So you're in the market for new men's running shoes? You're in luck. That's exactly what we do here. We take a deep dive into the top-ranked men's running shoes on the market. No matter what you're looking for, we can help get you pointed in the right direction, whether it's something we've reviewed or not. This article aims to familiarize you with the world of running shoes so you know what you're getting into when you eventually make the leap and buy a pair. We expect readers to be newer to the sport, so it's written as an overview or introduction to running shoes, but we cover some things that even seasoned runners might learn.
We first draw a line between road running shoes, cross-training shoes, and trail running shoes. Sure, there's some crossover, but for the most part, the three are different disciplines with different performance demands. We then discuss what makes a shoe the best model for you. We then go into the major types of road running shoes — neutral, stability, racing flats, maximalist, and minimalist — so you can get a better idea of what's out there, why they're designed as they are, and what might work best.
Road Running, Cross-Training, or Trail Running Shoe?
Before we can get into all the different sorts of shoes — minimalist, maximalist, stability, barefoot, and the rest — we need to figure out where you'll be running and what you'll be doing in your shoes. Will you be mostly on the road? Out in a field cross-training? Training in a gym? Venturing off-road? Maybe a little bit on the trails? All trail? What kind of trails? Gentle, serendipitous little things with hard-packed earth or treacherous treks into the wilderness not for the uninsured? Keep your answers in mind.
There's a real difference between shoes designed for a uni-directional attack on asphalt or paved terrain, those meant for quick, jerky, explosive movements all over the place in the gym, court, or field, and those intended for rugged trails. Many runners are happy crossing them all and never really notice a difference in performance. That doesn't mean they're getting the most out of their shoes, just that it's not a big enough factor to matter to them. If you're all about getting maximum performance out of your gear, you'll probably want to pay more attention to design and intended purpose.
Lots of road runners love running in trail shoes, even if they're minimalist shoes meant for rough terrain. So let's look into what makes the three styles different and why you might choose one over the other.
The first noteworthy difference is that road running shoes put a lot less into the outsole, especially when it comes to tread. The material is usually lighter, more uniform or flat, and not as tough or long-lasting. That's because, on the road, you're typically stable enough not to have to worry about slippage unless there's tons of loose or wet gravel requiring quick changes in foot speed or direction. Road shoes are designed to take hard, consistent pounding on unforgiving paved surfaces. The sole needs to be springy and responsive to maximize speed and stability while minimizing the pounding on your body.
Cross-training shoes need to strike a balance between versatile, off-roading ATVs and the smooth-track, single-purpose road shoe. That means they need to have a good deal of stability features to take all of the jumping, kicking, sprinting, lifting, sashaying, and whatever other sorts of exciting activities cross-training types can come up with to get fit. You don't want to be mid-wind-sprint and have your shoe fly off because there's no heel retention. You don't want to lose your power because the shoe isn't adhering to your foot. At the same time, you don't want to have such a rigid shoe that you snap your foot off at the ankle when you pivot and hit a lateral lunge with an inadvisably large kettlebell. Even the outsole needs to be balanced. They need to be more like radial tires than mud tires (trail shoes) or drag slicks (road shoes; we're stretching real hard here to make the metaphor work, but you get the point). Cross-training shoes live somewhere in the middle of supportive road shoes and trail shoes.
On the other hand, trail shoes need to withstand stabbing, tearing, and scraping from rough terrain, so they offer significantly more protection. They tend to be heavier, use more durable rubber, and are more rigid than road shoes. Traditional trail shoes are typically fine for traversing a jagged boulder field. In contrast, the minimalist and barefoot models might not be enough protection or support for sharp rocks and the other precarious obstacles you encounter out in the wild. At the least, the less protective shoes will require you to slow down more over the most craggy bits.
Trail shoes also come with a wider landing platform than road shoes to allow for more control during landing. The more of your shoe that makes direct contact with the ground at any given moment, the better control you'll have while running. This is quite effective when you're hopping rock to rock and across creeks in trail shoes.
Now, is it safe to be out in the woods on top of rocks and sticks in your road shoes? That depends on you and the trail. Arguably, if there's a will, there's a way, and it's up to you. But on the gear side, it certainly can make a difference to have the right shoes. Road shoes aren't really the best for scrambles, tricky, sheer drops, or super craggy rocks covered in clay mud. You'll want trail shoes for that, or maybe even boots if the rocks are sharp and mean enough.
