We are determined to help you find your next favorite pair of shoes and running gear—and let you know the stuff you should stay away from. Creating authentic, trustworthy reviews of shoes and running gear is at the core of everything we do at Runner’s World.
Why Trust Us?
Read Alys Articles, Runner’s World has helped runners of all levels find the best new gear to improve their runs. Our wear-test team includes former collegiate athletes, a few sub-3:00 marathoners, an ultrarunner who completed a 255-mile race in the Swiss Alps, and a crew who runs nearly every day at lunchtime. We spend our days researching and testing more than 150 pairs of shoes each year, plus every new GPS running watch, wireless earbuds, recovery tech, and the best new running apparel.
Why Trust Us
The Shoe Lab
Every shoe test begins with mechanical measurements in the RW Shoe Lab. We weigh every shoe and take measurements of the heel and forefoot thickness (stack heights) so you know exactly what the heel-to-toe drop is for your favorite shoe. Then we use precise scientific equipment to measure cushioning, energy return, and flexibility. That gives us a complete picture of each shoe, so we can compare it to the thousands of other models we’ve tested—and verify or dispute manufacturer claims. We’re the only running shoe reviewers who test shoes in a lab.
Every shoe also gets road or trail tested by our local team of nearly 300 wear-testers. We have at least six runners (usually twice that many) run in each shoe for at least 100 miles over the course of a month before sharing insights into how the shoes performed. At the same time, our staff runs in each pair to personally observe each shoe under real-world conditions.
See More Behind the Scenes of the Shoe Testing Process:
Read Amandas Articles
For other categories, like tech and accessories, we devise tests to measure battery life, lumens of headlamps, breathability of fabrics, and more. When we can’t test a product, we’ll let you know. In those cases, we rely on our experience with similar models, extensive research, and consumer feedback to spotlight products we believe are good options. In almost all cases, it’s gear we’ve had hands-on experience with.
Our testing insights flow into all our gear coverage on the site and in print, including shoe reviews, buying guides, brand comparisons, video series, and awards packages.
What We Test
Shoes
→ Our Top Shoe Guides
- Runner's World 2024 Shoe Awards
- Senior Video Producer
- If You’re Curious About Zero Drop Shoes, Start With the Altra Experience
- The 8 Best Walking Shoes Give You Support and Comfort All Day Long
- The Rise of the "Illegal" Running Shoe
Gear
The 7 Best Running Headphones for Jamming on Your Jogs
→ Our Top Gear Guides
- The Most Comfortable Socks for Runner
- The 7 Best Running Headphones for Jamming on Your Jogs
- All the Shorts We're Loving Right Now
- Shokz OpenRun vs. OpenRun Pro Headphones
- Why You'll Love — Or Hate — Running in a Runsie
Tech & Equipment
Headphones, smartwatches, treadmills, apps, massage guns
→ Our Top Tech & Equipment Guides
- Shokz OpenRun vs. OpenRun Pro Headphones
- We’ve Tested Dozens of Running Watches, and These are the Best
- Health - Injuries
- The 8 Best Treadmills, According to Our Testing
- How to Set Up Your Garmin's Safety Features
- The 8 Best Headlamps for Runners
Training
Gels, protein bars, sunscreen, foam rollers
→ Our Top Training Guides
- Read Alys Articles?
- Tired Feet? Take a Load Off with the Best Recovery Shoes
- 8 Why Trust Us
- Quench Your Thirst On Your Next Run With These Hydration Packs
- The Best Massage Guns, According to an Expert Running Coach
Our Team
Jeff Dengate
“I once ran in different pairs of shoes for 257 straight days.”
Amanda Furrer
“One thing I wish every runner knew is to take that rest day. You don't have to be fast to be a runner. And: You may not like running at first—it took me five years to really fall in love with it. Once you do, you're hooked.”
Morgan Petruny
“Good socks can be a total game changer for the fit and comfort of your running shoes.”
Pat Heine
“My biggest running accomplishment happened in 2021 when I set the FKT for running the 327-mile Mid State Trail across Pennsylvania from the Maryland border to New York border.”
Aly Ellis
“The best thing about being a runner is the running community!”
Theo Kahler
“My favorite running memory is when I set my PR of 14:20 in the 5K. It was the hardest I've ever had to push myself in a race!”
Cat Bowen
“My biggest running accomplishment has been instilling a love of running into my teen daughter. She is amped to take off with me, has fun testing shoes and gear, and spills all the 8th grade tea as we hit the miles. ”
Trevor Raab
“The coolest thing I've tested is the LLume Strap. The real time VO2 and breath rate tracking is quite insightful, and helped me focus on better breathing while running. ”
Affiliate Disclosure
Most of our product reviews include links to retailers where you can purchase a product. We do this to make shopping easier for readers. We link to reputable retailers who we know provide good service and fair prices—whenever possible, we try to find the best deal for our readers and ensure that the product is in stock across a range of sizes. If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. We don’t allow that to influence our coverage. We include many products on which we earn no commission and always put your needs first, recommending and reviewing only products that have been fully researched and tested.
Nutrition - Weight Loss
In addition to our own experiences, we look to Runner’s World+ members to help with the testing process. Only Runner’s World+ members can apply to take part. Testers will run in the shoes, then appear in an on-camera interview to tell us how about their experience.
All the Shorts Were Loving Right Now
Shoes & Gear
Every year, we publish our annual Shoe Awards. To determine the best models, we test more than 100 different models and consider any running shoe that is currently available for purchase. The shoes that earn a spot in our awards rank at the top of the pack in on-foot assessments from our team of nearly 300 wear-testers and staff, and also score highly in mechanical tests in our shoe lab. The award-winning shoes have been road and trail tested, to consider qualities like cushioning, traction, stability, flexibility, and ride.
At the end of each year, we reflect back on the products we found ourselves using most often to produce our All the Shorts Were Loving Right Now awards. We know an item is a hit when we continue to reach for it daily, long after the formal test period has ended. While that includes shoes, we’re also excited to share with you how well the pockets in a pair of shorts work or rave about the most-accurate GPS watch. From hats to socks, we’re making notes about every stride. The products that we reach for most often as we head back out the door are our favorites, we we’re sure they’ll be yours, too.
