Best for : Any trail, any condition, any time

I wear the regular version for spring, summer, and fall. I never travel without these shoes.

And the gore-tex version in the winter and early spring if there is still snow on the ground.

Best for : Cushioning

Especially if you are running on a lot of gravel. The gravel really gets annoying if you are 50 miles into a race. I wore Hoka’s on my 100 mile ultramarathon. I believe these helped me to manage, and heal, my shin splits during an aggressive training schedule.

Best for : Serious Snow

I wore these for runs up ski trails in Slovakia. They keep my feet warmer than the Brooks, and their aggressive tread will help to keep you from sliding off the mountain.