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Whether you're checking out options for your first running shoe ever or your next race-day model, you're in the right place. Over the past decade, we've researched and tested close to 500 of the best running shoes on the market. For this review, we bought 19 of today's top road-focused models and put them through hundreds of miles of side-by-side testing. Finding the perfect pair of shoes can be overwhelming, but our in-depth analysis will help you narrow down your choices to find the best fit for your running style and budget.
Editor's Note: Our men's running shoe review was updated on June 5, 2024. We added 10 new models to our lineup, two of which performed well enough in our testing to earn awards. We also revisited our evaluation of older models to ensure past ratings hold up to the new competition.
Weight Per Shoe (Size 10.5): 9.76 oz | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 7 mm
REASONS TO BUY
Lots of fun, bouncy foam
Versatile
Plush and lightweight upper
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor grip on slick/wet surfaces
Comfortable upper might run warm
Thanks to an engaging geometry and fun, comfortable ride, the Asics Novablast 4 is our choice for the best overall running shoe. It's our favorite trainer for daily use; we use it for easy days and some workouts. The FF Blast + Eco foam absorbs impacts and returns energy well. The rocker geometry and “trampoline” forefoot act as advertised, making this relatively big shoe feel light and bouncy. We think it thrives at easy-moderate paces, but we've enjoyed it all the way down to 5K pace. The upper of the Novablast 4 is soft, with enough stretch to accommodate a wide variety of foot shapes while still providing comfortable lockdown.
Our only true concern with this shoe is traction. The lack of lugs is evident when running on wet or slick roads, and the risk of a slip increases with pace. However, it wasn't enough for us to stop using this shoe in winter, even after our testing. This shoe is comfortable and fun, which makes it the perfect daily choice for us. We think it could be a quiver-killer for runners who want one shoe that can do a little of everything comfortably. For others, it could find a spot in a rotation for easy/uptempo days. If you're looking for a shoe that is as fun as it is reliable, start here. If you are looking for a more stable and supportive daily trainer, the Asics Gel-Kayano 30 is a similar shoe that doesn't have the same excitement but has a lot more stability.
Weight Per Shoe (Size 10.5): 9.03 oz | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 6 mm
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent versatility
Great comfort and smooth cushioning
Fast and responsive ride
Snappy enough to be a race shoe for some runners
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive for a daily trainer
If your running involves regular doses of faster paces, we think the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is the perfect shoe for you. It's one of the few options out there that truly can handle any type of run. Thanks to the responsive PWRRUN PB foam, a moderate forefoot rocker, and a nylon plate, the Speed 4 gets after it in workouts while remaining comfortable enough for long, easy miles. The upper is comfortable, and Saucony updated this version with a fit that should work for more runners.
We really don't have any issues with this shoe other than price. It's not the cheapest option, but in fairness, no other shoe in our lineup offers such a great balance between performance and comfort. Compared to previous iterations of the Speed line, this one feels approachable and stable but still quick. It's great for runners who only have one shoe and like to pick up the pace. If you're super-shoe-curious but not ready to spend that much, the Speed 4 will make a perfect companion for your training block, and it's one that you can wear all the way across the finish line. For runners with a rotation, we think this slots in well as a workout shoe that can also handle faster long runs. If you're after a high-performing trainer, this is your shoe. If you want something that's versatile but a little more tuned for comfort, the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is a great choice.
If the Endorphin Speed 4 sounds interesting but is a bit out of budget, you can take a look at last season's Speed 3, which performed almost as well in our testing and is often steeply discounted at many retailers. Check out our previous review on the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 to compare the two versions side by side and see which one is right for you.
The versatility of the Speed 4 makes it more than just a speed shoe. It can do anything you ask, and rarely will hold you back.
