11 best running shoes for women in 2023, tested by a triathlete and marathon runner
The right pair of running shoes can make the difference between a great workout and a truly terrible one. So whether you’ve just started Couch to 5K or you’re training for your fifteenth marathon, choosing the best running shoes for you – that promise to keep you both comfortable and supported (and feel lightweight and speedy, too) – is so important.
We'd actually go as far as to say that a pair of the best running shoes is the single most important piece of kit a runner owns. Not least because they'll help to keep your midfoot supported and prevent injury. Get it wrong and you'll end up with horrifyingly painful blisters, black toenails… or worse.
Selecting the right running shoes for you does not mean just buying the same shoes your best friend wears or whatever's available in your shoe size. You need to consider whether you pronate, what kind of arch support you need (and if you have high arches or flat arches) plus a dozen other things. Think: shoe responsiveness, the energy return, laces and whether they have a mesh upper. Yep, it’s an overwhelming task, especially with so many brands, styles and technical buzzwords to stress you out.
After extensive research, conversations with the best in the business and plenty of road testing on longer runs, we've whittled things down to an edit of the best running shoes for women on the market right now. Your most comfortable shoe purchase ever awaits.
How we tested the best running shoes | What's the difference between men's and women's running shoes? | How to choose the best running shoes for you | Which brand of running trainer is best? | Full reviews.
In a rush? The best running shoes for women 2023 at a glance:
- Best running shoes overall: On Running Cloudmonster, £160
- Best popular running shoes: Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39, £109.95
- Best running shoes for marathon training: New Balance 1080v12, £160
- Best running shoes for speed sessions: Adidas Adizero SL, £110
- Best cushioned running shoes: Asics Gel-Nimbus 25, £175
- Best hybrid running shoe: Hoka Challenger 7, £130
- Best trail running shoe: Saucony Peregrine 12, £69.99
- Best running shoes for race day: Nike Zoomx Vaporfly Next% 2, £224.99
How we tested the best running shoes
I'm Alice Barraclough – an avid runner, fitness editor and writer – and I test running shoes for a living. Over the past eight years, I've been testing the latest running trainer launches from some of the best sports brands out there. Think: Nike, Hoka, New Balance and Adidas. I've tested their speed in tempo and interval sessions, their comfort and durability on those ‘Sunday long runs’, their cushioning both outside facing the elements and inside on the treadmill and their protection and grip on both muddy trails and pavements alike. These are my honest thoughts.
What's the difference between men's and women's running shoes?
It’s really important to remember that men and women both run differently, and have different shaped feet – so opt for a pair of running trainers that have been specifically made with women in mind.
The biggest difference in foot shape is the relationship between the heel and the ball of the foot. Women often have a narrower heel in comparison to the circumference of the ball of their foot. This means that if a woman wears a size nine running shoe, she will likely have a wider ball, wider ball girth and narrower heel than a man with the same sized foot. We told you it was all a bit technical.
In terms of how we run, women tend to have wider hips, so our feet are more likely to strike the ground toward the outside of our soles. Women’s running shoes also tend to be lighter and softer than male offerings, because women tend to have less muscle mass.
“Think of it as the opposite of being hard on yourself.”
How to choose the best running shoes for women
GAIT ANALYSIS: If running is your main aim, make sure to get a running gait analysis before you buy. A gait analysis is a test that determines what kind of shoe will work best for your feet. Even if you're a seasoned runner, you should get a new gait analysis before buying a new pair of trainers, because there's a good chance things will have changed since your last result.
The gait analysis shows how your foot moves when it hits the ground and establishes if you are an overpronator, an underpronator or a neutral runner. This is really important, as wearing the wrong shoe could potentially cause injuries. Your gait test will also show you where you need extra support in your trainer – there should be adequate room in the toe box and your heels shouldn’t slip around. It’s important to find out what kind of runner you are, says SportsShoes.com ambassador and running expert, Ben Mounsey. “Do you overpronate or underpronate? This will inform what type of shoe you need, for example, will you require extra support, or can you wear a neutral shoe? Once you understand how you run, you can find the shoe that is most suited to your running style.”
Most sportswear shops are back up and running and offer gait analysis as a free service, but you can also do some tests at home or find expert via virtual running-shoe appointments, where running stores will ship a selection of shoes to you.
TESTING: Regardless of where you try your new shoes, we recommend you try them out either on a treadmill or jogging around the shop floor, so you can get a better feel for how comfortable they really are.
“Do your research and read the reviews before you make a purchase to make sure the shoe you’re considering is a good fit for your chosen preferences,” adds Mounsey. “Our feet are as individual as we are, and they come in all different shapes and sizes. Therefore, running shoes have to be equally as diverse, and with hundreds of types to choose from, it can often prove difficult to find the right pair to match our requirements.”
TERRAIN: Think about what kind of terrain you'll be running on and how often you intend to train and race, he adds. “This will ultimately dictate what kind of shoe you'll need to buy. For example, if you're a beginner runner or someone who runs infrequently, it doesn't make sense to spend a fortune on your first pair of shoes or buy the latest and most expensive carbon-plated super shoes which are designed for elite competition. Instead, choose a style that best suits both your needs and budget, for daily use, all-around performance and capable of handling a range of different surfaces.”
