Last year, a few footwear-industry veterans teamed up to create a new company called Oboz. Their debut trail runner is the Ignition, which features a bootie construction that can be tight to pull on, but once on your foot, fits like a glove.

Its aggressive outsole lugs point forward and back for maximum traction on both rough uphill and downhill trails.

This burly trail runner has a moisture-wicking upper with supportive overlays that snug around the foot when you tighten the laces. A highly abrasion-resistant toe bumper offers the most toe protection and wiggle room of the models reviewed here.

The strong heel counter and dual-density midsole add to its stable ride, making it ideal for long training runs on a variety of trails.