Weight (per shoe): 10.07 oz | Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop: 10 mm
REASONS TO BUY
Light and responsive foam
Affordable
Best-in-class traction
Versatile
REASONS TO AVOID
Higher weight
Narrow toebox
We think the Puma Velocity Nitro 3 is a great shoe choice for most days, whether you want to take it easy or push the pace. With a decent stack of Puma's supercritical NITRO foam, it's relatively lightweight, smooth, and responsive. The upper is breathable and has excellent lockdown, although the toebox does run a bit narrow. The PumaGrip outsole performs very well on a range of road surfaces, from ice to dirt and everything in between. The versatility makes this shoe our first choice when we travel; it's comfortable for long runs on unknown roads and responsive enough to get the job done during workouts.
Puma added a little stack height to this new version of the Velocity Nitro, which increases comfort but reduces overall stability. This is a neutral shoe with a good ground feel and is probably not the best for runners who need significant amounts of lateral stability. It is also heavier than average for the group, although we did not feel the weight on our runs. Overall, this is a solid pick for most runners, from beginner to seasoned racer; it can work alone or in a rotation. This level of versatility, combined with its affordable price tag, makes it a great budget buy. Plus, if you shop Puma's sales, you'll find great deals, making this an even better value choice. If you like what this shoe has to offer but want a shoe more dedicated to speed, check out the Adidas Adizero Boston 12, which works at a range of paces but is snappier when running fast.
It is hard to beat the price-to-performance ratio found in the Nitro 3, but if you're on the strictest of budgets, you may be able to find last season's Puma Velocity Nitro 2 for even less. We have run in the Nitro 2 during past rounds of testing. It scored almost as high as the Nitro 3 and is actually a bit lighter, although not as cushioned feeling. We highly recommend both versions of the shoe.
The Puma Velocity Nitro 3 is versatile and easy to get along with, making at a great all-around choice.
Weight (per shoe): 7.24 oz | Measured Heel to Toe Drop: 10mm
REASONS TO BUY
Speedy
Foam is responsive
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Traction on wet surfaces is subpar
Lateral stability is lacking
The Nike Vaporfly 3 combines extremely responsive ZoomX foam with aggressive geometry and a carbon plate to provide excellent race-day performance. The Vaporfly saves significant weight with a thin upper that still provides good lockdown. The geometry of this shoe propels you forward on each stride and helps keep your form stable and efficient towards the end of hard efforts. This is our favorite race-day shoe. While it was originally designed for marathons, we've found it to be extremely fast and effective in road races all the way down to one mile.
The focus on pure speed does come with a few drawbacks. The Vaporfly is pretty unstable, which can make cornering at high speeds difficult and lead to issues on uneven surfaces. And while traction is solid on dry, paved surfaces, we found ourselves looking for a better bite on wet pavement and hard-packed dirt. If the lack of stability is an issue for you, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 offers more in this area and still is an extremely fast shoe. This aside, the Vaporfly is an expert at hard efforts and fast races. It isn't a shoe for everyday use and is quite an investment, but if you're looking for some help chasing that next PR on the roads, this is the shoe we'd recommend.
Weight Per Shoe (Size 10.5): 7.98 oz | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 5 mm
REASONS TO BUY
Engaging ride with lots of bounce
Excellent cushioning
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Not as snappy as some plated options
Fit is slightly short
We love the light and responsive ride of the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4, regardless of pace. The FuelCell foam is soft and bouncy, providing excellent cushioning for longer efforts and engaging pep for workouts. The lightweight and stripped-back upper suggests it's meant for fast running, but it has plenty of comfort for easy cruises as well. We've used the Rebel v4 for everything from long runs to speed workouts, and think it has excellent versatility. The shoe also sports a wider, stable base that makes it a very approachable shoe.
Our only gripe is related to fit; the shoe runs slightly short. We noticed some rubbing on our big toenail during long runs. Otherwise, the fit is excellent, with plenty of volume in the toe-box for runners with wide feet and the ability to get a secure lockdown even if your feet are narrow. There are very few runners we wouldn't recommend this shoe to. We think it can work as a do-it-all shoe or as a non-plated option for faster workouts. We've loved using it for uptempo long runs thanks to the relaxed yet responsive ride, and while it doesn't have quite as much snap as some plated options, it's close. Runners who want a similarly lightweight, non-plated daily trainer might enjoy the Hoka Mach 6, which is very similar but has a narrower fit and firmer ride.
