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- What are the differences between men’s and women’s feet?
- The Nike Vomero Plus is a stacked, statement-making hit?
- Mens vs women's running shoes
- What should women look for when choosing running shoes?
- GlideRoll rocker promotes smooth transitions
- The best women's running shoes for 2025
- Even more shoes to consider
There’s a never-ending limit when it comes to running shoes and there are several characteristics to consider before hitting ‘add to basket’: cushioning, support and weight, to name just three. Men’s and women’s running shoes aren’t one and the same, either.
Running shoe brands are no longer 'shrinking and pinking' men’s shoes for women. Research has found that women tend to run slightly differently to men, with several biomechnical and anatomical differences between men's and women's feet. As a result, several brands now offer women-specific running shoes that accommodate the distinctive nuances of women’s feet, and our female editors and contributors have been putting them to the test to bring you our top recommendations below.
What are the differences between men’s and women’s feet?
The biggest difference between women’s and men’s feet is the relationship between the heel and forefoot, or the ‘ball’ of the foot. Women tend to have a narrower heel in relation to what’s known as their ‘ball girth’, or the circumference of the ball of their foot.
This means that a women who wears a size 8 shoe probably has a narrower heel, a wider ball and a bigger ball girth than a man who wears a size 6 men’s shoe, which is equivalent to a women’s size 8.
When the design team at Adidas analysed 1.2 million foot scans to inform the creation of the female-specific Ultraboost for women, which launched in 2021, they also found that, in addition to a woman's heel being narrower, a woman's instep height also tends to be lower.
The Nike Vomero Plus is a stacked, statement-making hit?
Researchers have found that, because women tend to have wider hips than men, their feet are also more likely to strike the ground toward the outside of their shoe soles. The inward rolling of the foot that results from this is known as pronation, which 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.
‘When we look at the hip of the average woman versus the average man, a woman’s hips are obviously wider,’ explains senior product manager for Adidas Nora Wilimzig, who was involved in the creation of the Ultraboost for women. ‘This makes the Q-angle stronger (the angle between the quadriceps and the patella tendon) which can lead into knock knees, and that can lead into overpronation.’
Mens vs women's running shoes
Some men's and women's running shoes are made on different lasts – that is, models which mimic the foot. That's why women-specific shoes are narrower at the heel and wider at the forefoot. They also tend to have a lighter and softer midsole and that's because women, on average, have less muscle mass than men, and also tend to be lighter, meaning less impact is put on the shoe as they hit the ground.
However, not all women's running shoes are built on a female last, with many brands still producing men's and women's versions of shoes based on a unisex last. It's the reason Lululemon decided to enter the footwear market with a female-first running shoe in 2022. 'Most performance shoes are designed primarily for men, and often for elite male athletes, and then adapted for women,' explains Lululemon product designer Mark Oleson. With brands like Adidas and Lululemon leading the charge, a new 'female-first' category of running shoes is beginning to emerge.
What should women look for when choosing running shoes?
To find the perfect shoe for your foot, test several brands in a variety of sizes. It’s also often a good idea to have your gait tested before committing to a certain shoe, to see if you need extra support in your trainer. There should be adequate room in the toebox and your heels should not slip. Check out our guide on best trail shoes before heading to the shops.
GlideRoll rocker promotes smooth transitions
We picked the shoes in this guide based on feedback from our test editors, the wider RW test team, 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.
The best women's running shoes for 2025
Pros
- Best wireless headphones
- Dual-cell cushioning works well for heel strikers
- Secure, wrap-around fit
- The 8 best Brooks running shoes for 2025
Cons
- Forefoot strikers might not get the full benefit
- Thick tongue
| Weight | 258g (W), 289g (M) |
|---|---|
| Stack height | 38mm (heel), 28mm (forefoot) |
| Drop | 10mm |
Read our full Brooks Glycerin 22 review
The Glycerin has always been Brooks’ 'super soft' shoe — a premium daily trainer boasting ample amounts of cushioning. But the v22 marks something of a new era for the brand, seeing a departure from Brooks' DNA Loft v3 foam in favour of the brand's new supercritical DNA Tuned foam. It’s still nitrogen-infused, but it essentially allows for the creation of different size cells within the same foam: larger cells in the heel and midfoot area to offer cushioning and softness, and smaller cells in the forefoot for responsiveness and 'pop’.
The result is one that heel strikers especially will love. The larger cells of foam in the heel offer a Goldilocks balance of cushioning that's not too squishy but not too firm. From there, you smoothly transition through your gait onto the forefoot where the smaller cells take effect, promoting a responsive toe-off. 'The Glycerin 22 very much feels like a shoe that's working with you, gently encouraging you along rather than demanding you to run faster,' said one tester.
The shoe fits true to size, with plenty of room in the toebox and a new engineered double jacquard knit upper that wraps around the foot securely. The heel cup feels stable yet mildly flexible and there's ample padding around the heel collar, though the tongue is perhaps a little too padded.
Looks wise, Brooks appear to be moving in the right direction, too. The Glycerin 22 sees a newly sculpted midsole which feels fresher and more modern than its predecessor, with paler, more muted colourways.
