Best Gravel Running Shoes (2026): Salomon, Adidas, Nike

HOKA’s max-stacked Rocket If you’re looking for a fast attacking shoe, this is it. They’re also great for all-around comfort. In testing, I strapped on the Rocket It provided efficiency and energy whether I was moving at a marathon pace or with heavy, tired, rough steps in the final miles.

The ultra-critical rocker midsole uses the most vibrant HOKA foam, similar to those you find in race-ready road shoes, as well as a carbon plate. This combines a really fun ride that is smooth, lively, fast and really stable. They’re also very padded, so you’ll be sacrificing a lot of ground feel for that springy softness. It is also less stable on very rough terrain. But on open, flat, mixed, runnable terrain, it’s excellent.

Lightweight uppers have a race-ready feel, and after running through ankle-deep lugs, They shed water very quickly. This is an expensive road-to-road shoe, it’s versatile and there’s plenty of winter road potential too.