The Rebel v4 makes a great do-it-all shoe for runners who prefer to feel light and fast.
Weight (per shoe): 10.37 oz | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 11mm
REASONS TO BUY
Bouncy foam
Upper material is breathable
Smooth ride
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Not great for workouts
If you want a fun shoe to coast in, look no further than the Saucony Triumph 21. The thick chunk of PWRRUN+ foam absorbs impacts well and gives good energy return, making it our favorite shoe for easy runs, no matter the distance. The rubber outsole provides excellent grip on all surfaces. The upper fits well, and we experienced no hot spots during testing, even when we started runs with existing blisters.
The thick chunk of foam is great for giving your legs a break, but it isn't the most stable on uneven terrain. We also found that the PWRRUN+ foam seemed to mold to our footstrike over time more than some other shoes, meaning it likely isn't the best for runners looking for support. This also isn't a light shoe — it can handle marathon paces, but it isn't the one we'd grab for a threshold session or faster. We love the Triumph for our easy days and recommend it for most runners who want a comfortable and smooth cushioned ride to cruise in. If you like the sound of the Triumph and want a faster-paced trainer to round out your rotation, we recommend taking a look at the Adidas Adizero Boston 12 as well.
The Triumph 22 was released in May 2024. We're still in the process of testing it. For now, we still think the Triumph 21 is a great shoe, especially if you can buy it on sale.
The thick chunk of foam on these shoes make them great for recovery runs.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Compare Products
We've tested all the shoes in our lineup with a standardized test plan, and ranked them according to their performance.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Why Trust GearLab
Our running experts have tested hundreds of pairs of shoes over the last decade — and more than 80 pairs of men's road running shoes specifically. Before even starting tests, we complete extensive market research to determine which competitors are worthy of entering the lineup. We then purchase each product, take copious in-house measurements, and send each contender through extensive hands-on testing on the road. We utilize tester experience combined with data gathered by our in-house testing team to produce detailed reviews for our readers.
A Note on Stack Height
We have reported specs on stack height and the subsequent heel-to-toe-drop differential for every shoe, and you may notice that our measurements sometimes differ from what the manufacturers claim (if they report it at all). Why is this? Well, there's no industry standard for these specs, so each company can choose its own method for measuring. We have no way to really know how those specs were determined. To have consistent and helpfully comparable data, we cut every shoe we test in half on a band saw and measure all of these things ourselves based on the World Athletics requirements. We measure the internal length, and our stack height includes both the insole and the tread — everything that will be underneath your foot when wearing the shoe.
We tested and compared all the top contenders on the market to help you make the best choice possible for your feet and running style.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
To analyze all aspects of a running shoe's performance, we devised a comprehensive testing plan. Each shoe is put through a rigorous set of runs. First, each shoe completes a standardized 6-mile test loop that contains hardpacked dirt, loose gravel, asphalt, concrete, and grass surfaces. Additionally, each shoe in our current lineup has run through at least:
Most shoes log significantly more than this over the course of testing.
Comfort v. Performance
Most running shoes exist on a spectrum with comfort on one end and performance on the other. The features that can make a shoe extremely comfortable, like plush cushioning and a soft knit upper, often come with weight and responsiveness penalties that make running fast harder. That's why we test all the shoes over a wide range of workouts and paces. When deciding on your next shoe, we recommend determining your needs and intended use. That will help you decide where on the comfort-performance spectrum you should look.
We put each pair of shoes through standardized testing to provide a fair assessment.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
We then score each shoe on five weighted metrics:
Cushioning and Landing Comfort (25% of overall score weighting)
Responsiveness (25% weighting)
Stability (20% weighting)
Upper Comfort (15% weighting)
Weight (15% weighting)
The cushioning and landing comfort and responsiveness metrics each hold 25% of the overall score weighting, much higher than the other test metrics. Collectively, that's 50% of a product's overall score. We think these are the two most important factors in a runner's experience of a shoe, and we weigh them as such. During testing, we note subjective measures of comfort or discomfort during runs of various lengths, on different surfaces, and at different paces. We also complete side-by-side testing to compare geometry, ride, and foam resilience.
