The Best Road Running Shoes of 2015 Best Road Running Shoes Picking our favorite road shoe was particularly difficult this year. There are now true standouts in every category, from minimalist flats to maximalist megafatties. And in between those extremes is a veritable flood of inspired trainers—shoes that pair minimalist construction with thick foams that are springier, more durable, and more responsive than prior generations. After testing 36 of the top shoes from 19 different brands, we found these seven to be best in class. Each is a big winner in our book, though the new Brooks Launch 2—the ultimate hybrid of a speedy lightweight trainer and a high-mileage comfort shoe—shone brighter than the rest. The Best Road Running Shoes of 2015 Brooks Launch 2 When Brooks released the original Launch in 2009, it was onto something big, but the project was placed on the back burner during the minimalist frenzy. Six years later the lightweight, deep-cush formula that made the original a cult favorite is back with a modern twist.

Read the full Gear of the Year review. The Best Road Running Shoes of 2015 Newton Distance IV Best For: Mid- and forefoot strikers with an evolved stride who like to boogie. The Test: Little changes in the Newton from year to year, and that’s fine with us. The Distance IV ($155) has a new paper-thin tongue and fewer overlays around the toe box to fit a wider range of feet, but it still offers the same things that make the shoe such an efficient speedster—the ridiculously low weight and lightning-quick turnover, plus a hyperefficient forefoot with Newton’s five-pod lug design. “I can’t run slow in these,” said one tester. The Verdict: If you dig the boost of those wide and springy forefoot lugs, the Distance IV is screaming fun. The Best Road Running Shoes of 2015 Nike Lunartempo Best For: Training in racing flats. The Test: Nike designed the new Lunartempo ($110) as a more foot-friendly version of its Lunaracer, giving the shoe a softer landing but a similarly silly-low weight and close-to-the-ground, flexy, almost minimalist feel.

The fit is more slipper-like than that of any other shoe here, thanks to the snug Flymesh upper. Impossibly smooth, albeit a bit close to the ground for heel landers. We appreciate the just-enough rubber on the outsole to slow wear. The Verdict: An antidote to harsh minimalism for those addicted to quick turnover and great ground feel. Strong feet will really love this shoe. The Best Road Running Shoes of 2015 Mizuno Wave Rider 18 Best For: Heel strikers looking for an energetic, supportive trainer. The Test: In its 18-year streak, the Wave Rider ($120) has been defined by its firm feel. While the stiffness can come off as harsh, it makes the shoe one of the most supportive and responsive in the lightweight class—the plastic wave plate in the heel turns each foot strike into forward motion. And there’s more spring up front than in prior generations. “What it lacks in comfort, it makes up for in efficiency,” said one tester. The stouter build also translates to great durability.

The Verdict: Heel strikers who don’t need pampering will love this classic. The Best Road Running Shoes of 2015 Saucony Triumph ISO Best For: Foot-pillow addicts who like high-mileage cruising. The Test: Saucony overhauled the Triumph ($150) this year to make it the comfiest shoe in its line. best puma shoes for runningDesigners added 20 percent more cushioning than prior generations, there’s three more millimeters of it, and the upper has a new tongueless bootie construction that makes pulling on the Triumph feel like slipping into a sock. best running shoes for it band painThe best part: the shoe dropped half an ounce from last year and still feels reasonably energetic. buy shoes adidas online uk

We did notice some top-foot pressure under the overlays, though. The Verdict: Peppy, light, and deeply cushioned without overdoing it. The Best Road Running Shoes of 2015 New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay Best For: Midfoot strikers looking for a responsive trainer. The Test: The Boracay ($120) offers all things in moderation. best nike shoes for running supportIt’s certainly thick, but the “ultraplush” cushioning New Balance touts is not in the same ballpark as the padding in giants like the Saucony and Hoka One One. buy action school shoes online indiaBy comparison, the Boracay is way more conducive to faster paces yet still amply padded underfoot. buy action school shoes online india

