decision making tools that help others who share our passions and interests. Whether they help with buying decisions, or give you expert level advice for techniques or methods, we will make it. Outdoor sports and recreation is where our tools shine. On top of that we are all die hard fitness gurus. We rarely go a day without hitting the gym or going for long runs. In general, we favor running outdoors as opposed to treadmills and find ourselves running our local trails frequently. Trail running is far different and much more intensive and requires precise shoe choice and gear to help you remain safe and protect yourself from injury. We made a big batch of tools specifically for trail running so other people like us can find the perfect pair of shoes for their trails and running style, as well as get good recommendations for gear and accessories. Enjoy!

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Made with The Tool Collective's signature model. We combine an AI engine which process the user's input choices and runs it through our specifically designed logic and reasoning parameters for that tool to curate a precise and organized output. An enthusiast knowledgeable in the tool category designs the tools inputs and input choices, writes custom logic parameters, and defines the output format and requirements. The AI engine powers the system and creates a lightning fast, highly intelligent decision tool, which is always up-to-date with current pricing and publicly available information on whatever the tool is designed for. Combines all of the internets resources into one.

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