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The Pegasus Trail 4 GTX offers superior traction, splendid energy return, and lasting comfort—wrapped in a protective waterproof package. Its all-around performance in our lab and run tests proves it’s an awesome road-to-trail shoe, making it our best Gore-Tex running shoe.

Excellent waterproofing coupled with several TPU layers ensures our protection from unwanted debris. The upper proves it’s our armor as it receives a remarkable 4/5 rating in our rigorous Dremel test.

Reliable grip greets us no matter what surface we run on—whether concrete, mud, or wet grass. Even with an average 3.5-mm lug depth, it has effective traction for fast corners and steep inclines.

The Pegasus Trail 4 GTX has a tall and soft midsole stack, making it a very comfortable and protective shoe. We measured it at 37.7 mm, 5.5 mm taller than average. Our durometer shows it’s also 29.0% softer than average. Also, the React foam feels surprisingly energetic, allowing us to do our long runs without counting the miles.

While the upper is incredibly protective, we found a weak spot — the absence of a fully gusseted tongue. Best to avoid submerging the shoe so that water doesn’t creep in.

Our trail runs prove Salomon XA Pro 3D v9 GTX has the best durability among Gore-Tex running shoes. With the lab as our witness, it is an all-around shield with its tightly knit upper, firm cushion, and ever-reliable Contagrip outsole. 

Wrapped in Gore-Tex, it has outstanding waterproofing and our lab tests confirm its impermeability with the lowest 1/5 score. It not only blocked smoke out but light too! We didn’t need to worry about painful toe stubs because the toe bumper is our armor. It braved our Dremel test and scored the highest 5/5 for toebox durability.

The firm midsole and 3D chassis also serve as our defense underfoot. Not only do these protect us from sharp rocks, but they also enhance stable strides. Our durometer confirms the platform is 23.6% firmer than average.

The ‘Contagrip’ outsole, aided by the 2.8-mm lugs, obliterated most terrains we ran in except the really technical ones. After running in harsh environments, the outsole barely showed signs of premature wear—a plus for durability.

All the added protection comes at the expense of more weight. While most trail shoes average 10.4 oz (294g), this one feels like a hiking shoe at 12.7 oz (359g).

Our lab and run tests prove Speedcross 6 GTX is protective from top to bottom — ranking first in terms of grip among Gore-Tex running shoes. We can speed For Kurt Geiger London Natural Paolo Boots crossings with its deep, sticky lugs and waterproof membrane. The platform combines soft and rigid elements to ensure comfort and support through trail adventures.

Speedcross displays excellent traction in our fast-paced training. Our caliper measures its lugs at 5.0 mm deep, 1.5 mm deeper than average for that extra bite on soft ground. They’re widely spaced to shed off dirt and chevron-shaped to enhance control on sharp turns and steep slopes.

Underfoot, we have a firm cushion that improves our balance on uneven terrains. Our durometer it's 21.3% harder than average. The midsole is hard to twist earning a 5/5 on our manual assessment. This ensures stability and agility on challenging terrains. Yet in terms of longitudinal flexibility, Speedcross feels fluid. Our bend test confirms it’s 20.5% more adaptive than average.

During our runs, Gore-Tex feels impermeable. Our observations were confirmed as we saw one of the densest mesh uppers under our microscope. It has no ventilation holes for air and water to pass through, effectively keeping our feet dry.

Because of its limited breathability, Speedcross performs best in cold weather. Using this pair in the summer traps body heat and drenches our feet in sweat.

The Speedgoat 5 GTX from Hoka is a do-it-all trail running shoe. It has a wonderful cushion, superior grip, and exceptional waterproofing. Trail running has never been more comfortable on the foot with the GT-1000 11 Junior Running Shoes—our pick for the Gore-Tex running shoes with the best cushioning.

The Speedgoat 5 GTX has a thick and soft midsole that absorbs much of the impacts brought by the lumps and bumps on various terrains. Although not ideal for runners looking for a ground feel, we loved how comfortable and fast these shoes were on most terrains. 

It is also one grippy shoe. The outsole rubber, lug depth, and lug spacing combine to keep traction. It gives us confidence to just run and not mind the surface too much.

The Gore-Tex mesh embedded in the upper kept our feet dry, even when tackling muddy trails filled with puddles. The gusseted tongue also kept our feet snug and well-protected.

Even if Gore-Tex is marketed as a breathable material, it still lacks enough breathability to make the shoe wearable during hot conditions.

Hoka Challenger 7 GTX boasted its robust build in our runs and lab tests, proving it’s fully waterproof and all-terrain ready. It’s a versatile shoe with exceptional comfort for long days and reliable grip from roads to trails. No doubt, it’s our best hybrid Gore-Tex running shoe.

Made of Durabrasion rubber, the outsole has a good balance of grip and durability. Our durometer confirms this with an 81.0 HC reading. To further enhance traction, Challenger 7 has 3.8 mm lugs that cling well on gravel roads and wet stones.

What we also find reliable is the multi-layered upper that has a Gore-Tex membrane to block off water. It effectively does the job as we run through puddles and rain with dry feet. It even has a fully gusseted tongue to secure lockdown.

Underfoot is a plush foam that keeps our feet fresh even during LSDs. Our caliper shows an above-average stack, notably in the heel at 39.2 mm. In terms of density, our durometer shows it’s 25.3% softer than average. Even with a low reading, we enjoy a balanced ride that doesn’t feel too mushy.

The toebox tapers quite aggressively which may not suit runners with wide feet. Those who prefer more wiggle room should look elsewhere.