The Best Running Shoes for Training and Racing (2024)

It is a great time to be a runner. Today’s smart shoe designers are using advanced materials, new geometries, and creative combinations of foams, plates, fabrics, and soles to create models that are faster and more comfortable than ever before. Many shoes in this roundup are franchise models, in their second, fourth, 17th, or 21st(!) iterations, representing the best of what they have been in the past and integrating modern technologies to give us banger new versions. Others are brand-new, including a $90 model wowed us this season, garnering a Best Value pick.

So whether you’re looking for a svelte racer to help you compete at your best or a smoothly-cushioned trainer that makes even the last mile of your long run feel fun, read on. These shoes will help you fall in love with running—for the first time, or all over again.

At a Glance

Training Shoes

Stability Shoes

Racing Shoes

Tips and How We Test

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Best Training Shoes

Best All Around

Nike Vomero 17

$160 at REI (Women’s) $160 at REI (Men’s)

Weight: 10.6 oz (men’s), 8.5 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 39.5–30mm
Drop: 9.5mm
Sizing: 6-15, regular and extra wide (men’s); 5-12, regular and extra wide (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Extremely comfortable, padded upper
⊕ Soft, smooth cushioning
⊕ Versatile range of pace and distance
⊗ Super slippery laces that come untied

Stepping into these shoes is like pulling on your old college sweatshirt and a pair of pajama pants. They’re insanely comfortable, and make you wonder why you would want to wear anything else.

Beneath the well-padded upper, the midsole features a layer of Nike’s ZoomX—the light, soft, bouncy, PEBA-based foam that we first saw in the VaporFly—on top of a firmer compression-molded EVA-based foam. The combination feels like a ridiculously soft pillow for the first few steps in this shoe. However, we found that once we settled into our strides, the Vomero felt increasingly responsive and made us want to just keep running. The versatile platform lets the shoe feel both impact-dampening when going long and peppy when picking up the pace. “The cushioning felt just right, lending itself to a springy ride,” says Boulder, Colorado tester Kiki Silver. Katie Bleichman of Louisville, Colorado, gushed, “They are springy without being overly bouncy, supportive without being clunky and heavy, and speed-inspiring.”

The absence of a plate lets the forefoot flex more than many of today’s models, and testers found their toes and arches engaging, particularly during uptempo training—which makes the Vomero a healthy balance for alternating with a plated trainer or racer. A secure heel cup, great traction on roads, and sleek overall profile help the shoes feel nimble and fast, to boot. One ding: The laces are slick and frequently come loose, even when double-tying.

Best Cushioned Trainer

Under Armour Infinite Elite

$160 at Running Warehouse (Women’s) $160 at Running Warehouse (Men’s)

Weight: 11.5 oz (men), 9.3 oz (women)
Stack Height: 36–28mm
Drop: 8mm
Sizing: 7-13, 14, 15 (men’s); 5-12 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Smooth and stable ride
⊕ Durable, comfortable upper
⊕ Accommodates a variety of strides
⊗ Somewhat heavy

Despite the “elite” namesake, the Infinite Elite is in no way designed exclusively for elite runners or elite performances. Testers of all abilities found the Infinite Elite friendly and approachable regardless of pace or footstrike.

The best daily trainers are comfortable and durable enough to withstand the trial of miles. The Infinite Elite excelled at both, making it our go-to for everyday training runs. “These are the most accommodating, comfortable-fitting shoes from Under Armour I have ever taken through the paces,” said one tester. “A true workhorse shoe,” said another.

The Infinite Elite earned these chops by featuring a generous stack of the brand’s premium, highly responsive TPU-based midsole foam. Testers noted that the underfoot experience leaned toward the firmer side of the spectrum yet still offered a smooth and bouncy feel. To help stabilize the foot, a wide platform, especially under the heel, is coupled with a firm TPU heel counter that securely guides the foot during touchdown. This combo did wonders for stability but added enough weight that one tester said it made the shoe feel “heavy and slow.” Other testers concurred that it’s not a speedy shoe, but most felt the heft appropriate for such a durable everyday trainer.

Testers raved about how well the Infinite Elite fit. One tester said he loved how the knit upper with a well-padded heel collar “kept the foot in place, contouring comfortably around the midfoot and heel while allowing space for the toes to have some room.” Supple stitching reinforcements weaved into the upper apply just enough pressure when the laces are synced tight to secure the midfoot comfortably.

Best Lightweight Trainer

Diadora Frequenza

$180 at Diadora (Women’s) $180 at Diadora (Men’s)

Weight: 8.4 oz (men), 6.5 oz (women)
Stack Height: 30–22mm
Drop: 8mm
Sizing: 7.5-14.5 (men’s); 6-11.5 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Agile and cushioned ride
⊕ Highly-breathable upper
⊗ Sizing somewhat small

Known for their attention to detail, Diadora shoes combine Italian craftsmanship with innovative technology, resulting in a footwear line that excels in performance, comfort, and style. The brand, which has been around since 1948 and known mostly in the U.S. for its soccer cleats and tennis shoes, is introducing several new running models this year. The Frequenza straddles the line between an uptempo shoe and a lightweight everyday trainer.

