Best Shoes with Traction – 2021 Guide
Travis Rys 
Ana Whether you’re camping, hiking, running, or more, it’s always a good idea to have a pair of shoes with excellent traction for maximized versatility as well as safety to prevent any slipping and sliding.
To select the shoe that’s best for you, it’s recommended you choose according to what type of terrain you’ll be running on. Types include hard surfaces, soft surfaces, and the road to trail.
Additionally, we’ve featured plenty of all-terrain options if you plan on doing a bit of everything!
In a Hurry? The test winner after 18 hrs of research
Secure fit
Contragrip outsole
Aggressive traction
Wide range of colors
10 Best Shoes With Traction Reviews
1. Salomon SpeedCross 5
Secure fit
Contragrip outsole
Aggressive traction
Wide range of colors
Inconsistent sizing
Salomon makes a wide variety of shoes, from tanky hiking boots to lightweight running sneakers. The SpeedCross 5 falls somewhere in between these two sides of the spectrum.
They feature a rugged outsole with aggressive treading, without it negatively impacting the overall weight of the shoe.
Contragrip is a material unique to Salomon and makes up a good portion of the traction on the outsole. This traction system is made with soft ground in mind, sporting arrow-shaped lugs that are evenly spaced out from one another.
This traction system gives you the upper hand on any kind of terrain, as these aggressive lugs are designed to penetrate and hold onto soft terrain.
2. ASICS GEL-Venture 7
Gel cushioning
Durable synthetic
Removable sockliner
Stitched down toe box
Treaded rubber outsole
Minimal padding
The new and improved Venture 7 comes with a midsole and upper that has been completely redesigned. With comfort that absorbs shock, you can complete any trail with confidence. The outsole is rugged with multi-directional lugs for traction that'll boost any run you partake in. Also, the toe bumper is stitched down for a smart fit and the durable materials (synthetic) provide protection and comfort.
The cushioning system of the Venture 7 is constructed with a gel and is placed in the rear foot. This helps to reduce and evenly spread any shock received from an impact. You'll have a transition to midstance that is smooth.
The sockliner is in place to give you a soft fit that conforms to your feet. However, you may need a little more. Therefore, the liner is removable allowing you to use any line of your choosing. Medical orthotics are great to use in the Venture 7 running shoes with grip.
To top it off, it falls on the lower end of pricing which is great for runners on a budget or beginning runners. The features, while very basic, are not low in quality and will give you what you need for a great traction run.
3. Scarpa Mojito
Waterproof
UltrATAC rubber outsole
Good looking design
Reliable & durable
Wielded TPU-support
Expensive
Not all grippy shoes need to be trail runners or hiking shoes. The Scarpa Mojito is a prime example of engineering at its best to keep you firmly planted on the ground, but with a better casual appeal to design. With its support technology and Vibram quality sole, this sneaker style shoe will have you stepping out to tackle urban and outdoor terrain alike.
Inspired by outdoor design elements, the uppers of the Mojito are a softer leather, durable, and rich looking in appeal. What we really like about this design is how the lace-up vamp goes from the toes instead of mid-foot, all the way to the collar by the ankle.
Inside the Mojito is a reinforced arch to help support and absorb shock, along with a foam cushioning created from dual-density EVA. Each step will be supported, cushioned, and easy. The base of the shoe sports a Vibram Spyder sole, and a lugged pattern sole for gravel or slippery surfaces.
Quality stitching holds it all together along with Italian craftsmanship from a long history of top shoe makers. Top it off with a padded tongue and collar for comfort, and this pair is ready for your next adventure!
4. Salewa Wildfire
Toe guard
Rock stop plate
Lightweight
All-terrain
All skill levels
Lack of color options
Runs small
This hiking boot has a few quirky and functional design elements that not only make it rugged for an outdoor adventure but also keep you upright on steep slopes or slippery terrain. Packed full of Salewa technology, this boot can take a beating from terrain that threatens to slow you down. And if support or stability were a past issue for your boots, the Wildfire has EXA Shell technology to better support lateral stability and keep you secure and safe!
