Campman Outdoor Gear & Apparel

The best trail running shoe for summer 2026 depends on your terrain and goals. For wet alpine routes, the SCARPA Ribelle Run 2 GTX offers Gore-Tex waterproofing with technical mountain traction. For dry, rocky summer trails, the La Sportiva Bushido III delivers the stickiest grip in the category. For mixed terrain or long miles, the SCARPA Golden Gate ATR 2 and La Sportiva Prodigio Pro cover everyday and ultra distances. For race day, the SCARPA Spin Ultra 2 is built to go fast. SCARPA and La Sportiva have spent decades chasing this question through the Dolomites, the Alps, and mountain terrain across the globe. For Summer 2026, both brands updated their trail lineups with a collection that covers every kind of runner, every kind of terrain, and every kind of day. Here is how to find yours.

Quick-Reference: 2026 Trail Running Shoes by Use Case

Waterproof: SCARPA Ribelle Run 2 GTX

Snowmelt seeps across high alpine approaches well into June. Pacific Northwest trails stay soaked into July. If you run in places where dry conditions are the exception, a waterproof trail shoe is not a luxury. It is what keeps you moving when everyone else is squelching back to the trailhead.

The SCARPA Ribelle Run 2 GTX is built around a Gore-Tex Extended Comfort membrane that keeps water out without turning your foot into a steam room. The upper sheds moisture on contact rather than absorbing it, which matters on trails where you are brushing wet vegetation for miles. SCARPA’s Grip outsole and technical lug pattern deliver confident bite on wet rock and loose dirt without punishing you on hardpack. The midsole is firm and responsive. This is a precision mountain tool, not a marshmallow. Available in Men’s and Women’s.

Men’s

Women’s

Also Try: SCARPA Ribelle Run 2 (Non-Waterproof)

If your trails dry out by mid-morning or you are chasing desert singletrack, the non-waterproof Ribelle Run 2 earns more miles per season. You get the same traction and precise fit, better airflow, and a shoe that drains fast when you cross a creek. Same technical mountain DNA, just without the membrane. Available in Men’s and Women’s.

Men’s

Women’s

Dry Conditions: La Sportiva Bushido III

Ask any trail runner in the Southwest or the Sierra Nevada about their go-to summer shoe and the Bushido comes up again and again. That reputation is earned. The Bushido III carries La Sportiva’s FriXion XF outsole, one of the stickiest compounds in trail running, designed for dry rock and hardpacked dirt where conventional rubber tends to slip. The directional lug pattern channels grip up steep climbs and keeps your foot planted on technical descents. A rock plate protects your forefoot without killing ground feel, and the low-cut, breathable upper keeps things cool and mobile when the temps climb. The fit is foot-hugging and precise, exactly what you want when you are hopping across talus or picking a technical line at pace.

New this season: a Wide Men’s fit, making La Sportiva’s technical performance accessible for runners with broader forefeet who have historically had to compromise. Available in Men’s, Women’s, and Wide Men’s.

Men’s

Women’s

Wide Men’s

Hybrid: SCARPA Golden Gate ATR 2

Not every run fits neatly into a category. You leave the lot on gravel road, drop onto singletrack, cross a creek, and finish with a mile of pavement back to the car. The Golden Gate ATR 2 (ATR standing for All Terrain Running) was built for exactly that kind of day. The versatile lug pattern handles soft dirt, packed earth, gravel, and pavement without feeling awkward on any of them. The midsole offers more cushioning than a pure mountain shoe, making it comfortable across long efforts on varied terrain. It is the shoe you reach for when you do not know exactly what you are going to encounter, and do not want to think about it. Available in Men’s and Women’s.

Men’s

Women’s

Long Distance: La Sportiva Prodigio Pro

Around mile forty of a hundred-miler, your legs might still be holding and your nutrition might be dialed, but your feet are telling you a story you do not want to hear if you made the wrong shoe choice. The La Sportiva Prodigio Pro is built for exactly this scenario. The midsole stack is generous without going mushy, absorbing impact mile after mile while the rocker geometry keeps your stride efficient as form breaks down late in a big effort. The upper accounts for late-race swelling, staying comfortable across a full mountain day. If you are training for your first fifty-miler or just love long days in the mountains, this is the shoe to reach for. Available in Men’s and Women’s.