Testers were impressed by the Frequenza’s combination of cushioning, lightness, and agility. Jeff Tissue from Denver, Colorado, was unequivocal in his praise. “I freaking loved it,” he said. Tissue characterized the shoe as “lightweight with abundant cushioning and responsiveness,” with a ride that he called “soft but not too soft.” The secret sauce is a proprietary gas-infused EVA midsole that delivers much of the bounciness and energetic feeling of the premium-priced PEBA-based foams found in supershoes, but without the high price tag. That, combined with a low weight of 8.4 ounces for men and 6.5 oz for women, gives the Frequenza a peppy and lively demeanor perfectly suited for tempo runs, interval sessions, and even races.

Despite a somewhat heavy-looking appearance, the nylon air mesh and microfiber upper is lightweight, breathable, and comfortable on a variety of feet, presenting no issues with our testing team. The heel collar is heavily padded and features a flared Achilles tab to reduce pressure around the ankle bone and Achilles tendon. The women’s version is designed with a snugger heel and midfoot, which our female testers appreciated.

Everyone who tried the Frequenza agreed that if you’re looking for a speedy uptempo or race-day shoe without a carbon fiber plate or a lightweight, responsive everyday trainer, you shouldn’t overlook Diadora.

Best Value

Skechers GOrun Supersonic Max

$90 at Skechers (Women’s) $90 at Skechers (Men’s)

Weight: 11.5 oz (men’s), 8.6 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 38–32mm (men’s), 35–29mm (women’s)
Drop: 6mm
Sizing: 7-13, medium and extra wide (men’s); 5-11, medium width (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Simple, smooth, uncontrolling ride
⊕ Comfortably padded upper
⊕ Value price
⊗ Fit can feel narrow and low volume for some

In a time when dropping $150–250 on running shoes is the norm, we’re thrilled to report that this max-cushioned, extremely capable trainer costs 90 bucks. A fat midsole of compression-molded EVA feels like a lot underfoot and a tad firm upon step-in (especially since we’ve grown accustomed to many shoes’ ultra-soft foams). But they proved smooth and comfortable on the run. As one masters-runner tester reported, “They gently cushion without the squish and hyper-bounce of many of today’s models—which was surprisingly refreshing as I didn’t have to match or fight the rebound, but just landed comfortably, rolled smoothly and stably through the stride, and pushed off confidently.”

More than one tester said they appreciated that the Supersonic Max was “easy to run in.” There’s no pressure to pick up the pace or alter your stride or cadence to match the shoe’s roll, bounce, or geometry. The well-padded, breathable upper is similarly straightforward and comfortably stays out of the way. And did we mention the GoRun Supersonic Max is under $100? “This shoe would be the first I would grab as my daily trainer on paved surfaces,” Colorado tester Kat D’Angelo raved, citing their comfort, cushioning, responsiveness, and light weight.

Best Distance Trainer

Adidas Adizero Boston 12

$160 at Amazon (Women’s) $160 at Amazon (Men’s)

Weight: 9.5 oz (men’s), 8 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 37–30.5mm
Drop: 6.5mm
Sizing: Men’s 4–15; Women’s 5–12

Pros and Cons
⊕ Stable, grounded ride, with a little extra pop
⊕ Durable traction
⊕ Light, minimal upper
⊗ Upper can feel firm around the heel collar

Unlike many plated super-trainers that produce a hyper-cushy turbo boost, the Adizero Boston 12 allows a stable, connected ground-feel, delivering a more traditional running shoe vibe with a little extra pop—which some testers found preferable when putting in training miles. The shoe’s smooth roll comes from curved, glass-fiber-infused rods that parallel the foot’s metatarsal bones from heel to toes, sandwiched between a thick top layer of Adidas’s premium, bouncy, TPE-based foam (tuned softer than previous versions) and a bottom layer of a more-stable EVA blend. “I felt light on my feet and able to move and react quickly wearing these shoes,” said Liz Fliegelman of Boulder, Colorado.

The mesh upper is minimal and racy, which made us feel like going fast, and the Continental rubber outsole provides great traction for quick cornering and secure footing even on wet roads. This is a fun shoe to push the pace in, and a solid training partner for marathoners. Note: The fit is wide in the forefoot, leaving some testers craving a more secure foothold.

Best Speedy Super Trainer

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4

$170 at REI (Women’s) $170 at REI (Men’s)

Weight: 8.2oz (men), 7.2oz (women)
Stack Height: 36–28mm
Drop: 8mm
Sizing: 7-15, regular (men’s); 5-12, regular (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Highly bouncy midsole
⊕ Versatile, adaptable ride
⊕ Stable (for a super trainer)
⊕ Competitive price
⊗ Runs narrow

While carbon-fiber plated super shoes get all the love, a class of shoes lurks in their shadows that’s just as super in its own way, yet not as attention-grabbing—the super-trainer. The first Saucony Endorphin Speed defined and set the benchmark for the category, and version 4 exemplifies everything we look for in a best-in-class super-trainer: high-rebound super foam, forward-propelling (but forgivingly flexible) curved plate, eye-catching aesthetics, and, the best part, all at nearly $100 less than most carbon fiber super shoes—and better suited for putting in miles before race day.

The Endorphin Speed 4 features the same premium PEBA-based midsole as Saucony’s pinnacle racing shoe, the Endorphin Pro 3, but with 3.5 millimeters less stack height. One tester familiar with previous Speed models noticed that the “superfoam felt much snappier than earlier versions” and “was peppier and more fun to run in.” New sculpting throughout the midsole deepens the sidewalls and flares the base under the rearfoot, not only looking fast but, the tester observed, “also geometrically stabilizes the heel much better than in years past.”

