That’s another year of the now crazily popular UTMB series of races wrapped up, a year that saw the first British men’s winner since 2010 and an enthralling contest between first and second place in the women’s field.
This year’s podium blended tried-and-tested favourites with cutting-edge prototypes. Ruth Croft made history in the women’s race with Adidas Terrex’s Agravic Speed Ultra, while Tom Evans and Ben Dhiman took first and second in men’s prototypes from ASICS. Completing the line-up, Camille Bruyas (2nd) ran in Salomon’s updated S/Lab Ultra Glide 1.5, Katharina Hartmuth (3rd) chose Hoka’s Mafate 5, and Britain’s Josh Wade claimed third in The North Face Summit VECTIV Pro 3.
Here’s a closer look at the shoes the winners were wore at UTMB 2025.
ASICS Prototypes
We haven’t got any info on these new under-development shoes from ASICS. All we can say is that they look similar to the ASICS Meatafuji Trail albeit with a stretchy ankle collar. The Metafuji Trail, for what it’s worth, is a bouncy shoe that combines a highly cushioned midsole with a carbon plate and rocker geometry. In our tests, it felt very fast though we did find it a little slappy and loud when running downhill.
Buy the ASICS Metafuji Trail: £220 at Asics.com
Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra
Ruth Croft’s winning run at the UTMB was in the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra, a model designed with a rocker shape to “encourage efficient fore-foot running”. The shoe incorporates full-length Energy Rods in the midsole for added stiffness and energy return, with LIGHTSTRIKE PRO foam providing cushioning. A Continental rubber outsole supplies traction on wet and dry surfaces, while a gusseted tongue gives mid-foot lockdown and helps to keep out debris. It features a minimal single-layer upper and has a 2 mm heel-to-toe drop.
Buy the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra: £200 at Ellis-brigham.com
Related: Best Running Packs
Related: Best Running Head Torches
The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 3
Josh Wade, a UK runner from Kendal who placed third at this year’s UTMB, raced in The North Face Summit VECTIV Pro 3, a shoe that made it into our best trail running shoes of 2025 list. Retailing at £225 and weighing 294g, this shoe has an incredibly pronounced rocker geometry and a carbon plate in the midsole, giving it a fast and highly cushioned feel over long distances. In our own testing, the shoe provided standout comfort on flatter, less technical terrain, where the high levels of cushioning and rocker-assisted stride proved particularly effective. On the flip side, we found it less stable on uneven ground, where the tall midsole and stiff plate limited precision.
Buy The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 3: £225 at Ellis-brigham.com
Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide 1.5
France’s Camille Bruyas, runner-up in the women’s UTMB, opted for the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide 1.5. It’s essentially a lightly tweaked update to the original Ultra Glide, a shoe that’s become popular with ultra-distance runners who want plenty of cushioning without too much bulk. The 1.5 keeps that broad, rockered platform that makes it feel smooth and steady over long hours, while minor adjustments to the upper aim to improve fit and durability. It’s not the most aggressive shoe in Salomon’s line-up – you’ll find others in their range better suited to highly technical terrain – but it’s built to go the distance on well groomed trails.
Buy the Salomon Ultra Glide: £215 at Alpinetrek.co.uk
Related: Best Running Gloves
Related: Best Running Caps
Hoka Mafate 5
Germany’s Katharina Hartmuth, who took third place in the women’s race at UTMB, was wearing the Hoka Mafate 5. This is a staple in Hoka’s line-up, built for long mountain days where comfort and grip are the priority. It carries that high-stack cushioning the brand is known for, but this latest update trims a little weight and is designed to feel slightly more responsive than earlier versions. Underfoot, the moderately aggressive outsole pattern is designed to hold on technical ground, while the stripped-back upper keeps things light and breathable.
Buy the Hoka Mafate 5: £170 at Ellis-brigham.com
