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[Editor’s Note: This article was written by guest author Aran De Mingo of TRAILRUNNINGReview. The data for this article was collected by iRunFar and analyzed by TRAILRUNNINGReview.]
A race like the Western States 100 invites ample discussion on a variety of topics, but perhaps none more so than shoe choice. Like last year, we removed qualitative speculation about the shoes on the start line by gathering quantitative data to determine which shoes were most popular at this historic, highly competitive race.
The Western States 100 course has unique characteristics that set it apart from most other ultramarathons, and the 2026 Western States 100 saw new course records for both men and women.
The top 15 brands of shoes found at the 2026 Western States 100 start line. Photo: TRAILRUNNINGReview
Using video to document footwear, we were able to quantify the shoe choices just a few miles after the start in Olympic Valley, California. It is worth noting that many runners change shoes during the race as the course crosses different types of terrain over its 100 miles, so this analysis isn’t a complete record of every shoe worn in the race.
Based on the 337 shoes documented and analyzed for the 2026 race, there were 70 unique models coming from 23 brands. This year, we were unable to count the shoes of all 369 runners, but our data includes the vast majority. Last year, we analyzed 369 pairs of shoes and found 79 unique models from 26 brands. When compared, these numbers indicate an increasing diversity in shoe brands, and the combined share of last year’s top two brands fell from 45.5% to 36.5%.
The start of the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
As the oldest 100-mile race in the world, the Western States 100 is known for its relative non-technicality and speed. It has approximately 18,000 feet of elevation gain and some 22,000 feet of descent, making it a net-downhill course. Overall, the route is very runnable, making it a fast race where shoe choice can make a big difference. This year, Vincent Bouillard of France set a new men’s course record by running 13:46:15, and Jenn Lichter set a new women’s course record in 15:28:05.
Most Common Shoe Brands at the 2026 Western States 100Last year, Hoka dominated the start line of the 2025 Western States 100 with 32.6% of the shoes, and with a significant gap on second-place Altra, whose shoes were worn by only 12.9% of runners. This year, Hoka again tops the list comfortably, though with a smaller gap. In 2026, the brand accounted for only 27.6% of start-line shoes. Again, the brand’s dominance is built on the same strengths as last year: plush midsoles, a reliable Vibram outsole, and carbon-plated race options such as the Hoka Tecton X 3 and Hoka Rocket X Trail.
Altra holds onto second place, but its share also slipped from 12.9% to 8.9%. What’s notable is how close third place has become. Mount To Coast, a brand that didn’t register in last year’s top 15 at all, jumped straight to third with 8.6% with its H1, T1, and M1 models. Brooks had the strongest climb among established brands, rising from 5.2% and sixth in 2025 to 7.4% and fourth this year. The new Brooks Cascadia Elite, which Chris Myers wore to his second-place finish at the 2025 Western States, is one of the reasons for the brand’s increasing numbers.
Vincent Bouillard leads Francesco Puppi, both wearing Hoka shoes, on their way to first and second place at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Nike (6.8%, up from 6.3%) and adidas Terrex (6.2%, up from 6.0%) round out the next tier much as they did in 2025. Topo improved from 4.4% to 5.6%, while Salomon suffered the sharpest fall of any established name, dropping from 7.7% and third in 2025 to 4.7% and eighth in 2026. La Sportiva nearly doubled its share, from 2.7% to 4.5%, helped by the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro model.
Unclassified prototypes also increased in visibility from 2.2% to 3.6%, reflecting the number of teams that continue to test unreleased shoes on this course. On (3.6%, up from 1.7%) and The North Face (2.4%, not present in last year’s top group) both broke into the top tier for the first time, while Saucony fell back from 4.4% to 2.4%. Norda held roughly steady (1.8% versus 1.9%), and Kailas Fuga, a brand that wasn’t part of the 2025 count at all, entered the top 15 with 1.5%. NNormal, which had a 2.7% share in 2025, dropped out of the leading group entirely this year.
Most Common Shoe Models at the 2026 Western States 100The Hoka Speedgoat remains the single most common model for a second straight year — with the Hoka Speedgoat 7 proving highly popular — though the model’s combined share across versions eased from 13.4% to 12.5%. The Hoka Tecton X, the brand’s carbon-plated racer, also stayed in second place, down from 8.2% to 6.8%.
Jenn Lichter wears a pair of Nike shoes on her way to a new women’s course record at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
The adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra continued its steady presence, actually gaining ground relative to the field, from 4.9% to 5.3% and climbing into third. The biggest storyline at the model level, though, is the debut of Mount to Coast H1 (5.0%) and Mount to Coast T1 (3.6%) inside the top seven. The La Sportiva Prodigio Pro also broke into the top five with a 3.9% presence.
Notably absent from this year’s top models is the Hoka Mafate Speed 4, which tied for second in 2025 with 6.0% but doesn’t appear among the leaders in 2026. Also gone from the top seven are the Topo Ultraventure 4, Altra Lone Peak 9, and Altra Olympus 6.
Call for Comments Did you run the Western States 100 this year? What shoe models did you wear and how did they work for you? If you were at the race, do you have any other interesting notes about shoes you saw out on the course? What shoes would you wear at Western States?