5 Emerging Running Trends for 2026
Here is a quick look at five key running trends that will emerge in 2026 based on what we saw at The Running Event trade show.
The Tracksmith Eliot Range is a smartly crafted trail running shoe made with road runners in mind.
Tracksmith, a running brand known for clean, stylish aesthetics and the ethos of young, motivated New England runners with a post-collegiate vibe, is about to get dirty.
While the brand up until now has espoused the functional values of high-mileage runners training for cross country, the 10,000 meters on the track, and various road races, it’s making a foray into trail running.
The brand has dabbled in trail running previously with a few apparel pieces and plenty of gravel road running in its marketing imagery—including this artsy video about the essence of a long run in Colorado. But now it is making an earnest, more permanent entry into the category with a capsule of product offerings that includes the Eliot Range trail running shoe, and a limited Overland apparel collection that includes men’s and women’s running shorts, tops (long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts), a running cap, and a hydration vest.
Why is Tracksmith getting into trail running? Well, no doubt to extend its brand offerings to its core customer group of cross country, track, and road runners who are also regularly running on trails and gravel roads. Trail running is booming and there’s a segment in the marketplace that’s not about hard-core ultrarunning and the advanced, hyper-evolved gear that goes with it.
As with anything Tracksmith makes, thew new trail collection has a distinctive aesthetic and cool vibe, which the brands says ties it to its New England roots and the rugged trail running and gravel road running found in the region.
“We’re approaching the trail not as a destination, but more as the trail you know most is something really special and less extreme,” said Tracksmith Head of Product Matt Pauk. “We’re not making an elite race kit for UTMB or Western States … but I think that’s on the horizon. Knowing where we were and where we’re going, this is kind of a nice half step towards, towards something like that. So here is something that’s going to be working for dirt, working for gravel, and really working for the terrain in New England.”
About two and a half years after Tracksmith launched its first road running shoe, the Eliot Runner, and a year or so after debuting its Eliot Racer super shoe, the brand is unveiling its first trail running shoe, the Eliot Range. Lighter and lower to the ground than many shoes available at stores this summer, the Eliot Range is agile and flexible, but also breathable and quite durable, too.
Tracksmith got a lot right in its first attempt at a trail shoe, especially knowing it’s a shoe made for road runners who occasionally run on trails and not hard-core ultrarunners. That said, this isn’t a model built for running high-altitude ridgelines or 50- to 100-mile trail races, but that’s OK because it fits a gap in the marketplace and the Tracksmith product line, Pauk said.
Built with a similar multi-layer construction and the same last as the Eliot Runner, the Eliot Range midsole features a flexible nylon plate sandwiched that’s been injected between a drop-in supercritical Pebax foam layer on top, and a more durable foam layer on the bottom. That combination provides a good balance of comfort, protection, and energy return running on mild to semi-technical trails and gravel roads.
The durable rip-stop mesh upper is infinitely breathable and surprisingly protective with key reinforced areas that contribute to a snug fit while adding a bit of internal structure. The outsole of the Eliot Range features a durable Vibram XS Trek Evo rubber with low-profile lugs for pretty good multi-surface traction on trails, gravel roads and pavement. (It’s not a sticky rubber compound found on some mountain running shoes, but the direction lug pattern has been effective on a variety of surfaces with few instances of slippage.)
Fit/Feel/Ride: The Tracksmith Eliot Range fits true to size with a medium/narrow interior volume and a compact toe box. The interior feels sparse but comfortable, thanks to a thin Merino wool interior lining (that aids in moisture management and odor control), soft interior heel pillows to optimize fit, and a soft, stretchy bootie construction with an integrated tongue and heel collar that create a wrap-like fit around your feet and keep dirt and trail debris at bay.
The ride feels like that of a performance trainer for the roads, only with trail-specific traction and protection that excels on mild trails and gravel roads The midsole feels semi-cushy and soft enough at the heel, but semi-firm at the forefoot, the latter of which allows for great proprioceptive feel for the trail and precise maneuvering through obstacles on the trail. It’s most at home on smooth dirt trails, semi-technical routes, and gravel roads, but it can hold its own on more gnarly, technical terrain so long as the runner is skilled and adept at running that type of terrain.
Why You’ll Love It: If you’re a road runner who appreciates lightweight shoes capable of quick-cadence stride turnover, you’ll like the nimble vibe of the Eliot Range. What it sacrifices in excess cushioning it more than makes up for in runability and agility. It has enough of what you need to run off road, but doesn’t go overboard in any area.
Price: $240
Approximate Weights: 8.4 oz. (women’s size 8), 9.9 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 9mm; 34.5mm (heel), 25.5mm (forefoot)
Overland Hydration Vest ($180): I have to admit, I was impressed by this unique zip-front hydration vest after three long trail runs in the mountains. It fits securely and comfortably (adjustments can be made from the side bungee/cordlock system to dial in the ideal fit), has plenty of storage, and doesn’t bounce on rugged, undulating trails. It comes with two 500ml soft flasks and has 10 pockets and compartments to stash everything from keys, gels and a phone to a shell jacket, a pair of gloves and sunblock.
It’s slightly warmer and not as light as some of the advanced lightweight vests made for ultrarunning, but those aren’t major detractors because it does the job and, as with all things made by Tracksmith, it serves up a bit of unique style.
Overland Windbreaker ($215) — This durable, water-repellent trail running jacket offers provides light breathable protection against wind, chilly weather, and light rain with four-way stretch comfort. It features a lightweight merino mesh under the arms and against the neck to enhance airflow while adding comfort. It packs down into its own chest pocket and can be carried by one hand or easily stowed into a pack or waist belt.
Overland Short Sleeve Tee ($115) and Long-Sleeve ($125) — The stretchy merino wool blend mesh short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts serve up odor-resistant (anti-microbial) thermoregulation in a comfortable next-to-skin layer for long trail runs, including when worn with a hydration pack. Each shirt features underarm gussets to minimize chafing and woven shoulder/back yoke overlays for ultimate hydration pack compatibility and weather and abrasion resistance.
Women’s Overland Half Tights ($135) — These trail running half tights were built with cargo in mind, featuring five pockets for optimal storage for fuel, a phone, and accessories. They’re made from a soft fabric aimed to strike a balance between comfort and compression.
Men’s Overland Shorts ($135): Amazingly, these trail running shorts have nine pockets for optimal storage for fuel and gear. While I only used a couple of those pockets, the interior liner, four-way stretch shell fabric and 5-inch inseam moved with me like a good pair of road running shorts while also providing light breathable protection.
Overland Hat ($55) — A good running hat is one that does its job—keeping the sun, sweat, and your hair off your face—without any issues. Check!
Senior editor Brian Metzler has wear-tested more than 2,500 running shoes and is the author of “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes” (2019) and “Trail Running Illustrated” (2019). He has raced just about every distance from 100 meters to 100 miles, but he’s most eager to share stories about his experiences pack burro racing in Colorado.
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