The Best Sneakers for Cross-Country Running

By Alice Oglethorpe and Marianne Magno

You can take your run off the road with these cross-country sneakers made for adventure. If you'd rather run on hills and rocks than step foot on the treadmill, these shoes are for you. They provide support, traction, and extra protection so you can run tough trails with ease.

New Balance 840

This running shoe has a grooved sticky rubber outsole that grips the trail, keeping your foot -- no matter what its shape -- steady on loose twigs and gravel. It also features a gotta-love-it blister-proof lining and super-cushioned heel.

Our tester says: "The 840s transitioned really well from dirt and grass to rockier trails and were amazingly lightweight, which I loved." -- Nancy Kleinrock, 48, from Trumansburg, New York, averages 75 to 85 miles a week on New York's Finger Lakes Trail.

New Balance 840, $84

Buy it!

Next: Adidas Supernova Riot

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