SPLASH
1. Wigwam Merino/Coolmax Trail Runner
These softies make feet feel like they're bundled up inside cozy slippers. $11; www.wigwam.com

2. WrightSock Merino TRL Quarter
Wicking synthetic and insulating merino work together to decrease blistering friction. $12; www.wrightsock.com

SPEED
3. DeFeet Levi-T-Ator No See 'Em
The toe seam is tucked under your piggies, where it is less likely to chafe. $12; www.defeet.com

4. powerSox Power-lites Running Lo-Cut

SUPPORT: Socks and footbeds finally catch a little R&D love—and your feet rejoice

Wicking fabric over the Achilles tendon helps keep these socks dry. $10 for two pairs; www.powersox.com

SLOP
5. Fox River
AXT Wick Dry Off Road Quarter Fox's merino-polypropylene blend is engineered for durability. $10; www.foxsox.com

6. SmartWool Running Medium 3/4 Crew
Generous cush around the midsole and heel helps

Traction Heroes

Get the goods on the latest trail runners, tailor-made for speed, slop, and splash.

stabilize your stride. $15; www.smartwool.com

The Arch of Progress
Your new trail shoes sure feel nice and squishy, don't they? That's the ethylene vinyl acetate working—the foamy layer under the manufacturer-supplied footbeds. But while EVA delivers decent shock absorption, it offers not a lick of motion control for overpronators—those of us who roll our feet inward while running. Neither does that bare-bones footbed. Avoid rolled ankles,

(Mark Wiens)

shinsplints, and blisters by dropping extra coin on an aftermarket insert, like Shock Doctor's new UltraRunning ($30; www.shockdoc.com). A rigid cup locks your heel in place on impact, a plastic frame combats overpronation by lifting your arch, and a raised area over the midsole improves stability on off-kilter landings. Other good options are Superfeet's thickly cushioned Performance ($35; www.superfeet.com) and Montrail's new Enduro-Soles ($35; www.montrail.com) plastic footbeds, which bake in your oven for a heat-molded custom fit.