Built for the adventurer in mind, the Wildfire has superior technology to harness the elements encountered in nature. The outsole not only encompasses the boot but extends to the toe for superior grip against scrambles and climbing you encounter along the way. The sole also has a lug pattern tread for gripping terrain in wet or rocky conditions. With this pair of boots, no obstacle is insurmountable!
The uppers of the Wildfire utilize a mesh and EXA Shell that make it breathable but with firm support, sure to keep you going when fatigue sets in. An Ortholite footbed allows for cushioned comfort and support during your adventures, and patented 3F System allows for flexibility where you need it most.
For the adventurers out there, this is a boot you need to consider for your next pair when hitting trekking in more remote locations of the world!
5. Salomon Sense Pro 4
Contragrip traction system
Injected EVA midsole
Endofit sockliner
Lightweight design
Extensive break-in needed
Featuring a Contragrip traction system and injected EVA midsole, the Salomon Sense Pro 4 is built with traction and support at the forefront. The synthetic and mesh upper is both flexible and breathable, while the Endofit internal sockliner hugs your feet for a secure fit overall. Coming in at about 11oz per shoe (assuming a size 12) these are about average in terms of weight.
EVA foam is the most common material used in insoles, and an injected form of this is used in the Sense Pro 4. Injected EVA is molded and can contour better to the shape of the shoe, increasing the amount of support it can provide.
This midsole also helps to provide some more protection on flat ground, so that the Contragrip system feels less like cleats and more like a running shoe. The Contragrip system used in the Sense Pro 4 is designed with not only soft and uneven terrain in mind but also wet conditions.
The rubber stays tacky and grippy even in the rain, and the lugs are spaced in a manner that prevents mud and dirt from building up on the outsole.
6. Saucony Peregrine 11
Stable lock-in
Underfoot padding
Lightweight & durable
Porous, breathable upper
Cushioning recovers easily
Liquids easily enter
Treading catches in carpet
The Peregrine 11 always pops up on our lists because it’s one of the top shoes available. Constructed with traction in mind, the outsole is a PWRTRAC for traction that is dialed in allowing you to conquer all kinds of terrain available. Also, the EVERUN topsole gives you non-stop cushioning, supreme comfort, and top energy return with every step in your run. Traction plus comfort? Your run will never be the same again.
These good grip shoes are all about power and the PWRFOAM is a full-length midsole to give you a smoother ride with an additional rebound. In reality, the midsole is nothing more than a specialized EVA foam that is high quality. You’ll have awesome durability too.
The PWRTRAC is made for you to grip all kinds of surfaces. From smooth and flat to rough and uneven. Even just taking a look at the traction on the outsole shows that the Peregrine 11 means business when it comes to grip.
The price is just right for the serious runner in you, not too low, nor too expensive. Due to the intense focus the Peregrine 11 has when it comes to traction, you might be disappointed in purchasing any other shoe based on price alone.
7. Inov-8 X-Talon 210
Reliable
Great traction
Durable
7 ounces
Breathable mesh
Sand & dirt get into the shoe easily
Inov-8 is a British company based in "England's Last Wilderness" that strives to create light and flexible shoes in order to create the best running experience possible. The X-Talon 210's are a staple in the running world as they are a popular choice among those in Spartan Races due to their unmatched traction and fantastic build, weighing in at just 7 Ounces.
As mentioned in the introduction, the traction on the X-Talon 210's is quite good. This is due to the 8mm sticky rubber studs that claw through soft terrain and hold firmly onto the harder ground, making this a perfect choice for all-terrain running.
The low weight of the X-Talon's compliments the natural movement of the foot, as well as prevents excessive fatigue when exercising for long periods of time, a great feature adding to the overall versatility of the shoe.
Although the X-Talon 210's are a bit more on the expensive side, it's no question why they're so popular among those participating in triathlons due to their fantastic traction and lightweight build. If you need something reliable that works fantastic on off-trail running, mountain running, or obstacle racing, these traction shoes are a great choice.
8. Icebug Pytho5
Reinforced heel And toe sections
BUGrip treading
Ripstop nylon upper
Water resistant
Extended break-in required
The latest iteration in one of Icebug's best-selling product lines, the Pytho5 features their signature BUGrip tread to ensure maximum traction. The ripstop nylon has been treated to be resistant to water, while the toe and heels sections are reinforced for extra durability and safety.
