© Lakota Gambill Whether you're running 5Ks or trail marathons, your first race or your hundredth, there's a shoe in here for you. The best running shoes for women share the same class-leading features with the best shoes overall—they're light, comfortable, cushioned, and just supportive enough where you need it most. But that locus of support is where some of the biggest differences between men's and women's running shoes can be found. Check out quick reviews below of five of our top picks, or scroll deeper for more in-depth reviews of these and other options, plus buying advice.
Lighter and SofterFirst off, women's shoes share a few features based on characteristics that may or may not apply to you. It's possible you might prefer a "men's" shoe, just as some men might feel more comfortable in a "women's" shoe. The designs of the shoes are just based on general group tendencies—such as that women have less muscle mass than men and tend to weigh less as a result. For this reason, women's shoes often have a lighter and softer midsole to make up for the lower degree of impact put on the shoe with each stride.
Foot ShapeStudies on foot shape have shown that women's feet aren't just smaller, narrower versions of male feet—there are differences in overall shape that affect shoe fit. Women's feet tend to be comparatively wider in the forefoot, with a narrower heel. Running shoe makers take this statistical difference into mind when designing their shoes, and generally build their shoes with different heel shapes and sometimes different heel materials between the two models of the same shoe. Companies like Altra, with its Fit4Her technology, specifically design shoes that anatomically mirror a woman's foot.
The Hip FactorResearchers have also found that because women tend to have wider hips than men, our feet are more likely to strike the ground toward the outside of our shoe soles. The inward rolling of the foot that results from this is known as pronation, which explains why more women are believed to overpronate than men. Some women's running shoes account for this increased tendency with different materials used for support through the sole.
© Lakota Gambill Running Shoes for Women How We TestedWe chose all the shoes in this roundup based on feedback from the women on our test team, as well as test results from our RW Shoe Lab. We also researched the market, surveyed user reviews, spoke with product managers and designers to find the best of the best. Every shoe was evaluated over the course of hundreds of miles, with attention given to overall performance, comfort, ride, longevity, value, and yes, even style—because who doesn't want to feel like they look good, even alone on a trail? Here are our favorite running shoes for women this year.
―READY TO CONQUER ALL―Saucony Peregrine ICE+Running all winter takes a lot—extra motivation, tireless dedication, and in the worst conditions, the right pair of shoes. The ICE+ makes it easier to get out there on days that would otherwise confine you to the treadmill with a Vibram Arctic Grip outsole that can grab ice without tearing up bare roads like a spiked sole would. Overall, the neutral shoe's fit is comfortable, with a flexible overall ride and extra cushioning in the forefoot, plus a heel fit praised by women on our test team for how well it locks the heel into place. A water-resistant upper fends off the snow, even when you're breaking new trail. But for summer trail runs, the regular Saucony Peregrine is equally capable, bringing the same deep, lugged outsole and cushioned platform to a shoe with a more breathable upper.
―BEST FOR RECOVERY RUNS―Hoka One One Clifton 6If you've never tried a thick, pillowy Hoka One One shoe, it's hard to believe how light they can feel until you slide your foot into a pair. Great for recovery days or when you just need a break from harsh pounding against concrete, the Clifton 6 wraps your foot in foam and centers it over a thick slab of cushioning with a firm heel and soft forefoot. The shoe is slightly curved to help you roll through your stride. This year's version is the lightest since the Clifton's original release in 2014, but it is still a better shoe for long miles than speedwork. The upper has been redesigned in an engineered mesh to fit more smoothly and securely, with just enough structure to comfortably cradle your foot.
―BEST FOR SPEED DAYS―Nike Air Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2The Turbo 2 is built for women who want to go fast, with a soft, springy ZoomX foam in the midsole borrowed from the record-setting Vaporfly Flyknit 4%. Typically, an EVA foam midsole will compress easily and then take its sweet time recovering shape. But ZoomX technology has blown us away with its quick compressibility and immediate rebound. Nike has added a thin layer of React foam to the bottom so the shoe will hold up for longer, as well as a rubber outsole grid for traction. Overall, this is a high-mileage, versatile shoe that combines the fit and feel of a workhorse Pegasus with the lightweight speed of a racing flat. Just be warned that the upper feels slightly less secure than the first Peg Turbo.
―HOTTEST DEAL―Under Armour Hovr Sonic 2Our favorite shoe from Under Armour does a heck of a lot well, thanks to a bouncy foam midsole that's plenty soft underfoot without feeling mushy. "The highlight is definitely the cushioning—it's right up there among the best shoes I've tested," one of our testers said. "The shoe is sound for everyday runs, track workouts (although it may be slightly heavy for some runners), and long runs." The Hovr Sonic 2 also tacks on some bonus features—a Bluetooth-enabled insole pairs with the MapMyRun app and tracks your metrics so you can leave your watch and cell at home (though you'll need your phone to use the tethered GPS and voice-coaching features). The high-abrasion rubber outsole provided solid traction despite rain, snow, and ice, and held up for more than 180 miles. Our only complaints were with the shoe's upper—our testers found the toe box to be too narrow and recommended sizing up.
