Best Cross Country Running Shoe for 2023: Our Top 15 Picks

Sometimes it might be quite difficult to find the best cross country running shoe. With every niche market offering so many different products, it makes sense that this is the case.

Unfortunately, this very fact can make it incredibly difficult to find the item that best suits your needs, which is why we’ve put together this cross country running shoe buying guide.

Our Top 15 Recommendations:

15 Top Cross Country Running Shoe Reviews:

Bestseller No. 1
Saucony Men's Kilkenny Xc9 Varsity Flat Cross Country Running Shoe, Fog/Black/Vizi, 10
  • Cross country shoe
  • 4-pin spike plate
  • Mesh upper
  • 3D PRINT graphic detailing
  • SSL EVA Midsole
Bestseller No. 2
Saucony Women's Havok XC3 Spike Cross Country Running Shoe, Prospect Quartz, 7.5
  • 6 pin spike plate
  • Breathable monomesh upper
  • 3D PRINT graphic detailing
  • Embroidered eyerow provides locked down fit
  • SSL EVA Midsole
SaleBestseller No. 4
Saucony Men's Grid Excursion TR12 Trail Running Shoe, Green | Black, 10 M US
  • GRID cushioning system
  • Durable rubber outsole
  • Trail specific mesh
Bestseller No. 5
Saucony Women's Kilkenny XC9 Spike Cross Country Running Shoe, Prospect Quartz, 8.5
  • Cross country shoe
  • 4-pin spike plate
  • Mesh upper
  • 3D PRINT graphic detailing
  • SSL EVA Midsole
SaleBestseller No. 7
ASICS Men's Frequent Trail Running Shoes, 10, Black/Birch
  • Synthetic Leather and Mesh Upper: Lightweight, comfortable and breathable, enhancing performance and fit.
  • Reinforced Toe Cap:
  • Trail Specific Outsole: Reversed lugs provide uphill and downhill traction on all types of terrain.
Bestseller No. 8
Saucony Men's Havok XC3 Cross Country Running Shoe, Fog/Black/Vizi, 12
  • Flat cross country shoe
  • Breathable monomesh upper
  • 3D PRINT graphic detailing
  • Embroidered eyerow provides locked down fit
  • SSL EVA Midsole
Bestseller No. 9
Nike Men's Jogging Cross Country Running Shoe, Black White, 8 US
  • Textile in the upper
  • The Pegasus 37 was specially developed for women. It has an air element that provides just the right cushioning for your run
  • Ready for high speeds
  • Improved fit
  • Springy running feeling
SaleBestseller No. 11
Saucony Men's Havok XC 3 Spike Cross Country Running Shoe, Prospect Quartz, 10
  • 6 pin spike plate
  • Breathable monomesh upper
  • 3D PRINT graphic detailing
  • Embroidered eyerow provides locked down fit
  • SSL EVA Midsole
SaleBestseller No. 12
New Balance Men's Cross Country 5K V5 Running Shoe, Energy Red/Henna, 11.5 M US
  • Synthetic/mesh upper
  • New burrito construction and single layer mesh provide an incredibly lightweight but aggressive fit
  • Responsive REVlite midsole with a 5-spike configuration for an agile ride
  • Designed for elite cross country athletes
Bestseller No. 14
ASICS Men's Freak 2 Cross-Country Running Shoe, Dusky Green/Hot Orange/Duffel Bag, 10.5 M US
  • Trusstic System: Reduces the weight of the sole unit while retaining the structural integrity of the shoe.
Bestseller No. 15
Saucony Women's Kilkenny XC9 Flat Cross Country Running Shoe, Fog/Black/Vizi, 7.5
  • Cross country shoe
  • Mesh upper
  • 3D PRINT graphic detailing
  • SSL EVA Midsole

Last update on 2023-06-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to find the best cross country running shoe?

Here, we’ll be going over a number of factors that you can use to ensure that you’re purchasing the best cross country running shoe for you.

Regardless of which type of item you’re looking to buy, chances are that there are existing buying guides on the internet, all of which aim to give you good cross country running shoe recommendations.

Despite these recommendations, however, it’s always a good idea to do your own research. In addition to this research, asking yourself the following questions is also super helpful:

  • What features does the cross country running shoe need to have to be perfect for my needs?
  • What is my budget?
  • Do I need to purchase a certain brand?

Once you’ve answered these questions and have a good idea of what you’re looking for and the buying process becomes much easier. Keep in mind that when looking for the best product, there’s no need to rush. In fact, very rarely are the ideal products found by choosing the first one you see or by basing your decisions on only one factor. Take your time and enjoy the process!

Now, with the answers to the previous questions in mind, we urge you to use our upcoming buying guide for cross country running shoe to find what you’re looking for:

Brand

In some cases, the brand of cross country running shoe is very important. For example, if you’re looking for an item that works in tandem with another, you might very well need both products to be the same brand. If this is the case, it’s vital to pay attention to this factor, as choosing the wrong product can mean the difference between wasting your money and buying a great product that functions as it should.

Features

The features in any given cross country running shoe are important because they can dictate which version of an item you need and how much money you need to spend. Consider all the key features that you want your item to have and don’t settle for anything that doesn’t check at least ¾ of your boxes.

Reviews

Customer reviews about cross country running shoe are crucial – especially when you’re buying a product that costs a lot of money or serves a big importance. Luckily, most products can be found online, which means that it’s common for there to be scores of customer reviews from those who have already purchased any given product.

Pay attention to these reviews. Take note of the pros and cons that they mention, and factor these into your big decision. In some cases, you’ll be forced to sacrifice one con in order to gain a particular pro, but being aware of the potential con is going to be beneficial in either case.

Quality

Of course, quality is key. You don’t want to purchase a low-quality product. If you do, you run the risk of your item breaking, not working properly, or otherwise proving to be very disappointing, as well as a waste of money.

You can compare cross country running shoe quality by researching what your potential purchases are made from, contrasting the individual items against each other to discern which one is made of the best materials.

Warranty

Warranty isn’t always going to be important, but it definitely can be. This is especially true if the item in question is tech-related or expensive. A good warranty will be valid for an extended time after purchase and cover a variety of problems ranging from item defects to random accidents, water damage, and other miscellaneous events that could ruin your product.

Conclusion

The quest to find the best cross country running shoe can be daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. It can be made much easier by asking yourself a few simple questions and then thinking critically about the items you want to buy. Consider their features, quality, brand, warranty, and customer reviews and you’re more likely to make a great purchase.