To harness the bouncy, energetic foam, Saucony employs a semi-flexible, winged nylon plate embedded in the midsole that provides lateral stability and accommodates a wider range of paces and stride patterns in training than stiff, highly-tuned, prescriptive carbon plates. New this year is a zonal mesh upper that one tester called, “by far the most comfortable to date.” Testers said the shoe fit on the narrow side, hugging the foot securely for fast-paced training.

Besides being an exciting, peppy trainer for nearly anyone, the Endorphin Speed 4 can serve as an excellent racing shoe for those who want a smoother, more accommodating ride than a rigid-plated model would provide.

Best Non-Plated Uptempo Trainer

NB FuelCell Rebel v4

$140 at REI (Women’s) $140 at REI (Men’s)

Weight: 6.9 oz (men), 5.5 oz (women)
Stack Height: 30–24mm
Drop: 6mm
Sizing: 7-16 (men’s); 5-12 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Responsive, foot-engaging ride
⊕ Flexible forefoot
⊗ Poor traction on wet surfaces

Don’t be fooled by appearances. This is not a super shoe—there’s no carbon fiber plate embedded in that contoured, rockered midsole foam—but that doesn’t mean the FuelCell Rebel v4 isn’t super. The ample stack of lively PEBA/EVA cushioning makes this shoe fast, bouncy, and fun. And the lack of a plate allows the shoe to flex for a natural, foot-engaging feel, which gives it more versatility as a daily trainer.

The midsole’s angular molding both saves weight and aims to maximize cushioning in high-impact areas. Testers raved about the Rebel v4’s featherweight, speed-inspiring ride, as well as its ability to support your feet over the long haul. “This shoe made me feel fast and efficient on the track—and the cushioning was a joint-saver on my 12-mile training run,” said Lindsay Clark of Lafayette, Colorado. Another tester, who generally prefers more supportive foams, said, “The soft midsole sinks in significantly, but firms up and bounces back so quickly it provides a connected ground feel and allows for powerful push-offs.”

The upper is composed of two thin materials that are fused together without sewn seams to create an irritation-free, highly breathable fit. We appreciate the gusseted tongue—a stretchy band of soft material extends from the tongue to beneath the insole on either side of the foot—for secure midfoot support.

Tester Kiki Silver of Boulder, Colorado, said, “I would use this shoe as a trainer for tempo runs/track workouts or shorter races (5-10K) on road.” We concur. One concern: the outsole only has high-abrasion rubber pads along the sides of the heel, and lightweight rubber strips in the forefoot, leaving exposed EVA along the midfoot, which can make the shoe feel a tad slippery on wet surfaces.

Best Low-Profile Cushioned Trainer

Topo Cyclone 2

$150 at Amazon (Women’s) $150 at Amazon (Men’s)

Weight: 6.9 oz (men’s), 5.5 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 28–23mm
Drop: 5mm
Sizing: 8–12 (men’s); 6–11 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Comfortable cushioning
⊕ Ultralight
⊕ Flexible, close-to-the-ground feel
⊗ Too minimal for some

For some runners, today’s supershoes feel overbuilt—the plate’s too stiff, the midsole too tipsy, and the rocker too aggressive. The Topo Cyclone 2 presents an alternative formula, combining today’s cutting-edge foam technology with a simplified, low-profile underfoot experience. One tester described the Cyclone as “a shoe that moves like a minimalist model and provides a stable, proprioceptive ground connection while cushioning and bouncing like a supershoe.”

Despite the low, flexible, minimalist feeling, the midsole still provides plenty of cushioning underfoot for effective shock absorption. Even one tester who favors thick-soled, stiff, maximum-cushioned shoes appreciated the lightness and high-energy rebound provided by the full Pebax midsole.

Sitting atop the super-powered sole is a thin, airy, engineered mesh upper that’s tailored for a secure midfoot wrap and a wide anatomical toe box. “The fit is comfortably snug and welcoming at 5k pace or slower,” praised one tester, who also noted, however, that he found the wide forefoot felt slightly “sloppy” as he approached top-end speeds. One tester summed up: “The Cyclone 2 is a lightweight speed and race-day shoe that lets your foot control the shoe, not—like with so many of today’s carbon-fiber super shoes—the other way around.”

Read our full review on the Topo Cyclone 2.

For Cruzy Miles

Asics Novablast 4

$140 at REI (Women’s) $140 at REI (Men’s)

Weight: 9.1oz (men), 7.9 oz (women)
Stack Height: 41.5–33.5mm (men); 40.5–32.5mm (women)
Drop: 8mm
Sizing: 6-15 (men’s); 5-12 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Soft midsole balances cushioning and responsiveness
⊕ Wide base with strategic geometry creates stability
⊕ Plush upper
⊗ Upper not very breathable

If you’re a runner who believes the more underfoot, the better, you’ll fall in love with the all-new Asics Novablast 4. Boasting a whopping—and World Athletics regulations race-illegal— 41.5-millimeter (men’s), 40.5-millimeter (women’s) stack height under the heel, the shoe ensures that you’re well-distanced from the hard ground. Despite such a thick sole, however, we found the Novablast 4 still feels remarkably peppy, thanks to one of Asics’ lightest and bounciest blended-EVA midsole compounds. One tester described the ride as “more energetic than most cushioned training shoes I’ve tried, with the potential to pop off some zippy miles.”

