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To help you find the best men's running shoes for you, we’ve tested hundreds of pairs in recent years, putting each through their paces with a variety of training runs to see how they handle different speeds and terrains.
We’ve also looked at the fit and comfort of each shoe, as well as considering the level of performance and value they offer in comparison to other shoes, and then picked out the very best option in a variety of categories.
If you’re after a versatile shoe that can handle almost anything you throw at it, we think that the Nike Vomero Plus is the perfect choice. It’s comfortable, durable, and suitable for a variety of runs. However, it’s not your only option as we’ve rounded up the best men’s running shoes you can buy right now, in categories from best value to best for race day, and more.
Best men's running shoes overall
If you want a shoe that makes running more fun, the Nike Vomero Plus and its huge stack of springy ZoomX foam in its midsole does exactly that.
Despite this thick layer of foam, it's still surprisingly light, meaning it performs well at faster paces for a shoe with this much cushioning. Its upper is light and breathable, too, and I was very pleased with the fact that it was comfortable straight out of the box.
On my initial eight-mile run, I didn't experience any hotspots or rubbing, which was a definite plus. Its padded tongue and collar helped to keep things comfy, too.
It is made with easy daily training runs in mind, as well as longer runs — that's when you'll really start to feel grateful for its protective, comfy ride. Even if you're training for a marathon, it will support you through the extra miles and still be good to go on race day if you don't have a dedicated racing shoe.
Its main drawbacks are the fact that it is not as light and fast as the best carbon-plated running shoes, and that it is on the expensive side.
Still, running in this shoe definitely put a smile on my face thanks to how bouncy it is. If you're looking for a great everyday running shoe, you can't go wrong with the Nike Vomero Plus.
- Read our full Nike Vomero Plus review
Best men’s running shoes for beginners
The Asics Novablast 5 is a jack-of-all-trades running shoe, offering a sizeable stack of comfortable cushioning in a surprisingly lightweight design. It offers all the protection you need to cruise through easy and long runs, while having enough pep for faster efforts as well, even if it’s not as fast as a dedicated speed shoe.
It’s a great option for beginners and any runner who wants one shoe to do all their training in, but will also serve experienced runners with a shoe rotation well as a daily trainer that can handle most of your weekly mileage, which is how I used it during my testing.
The FF Blast Max midsole foam is soft without being so squishy as to sap your energy, and the rockered profile of the Novablast 5 helps to roll you from heel-to-toe smoothly. The angular design and array of wild colors available will also appeal to many runners, and the Novablast line has always held up well for me when it comes to durability.
- Read our full Asics Novablast 5 review
Best value men’s running shoes
The Puma Velocity Nitro 4 is a great daily trainer at a good price. It's lighter and has an easier ride than the already impressive Velocity Nitro 3, thanks to its redesigned midsole, making it very easy to recommend.
In testing, I found it could handle a bit of everything, offering lightness and speed for tempo runs and sessions, and cushioning for when you just want comfort on an easy run.
It may not be quite as cushioned as the Asics Novablast 5 or the Puma Magnify Nitro 3, but it still has plenty of protection under the heel in particular. Its NitroFoam midsole delivers a good amount of energy return and offers a light and poppy ride.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is the fact that the Puma Veolcity Nitro 4 has a narrow base. This may make it unsuitable if you have stability needs. While I didn't have any issues with the shoe on this front, if you want a lightweight daily alternative with a wider design, consider the New Balance Rebel v5.
I personally think that the Puma Velocity Nitro 4 works best in rotation with a faster shoe like the Adidas Adizero Evo SL, with the Velocity Nitro 4 being used as a daily trainer for easy and long runs, especially on mixed terrain.
However, if you don't have a running shoe rotation, the Puma Velocity Nitro 4 is a good enough all-rounder that you can use it as your only running shoe. Plus, it's a great option for beginners, too.
- Read our full Puma Velocity Nitro 4 review
Best cushioned men’s running shoes
If you want a capable running shoe that works well for daily training and offers a mix of both comfort and a lightweight design, the New Balance 1080v15 is a great option.
The 1080v15 has a new contoured mesh upper with raised sections on it. The material felt a little stiff at first, but once I slipped my feet in, it was comfortable, and I didn’t notice the upper at all in my runs, which is always a good sign.
For a cushioned shoe, it’s not overly padded around the tongue and collar either, and I’d say it’s more breathable than many sneakers in its category.
The main update to the 1080v15 is its new Infinion midsole, which replaces the Fresh Foam X foam used on the past few models of the shoe.
This is a lighter, more responsive material than Fresh Foam X, and gives the shoe a livelier feel than its predecessor while still retaining the comfort you expect from the 1080 line.
Along with the new foam, another reason why the 1080v15 is light for a cushioned shoe is that it doesn’t have the most extensive outsole.
There is rubber covering the heel and forefoot of the shoe, but there’s a lot of exposed foam in the midfoot area. This shouldn’t be a major problem with regard to durability, since the main areas of wear and tear on a shoe are the heel and forefoot, but the 1080v15 might not be as hard-wearing as a shoe with a fuller rubber outsole.
During my testing, I used it for a long run, several easy runs, and a couple of easy-to-steady progression runs, and it is a more versatile running shoe than many highly-cushioned options, thanks to its lighter, more agile design.
The new Infinion foam in the midsole is well-balanced, in that it’s neither excessively soft and mushy nor too firm. It does deliver comfort and protection, but has a bit of pop off the toes as well.