If you're able to try-before-you-buy, your chances of being happy once you're miles out on a long run are much higher.
Each shoe we test clocks a lot of mileage on a variety of terrain.
Lead tester Nathaniel Bailey has always loved running. He competed in track and cross country at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels and now continues to chase “fast” times on the roads. Nathaniel coaches high school and recreational runners, sharing his passion for the sport and continuing to develop his knowledge of running and physiology. When he's not thinking about running (pretty rare), he's doing something like cycling unsupported across the United States with his wife, camping in the backcountry, or trying new recipes at home.
In addition to running all these shoes through their paces, we sent a second pair to our testing facility to get precise measurements on things like stack height, compression stiffness, and rocker angle.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Analysis and Test Results
We've tested the best men's running shoes by evaluating five key performance metrics that we believe capture a shoe's overall performance. The test metrics include cushioning and landing comfort, responsiveness, upper comfort, lateral stability and support, and weight. Between our article on buying advice for running shoes and our detailed review, we believe you'll find the best running shoe for your needs and budget here. Read on to see how each contender performs in the different test metrics.
Value
Value is a huge consideration when you're logging miles. Some runners want to get the most mileage per dollar they can, while others care more about performance than durability. The Puma Velocity Nitro 3 is our favorite model for value, blending great performance, versatility, and durability at a reasonable price. The Reebok Floatride Energy 5 and the Hoka Mach 6 also provide solid all-around performance and a lower list price than many other shoes in the test.
Performing a compression stiffness test helps us put numbers to our foot-feel experience of landing comfort.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Cushioning and Landing Comfort
This category is a rating of how comfortable a shoe is underfoot as we run. We want our running shoes to reduce the pounding our legs feel over miles of running. We've tested various models that claim to have different levels of cushioning to narrow down what we feel are the best models at various paces.
One useful metric when assessing cushioning is stack height. Typically, the higher the stack height, the more cushioned a shoe is.
That isn't always the case, though; some shoes, like the Hoka Bondi 8, have a huge stack height but also have firm and non-resilient foam, making for a disappointing ride.
Your Mileage May Vary
We do our best to provide thorough and unbiased reviews. We scour the internet for user feedback on the shoes we tested to see if our experiences align with those of other runners. We're confident that our scoring accurately reflects the differences between the shoes in our lineup. Still, what we like best may not work for everyone. For example, our lead testers for men's and women's running shoes agree on most pairs but have different experiences in some shoes due to differences in footstrike, stride, or foot shape. If you're interested in a certain shoe, we recommend reading through the individual review to see if we call out any type of runner who the shoe may not work for.
The Nike Vaporfly 3, Saucony Triumph 21, and Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 earned some of the highest scores in this category but are three extremely different shoes. The Vaporfly is very well-cushioned and does an excellent job of saving your legs over long, hard efforts on the roads. It's also extremely responsive, which makes it highly difficult to run comfortably at easy paces. The Triumph 21 is bouncy and smooth. It's our favorite shoe for easy runs, regardless of the distance. The cushioning feels bottomless and does a great job of leaving your legs fresh on longer recovery runs. While it can handle some faster paces, we wouldn't go out of our way to use it in a workout.
The thick cushioning of the Saucony Triumph 21 makes it great for easy running.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
The Gel-Nimbus 26 is a one-trick pony, but it does that one trick very well. It's great for slow and easy miles and is very enjoyable for recovery runs. In that sense, it's similar to the Saucony Triumph 21, but it just isn't as responsive. Even marathon-paced efforts in this shoe feel like a struggle.
All that foam makes the Nimbus 26 great for cruising easy miles.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The Puma Velocity Nitro 3 is a great compromise that provides plush cushioning with the ability to hit faster paces. This shoe ended up with a high rank in our review thanks to its balanced performance and excellent price point.