Subtle design elements work in combination with the lively midsole, including a long, narrow carve-out in the center of the outsole that allows the foot to sink and rebound, adding stability and creating a trampoline effect with each footstrike. “The shoe absorbs landing shock very efficiently and provides plenty of spring to get you up and out for push-off,” noted one tester. The wide platform underfoot with a particularly pronounced flaring under the heel also helps to reduce sideways wobble in such a tall shoe. Testers agreed that it did the trick, citing the Novablast 4 as one of the most stable maximum cushioned shoes tested—without feeling heavy or clumsy. One tester went as far as to say, “The bulky midsole is barely noticeable while running.”

The go-big or go-home comfort in the midsole carries through to the upper. Extra plush padding is strategically placed along the Achilles and ankle while a one-piece stretch woven engineered mesh upper firmly locks the foot snugly in the driver’s seat. The only criticism: A few testers felt the mesh upper didn’t breathe well due to all the extra padding. Otherwise, one tester captured the unanimous sentiment when he commented, “The Novablast 4 is absolutely delightful for everything from recovery to steady runs.”

For Recovery Runs

Nike InfinityRN 4

$160 at REI (Women’s) $160 at REI (Men’s)

Weight: 12.5 oz (men’s), 9.9 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 39–30mm
Drop: 9mm
Sizing: Men’s 6–15; Women’s 5–12

Pros and Cons
⊕ Smooth, comfortable ride
⊕ Stretchy, plush upper
⊕ Adaptable for all gaits
⊗ Laces and tongue can dig into narrow feet when cinched

Since its inception, the InfinityRN has aimed to ward off injury with its soft-but-responsive foam, wide base, and unique heel shape with a deep groove on the lateral (outside) edge, encouraging a fluid landing and smooth transition through the stride. This fourth iteration maintains those characteristics, while getting an even wider base and losing its firm heel clip. While there is scant evidence linking any injury with running shoes, testers universally reported the InfinityRN 4 didn’t make any aches worse. In fact, one found that this shoe helped relieve her achy knee. Our test team also unanimously appreciated the InfinityRN 4’s comfortable ride, which made us want to run in the shoe regardless of its injury-prevention powers.

The latest InfinityRN uses Nike’s ReactX foam, which is cushier and springier than the original Nike React. A more energy-efficient injection-molding process makes the new foam more environmentally friendly, too. The ReactX foam is not as explosive as Nike’s Pebax-based ZoomX, but delivers a smoother, more stable feel underfoot, and testers confirmed it does seem livelier than the original React blend. The knit upper, which is soft and stretchy, is also new, and fits more like a sock than a traditional running shoe. Said a tester: “It checks off every box for me in a good road shoe: comfortable, lightweight, well-cushioned, and supportive to handle the miles.”

Best Eco-Friendly Ride

Veja Condor 3

$200 at REI (Women’s) $200 at REI (Men’s)

Weight: 10 oz (men), TK oz (women)
Stack Height: 37–29mm
Drop: 8mm
Sizing: 8-12 (men’s); 6-11 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Comfortable fit
⊕ Smooth transitions
⊕ Sustainable manufacturing
⊗ The price

The Veja Condor 3 brings sustainably-made footwear to new levels of performance. Smart usage of renewable materials results in a versatile shoe that we enjoyed on both roads and mild trails. The midsole blend includes 43 percent sugarcane-base EVA and 27 percent Amazonian rubber in an ample stack of 37mm under the heel and 29mm under the forefoot, making it a highly cushioned shoe with a lively rebound. A full-length “L-Foam” insert (made of 65 percent natural latex and 35 percent synthetic latex) is meant to absorb shock and dampen vibration, and testers reported it seemed to succeed.

One tester said, “This shoe has a balanced level of cushioning that straddles the line between soft and responsive.” Another noted that there’s nothing compromised in terms of performance despite the environmentally conscious materials and build. “The midsole compares with many of today’s softly cushioned, bouncy foams, and the geometry—with raised sidewalls, compression grooves, and a moderate rocker—delivers smooth and stable landings and transitions,” he said.

The 100-percent recycled polyester engineered mesh upper secured our feet, though the fit is a bit wide. A padded collar and external heel clip made of castor-oil-based Pebax Rnew lock-in the heel before opening to a flared forefoot, making the neutral shoe feel stable. The highly breathable mesh is reinforced by glued-on TPU overlays that add to the secure foothold and enhance durability. With its bio-based materials and smooth ride on a variety of surfaces, this is a feel-good shoe in every sense.

Most Comfortable Fit

Topo Athletic Magnifly 5

$135 at Amazon (Women’s) $135 at Amazon (Men’s)

Weight: 8.7 oz (men), 7.2 oz (women)
Stack Height: 25–25mm
Drop: zero
Sizing: 8-14, 15 (men’s); 5-11, 12 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Comfortable, anatomical fit
⊕ Springy, moderately-cushioned ride
⊕ Versatile range of distances
⊗ Zero drop doesn’t work for everyone

Testers raved about the overall fit and feel of the Magnifly 5, with a padded heel collar and tongue giving way to a roomy-but-not-sloppy toe box. “The footbed is contoured beautifully,” said one, “conforming to the natural arch of the foot without a bulky or oddly-placed arch support.” Two testers, one male, one female, claimed the Magnifly 5 is the most comfortable shoe they’ve ever worn (and one has been testing running shoes for decades).