Men’s

Women’s

Race Day: SCARPA Spin Ultra 2

Race morning is different. The nerves are different, the effort is different, and the shoe needs to match. A race shoe is a commitment. You are trading some durability and versatility for speed, betting that the weight savings will show up in your time and how your legs feel at the finish.

The SCARPA Spin Ultra 2 is the lightest, most performance-focused shoe in this guide. The stripped-down engineered mesh upper wraps the foot precisely without extra material, and SCARPA’s DYNAMIC FIT system locks the midfoot down so there are no micro-movements over the course of a long, fast effort. The midsole is tuned for energy return rather than passive cushioning. There is enough stack to handle rocky trails over race distances, but propulsion is the goal. The outsole is aggressive enough for loose descents but efficient enough that you are not dragging weight uphill all day. The Spin Ultra 2 is not the shoe for a mellow long run. It is the shoe for when the clock is running and you need everything working in your favor. Available in Men’s and Women’s.

Men’s

Women’s

Finding Your Fit

Wet trails and alpine terrain call for the SCARPA Ribelle Run 2 GTX. Drier conditions and the same technical precision, reach for the SCARPA Ribelle Run 2. Rocky, sun-baked summer terrain belongs to the La Sportiva Bushido III, now available in a Wide Men’s fit. Mixed and unpredictable ground is where the SCARPA Golden Gate ATR 2 earns its keep, and the Golden Gate ATR 2 GTX adds waterproofing for exploratory days. Long miles and back-to-back big efforts call for the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, built to get you there in one piece. And when race day arrives, the SCARPA Spin Ultra 2 is how you show up ready.

Not sure which one fits your trails and your style? Reach out to the Campman team. We are happy to help you figure it out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best SCARPA trail running shoe for 2026?

The best SCARPA trail running shoe for 2026 depends on your conditions. For wet and alpine terrain, the Ribelle Run 2 GTX is the top choice, offering Gore-Tex waterproofing with technical mountain traction. For mixed and everyday trail running, the Golden Gate ATR 2 handles varied terrain with more cushioning. For race day, the Spin Ultra 2 is SCARPA’s lightest, most performance-focused option.

Is the La Sportiva Bushido III good for rocky trails?

Yes. The La Sportiva Bushido III is specifically designed for dry, rocky terrain. Its FriXion XF rubber outsole delivers some of the best grip on dry rock of any trail shoe in the category. The directional lug pattern and forefoot rock plate add protection and confidence on talus, hardpack, and technical descents. It is not the right shoe for wet trails or waterlogged conditions, where the Gore-Tex options perform better.

What trail shoe should I use for a 50-mile or 100-mile race?

For ultra distances, the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro is the strongest choice in this lineup. Its generous midsole stack absorbs sustained impact without losing responsiveness, and its rocker geometry keeps your stride efficient as fatigue sets in over the back half of a big effort. The upper is also designed to accommodate late-race foot swelling, which is a critical detail for races lasting many hours.

What is the difference between SCARPA and La Sportiva trail shoes?

Both SCARPA and La Sportiva are Italian mountain brands with deep roots in technical alpine terrain. SCARPA tends to prioritize waterproofing technology and all-terrain versatility, with models like the Ribelle Run 2 GTX and Golden Gate ATR 2 covering wet and mixed conditions well. La Sportiva leans into dry-condition grip and precision fit, with the Bushido III being a benchmark for dry-rock traction and the Prodigio Pro pushing into ultra-distance endurance. The best brand for you depends on where you run and what you ask from your shoes.

Does the La Sportiva Bushido III come in wide widths?

Yes. For Summer 2026, La Sportiva introduced a Wide Men’s fit for the Bushido III, which is a new addition to the lineup. This makes the Bushido’s technical dry-terrain performance available to runners with broader forefeet who previously found La Sportiva’s narrow fit a limiting factor. Women’s and standard Men’s fits remain available as well.