Sneakers, not diamonds, are a running girl’s best friend!
As every runner knows, shoes can make or break your run. With the right pair of shoes, you feel like you’re gliding on a cloud, and you can run for hours without tiring. But the wrong pair of shoes just feels WRONG, taking a toll on your feet, ankles, knees, and back.
The problem is: finding the right pair of sneakers is always easier said than done. Women’s shoes come in hundreds of shapes, sizes, and styles, making it incredibly hard to select a single pair that is just right for you.
Shopping online for a pair of shoes is even more difficult! Without being able to try on the shoes and feel them for yourself, it’s hard to be sure you’ve gotten the right pair.
But don’t sweat it–we’re here to help! We’ve rounded up some of the best women’s sneakers and athletic shoes for you, sifted through hundreds of reviews, and condensed all the information into one easy-to-read guide to shoes. Check out the awesome shoes below, and see which one suits your needs best…
ASICS Women’s GEL-Nimbus 17
ASICS’ GEL-Nimbus shoes are some of the most comfortable sneakers around! The thick gel cushioning built into the sole provides excellent cushioning and support, reducing the wear and tear on your joints while making your run much more comfortable. If you’re looking for a pair of shoes to minimize the strain of your workout, these are the bad boys for you!
They come with some interesting features:
- Gait-enhancing guidance system. This helps to correct your gait and stride, ensuring that you take each step with proper posture.
- Supportive heel clutching system. This reduces the risk of blisters on the back of your ankle and ensures that your heels are as supported as your forefeet.
- Vertical flex grooves. This provides extra support on those side to side movements, making the shoes great for other sports and athletic activities aside from running.
What’s great about these shoes? Here are a few reviews from real life users:
- These had the amazing comfort of the Kayano’s soft mesh on the top, but with an amazing sole – perfection!
- I suffer from very high arches, plantar fasciitis, and heels spurs. These shoes are perfect for all of my issues (and the associated orthotics).
- The best shoe out there! Heaven on your feet
- Wearing these shoes feels like walking on clouds, and I completely agree with them. The gel cushioning in the shoes helps absorb the shock, which is better for your feet. I also have high arches and these shoes work well with them.
What’s not to love? Here are a few negative comments:
- The Gel Nimbus 17, like its predecessors, runs very small…and narrow.
- These shoes were too small. They felt good otherwise on my foot but didn’t fit right.
Buy a larger size, and you’ve solved the problem!
Starting at $75, these shoes are a tad pricey, but they’re VERY good for those who do a lot of outdoor running!
Mizuno Women’s Wave Inspire 11
If you want lightweight and low-key, these are the shoes for you. The shoe is built to fit snugly around your feet for a tighter fit, with straps that hug your feet as you run. This ensures better fluidity of motion without the risk of blistering or rubbing your skin raw.
The Fan Wave built into the midsole is designed to offer good support throughout the transition from heel to toe, ensuring that your stride is comfortable and reducing the strain on your foot joints and bones.
It has good cushioning but weighs surprisingly little. They’re not the best shoe for jogging or running, but they’re a good pair to have for walking around, running errands, or playing sports.
What’s great about these shoes? Here are a few reviews from real life users:
- These are great shoes for running, walking, and just wearing anywhere. They are very comfortable with strong arch support as well as heel support. They are light and attractive, and the sole is cushiony.
- I have heel issues, and arch issue on my right foot, and these shoes make the pain go away so I can work out. I use for light jogging, walking and circuit training.
- I highly recommend them if you have shin splints, or need stronger arch support from your running shoe.
What’s not to love? Here are a few negative comments:
- After two months, I started to develop a soreness in the pads of both feet, likely due to insufficient front support.
- Although they have a good arch support, I didn’t feel so comfortable running in them. Just for walking or standing may be okay.
As you can see, there’s a lot to love about these shoes! Starting at $50, these are a great all-around pair of sneakers to use!
New Balance Women’s W490V3
If you want inexpensive, New Balance is the brand for you! Their shoes are usually affordable and comfortable, though not the most stylish. Still, for under $30, these are some of the best running shoes around.
The shoes have decent padding and support built into them, with an upper that offers a good amount of stability.
They’re ideal for indoor running–ergo, treadmill and elliptical machine workouts.
What’s great about these shoes? Here are a few reviews from real life users:
- These sneakers are very comfortable. They offer good arch support, and the soles are well cushioned.
- They are excellent quality, and once you start walking or running, it almost seems they are ‘helping’ you do it. Their soles are perfectly angled, extremely comfortable, soft on the heels.
- The comfort, both support and cushioning, is perfect for my preferences in for both running and the minor strength/aerobic classes I take.
What’s not to love? Here are a few negative comments:
- The tops of these shoes where they cross right under your toes are extremely tight
- Shoe is somewhat comfortable, but feels a bit tight across top, and it feels very clunky/cumbersome when wearing
All in all, a good choice!
