The best men’s running shoes in 2024

To help you find the best men's running shoes for you, we’ve tested hundreds of pairs in recent years, putting each through their paces with a variety of training runs to see how they handle different speeds and terrains. 

We’ve also looked at the fit and comfort of each shoe, as well as considering the level of performance and value they offer in comparison to other shoes, and then picked out the very best option in a variety of categories.

If you’re after a versatile shoe that can handle almost anything you throw at it, we think that the Nike Pegasus 41 is the perfect choice. It’s comfortable, durable, and suitable for a variety of runs, but it’s not your only option as we’ve rounded up the best men’s running shoes you can buy right now. 

Quick list

Best men's running shoes overall

The Nike Pegasus has been one of the most popular running shoes available for the past four decades, and the Pegasus 41 is our favorite version of the shoe in years. While there are faster shoes on this list, and more cushioned ones too, the Pegasus 41 is a great jack-of-all-trades, and a shoe that works well for a wide variety of runners.

That includes those completely new to the sport, who will get on well with the soft ReactX cushioning, which delivers a protective and comfortable ride. The Pegasus 41 also works well as a versatile and durable daily trainer for more experienced runners, and can handle most kinds of run well.

The Pegasus 41 is an upgrade upon the Nike Pegasus 40 thanks to the new ReactX foam in the midsole, which is softer and a little bouncier than the React foam used in the older shoe. It's also more eco-friendly, and still just as long-lasting — the durability of the Pegasus is always one of its standout features.

Unlike some running shoes, the Pegasus 41 is also comfortable and good-looking enough to use for walking as well, and it's a shoe that's good value at its MSRP and often one that pops up in Nike sales.

• Read our full Nike Pegasus 41 review

Best men’s running shoes for beginners

If you're new to running then it's best to start with a comfortable and versatile shoe that will protect your body as you get used to the sport, while being suitable for runs of any length and speed. A shoe like the Hoka Clifton 9, which is one of the most popular on the market and great for beginners because of the comfort and support it offers.

Like many Hoka shoes, the Clifton 9 has a rockered design which creates a smooth ride that rolls you onto your toes. It doesn't make running feel effortless - no shoe can do that unfortunately - but it helps it feel like less effort.

This smooth ride helps disguise the fact the midsole foam on the shoe is a little dull compared to the bounciest materials available elsewhere. However, it does a good job of muting the impact of running, which is valuable when you first start out in the sport.

There is no 'right' level of drop for a beginner running shoe, but the 5mm drop on the Clifton 9 is a little lower than average, so if you can it might be worth trying it out alongside a 10mm drop shoe like the Nike Pegasus 40 or Puma Velocity Nitro 3 to see which you prefer before buying. 

• Read our full Hoka Clifton 9 review

Best value men’s running shoes

The Puma Velocity Nitro 3 is a relatively new addition to the market, especially compared to shoes like the Pegasus which has been around for four decades, but it has quickly established itself as an excellent trainer that undercuts most of the competition on price. Not only is it great value at its listed price, the Velocity Nitro 3 is often found in sales, and if you're really seeking a bargain the Puma Velocity Nitro 2 is very similar and ripe for discounts now the newer shoe is out.

Importantly, the Velocity Nitro 3 is not just a good shoe for its price, it easily matches or outdoes the performance of far more expensive shoes, and it’s been a regular in our running shoe rotation despite having access to dozens of other shoes.

The Velocity Nitro 3 has a dual-density midsole with a bouncier top layer of Puma’s Nitro foam, and a firmer layer of EVA foam beneath, which helps to increase the stability of the shoe. The ride is comfortable at any pace, and for a well-cushioned shoe the Velocity Nitro 3 is versatile.

An outstanding feature of Puma’s road running shoes in general is the grip provided by their outsoles, and this is certainly the case with the Velocity NItro 3, which delivers traction on wet and even icy pavements, and can handle runs on light trails as well as the road.

• Read our full Puma Velocity Nitro 3 review

Best cushioned men’s running shoes

The Hoka Skyflow is a new cushioned shoe for 2024 that sits above the Clifton as the premium neutral daily trainer in the brands range. It has a generous stack of cushioning in the midsole to ensure a comfortable ride, but the supercritical EVA foam used is lightweight and quite responsive, meaning the Skyflow is pretty versatile shoe as well.

I am a big fan of both the Hoka Clifton 9 and the Mach 6, and for me the Skyflow merges some of the best aspects of those shoes into one, being more comfortable than the Mach and then more responsive and speedy than the Clifton.

It isn't the softest shoe on the market though, and if you are looking for a cushioned shoe that simply offers the last word in comfort for easy runs, then the Saucony Hurricane 24 or New Balance 1080v14 might be better picks. The Skyflow does have a bit more pop to it than those shoes, however, which will be welcomed by runners picking out a cushioned shoe to do a variety of training runs in.