The BUGrip tread is probably one of the most well-known things about Icebug shoes. This specialized tread is made up of a series of either metal or rubber spikes spread strategically over the outsole's lugs. In the case of the Phyto3, rubber was used for these spikes. This tread system is designed to give you maximum traction on even some of the more technical trails, without compromising the flexibility you expect out of a running shoe.
Whether it's compression in the sole or damage to the upper, wear and tear is just a fact of life when it comes to shoes. While every shoe is going to break down eventually, some products have certain features to slow the process of them wearing down.
The heel counter and toe section on the Pytho3 high traction shoes have been reinforced with polyurethane, which is a rubberized material that is also often used in the outsole of a shoe. This can significantly improve the overall durability of the shoe.
9. Salomon X Ultra 3
Sensifit technology
Contragrip traction system
EVA midsole
PU chassis
Heavy
Yet another Salomon product on our list, the X Ultra 3 takes the best features from their signature tanky hiking boots and their lightweight sneakers and puts them into a durable and supportive hiking shoe. The Contragip traction that is present in many Salomon shoes provides the traction you need for even the more technical trails, while the Sensifit technology ensures a secure and customized fit.
Contragrip is a technology that is present in a lot of Salomon shoes. This isn't a surprise, considering how well it performs. Contragrip is made up of multidirectional and geometrically-shaped lugs that "bite" into the ground beneath you, giving you stable footing.
Sometimes you want a hiking shoe that doesn't necessarily scream "Hey! Look at me! I'm a hiking shoe!" While function is more important than form in the case of traction, the form is still something that should be considered.
The X Ultra 3 features a more sneaker-like style, giving these trainers with good grip a clean look. After all, you're far less likely to wear a shoe if you don't like how it looks.
10. La Sportiva Wildcat 3
Lightweight mesh
Shock absorbing
Well cushioned
Ankle support
Great for trails & offroad
Lack of colors
Expensive
La Sportiva shoes are known to be fantastic trailing shoes and the Wildcat's are no exception. With the inclusion of well-cushioned inner soles, great ankle support, and vented mesh, it's no question why the Wildcat's are so popular among avid trailers.
The soles of the La Sportiva Wildcat's feature Grippy FriXion Technology that provides fantastic traction on uneven terrain. Additionally, the outsole bites into the trail and allows you to trek through areas which you wouldn't normally be able to with regular shoes.
In addition, the mesh uppers work to keep your feet cool as well as wick moisture while out on the trails. The mesh also works to prevent blisters without adding extra weight, overall keeping the entirety of these grippy shoes nice and light.
La Sportiva shoes are most likely going to be some of the more expensive shoes available on the market, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Quality materials are utilized in the Wildcat's making them a great long-term investment if you ever wanna do some serious trailing. With the addition of great traction control as well as high quality and lightweight materials, the Wildcat's are a great option for beginners as well as more experienced trailers.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Materials
The modern running shoe is composed of the upper, midsole, and outer sole. Obviously, when choosing the best shoes with traction currently available, a lot more goes into the shoe than just quality traction control.
To create an efficient running shoe, the entirety of the shoe has to be high quality. This is circular logic because one part of a shoe can’t be composed of quality materials while others aren’t. The shoe as a whole would suffer is this was such. Below are the parts of each running shoe and the materials utilized for each one:
Outsole:
In terms of this particular buying guide, the outer sole is the real meat of the shoes we’ll be looking at. The modern running shoes in pretension to the bottom soles feature treads for traction and flex for protection from trails and road debris.
Blown Rubber: Cushioned, light, and flexible
Carbon Rubber: More durable than blown rubber and a combination of both materials are used in the outer sole.
Upper:
The uppers of the running shoe hold the foot in place while providing stability and protection from rocks and other debris. Usually composed of leathers, reflective materials, and mesh.
Midsole:
The midsole is considered by many the most important part of the shoe and is composed of three different sub-materials that each has its own function.
Style
The tread on the bottom of different running shoes is normally tailored to do different jobs. A wide variety of shoes with good traction gives the buyer lots of options to choose from depending on what they’re going to use the shoe for. These can include trail, road, and obstacle running and of course shoes that are good at all three; shoe examples of each category will be listed below.