So it depends on what type of terrain you'll be logging the majority of your miles on. We logged at least a mile per shoe on moderate trails just to see if any stuck out as incredible crossovers. Many did fine on all but the most jagged rock surfaces, though mud and water were understandably problematic. Then again, if you're on a trail run, you probably expect to be a little wet and dirty anyway. Either way, when you know the trail will be tricky, littered with rocks, and muddy, you ought to grab the trail shoes from the closet. If you log most of your miles on the road, treadmill, or paved walkways and venture out to moderate trails only occasionally, we feel you'll have no problem using road shoes all the time. At that point, it's really whichever shoe feels the best to you.
Selecting the Right Road Running Shoe
Once you've narrowed it down to a road shoe, you need to ask yourself what your running style is so you can determine the most complimentary shoe. Ask yourself: Do I heel strike? Do I often roll my ankles? Do I prefer lower weight to more cushioning? How many miles a week am I doing? How many miles do I want to be able to run in a shoe before buying a new one? Am I always toeing off and trying to be as efficient as possible? Do my legs feel fatigued with my current shoes?
Not only will identifying your needs help you feel better in your new kicks, but it may also reduce the chance of injury that could result from buying a shoe that forces you to work new muscles or hits joints differently. When buying something new, take some time to let your body adapt to it. Never do something at your limit in a new pair of kicks.
If you want to get the most out of your running shoes, you shouldn't wear something that doesn't work for your body. If you find something that you love but is drastically different from what you've been training in lately, take some time to let your body adjust. By allowing your body time to adapt, you won't just be feeling better, but we bet you'll be stronger too. Make sure you have a clear view of how your feet work and what kind of gait you have. Lots of running stores will be eager to help you out with a free gait analysis. You can also look at the bottom of your shoes and look at the wear patterns to make an educated guess, but be sure to consult professionals for gait analysis, not the internet.
Generally, you shouldn't have to fight against the structure and design of your shoe when you go out for a run. A runner with a neutral gait might have some serious discomfort wearing a stability shoe meant for pronators. Conversely, a supinator that needs extra stability might actually have trouble in a stability shoe. Most stability shoes are meant to limit excessive inward movement of the ankles (overpronation), but this can reinforce the excessive outward rolling of a supinator. We'd encourage you to see a sports physiologist for proper advice on specific running mechanics.
That brings us to the two major shoe styles: neutral and stability. We'll go over some reasons why you might prefer one over another. But don't worry if you don't fit into one of these broad categories. There are tons of shoe companies, and the diversity of options is almost endless. You will find something out there that works for you one way or another.
Types of Road Running Shoes
Neutral
Neutral road shoes are typically lighter and have more flexibility when compared to your stability road shoes. You'll likely want to pick a neutral shoe if you have average pronation in your stride and a medium to low arch. Most neutral shoes will often have a more agile feel due to less supportive constraints to reduce your foot movement. We find that shoes with a higher heel-to-toe drop of more than 8 millimeters often are those with these supportive features. While these are great for those that need them, they may feel overkill for people with a midfoot to forefoot stride. It's not recommended to run in a higher stability model if you don't feel the need or prefer it. Keeping your Achilles and calves involved may help you become stronger, making you less prone to injury.
Most neutral running shoes lack the rigid midsole posting found in stability shoes. These omissions reduce weight and improve flexibility. Neutral shoes also usually use a single density midsole instead of multi-density like most stability shoes. A single-density midsole gives you a much softer landing, making them much more comfortable as the miles pass by.
Some neutral trainers may be more designed for higher output and faster speeds. While these won't be as harsh as racing flats, they will be much denser. This higher density will put more power into the ground and won't be dispursed through the foam, resulting in a net loss for shorter efforts. It's technically challenging to make a lightweight shoe have higher stability qualities, so as you lose weight, you likely will lose added stability features.
Most neutral shoes have a relatively flexible midsole that helps absorb impact from a standard foot strike. Expect to see about an 8-millimeter heel-to-toe discrepancy in most neutral shoes, though they can range higher.
Stability
As previously mentioned, stability road shoes are designed to reduce excess movement. Most are specifically meant to provide extra support for those who over-pronate, which is where the ankle rolls inward too much. Supination is when the ankle rolls the other way to the outside. Both gaits can impact the knees and put more or less pressure on different bits not meant to take a beating or see that range of motion, causing a slew of issues and running-related injuries.
But the need for stable shoes and corrective devices is a highly debated topic in the running community. If you've logged consistent injury-free miles in stability shoes, you probably want to keep doing what you're doing. If you consistently get injured in stability shoes, it might be time to try something different. Regardless, studies have also shown that stability shoes can help correct over-pronation and facilitate a more natural foot-strike for over-pronators.