• Read our full Hoka Skyflow review

Best men’s running shoes for marathon training

The Brooks Glycerin has long been a standard-bearer for comfort in running shoes, but the latest edition is also surprisingly light and versatile for a shoe that’s focused on delivering a plush and protective ride. It’s perfect for racking up the many miles you’ll cover during marathon training, and would be good for the race itself if you’re not using a lightweight carbon plate running shoe to try and set a PB.

That’s down to the nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 midsole foam, which is a lightweight material so the Glycerin 21 is less heavy than most cushioned shoes with its stack height. Rest assured there is still plenty of cushioning underfoot to ensure a comfortable ride over runs of any distance, and we found the Glycerin 21 excelled on long runs in particular, with the resilient midsole foam retaining its bounce.

The outsole is also durable, so you won’t wear it down with regular training, and it gripped well for us throughout a winter of marathon training on wet pavements. The upper is well-padded to increase the step-in comfort of the shoe, though this can make it feel a bit hot when running in warm conditions.

While comfortable, the Glycerin 21 is not as soft as some other options on the market, most notably the New Balance 1080v13. We found this extra firmness was welcome on long runs though, as it makes the shoe more stable and less mushy — sometimes it feels better to have a more balanced foam to push against when running, rather than sinking right into a very soft foam.

• Read our full Brooks Glycerin 21 review

Best men’s running shoes for versatility

Once you start running regularly it’s common to have a running shoe rotation with a couple of different shoes that excel at different kinds of run, like a very cushioned shoe for easy, slow runs and a lighter, bouncier shoe for fast runs. The Endorphin Speed 4, however, is the kind of shoe that can make a rotation feel redundant, because it’s great for any type of run.

The shoe has a high stack of Saucony’s bouncy PWRRUN PB foam with a nylon plate running through the midsole. Using a nylon plate rather than a carbon one makes the shoe less stiff and more comfortable for easy runs, but it still delivers most of the propulsive benefits you expect from a plated shoe when doing fast training sessions or racing.

We’ve used the Endorphin Speed 4 for recovery runs done at very relaxed paces as well as interval sessions on the track and long tempo runs, and it always works well. It’s not as stable or comfortable as a cushioned shoe, or as flat-out fast as a carbon plate racer, but the Endorphin Speed 4 isn’t far off on either count.

It’s a shoe that can be called a ‘super-trainer’, a training shoe that uses some of the tech found in super-shoes, like the plate. If you’re seeking a similarly versatile shoe that doesn’t use a plate then the New Balance Rebel v4 is a fantastic option, and a lot cheaper too.

Best men's race running shoes

Racing shoes used to be lightweight, minimal affairs but the arrival of the Nike Vaporfly 4% in 2017 changed that, and when race day comes around you now want one of the best carbon plate running shoes on your feet. Our top pick of those is the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris, which is a perfect modern racing shoe, being both very light and very springy.

The fast ride is produced by the combination of a high stack of Asics's bouncy FF Turbo+ midsole foam and a full-length carbon plate, which creates a propulsive feeling and helps you to run more efficiently. A lightweight upper and minimal outsole helps to keep the weight down, and the Metaspeed Sky Paris comes in lighter than most carbon shoes available, including the Nike Vaporfly 3.

It's a terrific racing shoe for any distance — we’ve run 5Ks, a half marathon and set a marathon PR in the shoe — with the cushioning in the midsole helping to protect the legs over the course of longer races without adding any weight that would be unwelcome in shorter events. 

As with all carbon plate shoes, one downside of the Metaspeed Sky Paris is its high cost, and the outsole doesn’t have much rubber on it, so it won’t be the most durable shoe. Reserve it for your races and a few key training sessions to get the best out of the shoe, and it will serve you very well when chasing PRs.

• Read our Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris review

Best men’s running shoes for flat feet

The Saucony Hurricane 24 is the perfect shoe for anyone looking for a comfortable and stable ride, and it's ideal for runners with flat feet because of the extra arch support it offers. Whether you’re a new runner who wants protection from the impact of the sport, or an experienced one who wants a cushioned shoe to rack up a lot of easy miles in, the Hurricane 24 is worth considering.

Although it is a stability shoe, I found that it’s one that work wells for neutral runners as well as those with flat feet, because the stability elements are subtle. The Hurricane 24 has a wide base and sidewalls of foam, and uses a firmer foam as a frame around the bouncy PWRRUN PB mainly used in the midsole. 

As a result the ride is both stable and lively, and the smooth rocker on the shoe helps you to glide through the miles. I loved using it for relaxed long runs in particular, and if you’re training for a marathon and have a lot of easy-paced miles to cover, it’s ideal for carrying you through those miles.

It’s not the most versatile shoe though, because it’s a heavy one that’s focused on comfort above all, so if you want one shoe to tackle everything from easy runs to interval sessions it wouldn’t be my top pick — the Saucony Tempus would be a more versatile option for runners with flat feet.

