Mens Top7 Trail Running Shoes 2015

Another year almost in the books!  One of my favorite things to write about is our year’s end #Top7 lists!

Click here for the Women’s list! Click here for the Top Brands of 2015!

Men’s #Top7 Trail Running Shoes 2015 (in terms of numbers sold; not including clearance shoes)

1. Altra Lone Peak 2.5 – Arriving at the end of June, these shoes flew off the shelf at torrid pace! Lighter and more flexible than its previous version. The only folks who weren’t pleased with this update were the widest of the wide, most high-volume feet.
2. Merrell All Out Peak – I feel slightly validated here, touting a shoe that was not really talked about much, and proving it could sell.  Awesome blend of cushion, fit, and amazing traction.
3. Pearl Izumi Trail N2 (v1 and v2 combined) – v1 and v2 were so similar. With substantial changes for 2016’s v3 coming in July, we’ll differentiate sales from v2 and v3 at the end of next year.
4. Altra Lone Peak 2 – If we combined the sales of the LP2.0 and LP2.5, they would have more than doubled the sales of the #2 Merrell Peak.
5. Pearl Izumi Trail M2 (v1 and v2 combined) – I’m afraid that the release of the Trail N3 (March 2016) will keep the M2 off this list next year.
6. Altra Superior 2.0 – The newer version of the Superior 2.0–let’s call it the Superior 2.16–will arrive soon.  It addresses the problems of tearing uppers.
7. Topo Runventure – A stellar first year shoe from Topo.  The width took some sales away from Altra loyalists and other wide-footed customers.

We carry so many models of trail shoes; I feel that this list represents the best of the best.

Two Lone Peak models made the Top7 in 2014, too.  The Altra Lone Peak franchise continues to distance themselves from everyone else.  In 2014 the Lone Peak 2.0 and 1.5 placed 4th and 6th and combined would have been our #1 shoe.  In 2015, the combined Lone Peak sales would have more than doubled the second place shoe!  The Altra Olympus dropped off the chart in 2015, but watch out: 2016 will be a banner year for the Olympus 2.0–which was totally redone including amazing Vibram MegaGrip traction.

Hoka dropped from the Top7 altogether.  Last year the Rapa Nui hung on for 7th place–then it was discontinued.  This year the Challenger ATR was close, finishing 8th.  The Challenger came to us in late March and went on clearance in October.  That was an appallingly short span.  REI received the Challenger in November 2014–nearly 5 months before us.  That undoubtedly effected the sales at our shop and all small running shops.  Hoka is catering to REI even though small shops like the Balanced Athlete gave the brand credibility.

At the end of 2014, we predicted the Challenger to be 3rd for 2015.  Other than that our #Prediction7 for 2015 was nearly spot on.  We picked the Lone Peak 2.5, Trail N2, Trail M2, Lone Peak 2.0, Topo Runventure, and Superior 2.0.  The only shoe we missed completely was the Merrell All Out Peak.  We had high hopes for it but did not think it would crack the Top7–a hard list to make!

Will our Prediction7 for 2016 live up to the hype?  I hope so, because we are really excited about all these shoes: 

Top7 Men’s Trail Running Shoes  2016 (Predicted)

1. Altra Lone Peak 3.0 (July) – The biggest no-brainer on the list due to our great sales history. v3.0 has stickier rubber and a more durable upper.
2. Pearl Izumi Trail N3 (March) – I think Pearl fans will have a hard time picking between Trail N3, Trail N2v3, and Trail M2v3.  N3 comes out first, so it will get a head start on sales. N3 is wider, too, which will help its sales.
3. Altra Olympus 2.0 (now) – Why isn’t Hoka on this Top7 list?  Because everyone will be picking the Olympus!
4. Altra Superior 2.16 (Jan) – As steady of a lightweight, minimal seller as there could in today’s Cushiony World.
5. Montrail Trans Alps (February) – The surprise of 2016 will come from Montrail.  It’s the most cushioned shoe they’ve ever produced!
6. Pearl Izumi Trail N2 v3 (July) – I’m hoping Trail N3 lovers will also by Trail N2v3’s for shorter runs.
7. Altra Lone Peak 2.5 (now) – We’ll sell a lot of these between now and July.

In the hunt:

• Merrell All Out Peak (now) – We dropped it from the Top7 because in 2015 it was the only shoe that served a nice middle ground between a “regular shoe” and a Hoka.  In 2016, the super cushy Trans Alps and Trail N3 will steal sales away from the Peak.
• Saucony Peregrine 6 Jan) – They should have changed the name of this shoe because it is nothing like it used to be–good for us because we haven’t sold it well historically.  More cushion and better tread!
• Salomon Sense Pro 2.0 (Feb) – The Sense Pro has always been close to our Top7; this could be the year it busts into it for good: softer heel cushioning and a better upper will surprise folks!
• Topo MT 2.0 (now) – These shoes have been selling well already and compete with Altra for wide-footed customers!  The softest, most cushioned Topo trail offering.
• Scott Kinabalu (Jan) – The Kinabalu used to be king, then it dropped off our Top7 with a thud in 2015.  It will be back with a vengeance in 2016 with a seamless upper.
• Salomon Wings Pro (Feb) – Not an S-lab shoe. Salomon is dialing in their uppers and making their shoes fit better for the US market.
• Montrail Fluid Flex FKT (Feb) They seemed to get the kinks out of the Flex ST’s fit and feel.
• Altra Lone Peak 3.0 Mid (July) We’ve never sold a boot; we’ve sold very few waterproof shoes…but if we can sell a waterproof boot well, it will be an Altra.
• New Balance Gobi (July) – The Road Zante gets a trail mate with the Gobi.  Feels great, but might be too narrow for most feet.
• Hoka Challenger ATR 2 (Feb) – The shoe is getting narrower, not the direction we hoped for.
• Hoka Speed Instinct (July) – This will be a nice snug fitting, high cushioned shoe for when the Sense Pro 2, Gobi, or Brooks Pure Grit aren’t enough protection.

Women’s analyis coming tomorrow.