The heel feels squishy and deep, and the forefoot is thin enough not to seem sluggish. The stitchless upper was the most comfortable in the test, with nary a pressure point. The Verdict: A speedier, welcome alternative for fat-shoe fans. The Best Road Running Shoes of 2015 Hoka One One Constant Best For: Bigger runners who need a trusty platform. The Test: The thickest shoe in our test (by a hair), the Constant ($160) was also the softest (by far) and was built to be more stable than other megafatties. It has less outsole rocker, a stout plastic heel counter, and a dual-density midsole to help steady wobbly feet. There are drawbacks: it’s slow, and testers complained that it didn’t feel secure around the top and midfoot. But high-volume feet should be happy. The Verdict: If you’re after a steadier version of Hoka’s signature deep, soft salvation—and don’t mind sacrificing some zip to get it—this is your shoe. Last updated: April 2017. Instead of releasing a new best list every few months and leaving possibly a trail of old, out-dated lists out there – we will periodically update this article whenever we feel a new running shoe deserves a spot in here.

Make sure to check the date of last update to make sure you are reading an updated one! Possibly the most asked questions by our readers and any person who knows I run this site, “what are the best running shoes” is not an easy question to answer! Running shoes are a very personal matter. So personal in fact that a recent medical research established that comfort and fit are the most important matter while selecting a running shoe in terms of minimizing the risk of injury. For this reason, it is impossible to make a list that will be valid for everyone. Don’t worry though – for each shoe we selected, we will explain why and who we recommend them for. Last point before we start: strong, we recommend you to either read our running shoes buying guide or let our wizard help you select a pair that works for you. The neutral category is the bread and butter of the running shoe world. If you have never bought a running shoe before, trying one of these three is a good bet.

$120 - The Ghost 9 is a very solid, no-nonsense neutral running shoe that delivers on all aspects. A new seamless upper improves on an already great fit. The cushioning is soft and the traction great even on wet surfaces. $120 - The Saucony Ride 9 is a neutral trainer, designed to be durable and perform well while running on road and track surfaces. With the large amount of cushioning and ample use of rubber combined with a relatively low weight, the Ride 9s could be considered a racing shoe for distances over 10km. $140 - Newest introduction to the Asics family, the DynaFlyte is a premium well cushioned neutral shoe. It is the first Asics shoe to utilize the FlyteFoam derived from the ultra-expensive MetaRun and makes for a fantastic shoe, although on the expensive side compared to the competition. Although the effectiveness of Stability shoes has been put to test in the past few years, there is a large part of the running population that does indeed need added support.

I am one of them! Brooks Adrenaline GTS 17 $120 - The Adrenaline GTS (go-to-shoe) is a staple support shoe from Brooks. This shoe offers a very supported run while still allowing you to go fast when needed. Our tester Jon says that it is a step above the rest in the stability game. $110 - Another usual suspect is the Asics GT-2000. This year's version updates the upper to a fresh, modern look and feel with an especially improved lacing system. $140 - Another Brooks stability shoe, but this time a quite different shoe than the other, more traditional ones. The Transcend abandons dual density posts and introduces a guide-rail system that keeps your foot in place. Kristin says the stability is stellar. After the minimalist boom that started in 2009 and collapsed a couple of years ago, new brands (I am thinking of Hoka ONE ONE) came with a new proposition. What if instead of shoes with extremely low stack heights we went the opposite direction and created extremely high, super-soft shoes?

