Best Running Shoes For...
The best running shoe depends on your feet, how you run and what you need the shoe to do. Start with your foot type, comfort needs, training goals or running surface.
What Do You Need From Your Running Shoes?
Choose the category that best describes what you are looking for. Each guide brings together our running shoe recommendations, comparisons and advice for that need.
Feet & Gait
Find running shoes based on your foot shape, arch type and the way your feet move.
- Flat feet
- Overpronation
- Supination
- High arches
- Wide feet
Pain & Injuries
Explore running shoe guides for common areas of pain, discomfort and injury recovery.
- Plantar fasciitis
- Knee pain
- Shin splints
- IT band syndrome
- Achilles pain
Runner Type
Different bodies and experience levels can call for different fits, support and cushioning.
- Beginners
- Heavy runners
- Older runners
- Men
- Women
Running & Training
Choose shoes around how you train, how far you run and what you want the shoe to do.
- Daily training
- Long runs
- Recovery runs
- Speedwork
- Marathon training
Cushioning & Support
Narrow your choices by ride, cushioning level and how much guidance or stability you prefer.
- Maximum cushioning
- Stability
- Neutral shoes
- Lightweight shoes
- Low-drop shoes
Surface & Conditions
Find running shoes built for the surface, weather and conditions you encounter most often.
- Road
- Treadmill
- Trail
- Winter
- Rain and wet roads
There Is No Single Best Running Shoe
A shoe that works well for one runner can be completely wrong for another. Your foot shape, gait, preferred cushioning, weekly mileage and running surface can all change what makes a shoe comfortable.
That is why Best Walking Feet organizes its running shoe guides around the runner rather than simply ranking the same shoes for everyone. Use the categories above to narrow the field before comparing individual models.
If you are not sure where to begin, our free Shoe Finder can help narrow your choices using your foot size, gait, activity and other preferences.
Start With These Guides
Some running shoe questions come up again and again. These are useful starting points if you already know what problem you are trying to solve.
Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet
Read Guide → Feet & GaitBest Running Shoes for Wide Feet
Read Guide → Pain & InjuriesBest Running Shoes for Knee Pain
Read Guide → Pain & InjuriesBest Running Shoes for IT Band Syndrome
Read Guide → Running & TrainingBest Running Shoes for Treadmill Running
Read Guide → Surface & ConditionsBest Running Shoes for Winter
Read Guide →Not Sure What Kind of Running Shoe You Need?
Tell us about your foot size, width, gait, activity and support needs. Our Shoe Finder will suggest a current model worth considering.