When protection is our chief concern, it's hard to beat the XA Pro trail running shoe—one of Salomon's perennial best sellers. Tough enough to take on the gnarliest trails, it features Salomon's Advanced 3D chassis for stability and motion control while also protecting our feet with sturdy synthetic uppers and a reinforced toe cap. That gives us a stable and durable base while the Contragrip outsole provides us reliable grip on rocks and mixed terrain. For those of us who aren't afraid of sloppy trails or colder weather, this version of the XA Pro features a GORE-TEX membrane for premium weather protection.