The best shoes for running on grass are trail runners. Trail runners are great for running on grass because they are made to be best for a wide variety of running surfaces. You might think that grass is one specific type of running surface but grass can be very diverse from one day to another and even from one stride to the next. It could be wet, dry, long, short, or sparse with dirt patches.
The most important characteristics to look for when running on grass:
- Traction – Grass is often wet an even when it seem dry, there is often condensation near the base of the blades.
- Waterproof – Keeping your feet dry while running in wet grass will increase your performance and keep you comfortable
Consider is how slippery grass can be when it is wet. Not only that but grass can be a bit muddy as well. So the best trail runners for grass are ones that excel in wet evironments. You want a shoe that has knobby tread with a lot of variation in its tread pattern and trail runners fit this bill to a tee.
What are the best shoes for running on grass?
1. Salomon Speedcross 6 Gore-Tex
Key Features
- Gore-Tex
- Weight: 328 grams
- Tread Depth: 5mm
- Drop: 10 mm
- Cushioning: Medium
- Shoe width: Standard
- $160
I love running in Salomon shoes because they are so comfortable. It almost feels like you aren’t wearing shoes at all but on top of that they perform flawlessly.
The traction is as good as you could hope for in grass, dirt, and mud. The fit is perfect, these shoes hug your feet and there is no looseness or shoe wiggle.
These are the best shoes for running on grass.
Pros
- Outstanding Comfort
- Durable – These shoes last a long time and don’t fall apart.
- Traction – These perform great in mud and wet surfaces.
- Gore-Tex – Keep your feet dry while running on wet grass.
Cons
- Not cheap: $160
2. Merrell MQM 3 Gore-Tex
Key Features
- Gore-Tex
- Weight: 640 grams
- Tread Depth: 5mm
- Drop: 6 mm
- Cushioning: Medium
- Shoe width: Narrow
- $150
The Merrell MQM 3 are a very comfortable shoe with fantastic traction. They do run a little narrow especially in the toes so you may want to get a half-size larger. These shoes are also waterproof and breathable.
These have a decent amount of cushion which helps maintain traction in uneven terrain as well as keeping your feet from wearing out.
MQM is a great all-around trail running shoe.
Pros
- Very comfortable.
- Waterproof and breathable.
- Great traction on mud and wet surfaces.
- Well constructed – Will not fall apart.
- Tread lasts a long time.
Cons
- A little heavy – 640 grams.
- Expensive – $150
3. Altra Lone Peak 7
Key Features
- Weight: 314 grams
- Drop: 0 mm
- Cushioning: Medium
- Shoe Width: Wide
- $150
Extremely comfortable shoes with the best traction of any shoes on this list.
The shape of Alta shoes are the truest to the actual shape of a human foot out of all of the running shoes I have ever worn.
This shoe has 0 drop which means there is no extra cushioning in the heel. Not great for people who land on their heels but if you stay off your heels when running, this is the option that you want. This shoe will convert you into an Altra fan.
These are the best trail running shoes but lack the waterproof that is needed for running in wet grass.
Pros
- Very comfortable. Truest fit of any on this list.
- Amazing Traction – Also the best on this list.
- O drop – Great for people who don’t land on their heels.
Cons
- Expensive – $150
- Not Waterproof.
4. Altra Superior 5
Key Features
- Weight: 251 grams
- Drop: 0 mm
- Cushioning: Low
- Shoe width: Standard
- $130
I love the minimalist style of the Altra Superior 5. Extremely lightweight, and minimal cushioning means that all these shoes are doing is protecting you from the elements and giving you a ton of traction, which is exactly what I look for in running shoes.
I also love that they have 0 drop. As someone who stays off of their heels when running the 0 drop mean that there is no extra material that I am not using anyway. These are my personal favorite, but I put them lower on the list because I know that minimalist shoes are not for everyone.
Altra makes the best running shoes and these are my personal favorite for running in grass.
Pros
- Very comfortable.
- Lightweight.
- Minimalist construction.
- 0 Drop – Great for people who do not run on their heels.
- Tread lasts a long time.
Cons
- Very little cushion.
- Traction is not great on wet surfaces.
- Not Waterproof
5. WHITIN Men’s Minimalist Trail Runner
Key Features
- Wide toe box.
- Drop – 0 mm
- Cushioning: Low
- Shoe Width: Wide
- $45
It’s hard to find a good pair of trail runners at a decent price but these Whitin’s are really good shoes at a fantastic price.
These are extremely minimalist shoes with 0 drop and almost no cushioning. They are however quite comfortable and of a lot of traction as well as protection from uneven ground. The build is very minimal on the top but the sole is quite sturdy.
Pros
- Price – $45
- Very comfortable.
- Lightweight.
- Minimalist construction.
- 0 Drop – Great for people who do not run on their heels.
- Tread lasts a long time.
Cons
- Very little cushion.
- Not Waterproof