Best Running Shoes, Tested and Reviewed (2026): Saucony, Nike, Hoka

Honorable Mentions

As we said, WIRED runners lb hundreds of miles each year. Here are a fewer of the different shoes we've tested that you mightiness privation to see if the supra bash not enactment for your foot. If you're not acquainted with a brand, we urge going to a section moving store for a trial tally earlier plunking down your recognition card.

Diadora Nucleo 2 for $165: The Nucleo 2 isn’t a wow, high-energy, ace springy shoe. But if you’re a instrumentality of straightforward, nary nonsense comfortableness and bully inherent stableness crossed a bully scope of paces, the Nucleo 2 delivers.

Rad R1 for $160: Made to maestro gym, HIIT, moving and each mode of hybrid workouts, I’ve been utilizing the Rad R1 erstwhile I’m eating up my spot and information enactment successful the gym similar a bully boy. They’re bully for abbreviated runs, and miles connected the softer treadmill belt, unchangeable and supportive capable to get nether the barroom and connection power for drills similar container jumps and lunges. They look bully too.

Altra Outroad 3 for $130: Altra is simply a smaller marque that's known for its wide toed container and zero heel-to-toe drop—it makes shoes that feel similar you're moving barefoot, but connection much protection. This is my favourite footwear for switching betwixt roads and trails. They're affordable, too.—Adrienne So

New Balance Rebel V5 for $145, Adidas EVO SL for $120, Mizuno Neo Vista 2 for $200: Another top-notch each rounder to rival the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5, the Rebel V5 is smooth, airy and susceptible crossed the full gait range. The Adidas EVO SL tin besides grip thing you propulsion astatine it. But if you similar your things ace brushed with a spot of bounce, the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 serves up a uniquely cushioned plush ride.

New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 for $165, HOKA Clifton 9 for $144: If you've ne'er tally before, the Hoka Clifton 9 is my proposal for a opening runner. Despite Hoka's outsized (ahem) reputation, this is simply a beauteous minimal footwear that's comfortable, balanced, and light.—Adrienne So

Saucony Ride 17 for $99: This is besides a bully older budget-shoe model.

Saucony Hurricane 24 for $110, Brooks Glycerin 21 GTS for $160: Consumer tech manager and podcast big Michael Calore runs successful the Brooks Glycerin. This is our alternate prime if you're buying for shoes that connection greater stability.

FAQ

How Should I Care For My Running Shoes?

• Give them a remainder day. After agelong runs, midsole foam takes clip to decompress. Rotating shoes with 48 hours betwixt runs boosts your shoe’s bounce-back-ability.
• Undo your laces. You’re tired, we know, but kicking disconnected (or worse squeezing backmost in) without unlacing your moving shoes is simply a sure-fire mode to harm the heels fast.
• Wash them if they get muddy. Mud and soil successful the precocious fibers tin origin them to degrade. But don’t lavation them successful the machine, bash it by hand—and enactment good wide of the dryer.
• Keep things cool. Prolonged vulnerability to precocious vigor from a radiator oregon the sun’s rays tin dry, harden, and harm the midsole.
• Stuff them. Remove the insoles and adust each moving footwear separately. Then usage scrunched up paper to adust retired damp inners faster and assistance the uppers clasp their shape.

How Long Should My Shoes Last?

The internet's corporate contented says that you should regenerate your shoes determination betwixt 300 and 500 miles. However, this decades-old regularisation of thumb is based connected a fewer constricted studies and wide proposal from brands. New foam varieties, outsole rubbers, and precocious exertion means it’s present harder to connection broad advice.

There are galore antithetic formulas of modern midsole foams. Durability is present judged not lone by however agelong the protective cushioning lasts, but besides whether it continues to present the bounce and performance. Some of the apical superfoams mightiness suffer their archetypal vigor but stay arsenic protective arsenic a firmer, much accepted EVA sole. For example, your high-tech c contention footwear could go your regular runner erstwhile it’s mislaid its top-speed edge.

You besides person to origin successful your unsocial moving style. Shoes deterioration otherwise for antithetic runners, impacted by variables similar weight, stride pattern, pace, regular usage, terrain, and climate. There are evident signs of deterioration and tear: Heel collars rubbed through, holes successful the uppers oregon grip worn to the constituent it’s nary longer effective. It’s harder to spot erstwhile a midsole has had its day. They don’t crease successful the aforesaid mode older shoes utilized to.

The champion advice: Use your shoes until thing feels off. When that happens, you mightiness privation to commencement shopping.

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