Best Running Shoes in 2025

In 1972, American marathon runner Frank Shorter ignited what's now known as the “running boom of the ’70s” after taking gold at the Munich Olympics. Around the same time, a young track runner named Steve “Pre” Prefontaine was trickling into public consciousness, winning adoration across the United States with his non-traditional racing tactics. Bill Bowerman, Prefontaine’s acclaimed coach and Nike’s inventive co-founder, helped the prodigy gain small margins over the opposition by outfitting him in his proprietary footwear creations. Wearing never-before-seen silhouettes such as the Waffle Trainer, Prefontaine ascended to greatness as the Swoosh’s first signed athlete. 

Tragically, Prefontaine passed away in a car crash at the age of 24, but not before leaving an indelible mark on the running world and Nike. His visibility catapulted the Beaverton company to the forefront of the running boom, positioning Nike as a viable contender to adidas, New Balance and specialist heritage labels such as Brooks.

Today, each name remains steadfast in its pursuit to unlock human athletic potential through technological advancements, with running shoes in particular showcasing sportswear brands’ most acclaimed innovations. Over the last 10 years, luxury names including Balenciaga, Zegna and Loewe have brought outdoor aesthetics to the runway, blurring the line between performance and style. 

But because of the plethora of options available, finding the right running shoe may not be as straightforward as it seems. There are numerous practicalities to consider when selecting the right pair, from your own feet and what construction best suits them to weather and the potential need for waterproofing or additional breathability.

Below, a comprehensive breakdown of what to look for and general advice when buying running shoes in 2025.

What to Look for When Buying Running Shoes

Functionality: Speed vs Support

Everyone has different needs and requirements when it comes to running shoes. Some prefer a lighter silhouette that aids speed, while others, particularly those who may have suffered injuries, require reinforcement around debilitated areas. Environment is also a factor. For example, a city dweller will be better served by a shoe that interacts well with concrete, while someone in the countryside should opt for a design that can handle dirt. Categories that address some of these topics include:

Road Running Shoes

When people think of running shoes, what typically comes to mind are road running shoes, sometimes known as road runners. As the name implies, these shoes are intended for running on the road, pavement or other hard surfaces. Road running shoes tend to be engineered with a foam midsole and breathable uppers.

Road Racers 

Racers, sometimes referred to as lightweight running shoes, shed excess materials to optimize quickness. The category has made huge advancements in the last decade, led by silhouettes such as Nike’s Alphafly. Famously, Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge wore the shoes when he ran the world’s first marathon under two hours. Other models are made for shorter distances, like the Nike Streakfly, designed for 5K and 10K distances.

Trail Runners 

When stepping out of the city to hit the trail, it’s important to find a shoe that can handle dirt, rocks, potholes, roots and sticky terrain. Trail runners generally have a more rugged makeup, designed to keep out mud and other terrestrial elements. Grippy rubber outsoles, or lugs, typically provide superior traction, while stiff midsoles help stabilize the foot.

Running Shoe Features 

Irrespective of running gait, there are key characteristics that runners—both amateurs and professionals—look for in running shoes. Support is a major factor, whether it’s to prohibit overpronation (when the foot rolls inward) or supination (when the foot lands outwards). For overpronation, stability or support shoes are created with higher-density foam around the midsole that provides resistance against arch collapse. Neutral shoes with lateral cushioning and a wider toe box are preferred for supination.

When it comes to mitigating impact between foot and surface, the human body plays a natural role in reducing force by contracting the muscles or switching up posture. The shoe also helps. Runners tend to be split on how much cushioning is required: some prefer a minimalist shoe (like the Vibram FiveFingers) while others opt for a more maximalist, denser midsole (like the Hoka One One Clifton). The midsole foam also affects the responsiveness of a shoe. When a shoe is billed as responsive, it responds to the ground and provides energy return. 

The weight of the shoe is also a consideration. Lightweight shoes are faster but can be less comfortable, particularly on rocky terrain, whereas heavier builds offer comfort at the expense of speed.

Foot Type

Depending on your anatomical foot type, you may require a specialist type of running shoe. There are high arches (meaning the arch is raised higher than normal), low arches (when your feet lie flat or close to flat on the ground) and normal arches (when the middle half of the foot is half filled).

People with high arches need cushioned shoes, while people with low arches often require supportive shoes. Stability shoes are best for people with normal arches. It should be noted, low arches differ from flat feet. Flat feet often require a straight last (the mold that informs the shape of the shoe).