Which brand is best for running?
The best running shoe brand is constantly up for debate. Why? Because what you rank as ‘the best’ might be the world's most uncomfortable shoe brand for others. That said, the most searched-for running shoes in the UK last year were Nike’s Vaporfly’s – the controversial shoe almost banned from the Tokyo Olympics due to its advanced technology. Of course, the Vaporfly isn’t for everyone (not everyone is an elite athlete and needs a carbon-plated go-faster shoe). So while the ‘best’ is pretty much down to personal opinion, these are some of the most popular shoes we’ve tested – and seriously rate. You can thank us later.
Ahead, the best running shoes for women, tried and tested.
1. Best running shoes overall
Cloudmonster, £160, On Running
Pros: Massive cushioning, feels fast.
Cons: Expensive, too firm for recovery runs.
Sizes available: UK3-UK9.
Weight: 230g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 6mm.Why we love it: On launched the Cloudmonster in March 2022 and they’ve very quickly become not just our favourite On running shoes, but our go-to running trainers overall. Offering next-level cushioning, these racers feel supportive and comfortable. But don’t let the monster CloudTec fool you into thinking they’re not geared towards a responsive ride – these shoes are engineered to help encourage forward momentum, which means they feel fast and bouncy, propelling you forward stride after stride. These are neutral road shoes, made for logging daily miles – whether that’s 5k or a longer training run.
2. Best new running shoes for women
Lululemon Blissfeel 2 Women's Running Shoe, £138, Lululemon
Pros: designed specifically for the female foot.
Cons: the sizing can be a bit all over the place.
Sizes available: US5-US12.
Weight: 276g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 9.5mm.Why we love it: Launched in March this year, this is the second iteration of Lululemon’s first foray into the world of running shoes. The first iteration – the ‘Blissfeel’ – had mixed reviews, with some testers complaining about the sizing and lack of energy return. The good news is that the Blissfeel 2 are definitely better. Designed for women’s feet, the updated shoe looks pretty similar to the first Blissfeel, but comes with a swanky new upper featuring a seamless frame that runs around the foot and feels way less restrictive. It’s still a rather firm ride – don’t expect any seriously bouncy cushioning here. The sizing in the updated shoe is more accurate – but they do still come up on the small size, so it’s worth sizing up (please do try on in-store before buying online if possible). Of course, it’s Lululemon, so they look pretty cool – these are the type of everyday easy-mile running trainers you could very easily double up wearing to the gym or to brunch without looking too ‘fitness’.
3. Most popular running shoes for women
NIKE AIR Zoom Pegasus 39 Women's Running Shoes, £109.95, SportsShoes.com
Pros: Snug and comfy fit.
Cons: On the narrower side.
Sizes available: UK4-UK9.
Weight: 261g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm.Why we love it: Known as Nike’s running ‘workhorse’ – the Pegasus is hands-down Nike’s most popular running shoe, first launched back in 1983. The 39th version of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus really is a bit of an all-rounder – durable and stable, it's ideal for slow, long, and faster efforts. It's also a great choice for new runners, aiming to complete either their first 5K or marathon. In fact, this was the shoe we ran our very first half marathon in all those years ago. In comparison to the Pegasus 38, the 39 is lighter, more responsive and gives you that ‘locked in’ feeling. For Pegasus mega fans, the Nike Pegasus 40 is due to come out very soon – so it’s worth keeping an eye out on the Nike page to see when it drops.
4. Best running shoes for marathon training
Fresh Foam X 1080v12, £160, New Balance
Pros: Lots of cushioning, ideal for long distances.
Cons: Not a fast shoe for tempo sessions.
Sizes available: UK3.5-UK8.
Weight: 234g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 8mm.Why we love it: If you’re looking for a pair of supportive, durable and highly cushioned trainers that are ideal for covering long distances (hello, marathon season), then New Balance’s 1080’s are the shoes you need. We lived in these when training for the London marathon because we knew we could throw them on for easy or moderate training runs and they’d not let us down. These do feel quite wide, so if you have super narrow feet, it’s perhaps best to try something else. They’re also not ‘fast’ in comparison to other, lighter, models. But we liked the cushioning and shock absorption.
5. Best running shoes for half marathon training
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3, £220.00, New Balance
Pros: super comfortable race day shoe.
Cons: expensive.
Sizes available: UK3-11.
Weight: 179g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 4mm.Why we love it: As an alternative race-day shoe to the Nike Vaporfly’s, these are, unfortunately, just as expensive, but offer a very different feel and ride. With a stretchy synthetic knit upper, the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 do feature a go-faster carbon plate, but they don’t feel nearly as aggressive as some of the other super shoes on the market. Instead, the carbon plate feels much more forgiving. So if you’re new to the world of speed shoes, and you’re really striving for that PB on race day, these are the carbon shoes we’d recommend. Super comfy, they’re almost guaranteed to give you that extra turbo energy – whether you’re running 10K or a marathon.