Hoka One One Bondi 5 $150 - The Bondi 5 is a solid maximum cushioning shoe. It has a comfortable upper and a smooth cushy ride. Whether you’re used to max cushioned shoes or are thinking about making a switch you will be happy with the Bondi 5. Nike Zoom Vomero 12 $140 - The combination of a soft midsole and a very comfortable upper with the ability to lock down the fit are what make this shoe really great. It provides great responsiveness and ground feel compared to a lot of shoes in its category. It could easily be used as a multipurpose shoe for training and racing for those preferring cushion over lightweight. Hoka One One Arahi $130 - This for runners looking for maximal cushioning but still needing stability. HOKA ONE ONE has expanded its well-cushioned line by introducing its first stability shoe, the Arahi, which offers a fabulous combination of support and stability fused with lightweight cushion, with an upper fit that is very similar to what I've experienced previously from HOKA.

Although minimalist running shoes have gone as fast as they arrived – they changed running shoe design forever. Runners now expect light weight from every kind of shoe, they appreciate lower drops and value the need for more than one pair of running shoes in their rotation. Here are a few shoes that weight little and feel fast. $105 - The Skechers GOrun5 is a lightweight trainer that can log the long miles and take a pounding. The fit is superb, with great cushion for a very reasonable price. Hoka One One Clifton 3 $130 - The Clifton 3 improves upon an already stellar platform. It combines ultra soft cushioning and comfort into a lightweight package delivering a ride as smooth as they come. $110 - The Kinvara 8 is substantially similar to the 7 and retains the significant changes in outsole, upper, and midsole that debuted in last year’s shoe. However, updates to version 8 include two key improvements that take the shoe to the next level: a wider toe-box and softer ride.

This version undoubtedly lives up to the cult-status of the Kinvara. Support running shoes have historically been the heaviest of the bunch. But we see every year new models added to the “lightweight stability” category. Adidas Adizero Tempo 8 $105 - The Adidas Adizero Tempo 8 is the shoe you’ll run your next PB in. It is light, responsive and fast giving you just the right amount of support along the way. Mizuno Wave Catalyst 2 $110 - Same as for last year's model, I do love these shoes. They come in a category that is missing competitors and therefore very welcome. The upper fits nicely but materials could be better. Asics DS Trainer 22 $120 - The ASICS DS Trainer 22 continues to impress those in the know. The introduction of new FlyteFoam material makes it a workhorse that can double as a race day shoe. Trail Running is quite a generic term that includes running over a variety of terrains, inclines and mileage. We believe the shoes listed below offer a good choice for all your trail running needs.

Hoka One One Speed Instinct $120 - If you are looking for an introduction to trail running, the Speed Instinct is what we call a road/trail hybrid. Comfortable enough to run on pavement, but rugged enough to take you through some non-technical trails. Combine this with very light weight, low stack height and a stable base and you have found your very first trail running shoe. Altra Lone Peak 3.0 $120 - The Lone Peak 3.0 improves over already incredibly successful 2.0 and 2.5 - Liked for the zero drop, toebox design that allows for maximum toe spread and a particularly grippy outsole, it is a shoe we recommend to all kind of trail runners, but particularly for ultra runners for 50 milers and up. New Balance Vazee Summit $100 - Ready for running on challenging terrains thanks to very aggressive lug pattern and a 3/4 rock plate, the Summit sports a no-sew upper that is quite flexible and quite low weigth. Couple all this with a $100 price-point and we can see this shoe be very successful for NB going forward.

Although our recommendation is to buy a previous version of a current running shoe (you can easily find last year’s version of a shoe for up to 40% discount, scoring you a $100 shoe for $60), some of the running shoes in the $60-$80 range are actually quite good. Here are our favorites, and watch this video to let Frank explain to you why you shouldn’t buy EXTREMELY cheap running shoes. $60 - The Cohesion continues its tradition of being an amazing value for its money. It's a very versatile choice for daily use and our main recommendation if you are looking for a good running shoe on a budget. It also comes in a wide version. $60 - A very traditional but solid entry-level running shoe from New Balance. Ideal for runners training for their first 5k. $60 - The Asics Gel Contend is a budget shoe that offers a cushioned ride in an inexpensive package. This focus on cushioning makes the shoe slightly heavier than similar models, but does not take away from the overall great performance of the shoe.