Road Shoes:
Road shoes are your city running shoes, what you’ll use when roaming the streets. A typical road shoe will be well cushioned and will include treads that support the foot as running on asphalt is quite stressful. Examples include the Men’s Sense Pro by Salomon and the Gel Venture 7’s by ASICS.
Trail Shoes:
Trailing shoes are for mountain running and other such nature-type terrain. Typically trailing shoes will include added protection such as some sort of rock plate, and treads suitable for dirt, mud, grass, rocks, etc. Examples include the Peregrine 11 by Saucony, the X-Talon 210 by Inov-8, and the Wildcat by La Sportiva.
Obstacle Shoes:
Obstacle running has risen in popularity recently due to Spartan races becoming more and more prominent in the world of athletics. Obstacle courses typically include a mud run, rope course, and other various obstacles usually constructed from wood. Shoes suitable for this type of running have to fit tightly and have enough traction to support a multitude of different obstacles. Examples include the X-Talon 210 by Inov-8 and the Peregrine 11 by Saucony.
Traction
A really important feature you want in a running shoe is traction; the ability to grip the surface we’re running on. The driest, warmest, most supportive shoe won’t ultimately help you run in winter or slippery conditions if it isn’t able to stand up to harsh, often slick terrain. So, before you look for any other features in the running shoe, make sure the shoe you’re buying has good traction.
Because you’ll be running in grippy shoes, you don’t need to consider buying crampons or shoe spikes and attaching them to your regular running shoes.
You’ll usually be running on sidewalks or roads, so you won’t need to look for shoes with spikes or cleats either. A shoe with soles that have ample grip will be sufficient for giving you the control you need when you’re running on a cold or icy surface.
Breathability
This applies to train and boot camp, but it can also be applied to all other types of workouts, physical activity, or sports. The right pair of footwear must provide sufficient ventilation for your feet to breathe.
The most obvious benefit is the reduction in unpleasant odor (we all know that moment when you come home from a long day, slip them off, and catch a whiff… mhm, home sweet home.). But apart from that, there’s also the decrease in moisture and the reduced risk of harmful bacteria growing on the nice comfortable insole of your shoes.
The best material to provide breathability is mesh. Mesh is a type of synthetic material that is very light and flexible. Air can flow through it freely so that when it is found in the uppers of athletic shoes, the moisture from perspiration and any unpleasant odor is quickly filtered out to evaporate into the air.
Value
If there is one part of purchasing a product that consumers care about the most, it’s the price tag. While we all want to purchase the most valuable product, we don’t want to be spending an entire paycheck to do it. With that being said, as we created this buying guide today, we carefully used the price tag as a means to measure the best products.
What we mean is: we noted what products were higher priced and lower priced. If they carried the value to match it, we included it on our list. We always wanted to make sure that, no matter what product you decided on purchasing (1-10), the value and price were matching.
Expert Interviews & Opinions
Materials Style Traction Breathability Value
If you've ever been out on any trail for a run, you know that you can encounter many different scenarios and trail conditions. Always be wary of less tractionable surfaces, such as loose gravel or wet leaves, to make your run hazard free and enjoyable!
Most times when we lose our footing, it's due to a steep slope descent or incline, combined with less than ideal surfaces. Try to select areas to place your feet with packed dirt or solid rock to help you from slipping. When descending, let controlled momentum carry you through the descent as abrupt stops will cause slips.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: How do I keep my grippy shoes from smelling bad?
We have a complete guide written on this topic here but my preferred method is leaving dryer sheets in the specified shoe overnight.
q: How can I extend the lifetime of my traction shoes?
You always want to make sure that you don’t use your running shoes for casual use because it essentially racks up miles, wearing down the shoe much quicker. Another thing you can do is keep track of the miles you run on a particular shoe to find out which brand or type of shoe works best.
q: How many miles can you run on one pair of shoes?
Typically running shoes can last anywhere from 300-500 miles each.
q: Should I break in a new pair of shoes before running in them?
Running shoes now are made of much more flexible and softer materials making it not necessary to wear them in.
Sources
- , Anatomy of a Running Shoe, Running Shoe Store Website
- , How To Improve Grip & Traction on Sports Shoes, Informative post