A new midsole compound makes the Magnifly 5 springier and more responsive than previous versions and competitive with other lightweight, bouncy, cushioned trainers. The layer of cushioning is relatively thin without being minimal, and we found it to be both a joint saver on long runs, and lively enough for speedy efforts, even as fast as 200-meter repeats on the track. Testers reported the shoes seemed to encourage a quicker, more balanced stride and, those used to zero-drop geometry and a flexible forefoot said they felt less beat up after runs than when they wore stiffer, more cushioned shoes.

The recycled, engineered mesh upper wraps around the foot with a wider-than-most lacing system that results in well-distributed pressure across the top of the foot. A low-profile exterior heel counter joins the contoured footbed to add a touch of stability that feels natural, not controlling. And the outsole rubber did a great job of making us feel secure on slick sidewalks and rocks. The overall light weight of this shoe adds bonus points.

Most Stylish+High Performance

Tracksmith Eliot Runner

$198 at Tracksmith

Weight: 9.2 oz (men’s), 8.0 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 33.5–24.5mm
Drop: 9mm
Sizing: Unisex shoe, M4/W5.5–M13/W14.5

Pros and Cons
⊕ Stylish enough for fancy casual wear
⊕ Step-in comfort
⊕ Wide versatility of paces and ranges
⊗ Can feel a tad soft for fast efforts
⊗ Low-volume fit

This shoe cushions plenty for long runs, feels peppy and spry enough for tempo efforts, inspires quick quarter-mile efforts on the track, and can be worn casually on the daily. This trainer does it all.

Underfoot comfort and cush comes from a combination of a soft, super-thick (three times the norm) sockliner layered over a slightly denser midsole, both made of Pebax—the premier shock-absorbing compound of the hour, usually found in marathon-racing supershoes. The sockliner aims to mimic the feel of running on fall leaves or soft dirt (and does), while the firmer midsole is designed to compress just enough to encourage underfoot pop (and does). The fit leans low-volume from top to bottom, adding to a sleek feel, while a secure heel hold tapers out to a slightly wider toe box.

The engineered mesh upper sports soft and retro-stylish synthetic suede around the heel collar and lacing eyelets, and achieves structure with a simple sash at midfoot. This is a comfortable, capable, and great-looking shoe that we’re mildly obsessed with.

Best Stability Shoes

Best All-Around Stability

Brooks Glycerin GTS 21

$160 at REI (Women’s) $160 at Amazon (Men’s)

Weight: 10.5 oz, 8.9 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 38mm (heel), 28mm (forefoot)
Drop: 10mm
Sizing: 7-15, medium and wide (men’s); 5-12, medium and wide (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Streamlined fit
⊕ Smooth, stable cushioning
⊕ Minimal bulk to support ratio
⊗ A tad stiff

The Glycerin GTS 21 is a fantastic workhorse of a shoe; both plush and stable, it’s a reliable, supportive training partner for daily jaunts to long, slow, distance runs. Step-in comfort comes from a soft, flexible “warpknit” upper material that, joined with a thickly padded tongue and heel collar, enveloped our feet comfortably. “This shoe had good breathability with the soft mesh fabric,” said Boulder-based tester Kat D’Angelo, who added, “They keep airflow throughout my feet to keep them cool.”

The midsole, which gained two millimeters of nitrogen-infused, EVA-rubber blend foam without adding weight, had our testers using words like “vibrant” and “smooth, controlled, and springy.” The stable ride comes from a wide base and Brooks’ GuideRails, a non-intrusive strip of denser foam on the arch side of the shoe plus elevated midsole sidewalls on both sides, designed to gently help the foot stay in its preferred movement path even when fatigued. “They don’t have the zing of a super-trainer, but they let you relax and forget about your feet and shoes,” said Nebraska tester Jonathan Beverly.

We felt stable, secure, supported, and comfortable in these shoes for miles on end, making them a great choice for marathon training or other situations—like getting back into running after a break—that require a build-up in mileage.

Best Plush Stability

Asics GEL-Kayano 30

$121 at REI (Women’s) $121 at REI (Men’s)

Weight: 10.6 oz (men’s), 9.2 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 40—30mm (men’s); 39–29mm (women’s)
Drop: 10mm
Sizing: Men’s 6–16; Women’s 5–13

Pros and Cons
⊕ Well-cushioned sole and upper
⊕ Smooth rolling ride
⊕ Stable without being firm or stiff
⊗ Somewhat heavy

As running shoe brands begin to rethink the traditional strategies of using stiff midsoles and firm posts under the arch to control foot movement in stability shoes, no other flagship shoe has embraced this departure more than Asics GEL-Kayano 30. Every single tester, including our most prominent critic of stability shoes, applauded the now softer, newly refined model.

Asics created plush stability in the GEL-Kayano 30 by means of a wider midsole with an increased heel bevel, a flared sole under the forefoot, and, most surprisingly, a softer, high-energy foam under the arch where we’re used to finding a firm medial post. Rather than attempting to block rotational movement, Asics says the bouncy insert, in combination with the shoes’ geometry, is designed to reduce the time at peak pronation and gently guide an over-rotating foot back into a more neutral position as it transitions from heel to toe-off. Combined, these elements “delivered a smooth, comfortable ride that is stable without any hint of control,” said a neutral-footed tester.