The Puma Velocity Nitro 3 provides a plush landing pad with its NITRO foam in the midsole.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Responsiveness
Feeling fast is fun, so we're always looking for shoes that give us an extra edge when the pace drops. We test each shoe at a variety of paces, looking for a snappy toe-off, good energy return, and the ability to maintain a fast pace with ease. Nothing is more frustrating than feeling like you're fighting a shoe during a run, so this metric significantly affected our opinion of each pair.
Fast Features
There are a lot of factors that go into how fast or responsive a shoe feels. Weight plays a significant role; a lighter shoe makes it easier to run faster. Studies have shown that reducing the weight of a shoe can have significant positive impacts on efficiency and performance. Foam resilience is another important factor; research has repeatedly shown that modern PEBA foams provide significant running economy benefits for most runners. Some features may not work as well for every runner, but they can provide significant benefits.
Composite stiffeners like carbon plates can work in conjunction with highly resilient foams to benefit some runners, but the type and location of the plate are essential in determining what will work for each individual, with some seeing a reduction in running economy when running in certain types of plated shoes. We've experienced this in our testing, with testers having significantly different results in plated shoes based on plate location and shape.
Similarly, rocker geometry, or a curve in the bottom of the shoe that aids a runner in rolling through their stride, can make a shoe feel responsive. Just like with plates, individuals will respond differently to different types and locations of rockers.
The Nike Vaporfly 3 had the highest level of responsiveness in our testing, closely followed by the Nike Alphafly 3. This makes sense, considering they're both race shoes designed for speed and propulsion. Our male testers felt that the Vaporfly was more agile in corners and more responsive to pace changes, making it a better option for various distances. On the other hand, our female testers preferred the comfort and propulsion provided by the Alphafly. Your experience may vary, but we think the Alphafly is best for long-distance races on relatively smooth and straight courses. We'd pick the Vaporfly for anything under a full marathon. Both are excellent choices but with slightly different ideal applications.
Between the carbon plate, ZoomX foam and late rocker geometry, we love the responsiveness from the Vaporfly.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Among everyday shoes, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 and the Adidas Adizero Boston 12 perform extremely well. They're very similar shoes, combining great cushioning with responsiveness that we loved during faster efforts. Both utilize a stiffening agent (glass-infused rods for the Boston, a nylon plate for the Endorphin Speed) to provide a snappy toe-off and the sensation of rolling along with ease.
Not All Plates are for Speed
A few shoes include plates within the soles that are used for lateral stability rather than speed, like the midfoot X-plate in the Reebok Floatride Energy 5.
Among non-plated options, the New Balance Rebel v4 and the Hoka Mach 6 stand out as light, rockered, responsive options. They accomplish the same task in a different way; the Rebel v4 has a bouncy and soft ride, while the Mach 6 feels firmer and fast rolling. Both are excellent choices. One note on sizing: our male testers with “normal” width feet found that the Mach 6 ran uncomfortably narrow and much preferred the wider fit of the Rebel. In contrast, our female testers preferred the fit of the Mach 6 and found the wider upper of the Rebel to detract from the overall experience. If you're interested in the Mach 6 and have normal-to-wide feet, you might consider opting for the wide version or the Rebel v4.
The EnergyRods 2.0 in the Boston 12 help provide a snappy toe-off.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Stability
Stability is important to reduce the chance of pain and injury. Our testing lineup features a wide range of offerings for every type of runner. Support is one of the most personal choices in shoes; some runners prefer less support in favor of responsiveness, while others seek out a shoe that holds their foot in a certain position. For those in the latter group, we test each shoe over various gradients and surfaces to give you our top picks that are both stable and supportive.
The Asics Gel-Kayano 30 provides the best support and stability in the test. It utilizes a wide platform to provide inherent stability and uses geometry rather than medial posting to keep your foot moving forward. It's also well cushioned, although our testers who land heel-midfoot found the cushioning more comfortable than those who land mid-forefoot.
The wide base of the Kayano provides for great inherent stability without sacrificing comfort.