One way to find out if you over-pronate is to go to a specialty running shoe store and do a gait analysis. These are usually free, and the store will have a treadmill to examine your stride. Or, you can find out if you're an over-pronator from the comfort of your own home as long as you have some old shoes to look at. Examine the tread on your used shoes, and if the inside of the heel area is significantly more worn than the outside, you're likely over-pronating. Also, many of those with flat arches and heavier runners find that stability road shoes offering denser postings work better for them.
Racing Flats
Racing flats are generally arranged along a spectrum from neutral cushioned to minimalist. They tend to weigh less than non-racing shoes and don't usually have the padding of the big comfort models and stability shoes. There are minimalist racing flats, but they're usually a little less lean than true minimalist shoes. They use a bit more cushioning in both the sole and the upper and typically have a larger drop from the heel to the toe.
Some runners tend to have their race day shoes that only break out when racing. There are pros and cons to that practice. It can give a psychological boost, and it does a lot to preserve the race shoes. It might also help preserve your joints if you're training in more cushioned shoes. But you might risk injury by quickly moving to a less padded racing flat and suddenly going all-out. Regularly training in a style closer to your race day shoe is probably the best practice. And it's better to go with the shoe most suited to your running style than to risk injury by forcing something ill-suited on yourself.
If moving in a minimalist direction is appealing, you can facilitate the transition by using racing flats and more minimal footwear regularly. Logging short runs (one or two miles) on a soft grassy surface is also a good way to strengthen all those muscles in your feet more quickly. Please keep in mind that you're increasing the risk of injury any time you change shoes or running style. The most important advice we can give you is not to make big, drastic changes in your training or the type of shoe you're used to running in.
Make incremental, small changes to give your body time to adjust. Lastly, we know it's easy to get carried away when a brand new pair of road shoes show up at your doorstep, but if you're making a transition in shoes or mileage in any way, we find it best to take your time and switch out between your old and new shoes every other day.
Maximalist
If you are not a fan of traditional running shoes' outsized heel stacks but need more padding between your feet and the pavement, then you might be happy about maximalist shoes. These are a hybrid between stability shoes, minimalist shoes, and a Boeing 777 jumbo-jet tire made of plush pillows. Maximalist shoe companies have taken the zero drop heel-to-toe discrepancy of minimalist shoes and slapped on thick midsoles and outsoles beneath a layer of cushioning inside the shoe to produce an even, padded ride.
These are popular with runners who tend to feel the percussiveness of running a little more than the average runner or prefer a little more pillow in their step. That range could be anything from an ultra-marathoner plodding along at five mph for 8 hours to a heavy stepper looking to have a comfortable 5K — and everything in between. It comes down to comfort level and buying the shoe most appropriate to your body and running style.
What About Minimalist Shoes?
What's with all the hype about minimalist running shoes anyways? Our ancestors didn't have all this cushion, gel, and foam to protect their feet, so why should we? They also didn't have endless asphalt roads to log their miles on. The minimalist movement has encouraged many runners to switch styles of shoes. As the name implies, "minimalist" shoes are much lighter and less supportive than traditional road shoes.
Minimalist shoes are less responsive and lack the cushioning that road shoes provide. So why would anyone want to give minimalist shoes a chance? Many runners are attracted to the idea of using them to obtain a more natural gait cycle. The average road shoe has an approximately 10-millimeter heel-to-toe discrepancy. This forces your heel to strike the ground first, which actually causes you to slow yourself down. If you were to take the shoes off and watch your barefoot stride, you'd notice that you land more evenly on your foot and have a more efficient stride. Most minimalist shoes offer a 0-millimeter to 4-millimeter heel-to-toe discrepancy, which results in a more natural and efficient foot strike.
The most important factor when deciding to switch to minimalist shoes, or any shoe other than your current one, is taking your time. After years of using footwear with abundant cushioning, the muscles and tendons in your feet and lower legs become accustomed to that cushioning. It will take some time to build them up and strengthen them. Start with short walks in your new minimalist shoes and slowly work up to one or two short runs a week.
We recommend doing this for at least a month before increasing your use to over two runs a week in minimalist shoes. There is no perfect time frame for adjusting your feet, but it's better to take your time than cause injury. Everyone's feet are different, and some will take more time to change than others. If you feel any pain, give yourself more time. If you feel great, continue to work up your mileage gradually.
Conclusion
So what now? You've read all of our advice on what you need to think about when you go forward into the road running world, and you're ready to get yourself shod. Well, hang on a second. You probably want to look at a few shoes and do some research on their actual performance. Once you've read our review on running shoes and how we tested each contender, then you'll be ready to start pulling the trigger on the buy button. You might also consider doing some shop demos. Just head into your local store, run around the parking lot for a few laps to see what you can feel, and make sure the shoes are speaking to you.