The stack height is also four millimeters higher than the previous GEL-Kayano, and the gel insert is reportedly 65 percent softer. The result is a shoe with softer cushioning that’s more “protective, responsive, and smooth,” as one tester described. Asics also added a steeper toe spring to help maintain a smooth toe-off from the thicker, more voluminous midsole. The plush persona continues throughout the engineered mesh upper that’s simple and thickly padded around the heel counter.

Best Lightweight Stability

Brooks Hyperion GTS

$110 at Amazon (Women’s) $110 at Amazon (Men’s)

Weight: 7.9 oz (men’s), 7.3 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 28–20mm
Drop: 8mm
Sizing: Men’s 7–15; Women’s 5–12

Pros and Cons
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Low-profile, agile-feeling, and supportive ride
⊕ Highly breathable upper
⊗ Slightly firm, more ground feel than some prefer

We loved both the Brooks Hyperion and Hyperion GTS for their lightweight comfort and springy, nitrogen-infused cushioning that one tester described as “fun and fast.” The only difference between the two shoes is that the GTS version features segments of firmer foam on top of the midsole along both sides of the heel—what Brooks called “GuideRails”—to help reduce rotation for runners whose stride strays excessively inward or outward, especially towards the end of their run as a result of fatigue. We rarely noticed the subtle control, except for the feeling of underfoot confidence the shoes provided with each stance. Both versions feature a lightly-padded, flexible, and super-breathable upper, which ranked high among hot-footed testers.

These shoes are ideal for any runner looking for a daily trainer or racer that gives them some feel for the ground without being minimal. In an era of massive amounts of cushioning that can sometimes make us feel like we’re running onplatforms, the Hyperion GTS offers a lower-riding, more connected, and stable running experience without compromising rebound and comfort.

Best Racing Shoes

Best All-Around Supershoe

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 2

$260 at Puma (Women’s) $260 at Puma (Men’s)

Weight: 9.3oz (unisex)
Stack Height: 40–32mm (unisex)
Drop: 8mm
Sizing: 7-11,12, 13 (men’s): 5.5-11 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Durable, lively midsole
⊕ Comfortable, form-fitting upper
⊕ Long, smooth toe roll
⊗ Requires a powerful stride to fully leverage the shoe’s benefits

Testers marveled at how smooth and speedy the new Fast-R 2 felt. “As a 5K to half marathon racing shoe, this has the potential to be among the fastest shoes on the market,” raved tester Brock Bulter of West Chester, Pennsylvania. What’s the secret sauce? A new midsole compound called Aliphatic-TPU lies under both the heel and the forefoot and offers industry-leading rebound while being more durable than the more commonly used TPU or PEBA foams.

Leveraging insights from the original Fast-R, Puma performed a top-to-bottom redesign, retaining only the decoupled design that allows the rearfoot and forefoot to move independently.

Embedded in the high-yielding midsole is a stiff, aggressively curved, full-length carbon fiber plate that extends beyond the toe to enhance its lever action, springing you forward with every step. Puma claims the foam/plate combo results in an astonishing 46% more energy return than the previous version of this shoe. We agree that the FAST-R 2 seems to give back more energy and feels faster than the original. Brock said that during a fast-paced track workout, he ran quicker in the Puma FAST-R 2 at the same effort than in other super shoes. Complementing the race-ready underfoot ride is a comfortable, form-fitting woven mesh upper that’s hard to get on at first, but once your feet are in, fits like a glove.

Regardless of their ability or their footstrike, testers unanimously agreed that this shoe stood out as one of the best super shoes they had tried, especially for shorter, sub-marathon distances.

Best Marathon Racer

Hoka Cielo X1

$275 at Running Warehouse  $275 at Hoka

Weight: 9.3oz (M10/W11 Unisex sizing)
Stack Height: 39–32mm
Drop: 7mm
Sizing: 5-13, 14 (men’s): 6-13, 14, 15 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Amazing rebound off forefoot foam and aggressive rocker plate
⊕ Comfortable sock-like upper
⊕ Stable ride for supershoe
⊗ One of the heaviest supershoes
⊗ Stiff ribbon laces can be difficult to tie tight

Designed to be Hoka’s pinnacle marathon racing shoe, the Hoka Cielo X1 shines in the bounciness department. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more lively ride. Thanks to an aggressively-scooped carbon fiber plate sandwiched between two layers of energetic PEBA foam, the sensation is as close to running on a trampoline as you’ll find. The shoe’s asymmetrical shape follows the path of your foot through the gait cycle, which, combined with wings on the sides of the plate’s forefoot, make the shoe feel stable at speed with the propulsive rebound all directed toward forward motion.

However, our test team unanimously agreed the Cielo X1 is tuned more for midfoot and rearfoot runners with a sweet-spot pace in the 5:30 to 7:30 per-mile range. Brock Butler, a powerful forefoot runner from West Chester, Pennsylvania, noted, “Turning up the pace (beyond 5:30 per mile) requires a lot of effort. I feel like I’m fighting the shoe and its intended use.” On the other end of the range, veteran runner Jonathan Beverly found the Cielo X1 “comfortable, propulsive—and fast” when he hit 5K pace in the 7:30 range, but “clumsy” during an easy 9-minute per-mile cooldown.