• Read our full Saucony Hurricane 24 review

Best men’s trail-running shoes

The best trail-running shoes for you will often depend on the terrain you’re going to tackle, because the outsoles on trail shoes are designed to grip on different surfaces, be it deep mud or hard rocks. However, the Hoka Speedgoat 6 is the trail shoe I recommend to people most often, because it’s exceptionally versatile, both in the terrain it works for and the kind of runs you can do in it.

That starts with the 5mm lugs on the Vibram outsole, which provide reliable grip on a wide range of surfaces. I’ve used the shoe on sun-bleached rocky trails and muddy forest tracks, as well as running on the road in it at times, and it always delivers reliable traction.

The versatility of the shoe is also a result of its midsole, which is comfortable and stable, but also made from a lightweight foam that is responsive enough to use for faster runs. The Speedgoat 6 is a shoe you can use for ultramarathons and short, fast trail races, and everything in between, even if it’s not quite as speedy as a carbon plate trail racer like the Hoka Tecton X3.

Having used both shoes extensively I will say that the Speedgoat 6 is quite similar to the Speedgoat 5, however, so if you see an excellent deal on the older shoe that would offer better value. There are some small upgrades to the Speedgoat 6 including a lighter midsole foam, but both the 5 and 6 are excellent options for trail runs.

Best men's daily trainer

The Mizuno Neo Vista is a joy to run in, with a springy ride that is comfortable for easy and long runs, but is also fast enough for your speed sessions. It’s a daily trainer that can handle whatever kind of run you have on your plan, and one that makes you look forward to your runs (even more than you do already, no doubt). 

Along with a high stack of Mizuno’s bouncy Enerzy NXT foam, the midsole also contains a full length nylon plate that helps to stabilize the soft foam and add more pop to each stride. You can see the plate through a huge cutout on the bottom of the shoe that helps to reduce its weight, but contributes to it not being the most stable option out there, so runners who overpronate will be better off with a shoe like the Saucony Tempus.

If you have no stability concerns and like a springy ride, however, the Mizuno Neo Vista is hard to beat for your daily runs, and it’s one of our favorite new shoes of the year. Just keep it off gravel tracks unless you want to spend half your run picking stones out of the cutout on the bottom of the shoe.

• Read our Mizuno Neo Vista review

Best men's sustainable running shoes

Running shoes are generally not the most sustainable product, with most of the materials used in making them ending up in landfill once a runner is done with them. To combat this, more and more shoes are being made with sustainable and recycled materials, which sometimes comes at the cost of reduced performance. Of these shoes, the Veja Condor 3 stands out as a comfortable and enjoyable running shoe that’s made from sustainable materials.

The comfort comes from the midsole, which is made from a mix of materials including sugar cane-based EVA and Amazonian rubber. Other materials used in the shoe include natural latex and recycled polyester, and the Veja Condor 3 is built to be durable, which is the best way of all to make your running shoe more eco-friendly.

It’s not the lightest shoe or the best option for speedwork, but we found it comfortable and enjoyable to use for long runs during marathon training. The less sustainable shoes on this list offer a higher level of performance, often for a lower price since the Condor 3 is expensive at $200, but if you value sustainability highly with your running shoes then the Condor 3 is the outstanding option.

• Read our Veja Condor 3 review

How to choose the best men's running shoes

When you’re looking for the best men’s running shoe, there are a few things to consider. First, how do you run? It’s always a good idea to head to your local running store to have your gait checked before investing in a pair of running shoes to ensure you’re not overpronating, as you might need a support shoe or insole. Not sure what this means? Check our guide on how to buy running shoes.

Next, you’ll need to think about the kind of miles you plan on running. If you’re looking for a fast shoe for your next road marathon, you’ll probably want to look at something lightweight, which has a responsive foam to propel you to your next PR. That said, if you’re a complete beginner, you’ll probably want to look at a more stable shoe that’ll keep you comfortable as you run and walk.

Finally, have a think about the surfaces you plan on running on. If you’re a trail runner at heart, you’ll need a shoe with a good amount of grip on the outsole to keep you from slipping on uneven terrains. On the other hand, if you do most of your miles on hard concrete, you’ll want a little more cushioning to keep you comfortable. 

How we test the best men's running shoes

We test the best running shoes on the market by running in them. We've run at least 50 miles in each of these shoes, on a number of different terrains, and in different weather conditions. 

When testing running shoes, we’re looking for a number of different factors to help us make up our minds. Obviously, how comfortable they are underfoot and how well they fit are primary concerns. However, we also look at how responsive they are at different paces during different sessions, and how well they perform on a wet sidewalk or a muddy path. 

Other factors we consider when testing the best men's running shoes include such basics as how easy they are to lace, as well as extras like carbon-fiber plates, or ultra-lightweight midsole foams. Last, we also take the price of the shoe into consideration for our final rating, relative to other shoes in its class.

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