There are running shoes that accommodate people with wider feet. Width is usually denoted through the addition of a letter next to the numerical size. The letter for denoting width tends to change from brand to brand.

Top Brands for Running Shoes

From Nike to New Balance to adidas, these three iconic sportswear companies have become synonymous with running shoes over the past century. Today, they are joined by a number of new brands that are reinterpreting the performance landscape with fresh technologies and aesthetics. Below, a list of specialists renowned for their running shoe styles.

• Nike Running Shoes
• adidas Running Shoes
• ASICS Running Shoes
• Hoka One One Running Shoes
• Brooks Running Shoes
• New Balance Running Shoes
• Saucony Running Shoes
• ON Running Shoes
• Karhu Running Shoes

Top Road Running Shoes

There are more road running shoes than any other category, favored by runners of all levels as a workhorse option. Today, the upper of road running shoes is usually made from knit or mesh, providing ventilation and allowing air to circulate around the foot. Sometimes, a waterproof liner such as GORE-TEX is incorporated to help repel rain. Underfoot, road running shoes are generally built with foam midsoles to offer cushioning against the impact of concrete, while rubber outsoles provide traction. The optimal heel-to-toe drop measurement (meaning the difference between the height of the cushion under your heel and the height of the cushion under your forefoot) depends on the shape of the wearer’s foot. 

Nike Zoom Fly 6

Lighter than its predecessor, the Zoom Fly 5, the sixth iteration in Nike’s Zoom Fly super shoe series is equipped with ZoomX foam and a carbon-fiber plate.

adidas Adizero Evo SL

adidas’ Adizero Evo SL made waves upon release due to its advanced technical specifications and agreeable price point. Catering to runners of all distances and speeds, the shoe features Lightstrike Pro superfoam and a Continental rubber outsole.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4

As its name suggests, Saucony’s Endorphin Speed 4 is a daily trainer well-suited for speed training. The silhouette incorporates SPEEDROLE technology for pace and smooth transitions, with PWRRUN PB foam absorbing impact. A re-engineered winged nylon plate provides stability without sacrificing movement.

Top Road Racing Shoes

Shoes in the racing category are designed for speed, favored by people who want to post quick personal best times, particularly over 5K, 10K and half-marathon distances. These shoes weigh less than typical runners, often composed with a thin upper such as single-piece engineered mesh. A bouncy midsole absorbs impact, joined to an outsole that tends to be thinner than standard road running shoes.

Nike Alphafly 3

The 2025 evolution of the Nike Alphafly takes the super shoe series to the next level, improving comfort and stability with an all-new shoe mold. Distinguished by its lightweight build, the update combines double Air Zoom units, a full-length carbon-fiber plate and a heel-to-toe ZoomX midsole.

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4

adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro 4 is even bouncier than its Pro 3 predecessor, developed over several years to ensure the best race shoe possible. The silhouette is notable for its aggressive ENERGYRODS (adidas’ equivalent of carbon-fiber plates), with a Lightstrike Pro midsole and Continental rubber outsole coming together for a smooth ride.

ASICS Metaspeed Sky+

ASICS’ Metaspeed Sky+ is engineered for runners with longer strides, combining FF BLAST TURBO cushioning with a curved sole design and propulsive carbon-fiber plate.

Top Trail Running Shoes

The first thing people notice when lacing up trail running shoes for the first time is how they generally weigh more than road running silhouettes. Built to support and protect the wearer’s foot on rugged routes, they are often designed with a weatherproof upper that resists mud, rain and other debris. Midsoles are usually thicker and supported by lug outsoles to allow the wearer to dig into dirt. Carbon or plastic-fiber rock plates are usually placed between the midsole and outsole to negate the impact of landing on stones.

Trail running shoes are usually the footwear of choice for endurance runners and ultra-distance athletes.  Characterized by a bold design language, the 2010s and 2020s have seen specialist brands like Salomon cross over into a style context for the first time.

Saucony Endorphin Rift

The Saucony Endorphin Rift is a trail runner that incorporates SPEEDROLE technology to make light of muddy terrain, gravel roads and everything in between. The shoe is well-suited for ultra marathons.

Nike Pegasus Trail 5

Nike’s Pegasus Trail 5 eats up tricky terrain, combining a ReactX midsole, an underfoot generative traction pattern and a Flywire lacing system.

HOKA Tecton X 2

HOKA's Tecton X 2 is constructed of a fabric called Matryx, infused with Kevlar strands for additional support. Parallel carbon-fiber plates make the shoe an ideal option for those who want speed going up trails.

Running Shoe FAQs

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