―BEST DOOR-TO-TRAIL CRUSHER―361 Degrees 361-TarokoDesigned to be a door-to-trail shoe, the 361-Taroko shines on off-road runs with a little pavement thrown in. You won't get a lot of cushion underfoot—a 9mm heel-toe offset leaves you with a thin layer of foam at the flexible forefoot—but many of our testers enjoyed the more connected ground feel this gave the shoe. "On the trail this shoe provided the perfect balance of cushioning and control," said one. "On the road the ride is firm, but this is a trail shoe so I'm not complaining." Chunky directional lugs give you plenty of grip for all but the most technical trails without sacrificing your pace on pavement.
Read Review―MOST SUPPORTIVE―Asics Gel-Kayano 26The 26th iteration of the Gel-Kayano brings big changes, including a sleeker look, more stability for overpronators, and a snug mesh upper with an external heel counter for a locked-in feel. All this—plus a longer medial plate that extends from the midsole to the heel—comes with the intention of providing more motion control and a sturdier ride. Two types of lightweight foam at the heel (for added bounce) and toe (for forward propulsion) give the shoe plenty of cushion and support. Plus, the women's version has an extra 3mm of midsole height to reduce strain on the Achilles.
―FOR THE ZERO-DROP CURIOUS―Altra Escalante 2We loved the original Escalante's responsiveness and fast feel, which added some cushion and support to the brand's expected zero-drop minimalism. The 2 met our high expectations and even exceeded them in some areas, with a high-rebound midsole that feels stiff and snappy enough for speedwork but cushy enough for long runs. "I'm training for my next marathon, hoping for my first BQ, and I will be wearing this pair of shoes for that race," said a tester new to Altras. "The zero drop makes me feel faster, more efficient, and lighter on my feet." Although this shoe runs a little narrower than the previous model, it still sports a wide toe box and enough flexible flat-knit fabric in the upper to satisfy runners used to Altra's generous fit—though women in particular might want to go a half-size down, due to a wider heel. It bears mentioning: Altra builds all of its women's shoes around its "Fit4Her" platform—a women-specific last that takes into account the wearer's narrower heel, higher instep, and longer arch.
―FOR MARATHON TRAINERS―Brooks Ghost 12A perennial favorite for new runners and marathon maniacs alike, the Ghost has always provided a quick, smooth ride that holds up over the miles. This year's edition somehow raises an already-stellar bar with a new 3D Fit Print upper that promises a lighter feel and sleeker aesthetic. While our testers thought the Ghost 11 had ample cushioning in the heel, they felt it could use a little more softness up front—and Brooks listened; our RW Lab data showed there is indeed softer cushioning in the forefoot of the 12. "From front to back, the cushioning is superb without being too mushy," said one female tester. "The forefoot was cushioned enough to provide a soft landing while also letting me feel the terrain beneath me."
―FIRM AND FAST―Hoka One One Mach 3If you've never considered Hokas to be race-day footwear, you likely haven't tried a shoe from the brand's Mach line yet. The latest version, the Mach 3, rides the line between feeling fast and cushioned, with a responsive midsole that provides just enough bounce, and a lightweight, rubberized foam outsole with no shortage of traction. It's not as heavy as the Clifton—nor as softly cushioned—but it's lighter, stiffer, and still has enough foam to protect your feet for long races. An early stage Meta-Rocker creates that rocking chair effect to smooth out your heel-to-toe transitions and propel you toward the finish line. The new engineered jacquard upper is so light, perforated, and breathable that our testers reserved the shoe for above-freezing days. Some testers complained that these shoes ran a bit large in the toe box, even as compared to other Hokas, so consider sizing down if you're between sizes.
―LOTS OF CUSHION―Mizuno Wave Sky Waveknit 3Mizuno completely redesigned the brand's midsoles this year with a dual layer of foam in the shape of a wave, plus a full-length third foam level for even more cushioning. In the case of the Waveknit 3, the result is a shoe that feels softer, bouncier, and less stiff—without losing the smooth-riding qualities we've loved in Mizunos of yore. A more flexible knit Waveknit upper provides a snug fit with better stretch in the toe box than the Waveknit 2's mesh upper. The durable rubber outsole is largely unchanged, adding up to a cushioned-but-firm trainer that will float you through your daily mileage.
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