Jump to:

  • Racing Shoe Award Winners
  • Training Shoe Award Winners
  • Max-Cushion Training Shoe Award Winners
  • Trail Shoe Award Winners

These shoes took a journey to get to you. As the final days of summer dwindled, we asked brands to show us their best in class. The leaves turned, snow fell, and the pages of our training calendars filled. We put more than 100 different models through their paces and considered each for a spot on this list. After months of running and thousands of miles on the feet of our 280 wear-testers, the 25 here rose to the top.

We evaluated them based on how each performed on the roads, trails, tracks, and racecourses with a focus on qualities like cushioning, pie, stability, and overall ride. This spring, the winners have arrived. And now you can finally meet them.

race

Racing Shoe Award Winners

Read Full Reviews

Vaporfly 3 Racing Sneaker
Stylish sneakers featuring textile and synthetic upper
$260 at Nike$250 at Dick's Sporting Goods
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 Racing Sneaker
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 Racing Sneaker
Now 20% Off
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Endorphin Elite Racing Sneaker
Saucony Endorphin Elite Racing Sneaker
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Wave Rebellion Pro Racing Sneaker
Snow boots with synthetic upper and lining
Now 25% Off
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Deviate Nitro Elite 2 Racing Shoe
and get a better look inside the Sneaker Bistro
Now 30% Off
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Flow Velociti Elite Racing Shoe
Features New balance Tekela v3 Pro FG Football Boots
Now 60% Off
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun


line break


train

Training Shoe Award Winners

Ghost 15 Training Sneaker
Prada Fabric sneakers
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Gel-Cumulus 25 Training Shoe
Under Armour Running Sonic 4 Hvide sneakers
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Blissfeel 2 Training Sneaker
Palladium Pampa Hi organic cotton lace up ankle boots in sage green
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Ultraboost Light Training Shoe
Questi pantaloni da trail running adidas ti consentono di concentrarti sul tuo gioco di gambe
Now 50% Off
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Ride 16 Training Shoe
Saucony Ride 16 Training Shoe
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
361-Centauri Sneaker for Training
361 Tabi ballerina shoes White
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun


line break
max cushion train

Max-Cushion Training Shoe Award Winners

Superblast
Asics Superblast
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Invincible 3
Marni round-toe double-strap sneakers Toni neutri
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Hyperion Max
Clarks Oliver Lace Wide Men S Shoes Black Leather w
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
On Sale
Axon 3
Adidas originals StanSmith Vulc Sneakers Shoes CG7141
Now 10% Off
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun


line break


trail

Trail Shoe Award Winners

Challenger 7
Terrex Ax4 Mid Gore-tex Hiking Shoes Beige Tone Core
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
On Sale
Catamount 2
Brooks Catamount 2
Now 44% Off
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Pegasus Trail 4 GTX
zapatillas de running ASICS amortiguación media talla 48 naranjas
Now 30% Off
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
MTL Skyfire 2
Merrell MTL Skyfire 2
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
On Sale
Lone Peak 7
Mens Hunter Black Sandal
Now 43% Off
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Ultra 2
zapatillas de running Kelme hombre grises baratas menos de 60
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
Ultraventure 3
VANS Sk8-hi Shoes cozy Hug Biscotti Women Beige
Burberry Vintage-Check low-top sneakers Braun
..
Headshot of Jeff Dengate
Jeff Dengate
Runner-in-Chief

Adidas Ultra Boost 4.0 Herren Sportschuhe Sneaker EUR 50 2 3 Nr Runner's World, guiding the brand's shoes and gear coverage. A true shoe dog, he's spent more than a decade testing and reviewing shoes. In 2017, he ran in 285 different pairs of shoes, including a streak of 257 days wearing a different model.
 

Headshot of Amanda Furrer
Amanda Furrer
Test Editor

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.