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Our Favorite Gym Shoes and Race-Day Footwear of 2024

It’s time to put your best foot forward.

a person working outTim Aukshunas

By Hayley Helms and Ben Emminger

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This story is part of the 2024 Fitness Awards. To see the full list of winners, click here.

You’ve picked your apparel, you’ve plotted your route and you’ve got your gym bag packed; it looks like the only thing you’re missing is a pair of shoes that will help you hit your goals. But as footwear is one of the most crowded categories in fitness, there are a lot of options out there to choose from. Which one is right for you?

We’ve waded through the marketing speak and hype, laced up countless pairs of our own and cross-trained, run and recovered just to bring you the crème de la crème of fitness footwear. Here’s the best in class for getting fit in 2024.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

Thanks to a Pebax plate and new foam construction, this latest Mach profile cranks up the energy in every tempo-pushing step. The lightweight Mach X is ideal for faster days on the track, yet there’s no shortage of stability thanks to its wider footprint. Plus, it has comfort to spare for those cooldown laps.

Think of these as winter tires for training. They feature steel studs across the outsole to provide extra traction when hitting icy roads and slush-filled pathways. Plus, the BOA lacing system makes getting into and out of these winterized kicks a breeze. The fit is also wider to accommodate thicker socks.

It doesn’t take a running expert to understand what this shoe is made for. The aggressive geometry and sleek, airflow-promoting cutouts along the upper point directly at the starting line. Under the hood, a fork-shaped carbon plate is ready to deliver the forward energy to practically push you onto the podium.

Boasting the brand’s signature PureGel technology for softness and support underfoot, these Asics Gel-Cumulus 25s are prime for hitting the road day in and day out. What’s more, the extra FF Blast Plus cushioning along the midsole creates a plush sensation that’s perfect for tackling longer routes.

Pro Tip: Why You Should Rotate Your Running Shoes

pairs of running shoes in a circlePhoto by Tim Aukshunas

While it might seem like overkill to running novices, having multiple pairs of running shoes is actually a good thing for both your training and your gear. Rotating running shoes throughout your weekly sessions gives midsole foam time to decompress properly, returning to its normal height for further wear without compromised performance.

Additionally, different sneakers provide different stressors to your feet; rotation can help make your digits less susceptible to injury and irritation. Start with one pair of shoes for daily training, one for longer recovery runs and one for faster tempo days. From there, you can curate your rotation with variations for racing, trail running and other specialized disciplines.

a blue and white shoeNike

Best Cushioned Running Shoe

Nike Invincible 3

These cushy kicks build off their predecessor with a more rigid midsole for easier transitions. Plus, the revamped upper design eliminates some of the heat retention of previous iterations, all while keeping the aesthetics on point. Some runners may experience fitment issues at the heel, but that’s nothing a quick lace lock can’t fix.

Trail shoes don’t need to leave comfort at home. These new kicks are the brand’s plushest trail runner, on par with some of the sky-high roadsters often associated with cushioned running. A Deep
Active Foot Frame and H-Frame technologies give this sneaker good lockdown and stability as you trek over terrain.

If you’re feeling adventurous but not yet ready for aggressive terrain, these are excellent for packed trailways, lightly graveled roads and paved sidewalks alike. The heavily lugged outsole provides ample grip for road-to-trail scenarios, and the Gore-Tex membrane provides confidence when traversing puddles and mud.

Pro Tip: The Best Gym Shoe May Already Be in Your Closet

a black and white photo of converse high top shoesMark Bishop/Unsplash

Current gym shoes utilize advanced foams and innovative materials, but would you believe those old pairs of Chucks are just as impressive for a workout? Thanks to its flat sole, flexible canvas upper and very approachable price point, Converse’s Chuck Taylor All Star remains a go-to for many fitness enthusiasts, especially those dedicated to powerlifting. The zero-drop nature of the shoe creates a grounded sensation in certain stances that’s perfect for pushing massive weights around.

When six of the top ten male competitors at the 2022 CrossFit Games compete in the same model of training sneakers, the fitness world pays attention. That’s exactly what happened as part of Tyr’s coming out party for the CXT-1, and the momentum has only continued to build. The Surge NRG foam midsole is responsive and energetic, while the mesh upper keeps every workout session cool and comfortable.

A patent-pending Stability Platform underfoot also gives these trainers a sense of stability, perfect for tackling static lifts as well. They don’t have the heritage of other shoes yet, but it’s already clear that Tyr knows a thing or two about well-built training footwear.

Refrain from wearing your training shoes outside of workouts and opt to keep your feet cozy en route to the gym with these sneakers. A collapsible heel allows for full-shoe or slip-on wear, and a BOA Fit System makes finding your ideal fit a breeze.

These lightweight recovery shoes feature a breathable mesh upper, while the compression-molded EVA midsole offers plush cushioning and inherent stability. These kicks can also be an excellent option for commuting to the gym thanks to their slip-on design.

These sleek slip-on shoes can kickstart your post-workout decompression thanks to raised recovery nodes along the footbed. The lightweight silhouette is easy to put on, and the sugarcane-based EVA foam offers the right amount of cushion. Plus, they’re available in a range of vibrant colors.

These max-cushioned slides boast a fair helping of proprietary OOfoam designed to absorb 37 percent more impact than your normal sneakers. What’s this mean, exactly? Well, we’ve never literally walked on clouds, but if we had to guess, it’s a lot like this.

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