We found the soft sock-like knit upper with a stretchy tongue and secure heel counter comfortable and form-fitting. The thin-knit material is durable and extremely airy. Testers noted the Cielo X1 had a wider toe box than most supershoes and praised the extra room for allowing a natural toe splay. Testers had mixed feelings about stiff, non-stretchy ribbon-like laces. Matt Setlack of Ontario, Canada, said it was “impossible to keep them tied up,” while tester Scott Burns of West Chester, Pennsylvania, enjoyed the “lightweight design that provides a secure and tight tie.”

When we stayed within the sweet spot range, the Cielo X1 emerged as one of the most fun supershoes we’ve tested to date. The combination of the bouncy midsole, aggressive forward-propulsive rockered geometry, and well-contained, comfortable upper is hard to beat.

For Shorter Road Races

Asics Magic Speed 3

$160 at Asics (Women’s) $160 at Amazon (Men’s)

Weight: 7.7 oz (men’s); 6.5 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 36–29mm (men’s); 35–27mm (women’s)
Drop: 7mm
Sizing: Men’s 6–15; Women’s: 5–12

Pros and Cons
⊕ Bouncy, snappy ride encourages quick strides
⊕ Breathable mesh upper
⊕ Value-priced for a plated shoe
⊗ More prescriptive roll than super trainers with flexible plates

The Asics Magic Speed 3 proves that low cost and high performance aren’t mutually exclusive. Priced nearly a hundred dollars less than many carbon-fiber super shoes, these are “the best bang-for-the-buck 5k-to-half marathon racing or speed workout shoe on the market,” said one tester. Asics swapped the carbon/TPU blend plate in the Magic Speed 2 for a full-length carbon fiber plate that’s noticeably more snappy and forward-propelling. That, coupled with a soft and responsive double layer of Asics’ top EVA-based midsole foam, results in a “light and bouncy ride” that “inspires speed,” noted one tester.

Complementing the magic in the midsole is the same form-fitting, airy, mesh upper material seen on the brand’s top-tier, carbon-fiber, marathon-racing models. The result is a shoe that one tester said, “Feels as connected to your foot and the ground as an old-school racing flat, but delivers a lively boost that compares to top-end super shoes without being so trampoleny that it slowed my cadence or altered my stride.”

How to Choose a Running Shoe

When choosing a road running shoe, the first step is to determine the type of running you’ll primarily be doing in them. Do you need a speedy racer, a shoe that offers comfort during long, slow jogs, or a versatile trainer that can handle various distances and paces? Next, consider your preference for the feel of the shoe’s cushioning: do you like a soft, forgiving ride, a more energetic, bouncy sensation underfoot, or a firmer platform that provides better ground feel? With advancements in foams and technologies, many shoes today offer cushioning without compromising responsiveness or stability. However, each shoe balances these characteristics differently, providing a spectrum of options to choose from. The key to finding the perfect running shoe is choosing the one you’re most comfortable with.

Once you’ve narrowed the search to a certain type of road shoe, you need to find a pair that complements your unique body and stride. Every runner’s body, gait, speed, experience, and ride preferences are different, so every runner will interact differently with each running shoe. The shoe that your best friend or your sister-in-law loves may be uncomfortable for you and make running feel slow, sluggish, or even painful. Finding the perfect pair of road running shoes is a seriously personal affair.

The process for choosing the best running shoes is a matter of finding the models that both fit your foot and also feel best when you’re running. To determine fit and feel, there’s no substitute for trying the shoes on and running in them.

Fit: Match Your Foot Shape

When assessing fit, first pay attention to length. You need room at the end of your toes as your feet lengthen during their dynamic movements on the run. A rule of thumb is to allow a thumb’s width between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Runners often wear a running shoe a half or full size bigger than their street shoes.

Ensure that the shape of the sole and the upper matches your foot shape. The sole should be as wide or wider than your foot for the whole length, and match the curve of your arch comfortably. The shoe should hold your foot securely over the instep, while allowing the ball of the foot and the toes to splay and flex when you roll forward onto them. Your heel shouldn’t slip when you lift it, and the arch should be able to dome and lengthen naturally. Nothing should bind or rub as you roll through the stride.

Feel: Match Your Movement Path

If the shoe fits, it’s time to take them on a short run on a treadmill, around the store, or, ideally, down the block and back. Every running shoe has a unique ride created by the type and density of foam in the midsole and the geometry of that foam: its thickness, width, heel-to-toe drop, molded sidewalls or flares, and forefoot flexibility or rocker shape (plus, in an increasing number of models, the presence of and type of embedded plate). Each of these elements interact with each other and your stride to determine how the shoe reacts on landing, how much it cushions, how stably it supports, how smoothly it transitions from landing to toe off, and how quickly and powerfully it rebounds.

The best way to choose the shoes that complement your body and stride is to find the ones that feel right on the run. Benno Nigg, the world-leading biomechanics professor who proposed this method of shoe selection, calls it the “comfort filter,” but makes clear it is far more than how plush the shoe feels when you step into it. What you want to assess is whether the shoe allows and supports the way your feet want to move, what Nigg calls your “preferred movement path.” In the right shoe, while running at your normal pace, you will touch down where you expect to land, roll smoothly and stably through the stride without noticing the shoe, feel both cushioned from and connected to the ground, and push off naturally, quickly, and powerfully. When this comes together you’ll know that you’ve found your pair.

