Choosing trail running shoes means balancing three things quickly: wet-weather protection, terrain-specific traction, and how much of the listed price your route justifies. The four pairs here run from $77.45 to $94.80, a $17.35 spread. That is close enough that the smarter decision is matching each shoe's wording and stated features to the run-not treating the highest price as an automatic upgrade.
Quick take
The two Merrell entries are the practical starting point for shoppers focused on waterproof trail running shoes, with nearly identical pricing and closely related Agility Trail names. Adidas narrows the choice around the exact Ultra Trail phrase, black color, and men's size 9. Salomon is aimed more directly at routes described as muddy, loose, and uneven, with waterproof construction and a higher listed price.
Listed-price comparison
| Trail running shoes | Listed price | Price bar | Price read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrell Agility Trail Waterproof Men's Trail Running Shoes in Mariana Blue | USD 77.50 | Slightly above the lowest | |
| Merrell Men's Agility Trail WATERPROOF Shoes Mariana NEW | USD 77.45 | Lowest listed price | |
| Adidas Men's Size 9 Terrex Soulstride Ultra Trail Running Shoes IE8453 | USD 94.00 | Above the lowest | |
| Salomon Alphacross 5 GTX Mens Waterproof Trail Hiking Shoes, Olive, Pick Size | USD 94.80 | Highest listed price |
Decision matrix
- Lowest-price route: Start with Merrell Agility Trail Mariana, then compare the color wording against the Mariana Blue entry.
- Wet-weather route: The two Merrell titles and the Salomon title all make waterproof protection central to the choice.
- Ultra Trail search: Adidas Terrex Soulstride Ultra Trail is the direct title match, with size 9 and black also specified.
- Muddy or uneven ground: Salomon Alphacross 5 GTX is the clearest match for the terrain conditions named in its description.
- Packaging preference: The Merrell entries are marked new with box, while the Adidas and Salomon entries are marked new without box.
Product notes
Merrell Agility Trail Mariana Blue
Choose the Merrell Agility Trail Waterproof Men's Trail Running Shoes in Mariana Blue when wet-condition coverage and a blue color name are central to the brief. Its description pairs waterproof bootie construction with FloatPro foam, FLEXconnect grooves, and a durable 3mm lug outsole; the attributes add a lace-up closure and rubber cleat type. Those details give it a clear trail-running orientation for mixed, unpredictable surfaces. The limitation is price positioning: its listed price is slightly above the other Merrell entry, while the two titles use closely related Agility Trail Waterproof wording. Pick this one when Mariana Blue is the clearer naming match; otherwise, the small price gap is the main reason to compare it with the other Merrell.
Merrell Agility Trail Mariana
Merrell Agility Trail Mariana is the price-led choice for a shopper who wants a clearly named waterproof trail shoe. The description lists bootie waterproof construction, breathable mesh, a synthetic and TPU upper, FloatPro foam, FLEXconnect grooves, a padded collar, and recycled components. Its lace-up closure and new-with-box condition are also explicit. The limitation is the narrow decision gap with the other Merrell entry: it is only five cents lower, and the color wording is Mariana rather than Mariana Blue. Choose it when the lower of the two Merrell prices or the exact Mariana title is the deciding detail.
Adidas Terrex Soulstride Ultra Trail
Adidas Men's Size 9 Terrex Soulstride Ultra Trail Running Shoes IE8453 is the clearest match for shoppers using the phrase ultra trail running shoes. The title supplies several concrete selectors: adidas Terrex Soulstride, Ultra Trail, black, men's size 9, and lace-up closure. That makes it a focused choice when those exact descriptors line up with the purchase. The trade-offs are equally specific: the price is $94.00, it sits above the lowest-priced entry, and condition is new without box. The size 9 wording makes the fit decision more particular than a general men's shoe search. Select it for the title-led Ultra Trail use case; the packaging condition is the concrete compromise.
Salomon Alphacross 5 GTX
Salomon Alphacross 5 GTX is oriented toward a terrain-specific use case. Its description names waterproof GORE-TEX protection, Fuze Foam cushioning, and a Mud Contagrip rubber outsole with deep multidirectional lugs for muddy, loose, and uneven terrain. Those details suit routes where the named ground conditions are central. The olive wording and Pick Size phrase also appear directly in the title. The limitation is its $94.80 price, the highest here, plus a new-without-box condition. Choose it when the terrain description is more important than staying near the Merrell price point.
Final recommendation by use case
- Lowest listed price with waterproof wording: Merrell Agility Trail Mariana. The price table places it first on cost, and its title matches wet-weather intent.
- Mariana Blue naming and a rubber cleat attribute: Merrell Agility Trail Mariana Blue. This is the clearer naming match when that color phrase matters.
- Ultra Trail title and men's size 9: Adidas Terrex Soulstride Ultra Trail. It directly matches those search terms and the black color specification.
- Muddy, loose, uneven terrain: Salomon Alphacross 5 GTX. Its GORE-TEX and Mud Contagrip description support this route-focused choice, with the highest listed price as the clear cost trade-off.
When two choices still fit, use the title wording as the tiebreaker: Mariana versus Mariana Blue for the Merrell pair, Ultra Trail and size 9 for Adidas, or named muddy-terrain protection for Salomon.
