Updated October 17, 2026. Prices checked October 17, 2026.
Three trail shoes cost less than $120 and have a price on a brand page and a lab test behind them: two from New Balance and the Merrell Morphlite. RunRepeat rated them 68, 70 and 75 out of 100. All three suit gravel paths and easy trails, and RunRepeat measured lugs below the 3.5 mm trail average on each. The Morphlite is the lightest and has the worst outsole wear of the three.
How these scores are built. Trail shoes are judged mainly on grip and traction, which counts for 45% of the score. Protection and cushioning counts 25%, and the other two criteria count 15% each. Based on: Lab and wear tests by RunRepeat, manufacturer specifications and prices read on the New Balance and Merrell sites. Every shoe rests on one independent test source. We do not test products in person. 7 source pages are linked under the 3 products so you can check each finding. How we score.
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Product
Best for
Grip and traction
Score
1
New Balance DynaSoft Nitrel v6
Lowest price
4.5
4.9
2
New Balance Tektrel
Most stack
4.5
4.8
3
Merrell Morphlite
Lightest
3.5
4.6
01
New Balance DynaSoft Nitrel v6
Lowest price, $79.99
4.9/10
Grip and traction 45%
4.5/10
Protection and cushioning 25%
4/10
Weight 15%
6/10
Durability 15%
6.5/10
Pros
RunRepeat found it comfortable for all-day wear, stable and breathable, with a natural low-to-the-ground feel and a gravel score of 80 out of 100.
Its outsole wore 0.9 mm in the wear test, the same as the average, and it weighs 10.3 oz in RunRepeat's lab.
Cons
RunRepeat says the outsole needs improvement, with 2.7 mm lugs against a 3.5 mm average, and found little cushioning: 89 heel shock absorption against 123 for the average trail shoe.
It is a poor fit for heel strikers, heavier runners and technical terrain. New Balance shows 256 owner reviews averaging 3.8 out of 5.
Readers in Germany, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Sweden are sent to their own Amazon store, where prices show in local currency. The prices on this page are US prices.
02
New Balance Tektrel
Most stack, $94.99
4.8/10
Grip and traction 45%
4.5/10
Protection and cushioning 25%
5.5/10
Weight 15%
4.5/10
Durability 15%
5/10
Pros
RunRepeat scored it 70 out of 100 and found a tough, breathable upper, enough toe splay room and a fit that works for all footstrikes.
It suits easy, non-technical trails and doubles for hiking and walking, on a 32.2 mm heel and 24.2 mm forefoot stack.
Cons
RunRepeat calls it heavy for its cushioning, at 10.7 oz in its lab and 11.3 oz on the New Balance page, with 2.4 mm lugs against a 3.5 mm average.
Outsole durability is a concern, with 1.1 mm of wear against a 0.9 mm average. RunRepeat's review dates from August 2024, and New Balance shows 107 owner reviews averaging 4.1 out of 5.
Readers in Germany, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Sweden are sent to their own Amazon store, where prices show in local currency. The prices on this page are US prices.
03
Merrell Morphlite
Lightest, $110
4.6/10
Grip and traction 45%
3.5/10
Protection and cushioning 25%
5.5/10
Weight 15%
8/10
Durability 15%
3/10
Pros
RunRepeat scored it 75 out of 100 and calls it feather-light, at 8.4 oz in its lab, with road-to-trail versatility, good arch support and an improved fit.
It works well for heel strikers, and Merrell shows 526 owner reviews averaging 4.4 out of 5 for the men's shoe.
Cons
RunRepeat found major durability concerns, with 1.4 mm of outsole wear against a 0.9 mm average, sparse outsole coverage and 2.0 mm lugs against a 3.5 mm average.
It is not for wide feet. Merrell shows a sale price of $59.99 and Amazon lists colors from $59.95 to $89.99, and the $110 regular price is the one we use.
Readers in Germany, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Sweden are sent to their own Amazon store, where prices show in local currency. The prices on this page are US prices.
How we picked
Each score comes from RunRepeat’s lab and wear tests, manufacturer specifications and the price on the New Balance or Merrell site. RunRepeat earns commissions on shoes it recommends, so every shoe here rests on one independent source. We do not test shoes in person. Ratings are our assessment and fit varies by foot, so treat the scores as a guide and try shoes on when you can.
What we left out
New Balance DynaSoft Nitrel v6 Gore-Tex ($99.99): no independent test of the waterproof version.
Merrell Speed Strike 2 ($100): RunRepeat tested it as a hiking shoe.
Other budget trail shoes named in buying guides, such as the Kiprun MT Cushion 2 and the ASICS Trail Scout 2: no US price or lab test read.
What to look for
Lug depth: all three shoes here have lugs shorter than 3 mm, which suits gravel and dry paths
Protection on rocky ground, since all three have little underfoot protection for the price
A trail shoe that lasts, because cheap outsoles wear first at the rubber
Questions
Why is the Nitrel v6 Gore-Tex not here?
New Balance sells it for $99.99 with 90 owner reviews averaging 3.4 out of 5, but RunRepeat tested the standard Nitrel v6 and we found no independent test of the Gore-Tex version. The membrane changes the weight, 308 g against 286 g, so we did not carry the test over.
Why only three shoes?
Only these three had a regular price on a brand page and a RunRepeat lab test under $120. REI sells no trail shoe under $120 at its regular price, and the other budget trail shoes in buying guides came without lab data or a US price.
Why is the Merrell Speed Strike 2 not here?
It costs $100, but RunRepeat tested it as a hiking shoe, with a weight of 12.3 oz, so it belongs with the hiking shoes.
Where do the prices come from?
The regular price on newbalance.com and merrell.com on October 17, 2026. Sale and outlet prices are ignored. Merrell shows the Morphlite at $59.99 in a sale, and the $110 list price is the one we use.