It’s likely that several shoes will feel good on your feet. To find the most comfortable, it helps to compare them back to back, like an eye doctor will do with corrective lenses: flipping between “A” or “B,” “1” or “2.” You may also find that different shoes feel better at different paces or level of fatigue, and you may want more than one pair. In fact, research shows that wearing a variety of different shoes is one of the few proven ways to reduce injury risk as it appears to vary the stresses on your feet and joints.

What About Injury Prevention?

Running shoes have long been marketed and sold as prescriptive devices to help runners stay healthy, but there is little scientific evidence correlating shoes, or any specific shoe properties—like cushioning or pronation control—with running injuries. Medical professionals say that it is highly difficult to determine whether a runner needs a certain type of shoe, and studies have shown that prescribing shoes using traditional methods like treadmill gait analyses or wet-foot arch height tests don’t consistently reduce injuries.

Don’t assume that you need more cushioning or more stability if you have sore joints, or if you’re a heavier runner, or if you’re a beginner—evidence doesn’t support many common beliefs. The best way prevent injury is find two or three different pairs that feel right on the run, ease into using them, and vary your shoes, your running surface and your pace regularly (plus avoid rapid increases in your training load and work on improving your mechanics).

How We Test

• Number of testers: 21
• Number of shoes tested: 134
• Number of miles: 17,000+ over a year

To test running shoes, we begin by researching every brand’s upcoming offerings for the coming season. We wind up with dozens of samples of the models (62 road models this season, 134 over the year) that are most promising—not just for us, but for 21 testers that range in age, ability, running form, geographical location, and preferred shoe types. We try to put each tester in models from within the same category (e.g., neutral, stability, carbon fiber, zero drop or uptempo) so everyone can test apples-to-apples.

After three to six months of running in each model on paved roads, concrete multi-use paths, treadmills, sandy beach paths, dirt roads, and tracks at a variety of distances, paces, and weather conditions, our crew members report back with their assessments of fit, comfort, traction, cushioning, flexibility, stiffness, pop, what type of running the model is best used for, how the shoe compares to other models, and more. We also run in every shoe ourselves, and, combining all the tester feedback with years of personal experience, hone in on the best. This guide combines the best recent shoes with top shoes still available from the past two test periods.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Lisa Jhung

Freelance journalist, editor, and author Lisa Jhung has researched, tested, and written about running shoes for the past decade and a half, much of that time for Outside and Outside Buyer’s Guides. She coordinates a fleet of female shoe testers out of Boulder, Colorado, and says her home office is a perpetual obstacle course of cardboard boxes and piles of running shoes. Lisa’s written about gear of all kinds for numerous national magazines as both an editor and freelancer, including a stint as the Shoes & Gear blogger and trail running microsite editor for Runner’s World.

A high school jumper and occasional sprinter/hurdler, she started running—really running—after walking off the collegiate volleyball team, and moved on to road and trail races of any distance, triathlons, adventure races, and mountain running. She’s happiest testing rugged trail shoes on gnarly terrain, and also loves a good neighborhood jaunt…but is almost always looking for ribbons of dirt. Lisa is the author of “Running That Doesn’t Suck: How to Love Running (Even If You Think You Hate It)” (2019) and “Trailhead: The Dirt on All Things Trail Running” (2015).

Cory Smith

Cory’s passion for running started over 30 years ago in high school when he became the number six ranked runner in the nation at 3000 meters his senior year. After high school, he competed at Villanova University, earning two NCAA Division I Championship showings. Today, he’s determined not to let age slow him down and competes on the national master’s circuit, running a 4:12 (4:30 mile pace)) 1500 meters and 9:04 (4:52 mile pace) 3000 meters in 2021 at age 43. He prefers a hard track workout or tempo run over an easy long run any day but also appreciates a challenging trail or mountain run.

His obsession with running shoes started in 2014 when he wrote his first shoe review for Gear Institute. Since then, he’s tested and reviewed hundreds of running shoes, clothing, and gear for Outside, Runner’s World, Footwear News, and other outlets. He has a soft spot for speedy shoes over heavy trainers but loves dissecting all shoes equally and thinking like a product engineer to explain the why behind every design detail. Cory is the Founder of Run Your Personal Best, an online running coaching business, and since its inception in 2014, has coached runners’ to over 100 Boston Marathon Qualifying times.

Jonathan Beverly

Jonathan fell in love with running his freshman year of high school and quickly became fascinated with finding the perfect pair of running shoes. That quest got a boost when he became editor of Running Times in 2000 and started receiving every new model as they were released. The parade of shoes continued while he served as shoe editor for Runner’s World, then editor of PodiumRunner, and currently fitness gear editor at Outside. Having now worn nearly every running shoe created in this century—and a fair amount of those dating back to the early models of the ’70s—he’s given up on finding the one best and now relishes the wide variety of excellent options.

Once a 2:46 marathoner regularly doing 50+ mile weeks, recent injuries and his age have reduced his volume by about half and slowed his easy training pace to around nine-minute miles—but he says he still enjoys an uptempo workout or two each week. Beverly is the author of the book Your Best Stride which explores how each individual’s gait—and thus shoe preference—is unique. He enjoys getting scientists’ take on new shoe trends and trying to describe the nuances of each shoe’s ride.