Stability shoes are tricky — we are glad to see an industry shift towards stability shoes that use less medial posting and are more inherently stable neutral trainers. That's more in keeping with most current peer-reviewed evidence. You might need support depending on your natural mechanics, but remember that shoes are not a solution to mechanical issues. You should work with a running-focused physical therapist or sports medicine doctor to resolve those mechanical issues rather than self-diagnose your running mechanics and attempt to address them with a shoe.
The Brooks Adrenaline has been around for a while and probably will be for a while longer. It's a good place to start if you need stability.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Brooks is known for making stable shoes, and the Adrenaline GTS 23 and Ghost 15 follow that trend. We also found that the Asics Novablast 4 and Bondi 8 provide strong lateral stability thanks to a wide base. Similarly, both the Puma Velocity Nitro and Deviate Nitro provide a strong lockdown and a stable base that performs well on uneven surfaces and hard impacts.
The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 provides good stability on hard impacts through multi-density cushioning and great lockdown.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Upper Comfort
A shoe's upper can make or break a running experience, as hotspots or blisters can quickly ruin your day. We keep our testing standard by using the same pair of running socks during our first test loop. After that, we mix it up, running in thicker and thinner pairs. High on our list of priorities is a snug fit that keeps our foot stable and provides confidence through corners and uneven terrain. We want an upper that offers good support and locks down our heel without our toes feeling cramped. The tongue has to wrap our midfoot precisely, and the laces have to hold us snugly without causing pressure or hotspots.
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 earns one of the highest scores for upper comfort. The stretchy knit upper provides great lockdown and a snug feeling without creating hotspots. It's easily our favorite in the test.
The breathable, stretchy knit upper on the Nimbus 26 is our favorite in the test.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The On Cloudsurfer 7 has a light and breathable upper that also provides great all-day comfort, as does the Asics Novablast 4.
The heel cup of the Cloudsurfer is comfortable and secure.
The lightweight upper of the Cloudsurfer is also very comfortable.
This is another area where Brooks shoes are known to excel. The Ghost 15 has a comfy and soft upper, and it's easy to get the lacing right. The Adrenaline GTS 23 feels snug with excellent lockdown and a gusseted tongue that stays put. The only caveat to the upper comfort for these two kicks is that they both tend to run a bit warm.
We measure the weight of a single shoe in size 10.5 to better compare models.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Weight
Lighter shoes are almost always faster. In fact, plenty of studies have shown significant benefits to running economy when shoe weights are reduced. Unsurprisingly, we typically prefer lighter shoes, but there are some exceptions. Particularly on easier days, we're fine with a heavier shoe if it provides some extra cushion and stability.
Weight often differs from the manufacturer listings, and we weigh each size 10.5 per shoe in-house to compare each pair more accurately.
The Nike Vaporfly 3 is one of the lightest shoes in our test. The Saucony Kinvara 14 and the New Balance Rebel v4 are both lightweight options for daily training. All three shoes save weight thanks to minimalist upper fabrics. Although not the very lightest, the Hoka Mach 6, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, and the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 all weigh below average for the group, and we like them for our faster efforts due to their lightweight upper and fabrics. All feel agile and quick.
We tested each pair of shoes over lots of hard miles.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
There is often a tradeoff with lightweight designs when it comes to overall stability and predicted durability. Many lightweight designs use thinner and lighter upper materials or reduce or eliminate the rubber tread on the outsole. More traditionally designed shoes with padded uppers and durable outsoles are among the heavier designs we tested.
We have tested over 80 pairs of shoes on the road and in our lab to bring the best information to inform your footwear decision.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Conclusion
Finding the perfect running shoe isn't easy (there's a reason so many runners have a rotation), but after spending hundreds of hours and logging dozens of miles in these shoes, we hope we can at least make it easier for you. Don't forget to check out our individual gear reviews linked throughout this article for more detailed information about each design. We hope that this review will help you find the right shoe for your fitness needs and budget, and one that will provide you with an awesome running experience.
