Trail shoes need extra toe-room for descents and swelling on long runs. Salomon and many European trail brands run small by design; Hoka and Brooks trail models follow their road sizing with minor tweaks.
Often the first check is a little roomier, especially for Salomon and technical mountain shoes where a locked-down fit on climbs can bruise toes on descents. Hoka Speedgoat runs closer to road Hoka sizing. Leave about a thumb's width (10–12 mm) at the toe.
Yes — Salomon trail shoes typically run about half a size small with a narrow midfoot, by design for secure footing. Many runners start by checking half a size above their road shoe size. See our Salomon sizing guide for model specifics.