6. Best running shoes for speed sessions
ADIDAS ADIZERO SL Running Shoes, £110, Adidas
Pros: Fab for fast running, the price.
Cons: Narrow toe box.
Sizes available: UK3.5-UK10.
Weight: 211g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 8.5mm.Why we love it: In a standout mint green colour, when we recently wore these Adizero SL’s at parkrun, someone even commented on how bright they look. As part of the Adizero range – made for speed and racing – the SL is designed as an ‘affordable’ racing shoe. Although we liked it for a snappy 5k and 10k, we wouldn’t recommend racing in these in anything further than a half marathon. Adidas do tend to come up a little small, so it’s worth sizing up a whole size here (trust us, you don’t want to make it 2k into your run, only to find out you have pins and needles in your toes because the shoes are too small!) and the toe box on these feel particularly narrow. If you’re looking for a racing shoe with a carbon plate, you’re going to have to dig a little deeper into your pockets – and perhaps consider getting the Adidas Adios Pro 2 instead.
7. Best cushioned running shoes
Pros: Light for a maximal shoe, plush and cushy daily trainer.
Cons: Not for wider feet.
Sizes available: UK3-UK11.
Weight: 255g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 8mm.Why we love it: With a stretchy knit tongue, as soon as you slip your feet into Asics’ Gel-Nimbus 25 you feel held in and snug. This is an incredibly comfy cushioned shoe – perfect for heavier runners who want to look after their joints. Featuring 20% more foam compared to previous iterations – it looks more like a Hoka or Adidas ultraboost than the Gel-Nimbus 24, thanks in part to its new PureGel technology. If you’re looking for comfort and cloud-like cushioning for daily runs, then this is an excellent place to start.
8. Best hybrid running shoe
Pros: Great on both trails and roads.
Cons: Not particularly fast.
Sizes available: UK3.5-UK9.
Weight: 207g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 5mm.Why we love it: If you live somewhere surrounded by run routes that are mainly trails and parks, then the Hoka Challenger 7 is a fab all-terrain hybrid running shoe – designed to be able to work both on pavements and trails alike. With 4mm lugs, we found these great when the paths got a little muddy, and thanks to the fact that it’s actually a relatively light shoe, they don’t feel like they drag too much on the pavements either. For slow mile-after-mile cruising, we’re seriously impressed. Sure, it’s probably not fantastic on really technical terrain, but it’s a great all-rounder (and would even work as a comfy hiking shoe).
9. Best trail running shoe
SAUCONY PEREGRINE 12 Women's Trail Running Shoes, WAS £129.99 NOW £69.99, SportsShoes.com
Pros: Excellent grip.
Cons: Not waterproof.
Sizes available: UK3-UK11.
Weight: 275g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 4mm.Why we love it: There’s a lot to like about the Saucony Peregrine 12 trail running shoe. Featuring an excellent outsole, minimalist upper and reliable midsole, it’s basically a bit of a one-hit-wonder. Agile enough to work for off-road marathon and ultramarathon distances (it features additional protection for pushing uphill and driving downhill), it’s grippy, breathable and hugs the foot really well. So if you’re looking for a durable trail shoe, this has a lot to offer.
10. Best running shoes for race day
NIKE ZOOMX VAPORFLY NEXT% 2 Women's Running Shoes - SP23, £224.99, SportsShoes.com
Pros: one of the fastest shoes out there.
Cons: best for forefoot strikers.
Sizes available: UK4-UK9.
Weight: 196g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm.Why we love it: If your only goal in 2023 is to run fast, then you probably should invest in a pair of Vaperflys. Sure, they’re expensive (so look out for Black Friday sales or deals on the Nike website), but if nothing else matters other than PBs and fast splits, then these are the ultimate speed shoes. Fast, light and airy – the Vaporfly Next%2 is definitely a shoe designed for forefoot strikers (so if you land with your heel on the ground before the rest of your foot lands, you may struggle to get along with these). They’re also pretty narrow too – so avoid if you have wide feet. Otherwise, if you’re a forefoot striker in need of a race-day shoe that’s both responsive and flashy (yes people will notice you if you’re wearing these) then these basically make every stride feel like you’re running across a trampoline.
11. Best running shoes for the fashion conscious
Adidas Ultaboost SL, £170, adidas
Pros: look cool and they’re super comfy.
Cons: could be lighter.
Sizes available: UK3.5-14.5.
Weight: 293g.
Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm.
Why we love it: Similar to the Nike Pegasus, the Adidas Ultraboost has a bit of a cult following – and for good reason. Bouncy, stylish and supportive – they have a premium feel to them and can be worn as a casual shoe or a running-specific shoe. Some are calling the Ultraboost SL (which stands for Super Light) the Ultraboost 23, instead (since it’s not actually that light), but they don’t feel heavy when you wear them. They do, however, run a tad small, so we recommend sizing up by half a size. If you’re after an all-rounder kind of running shoe – that looks nice and is needed for predominantly slow-paced daily runs – then these are fab.
