The Best Running Shoes 2022
Looking for the best running shoes of 2022? Read on!
When it comes to running shoes, you need a pair with excellent cushioning, support, and flexibility. Most of all, you need a comfortable fit that helps you avoid foot pain or injuries and recover from strenuous activity faster.
To help you choose your perfect pair, we’ve rounded up some of the best running shoes 2022 has to offer. Check out how we picked them out to understand the key features you should aim to get.
Our criteria for picking out the best running shoes in 2022
When picking out the best running shoes in 2022, we tested the following features:
- Weight— Lightweight materials can make running shoes feel faster. However, heavier shoes come with extra cushioning that’s ideal for long-distance runs.
- Cushioning— Cushioning is essential for shock absorption, and extra cushioning doesn’t necessarily add excess weight.
- Drop— The heel-to-toe drop is important for enhancing flexibility and reducing stress on your feet. A higher drop means a greater heel strike and less strain on your Achilles tendon.
- Breathability— Quality running shoes are made of breathable materials that allow sweat to escape and air to cool your feet, thus preventing slippage and bacterial or fungal infections.
All the models below offer great flexibility, support, traction, durability, and comfort without adding excess weight. That’s why they’re the best running shoes in 2022 that are reliable.
1. Adidas 4DFWD
The Adidas 4DFWD shoes come with a responsive 3D-printed midsole that offers 23% more cushioning and three times more forward motion than the previous 4D models. They’re slightly heavier, but the 11.3-mm drop ensures faster and smoother running.
The bowtie-shaped FWD cell lattice gives a great bounce, an excellent ground contact feel, and superb comfort. Add to that the Primeknit+ upper’s breathability, support, and a sock-like feel, and you have a top-notch pair for fast training days.
2. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38
The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 shoes offer more comfort for daily runs and long distances than the previous models. They feature responsive React foam, a wider toe box, a deeper heel cup, and a 10-mm drop.
The cushioning offers moderate flexibility at toe-off and a medium-soft feel on touchdown, while the outsole comes with an excellent grip for short offroad runs.
Due to additional tongue padding, they’re not as breathable as many of our other top picks, but they’re incredibly stable, firm, and comfy.
3. Saucony Endorphin Speed 2
The versatile Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 shoes with an 8-mm drop are lightweight, fast, responsive, durable, comfortable, and very breathable.
They’re bouncy but still offer a great ground contact feel. The nylon plate inside its cushioning offers more flexibility underfoot and a more stable ride.
The narrow toe box may not be ideal for wide-footed runners, and a wobbly platform might take some getting used to if you’re a heel-striker. Their outsole isn’t particularly grippy, so be careful on wet or smooth surfaces.
4. Brooks Ghost 14
The Brooks Ghost 14 shoes are more versatile and performance-oriented than their predecessors. They feature a full DNA Loft midsole with a 12-mm drop and a medium-soft feel for efficient weight transfers.
They’re slightly heavier but feel very agile and provide excellent cushioning and stability. Their perfect balance between firmness and cushioning, a more streamlined upper, better responsiveness, and a thinner mesh for more breathability make for smooth rides.
5. Hoka One One Rincon 3
The Hoka One One Rincon 3 model is an all-in-one trainer for nearly every pace and distance. It’s incredibly lightweight, well-cushioned, and stable.
Its resilient EVA-foam midsole offers excellent traction and has an ideal balance between firmness and softness. The mesh upper is breathable, lockdown is fantastic, and the outer heel and forefoot come with rubber coverage for more durability.
The 5-mm drop may not provide enough assistance through transitions, but these shoes still ensure smooth and fast rides.
6. Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit
The Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit shoes were designed for long, slow runs with no sharp turns. They have a 9-mm drop, but the 38-mm heel stack makes them really tall, so they might feel unstable for distance runs.
They’re slightly heavier, but they feel lightweight because of the bouncy midsole. Their tremendous flexibility at toe-off, splendid midfoot lockdown, and a lot of cushioning make them perfect for heel-strikers.
Their breathability is average, but their wide toe box and a full rubber outsole with impressive grip will make slow runs delightful.
7. Brooks Glycerin 19
Brooks Glycerin 19
The Brooks Glycerin 19 is an all-purpose trainer for smooth and bouncy rides. It doesn’t feel heavy at all and comes with generous, soft, and supportive cushioning — perfect for fast and long runs.
It features a full DNA Loft midsole, a 10-mm drop, a padded heel collar, and a padded tongue for a comfortable fit. Its plush interior lining makes for an even cozier feel.
