Two kinds of published review count: runner reviews on RunningRecs and first-hand comments quoted from around the web, each linked to its source. Each one is read as positive, mixed or negative. A runner review's star rating decides it (4–5 positive, 3 mixed, 1–2 negative); quoted comments are judged when they are moderated, and ones nobody has judged yet don't count. Only reviews from the last 3 years count.
The % positive on each shoe is its share of positive reviews, with mixed ones counting as half.
The order rewards shoes that are both well liked and widely discussed: we count how many more positive reviews a shoe has than an average shoe with the same number of reviews would have. A shoe with 33 positive reviews out of 43 therefore ranks above one with 15 out of 17, which is why the order doesn't always follow the % positive.
A shoe needs at least 8 reviews and at least 60% positive to be listed, and this list only includes shoes with a trail category. We never pad a list: only 4 shoes qualify right now, so that's how many you see.
The list re-ranks itself as new reviews are published. There are no sponsored placements, affiliate links or paid rankings.