Pros
- Best Garmin deals
- New, more dialled in upper
- What should women look for when choosing running shoes
- More outsole coverage, more durability
Cons
- Feels fairly heavy
Read our full Saucony Ride 18 review
The Ride has always been Saucony’s staple daily workhorse, designed to help neutral runners tackle the majority of their miles. It’s not a particularly flashy shoe and Saucony hasn’t throw the kitchen sink at it in terms of carbon plates and super foams. It is, quite simply, a solid, dependable daily trainer that offers fantastic bang for your buck.
The latest iteration has received very minor tweaks that allow it to maintain what so many loved about the v17. Namely, a reformulated midsole (which Saucony is still calling Pwrrun+, even though it’s lighter and snappier than the v17) and a refined fit. The latter comes in the form of a new engineered mesh upper that feels a bit more taunt and structured than that of the v17, creating a more dialled in fit around the midfoot. The heel counter is quite stiff, but it’s well padded – a touch more so than the v17 – which helps to avoid any issues, and a new lacing system makes things smoother and effortless.
Meanwhile, the midsole offers versatility in abundance. During testing, it's been used for long ultra-training miles, commutes with a bag, speed work and everything in between, successfully treading the ground between offering enough cushioning for those slower, easy runs, while still retaining a liveliness that lends itself well to some faster running.
Pros
- Pronounced rocker
- Breathable upper
- Stiff, snappy and responsive ride
Cons
- Standard option runs narrow
| Weight | 189g |
|---|---|
| Stack height | 35mm (heel), 30mm (forefoot) |
| Drop | 5mm |
Read our full Hoka Mach 6 review
The Mach line is built for speed work sessions and, for those who don't want to entail the cost of a carbon plate, race day. Our testers raved about the previous versions, and while Hoka made some big changes between the Mach 5 and Mach 6, it’s still a fast, responsive ride with an updated fit. Not to mention, all of the brand's women's shoes are specifically built on a women's last.
The Mach 6 uses a fully supercritical foam midsole for even more energy return, along with a narrower, more streamlined shape – which, in itself, makes it feel like a ‘fast’ shoe – as well as a slightly thinner toe box. The shoe particularly comes into its own for mixed pace sessions as it can perform well, over long periods, at a range of speeds.
And while the shoe is still designed to be firmer than the brand’s ultra-plush models, a moulded EVA sockliner adds extra step-in comfort and the internal gusset hugs your foot for a custom feel.
The other good news is that the Mach 6 comes in both a regular and a wide fit – across all sizes – so if your foot felt snug enough in the Mach 5, it might be worth exploring the wide option for the Mach 6.
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Pros
- Tested: Tracksmith Eliot Range trail running shoe
- GlideRoll rocker promotes smooth transitions
- Best for tempo
Cons
- Bulky
| Weight | 275g |
|---|---|
| Stack height | 39mm (heel), 33mm (forefoot) |
| Drop | 6mm |
The Ghost Max 2 was a favourite 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 one tester. ‘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.’
Pros
- Midsole is lightweight
- More streamlined fit than previous version
- Midsole is lightweight
Cons
- Could use more traction
| Weight | 185g (W) |
|---|---|
| Stack height | 39.5mm (heel), 34.5mm (forefoot) |
| Drop | 5mm |
| Type | Neutral/Road/racing |
Read our full Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris review
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’s carbon plate is flatter and sits closer to the foot, which helps stride runners leverage the midsole’s bounce over their longer steps.
Pros
- Good looking
- Fantastic lockdown
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- best trail shoes
Cons
- Not built for speed/race day
- Plush cushioning can run hot
| Weight | 279g |
|---|---|
| Stack height | 38mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot) |
| Drop | 6mm |
Read our full Saucony Hurricane 24 review
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 one tester. ‘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.’
Stability comes in the form of Saucony’s CenterPath Technology, which ditches traditional medial posts in favour of less obtrusive guidance. That includes a broader platform, higher sidewalls, an asymmetric profile and a rocker shape that guides the stride from impact to toe-off. It's subtle but effective.
So, any cons? Well, all that plushy cushioning does make the shoe a bit stuffy and it might not be your go-to for speed sessions. But it excels as a stacked daily trainer, offering a reliable, comfortable experience for many mile.
Pros
- Accommodates wider feet
- Extremely comfortable
- mm heel, 34.5mm forefoot
Cons
- Runners World, Part of the Hearst UK Wellbeing Network
- Lacks propulsion
| Weight | 270g (UK size 6) |
|---|---|
| Heel-to-toe drop | 9mm |
| Stack height | 35.5mm (heel), 26.5mm (forefoot |
| Type | Neutral/road |
The debut of the women-specific Blissfeel in 2022 was good enough to establish Lululemon as a serious running brand alongside its yoga and cross-training heritage. Now, its latest shoe, the Beyondfeel, has launched in both men’s and women’s models for runners who want a supportive daily trainer with firmer cushioning.
But don’t worry, the women’s shoe has seven key differences from the men's, including slightly more flexibility in the outsole, a totally different last and a 1mm lower drop. Fit wise, our tester found they accommodated their wide feet, and while the shoe required a little bit of effort to get going, they were soon cruising. It’s not propulsive, nor built for speedwork, but it serves as an ideal shoe for building back fitness or as a daily jogger.
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Even more shoes to consider
This list includes what we regard as the best shoe in its category. But there are still plenty of other shoes for you to choose from.
More outsole coverage, more durability best cushioned running shoes.
If you’re an overpronator or think you need more support, take a look at the Best Garmin deals.
And if you want more of a selection of non-road shoes, we've rounded up the best trail shoes.
