I Tried These Trail Shoes and They Solved My Biggest Issue With Hokas

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If you’ve ever swapped insoles trying to fix uncomfortable hiking shoes, you’re not alone—and it rarely works. The Tread Labs Dover RS Trail Shoes take a different approach, building the entire shoe around a podiatrist-designed insole from the start. The result is a more supportive, better-fitting trail shoe that feels dialed in from the first step.

I’ve spent years stuffing aftermarket insoles into shoes and boots that were never designed to accommodate them—a frustrating workaround that never quite solved the underlying problem. From vintage heritage boots, which sorely need some underfoot cushioning, to new trail shoes that just never felt quite right, having a proper insole is one of the easiest ways to make a poor performing—and fitting—shoe or boot quickly one of your favorites.

For the Dover RS trail shoes they took a different approach, and it’s one of those ideas that seems obvious. Instead of designing a shoe and hoping the customer works the insole situation out with aftermarket options, they built the shoe around the insole from day one. The result is one of the more thoughtfully engineered trail shoes I’ve put on my feet.

The foundation of the shoe is Tread Labs’ Pace Insole—podiatrist-recommended, APMA-certified, and available in multiple arch heights so you’re not stuck with a one-size-fits-all solution. The medium arch version ships standard, but if your feet need more or less structure, you can swap it out without any of the usual insole compromise. Step in for the first time and the difference is immediate—a firm, confident platform that feels purpose-built rather than retrofitted.

An abrasion-resistant ripstop upper with a breathable mesh lining keeps air moving around sweaty feet on warmer days, and TPU reinforcements on the toe and heel add durability where the shoe takes the most abuse. It fits true to size with a medium width that suited my foot well straight out of the box. Note that if you’re coming from a shoe with minimal arch structure, the Pace Insole will feel aggressive at first—give it a few miles.

On the trail, the Vibram Megagrip outsole is excellent—confident tromping over wet roots, loose gravel, and dry hardpack alike. The low-profile, 4mm lugs shed debris cleanly and transition smoothly between surfaces without the grabby, over-built feel of more aggressive lug patterns.

Their are some trade-offs though—at 14.1 ounces, this isn’t a fast-and-light shoe. And while the ripstop breathes reasonably well, it can run warm on hotter days. These are hiking shoes, not trail runners, so while they performed admirably on long, technical days on the trail, don’t expect to break any trail running PRs in them.

For anyone who has dealt with plantar fasciitis, chronic arch fatigue, or just the nagging feeling that their footwear is working against them, the Dover RS is worth serious consideration. The 30-day fit guarantee and lifetime arch support warranty make it an easy decision to try these top-notch trail shoes.