Running shoe brands are no longer “shrinking and pinking” men’s shoes for women. From toe to heel, brands are developing women-specific shoes, taking into account women’s biomechanics and anatomical differences from men.
Several times a year, we update this roundup to give runners our top 10 women’s running shoes. We select these shoes based on feedback from our wear-test team, who put in miles wearing everything from lightweight, to cushioned to stability shoes. No matter the distance or your shoe preferences, there's a great shoe for you on this list.
The Best Women's Running Shoes
- Best Overall: Brooks Glycerin 21
- Best Value: Saucony Ride 17
- Best Daily Trainer: Lululemon Blissfeel 2
- Best Cushioned Trainer: Brooks Ghost Max 2
- Best for Racing: Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris
What to Consider in Women’s Running Shoes
Foot Shape
Women’s feet aren’t just smaller, narrower versions of men’s 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 consider this statistical difference when designing their shoes for women. For example, a brand may build the same model of a shoe with a different heel shape and sometimes different heel materials between its men’s and women’s versions.
The Hip Factor
Researchers have also found that, because women tend to have wider hips than men, women's feet are more likely to strike the ground toward the outside of their shoe soles. The inward rolling of the foot that results from this, pronation, 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.
Why Trust Us?
Runner’s World has helped people who love running connect with the sport and the hobby they love for more than 50 years with news, fitness tips, and, of course, gear recommendations. Our product guides for running essentials like running shoes and running shorts, are based on the hard work of our test team, who put the latest and greatest running gear through their paces day in and day out. In 2024, the Runner’s World test team includes Runner-in-Chief Jeff Dengate, and Test Editors Amanda Furrer and Morgan Petruny.
In 2024, the effort to update our guide to the best women’s running shoes was spearheaded by Test Editor Amanda Furrer who added or updated seven of the shoes in this guide based on her extensive testing, as well as data provided by the Runner’s World wear-test program.
How We Selected The Best Running Shoes for Women
We picked the shoes in this guide based on feedback from the women who are part of our 250-runner-strong wear-test team, the expertise of our test editors, and the mechanical data collected in our RW Shoe Lab. Every shoe was evaluated over the course of at least 100 miles, with attention given to overall performance, comfort, ride, longevity, and value. Based on our extensive testing, the options below are currently the best running shoes for women.
Our Women’s Running Shoe Reviews
Pros
- Soft nitrogen-infused midsole
- Comfy all-around fit
- New upper breathes better than past versions
Cons
- Heavier than the Ghost 16
After adding DNA Loft V3 cushioning to last year's Glycerin 20, Brooks has heaped on an extra 2mm of padding to the Glycerin 21’s midsole, as if to remind us this shoe is still the brand’s most cushioned trainer.
“For logging lots of miles, these shoes are excellent,” said tester Erin Dewalt. “I’ve been a long-time Ghost wearer, but never tried the Glycerin. Based on the substantial foamy soles, I expected these to feel too squishy, but they ride smooth. I’d describe the Glycerin as soft, but not squishy. Everything about the shoe is easy to wear—nothing pokes, prods, or pinches. There’s not a single hard edge.”
Pros
- Comfy overall fit
- Responsive Pwrrun+ foam
- More outsole coverage, more durability
Cons
- Some testers reported stiffness
The Ride 17 is updated with a Pwrrun+ midsole and sockliner. It’s the same cushioned combo in the Triumph 21, Saucony’s plushest trainer, so you know it’s luxuriously soft and delivers even higher energy return than the Ride 16. Because of its pumped up midsole, the Ride is slightly heavier than the Guide—but that extra weight doesn’t sap any of its rebound.
Pros
- Specifically made for a woman’s fit and biomechanics
- New contoured upper provides secure fit
- Supportive, thick foam buffers impact
Cons
- Heavier compared to other trainers
The Blissfeel 2 feels slightly heavier and firmer than its predecessor, despite the fact it is the same weight as the original model and both its stack height and foam haven't changed. These feel similar to the Adidas’ Ultraboost. The Blissfeel2 is thickset, but there’s plenty of pop to the ride. The toe room and cushioning felt like a reprieve after testing narrower, less-supportive trainers.
A neutral shoe, it is ideal for recovery days or for runners who want more support and firmer cushioning. Despite a sore Achilles during previous runs due to overtraining, Furrer found the Blissfeel 2 provided the support she needed. The way to know a shoe is truly supportive, she noted, is when you don’t suffer any repercussions after making poor training choices.