Nike Women’s Flex 2015
If you’re willing to pay a bit more for a high-quality pair of shoes, Nike shoes are always a good contender. These shoes are built to last, with the thick sole and solid cushioning for which Nike is famous. They’re great for both indoor and outdoor running, or even for trail running and hiking.
You’ll love the midfoot webbing system, which keeps the shoes snug around the middle of your foot to enhance both fit and support. The flex grooves built into the sole encourage a more natural range of motion. All in all, they’re a comfortable pair of shoes that make running and other physical activity easy.
What’s great about these shoes? Here are a few reviews from real life users:
- I work out almost daily – weights, kickbox & treadmill. These offer comfort, support & an arch which has helped my plantar fasciitis!!
- I feel like they support my foot well, my heels are not hurting as they were with my previous shoes. They fit as I expected.
- The shoes are comfortable, flexible, and they are breathable.
What’s not to love? Here are a few negative comments:
- The tongue makes it hard to get your foot in because it doesn’t lift completely out like some sneakers.
- Because of the breathable mesh, the shoes are not good to wear when it’s raining. Lots of water seeps through.
As you can see, Nike once again delivers high-quality shoes–and at a pretty reasonable price! For $50, it’s a solid purchase that will last a long time.
Under Armour Speedform Apollo
Lightweight, flexible, and comfortable are all good descriptors for this pair of Under Armour shoes.
UA is a brand ideal for cross-trainers, so you can use them for running, resistance training, sports, and pretty much any kind of physical activity. They’re able to keep up with you and your active lifestyle!
The silicone grip on the heel cup will ensure that your heels fit snugly as you walk and run, and you’ll love the midsole responsive flexibility.
The slim sole and lightweight upper will reduce the weight of the shoes, making them ideal for endurance runners and joggers.
What’s great about these shoes?
Here are a few reviews from real life users:
- Very light on the feet and stride with really great support for semi-minimalist runners. I couldn’t believe how light it is, yet the support from the heel, midfoot to toes feels more like traditional runners.
- Amazingly comfortable right out of the box! They have all the benefits of light weight without sacrificing foot protection, support, and cushioning.
- The shoe is extremely light weight. I love how it hugs your feet
What’s not to love? Here are a few negative comments:
- There is no arch support. I don’t have high arches and still have no arch support.
- Too small in the area of the ball of my foot. Maybe if there were a wide size….
If you like the minimalist style of running but don’t want to go full-on barefoot, these are a great pair of cross-trainers for you! At $60, they’re a tad pricey, though.
Saucony Women’s Cohesion 8
If you want lightweight and easy on your feet, you’ll love these Saucony shoes. The carbon rubber outsole weighs next to nothing, but it’s thick enough to provide good cushioning for your feet. Say goodbye to those aches and pains that come from hours spent running every week.
The thick sole makes them less than ideal for sports that involve a lot of lateral movement, but they’re good for weight training, elliptical training, and even cycling.
Thanks to the IMEVA midsole design, they help to reduce shock and impact on your feet, reducing the wear on your joints. A pair of shoes worth trying!
What’s great about these shoes? Here are a few reviews from real life users:
- I have wide feet, high arches and under pronate. Saucony’s provide the cushion I need without feeling like my foot’s in a cast.
- Very plush and they seem to stabilize my feet.
- They are the most comfortable shoes I have worn in a long time – great arch support and a lot of cushioning
What’s not to love? Here are a few negative comments:
- Fits good but not as firm as I like my running shoes to be. I like a lot of support, and these are very light weight.
- The toe box is a little large and I’m feeling some extra movement that I don’t really like
If you want good-quality, comfortable shoes, $32 is not too high a price to pay for these bad boys!
Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 15
For those who want to correct their running form, these are an excellent pair of shoes to use! Thanks to the design of the sole (with its Extended Caterpillar Crash-Pad), you will find it much easier to make the heel-to-toe transition more naturally.
The shoes offer good support, and will last a long time. For more natural, fluid motion, they can’t be beaten.
What’s great about these shoes? Here are a few reviews from real life users:
- I would recommend these shoes if you want a stability shoe, are looking to start training for your first half marathon (or marathon I suppose), are new to running, or you’re a runner with a slightly larger BMI!
- This shoe corrected my pronation and even improved my foot strike!! Very comfortable and supportive, they have a noticeable spring when you walk/run.
- You don’t have to break them in because they are comfortable right out of the box. They provide excellent support. I have never been so content with a running shoe in my life!
What’s not to love? Here are a few negative comments:
- Just got these and my big toe is pressed against the front. Measured against my current pair and sure enough, it’s smaller. Going to order half size up and see if they’re any better.
- I didn’t feel that they had nearly as much cushion and support as others were saying.
All in all, a pretty great choice–though a tad pricey at $70!
Choosing your workout shoes is one of the most important things to do before starting a routine. Since your feet will obviously be at work, a sensible and comfortable pair of sneakers is the best way to go. Not only will it help you move more easily, it will also prevent you from developing risks on your leg and feet muscles.
