The best running shoes for women share the same characteristics as the best shoes in general: they’re lightweight, comfortable, cushioned and offer just enough support where you need it most. But the biggest differences between men’s and women’s running shoes are in the support. Check out our picks below, or scroll down for more in-depth reviews of the shoes that were ranked particularly highly by our testers. You’ll also find tips and expert advice on how to buy your next pair.
Foot shape
Women’s feet aren’t just smaller, narrower versions of men’s. There are differences in the overall shape that affect the fit of shoes. Women’s feet are relatively wider in the forefoot, with a narrower heel. Running shoe manufacturers take this statistical difference into account when designing their shoes for women. For example, a brand may make the same shoe model with a different heel shape and sometimes different heel materials between its men’s and women’s versions.
The “hip” factor
Researchers have also found that because women have wider hips than men, their feet are more likely to touch the ground toward the outside of the sole of their shoes. We know the resulting inward curl of the foot as pronation, which is why more women than men overpronate. Some women’s running shoes take this increased tendency into account with the different materials used for sole support.
How we tested
We selected all the women’s running shoes in this roundup based on feedback from the women on our 250-runner test team, the expertise of our test editors, and mechanical data collected in our DeliverItX shoe lab. We evaluated each shoe for at least 100 miles, with particular attention to overall performance, comfort, ride, longevity and value. Based on our extensive testing, the options below are currently the best running shoes for women so far in 2022.
1. Brooks Glycerin 20
Once considered only a highly cushioned recovery shoe, the Glycerin has gradually metamorphosed into a workhorse shoe for everyday and every race. The comments of our testers, who raved about the versatility of this shoe, and our own impressions of the miles we put into long runs and speed work evidence this. The Glycerin 20 has a new DNA Loft v3 midsole, which is even softer, more durable and more responsive than Brooks’ previous foam.
Buy: Brooks Glycerin 20
2. Saucony Guide 15
The Saucony Guide is the quintessential shoe for base building and recovery runs. The new Guide 15 has more rebound and weighs an ounce less than its predecessor, making the shoe suitable for speed work as well. Saucony has reformulated its Pwrrun foam to offer a smoother, more elastic ride with less bulk; we observed this when we previously tested the Ride 15, the neutral counterpart to the Guide. The Hollow-Tech, a lighter stability device on the medial side of the shoe replaces the TPU frame. It’s the subtle guidance that editor Amanda Furrer looks for when she’s gradually getting back into her running routine after a marathon.
Buy: Saucony Guide 15
3. Altra Rivera 2
The Rivera 2 has the same Footpod sole that is sticky and grooved to prevent slippage (my fall was caused by careless running, not poor traction). It also uses the same last - the shape of the foot that they built a shoe around - as Altra’s Vanish Carbon, which is covered in carbon fiber. As a result, it shares the sleek design of that runner. Unlike the Vanish Carbon, which is short, the Rivera 2 is true to size, with plenty of room in the toe box. Plus, it keeps its Ego midsole, which offers an incredibly cushy platform in such a thin shoe - and our testers couldn’t stop talking about it.
Buy: Altra Rivera 2
