Almost every runner wants the same things in their running shoes: comfortable fit, lightweight, durability and good support. But chances are, you won’t really know if a pair of shoes would have all these requirements unless you’ve used them for quite some time now. So, if you’re looking for the best running shoes, here are our recommendations:
1. Brooks Ghost 14
- Type: Road
- Weight: 8.9 oz. (Men), 7.9 oz. (Women)
- Drop: 12 mm
The Ghost has gone through a makeover and its company has transitioned to sustainable manufacturing, recycling used shoes instead of throwing them out in landfills. But with the changes made to its best-selling shoes, is it still as good as before? Absolutely. Neither performance nor quality was compromised. The midsole’s BioMoGo DNA portion was removed leaving only the DNA Loft foam, just like the Glycerin. This change does not noticeably change its ride and there’s still a balance of firmness and cushioning during turnover.
2. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38
- Type: Road
- Weight: 10.0 oz (Men), 8.2 oz (Women)
- Drop: 10 mm
The Pegasus’s midsole was changed to the more-responsive React last year, and Nike also supplemented it with 2 millimeters of underfoot. It’s not as bouncy or light as ZoomX, but it is moderately flexible and medium soft. The pressure in the air unit is also lowered in the women’s running shoe to make it slightly softer; and then it doubled the forefoot unit size, and removed the air unit from the midfoot and heel. The outsole also now has more flex grooves and it features a rectangular tread pattern for improved grip.
3. Asics Gel-Kayano 28
- Type: Road
- Weight: 10.9 oz (Men), 9.1 oz (Women)
- Drop: 10 mm
The Asics Kayano has been around for decades, and continues to be one of its most popular shoes to this day. It offers support for overpronators and yet it’s still a top choice of many neutral runners because of the level of comfort it offers. The Kayano 28 has received an upgrade – the FlyteFoam Blast cushioning which gives it a responsive and smoother ride. Another add-on is the low-profile heel clip that gives it extra support. The forefoot and heel still have gel pods for extra shock absorption, and the medial plate and dual-density midsole work together to combat overpronation.
4. Mizuno Wave Rider 25
- Type: Road
- Weight: 9.7 oz (Men), 8.1 oz (Women)
- Drop: 12 mm
The Rider has reached 25 versions and it’s definitely one of the most cushioned and softest running shoes out there. The Rider 24 had a full length Enerzy foam in the mid-sole layer and now version 25 has only Enerzy foam throughout plus it has the new castor bean Wave plate. The 25 has higher amplitude compared to the 24 which means each footstrike returns more energy and is able to closely match the shape of the arch. You get a springy and smooth ride with the Rider 25, making it ideal for long runs.
5. Saucony Triumph 19
- Type: Road
- Weight: 10.2 oz (Men), 9.1 oz (Women)
- Drop: 8 mm
The Triumph 19 is on par with other luxe running shoes like the Brooks Glycerin 19 and gives you a light and bouncy ride. It is equipped with the Pwrrun+ midsole and topsole which gives it an energetic sensation and the latest version is found to be 28% lighter than the original Pwrrun. Saucony also increased the beveled heel angle for a comfy and stable ride. The new version has a mono-mesh upper, making it more breathable.
6. New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11
- Type: Road
- Weight: 9.1 oz. (Men), 7.4 oz. (Women)
- Drop: 8 mm
The New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11 has earned high praises. While it looks almost the same as last year’s model, it now features the v11’s knit upper, which gives the forefoot more stretch so it’ll fit better on runners with wide feet. The sole is the same, except for a minor cosmetic alteration to the sidewall dot pattern. It still has a thick layer of Fresh Foam X, for comfort and higher energy return. It does not feel overly soft, making it more versatile.
Here’s a video review of the 1080 V11 which shows all its features, pros and cons.