These versatile running shoes run a bit short, so try them on before buying to find the right size.
8. Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21
If you’re looking for exceptional reliability, stability, and comfort for long runs, you can’t go wrong with the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 shoes.
Their drop is slightly higher (12 mm), and the break-in time is a bit longer (30+ miles), but they’re a real treat.
Their guide rail system cradles your feet and offers incredible support when needed. Their midsole is built to last, with the DNA Loft and BioMoGo DNA foam for a firm and responsive ride. Their double-layered mesh upper makes them quite airy, and they perform impeccably in all aspects.
9. ASICS GEL Cumulus 23
Despite being slightly heavier, the multi-purpose ASICS GEL Cumulus 23 shoes with a 10-mm drop are some of the most durable and comfortable running shoes.
The 3D Space Construction zones in the Flytefoam midsole provide balanced cushioning for any distance and pace. The plush heel, ankle collar, and tongue make for even smoother rides, while the soft mesh upper offers great breathability and support.
Their grip is impressive as well (even on wet surfaces), and the heel’s GEL cushioning that provides additional impact absorption makes them ideal for heel-strikers.
10. ASICS GEL Kayano 28
The ASICS GEL Kayano 28 model is the hallmark of support and stability.
Its midsole is made up of Flytefoam cushioning, GEL cushioning, and Flytefoam Blast for extra comfort and bouncier rides. The dual-foam Dynamic DuoMax support system and the Space Trusstic System add more stability.
Another notable improvement is the memory-foam External Heel Clutch, which weighs less now and makes every run more stable.
You can expect outstanding flexibility, durability, consistency, comfort, breathability, and increased ground contact from these running shoes, which come with a 10-mm drop.
11. Adidas Ultraboost 22
The stable, responsive, and comfortable Adidas Ultraboost 22 shoes with a 10-mm drop are perfect for slow and steady rides. They’re sturdy, durable, and grippy, with lots of Boost foam for better shock absorption, which makes them a bit heavy.
Still, they’re lighter than the previous model, with a softer midsole and improved lockdown. Their Linear Energy Push (LEP) system adds more push to your stride, and their stiffness makes for a more propulsive ride. Not for wide-footed runners.
12. New Balance FuelCell Elite v2
The highly-cushioned New Balance FuelCell Elite v2 shoes with an 8-mm drop are ideal for long-distance runs. Their full-length carbon plate is rigid but offers more stability than the previous model.
They’re heavier and provide less traction, but they feel comfortable and stable underfoot. Their thicker, softer, and bouncy midsole offers more cushioning, making the steeper stack height barely noticeable.
Other notable features include a higher toe spring for better efficiency, a wider base, a breathable knitted upper, and a flat forefoot outsole rubber for a smoother experience.
13. ASICS MetaSpeed Sky
If you need ultra-lightweight, well-cushioned, breathable, comfortable, and responsive marathon running shoes, you have to try the ASICS MetaSpeed Sky.
Faster than most running shoes, they come with a high toe spring and a full-length curved carbon plate for propulsive rides. Their nylon-based Flytefoam Blast Turbo midsole adds plush comfort and exceptional compression.
They’re extremely bouncy, grippy, soft, and provide great lockdown, but the 5-mm drop with 33/28 stack heights may not be ideal for every runner.
14. Brooks Catamount
The Brooks Catamount shoes are great for any pace and distance. They’re incredibly fast, comfortable, breathable, lightweight, and firm.
They offer solid traction and cushioning and have a DNA Flash midsole that provides high energy return and is surprisingly comfy and supportive. It even features a full-fledged rock plate!
The 6-mm drop and 31/25 stack heights make this model ideal for midfoot and forefoot runners.
15. Saucony Kinvara 12
The Saucony Kinvara 12 shoes with 4-mm drop are the most lightweight shoes in the Kinvara line. They’re firmer, more responsive, more breathable, and more flexible than the previous model.
Their midsole features softer, full-length EVA foam, while the topsole uses the new PWRRUN+ foam. They offer better lockdown and arch support, excellent transition and stability, and have just enough cushioning for comfort and protection.
They’re best suitable for medium-paced training and daily runs of up to half-marathon distances.
Conclusion
Whether you need running shoes for shorter rides or long distances, you can find dozens of models that will work wonders for you. Our list of the best running shoes 2022 has to offer is a great starting point for locking in on your perfect pair, so go ahead and give them a try.
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