Pros
- Updated with even softer DNA Loft v3 foam
- GlideRoll rocker promotes smooth transitions
- Broad base for a stable ride
Cons
- Bulky
The Ghost Max was a favorite among wear-testers. The second version has been updated with DNA Loft v3 foam resulting in an even softer platform. The shoe fits securely with a broader base to promote stability. “What I liked most about the Brooks Ghost Max 2 is its exceptional cushioning,” said tester Jill Braders-Meyers. “The shoe’s plush feel really stood out, providing a high level of comfort, especially on longer runs. This cushioning significantly reduced the impact on my joints, which was particularly noticeable on road runs, where the hard surface can be tough on the body over time.”
Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris
Pros
- Carbon plate specifically placed for stride runners
- More streamlined fit than previous versions
- Midsole is lightweight
Cons
- Could use more traction
The evolution of the Metaspeed series continues with three key updates which you'll find here and in the Metaspeed Edge Paris: A new FF Turbo+ midsole, which is approximately 10 percent lighter than the previous foam in the Metaspeed+ models; a new last that provides a closer fit and more stability in the forefoot along with better arch support; and a new MotionWrap 2.0 upper that is eight percent more breathable.
The Metaspeed Sky Paris’ carbon plate is flatter and sits closer to the foot which helps stride runners leverage the midsole’s bounce over their longer steps.
Pros
- Max cushioned trainer
- CenterPath technology provides support
- Dual foam results in high rebound
Cons
- Heavy
The stability counterpart to Saucony’s max-cushioned shoe, the Hurricane 24, is the softest iteration yet with a dual-cushioned midsole. Pwrrun and Pwrrun PB foam mattress your foot while also encouraging high energy return on your runs. “Loved the cushion that it provided,” said tester Dannah Javens. “A great break from mid-cushion to low-cushion shoes. Provides more cushion than the Hoka Clifton, which is what I usually wear, but it is great when your body is feeling a little beat down from running.”
Pros
- Slight 4mm drop
- Wide toebox
- Lightweight daily trainer
Cons
- Some testers wanted more arch support
The Experience Flow is a part of Altra’s new non-zero-drop collection—a shocking move from the brand known for “balanced cushioning.” Testers praised the shoe’s smooth, lightweight ride that allowed them to, ah-hem, go with the flow. “The 4mm drop was ideal; just enough to give me a comfortable, relaxed stride for slower miles, but supportive and responsive enough if I picked up the pace a bit,” said RW Senior Reviews Editor Jamie Sorcher. “It is a shoe that gave my foot the freedom to just be, to move as nature intended with no restrictions. Even with a toebox that was extra roomy, my foot still felt hugged, secure, supported, and comfortable.”
Pros
- New DNA Flash v2 foam is softer and lighter
- Breathable upper
- Available in stability version, Hyperion GTS 2
Cons
- Not sufficient arch support for some
The Hyperion is a long-awaited follow-up (three years!) to Brooks’s marathon training shoe, the Hyperion Tempo. The Hyperion 2 is updated with DNA Flash v2 cushioning; the nitrogen-infused midsole is lighter, softer, and more responsive than the original DNA Flash foam; and it delivers bounce and rebound in a shoe that’s too soft to be a racing flat, yet too lightweight to be labeled as your average daily trainer.
Topo Athletic MT-5
Pros
- Lightweight
- Wide toebox
- Supportive cushioning
Cons
- No rock plate
- Not grippy enough on technical trails
The MT-5—included in our 2024 spring shoe awards—is a user-friendly option. It has the simple essentials that entry-level trail runners need, but without the bells and whistles they’ll have to fuss over. Topo Athletic increased the stack height from 25:22mm to 28:23mm, for more cushioning and protection underfoot.
The heel-toe offset was also increased from 3mm to 5mm to make the shoe more accessible for runners wary of low-drop shoes. Topo also shaved down the lugs, making the outsole less aggressive. With all of these changes, the MT-5 feels more like a hybrid model built for both roads and groomed trails.
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Pros
- Protective overlays
- Multidirectional lugs
- Smooth cushioned ride
Cons
- Not for rugged trails
- Narrow fit
Lululemon’s first trail shoe, the Blissfeel Trail, was described by testers as “less for running, more for hiking.” The shoe felt stiff and rough in the upper with a ride that was not smooth, making it hard to maneuver. The Beyondfeel Trail provides a more streamlined profile with an extra groove on the outsole to accommodate women’s biomechanics running on uneven surfaces. High abrasion rubber with multidirectional lugs ensure traction, but the real win here is the supercritical foam midsole providing comfy cushioning on the less beaten path.
Q+A with Test Editor Amanda Furrer
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
