The Race Is On: How to Find the Best Running Shoes for You
Last year during the height of the pandemic, like many others, I rediscovered the joys of running—and that meant searching for the best running shoes for women. Back then, it was one of the few ways to exercise safely and I wanted to make sure I set myself up properly. So, I turned to the experts.
I sought out Nike Training Club Master Trainer Traci Copeland, who explained that the best running shoes for women and men really depends on what your foot does while you run. “Some pronate or supinate,” Copeland says, explaining the difference between runners who place their weight on the inside versus the outside of their feet. “Sometimes you need more support based on this.” In order to determine your foot type, there are several fundamental tests you can perform in the comfort of your own home. The simplest is the “Wet Test,” in which you wet the sole of your foot and step onto a blank piece of paper. The damp footprint left behind will help establish whether you are a neutral runner or over- or under-pronator. As a neutral runner, I’ve found the various Adidas Ultraboost prototypes to fit my everyday running needs. Their supportive heel and midsole design provide just the right amount of cushioning to protect my fragile ankles from the daily pressures of urban running.
Senior fashion writer and Vogue’s in-house running fanatic Liana Satenstein found her perfect shoes through trial and error. “I used to run to work to wake me up—five and a half miles from Brooklyn to 1 World Trade Center,” Satenstein says. “Obviously, I can’t do that anymore, but I still go every morning for about a 5K to four miles. It puts me on a schedule and clears my head.… If I didn’t do it, I’d probably melt into my bed.” Through these seemingly endless miles, Satenstein found the best running shoes that work for her with a comfortable fit and sufficient cushioning.
From the comfortable, lightweight shoe for the everyday jog to the high-performance sneakers designed for elite runners and everything in between, shop the 16 best running shoes to incorporate into your running routine below.
Concrete Crusader
Designed for the streets, the superfoam technology of On’s Cloudflow sneakers make running on concrete feel like running on, well, a cloud. Their lightweight, modern silhouettes create a sleek design without compromising the styles’ high-performance capabilities, which are perfect for the New York streets. Or, take a lap in APL’s Techloom Waves and test the styles designed to absorb the shock with each pound on the pavement.
In for the Long Haul
Durability, stability, and fine-tuned cushioning are key to finding the perfect running shoe for long distances. Whether you’re running a 5K or prepping for a marathon, the extended heel geometry in Hoka’s Clifton Edge is designed to provide a smoother impact, while Adidas’s Ultraboost 21 combines energy return and responsive technology to emulate that I-could-run-forever feeling.
Treading Lightly
Making your way back into the gym and onto the treadmill? Try lightweight, breathable shoes with ample support to counteract the repetitive stress on your body and garner the highest efficiency. Take Nike’s Epic React for example, Copeland’s running shoe of choice.
Into the Woods
Trail running is a different beast of its own, with unpredictable terrain at each stomp of the foot. Much like long-distance running, durable sneakers with stability technology are essential when searching for the perfect fit. Be sure to consider outsoles with gripping to enhance your ground connection and motion control, and keep you on your toes for the unforeseeable rock obstacle just up the hill.