It’s not quite as lively as some other foams I’ve tested in cushioned shoes, though, such as the springy ZoomX used in the Nike Vomero Plus, or the responsive Nitro Foam used in the Puma Velocity Nitro 4. As a result, I didn’t find the New Balance 1080v15 as good for speed sessions or tempo runs as it was for easy efforts.
My other concern with the foam is that it felt like it compressed during the course of my longest run in the shoe, which was around 13 miles, and most notably in the forefoot, it lost some of its bounce during the run.
- Read our full New Balance 1080v15 review
Best men's race running shoes
The Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is hands-down one of the fastest shoes I've ever run in, and is definitely worth considering if you're looking for a racing shoe. It's even lighter, springier, and faster than its predecessor, the Metaspeed Sky Paris.
This is thanks to the big updates to its midsole, which now uses two different types of foam — FF Turbo+ and FF Leap.
FF Turbo+ foam, the same foam that is used for the entire midsole of the Metaspeed Sky Paris, was used in the top layer. The bottom layer is made up of FF Leap foam, which is lighter and springier than FF Turbo+. Sandwiched between these two foams is a full-length carbon plate, adding propulsion and stability.
Its upper is made of lightweight and breatheable MotionWrap 3.0, and it has just enough padding to be comfortable without adding unnecessary weight. During testing, it didn't rub at all, even on long runs. Additionally, it held my foot nice and securely for fast efforts.
Its springy ride impressed me on every run. No matter if I was doing short, fast reps in the shoe or long tempo or race-pace runs, it always felt amazing. It made holding a fast pace feel easier, and was especially good when I was running on tired legs at the end of sessions.
Even when your running form deteriorates, and you start to shuffle, the bounce from the foam and plate keeps you going, and the extreme lightness of the shoe helps you to continue picking up your feet.
No matter the distance you plan on racing, the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is a top option worth considering.
- Read our Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo review
Best men’s trail-running shoes
The best trail-running shoes for you will often depend on the terrain you’re going to tackle, because the outsoles on trail shoes are designed to grip on different surfaces, be it deep mud or hard rocks. However, the Hoka Speedgoat 6 is the trail shoe I recommend to people most often, because it’s exceptionally versatile, both in the terrain it works for and the kind of runs you can do in it.
That starts with the 5mm lugs on the Vibram outsole, which provide reliable grip on a wide range of surfaces. I’ve used the shoe on sun-bleached rocky trails and muddy forest tracks, as well as running on the road in it at times, and it always delivers reliable traction.
The versatility of the shoe is also a result of its midsole, which is comfortable and stable, but also made from a lightweight foam that is responsive enough to use for faster runs. The Speedgoat 6 is a shoe you can use for ultramarathons and short, fast trail races, and everything in between, even if it’s not quite as speedy as a carbon plate trail racer like the Hoka Tecton X3.
Having used both shoes extensively I will say that the Speedgoat 6 is quite similar to the Speedgoat 5, however, so if you see an excellent deal on the older shoe that would offer better value. There are some small upgrades to the Speedgoat 6 including a lighter midsole foam, but both the 5 and 6 are excellent options for trail runs.
- Read our Hoka Speedgoat 6 review
How to choose the best men's running shoes
When you’re looking for the best men’s running shoe, there are a few things to consider. First, how do you run? It’s always a good idea to head to your local running store to have your gait checked before investing in a pair of running shoes to ensure you’re not overpronating, as you might need a support shoe or insole. Not sure what this means? Check our guide on how to buy running shoes.
Next, you’ll need to think about the kind of miles you plan on running. If you’re looking for a fast shoe for your next road marathon, you’ll probably want to look at something lightweight, which has a responsive foam to propel you to your next PR. That said, if you’re a complete beginner, you’ll probably want to look at a more stable shoe that’ll keep you comfortable as you run and walk.
Finally, have a think about the surfaces you plan on running on. If you’re a trail runner at heart, you’ll need a shoe with a good amount of grip on the outsole to keep you from slipping on uneven terrains. On the other hand, if you do most of your miles on hard concrete, you’ll want a little more cushioning to keep you comfortable.
How we test the best men's running shoes
We test the best running shoes on the market by running in them. We've run at least 50 miles in each of these shoes, on a number of different terrains, and in different weather conditions.
When testing running shoes, we’re looking for a number of different factors to help us make up our minds. Obviously, how comfortable they are underfoot and how well they fit are primary concerns. However, we also look at how responsive they are at different paces during different sessions, and how well they perform on a wet sidewalk or a muddy path.
Other factors we consider when testing the best men's running shoes include such basics as how easy they are to lace, as well as extras like carbon-fiber plates, or ultra-lightweight midsole foams. Last, we also take the price of the shoe into consideration for our final rating, relative to other shoes in its class.
FAQs
Can I use running shoes for regular use?
While there's no reason why you can't wear your running shoes on a dog walk or in the gym, this will shorten the life of your shoe. Some running shoes, such as those with a carbon fiber plate, are designed for racing, so we wouldn't recommend heading out for a walk in those.
How long do running shoes last?
The answer here depends on the type of running shoe you bought, and what you're using the running shoe for. For example, a carbon fiber running shoe won't last anywhere near as long as a cushioned running shoe, which is designed to be more durable.
At the same time, going out every single day, or doing a lot of trail running means you're likely to wear through your shoes quicker than someone doing a couple of runs a week. You'll also wear your shoes out faster if you wear them to the office, walking the dog, or in the gym.
As a ball-park figure, experts reckon shoes should last between 300-500 miles. If the midsole doesn't feel as cushioned as it once did, or there's visible wearing to the sole or upper, it's time to upgrade your shoes.
