The Best Running Shoes—No Matter the Terrain or Tempo

Best Supportive Running Shoes: Saucony Tempus 2

Stability shoes aren’t a dying breed, but there hasn’t been a ton of innovation in the category the way there has been with shoes made for speed. They often feel overbuilt, heavy, and clunky, which doesn’t inspire going the extra mile—yet, the Tempus is different. With a blend of foams, it feels poppy and responsive like a more traditional everyday trainer, but there’s also extra structure and support to keep things moving in the right direction. Our feet sat in the shoe like it was a cockpit, with the midsole supporting from below and the upper hugging from above. It might not provide enough stability intervention for some runners, but we think it’s worth a try-on at the very least, and a certification from the American Podiatric Medical Association echoes our sentiment.

Best Everyday Trail Running Shoe: The North Face VECTIV Enduris 4

Conditions weren’t great when I first started running in the Enduris 4; winter was trying to figure out if it was going to change to spring, and there was a lot of snow, mud, and slop on the trails and dirt roads. But that makes for good testing, and the Enduris 4 handled it all. With a durable upper that hugs the midfoot and heel but leaves room for toes to wiggle, the shoe provides the kind of fit that encourages a feeling of control on uneven ground. That’s aided down below, with a wide sole four-millimeter lugs that bite into dirt and rock. All are confidence-inspiring, which makes it easy to pick up the pace, as does TNF’s Dream foam, which provides decent bounce and energy return. The Enduris’s Vectiv plate and rockered profile also work to keep things stable and moving in the right direction.

Best Technical Trail Running Shoe: Norda 002

The 002 is the aptly named second release from Montreal-based upstart Norda. Where the 001 was made to be versatile, if slightly leaning in on long-distance trail running, the 002 wants to be a technician. Unlike its sibling, this shoe has a padded heel collar and a lower stack to bring it closer to the ground for technical running in rugged terrain. It maintains everything that made the 001 a success—a super-durable Dyneema upper, outsole rubber, and midsole foam by Vibram, and a dialed-in look with minimal branding. In our testing, the shoe performed as promised; it was perfect for rocky, rooty trails with many ups and downs and plenty of turns. If the price tag scares you, know that Norda shoes have been known to last for hundreds of miles.

Most Versatile Trail Running Shoe: Hoka Speedgoat 6

Prefer hitting the trails over cement? Hoka’s Challenger 7 is our pick for runs that take you from the pavement to the dirt and whatever other surface you can throw its way. Its four-millimeter lugs are obviously primed for keeping you on your feet when you’re hitting trails, but its lightweight foam just makes it feel like a more rugged version of the brand’s everyday runner, the Clifton 10. We tested this mostly on dirt roads, and it helped up wonderfully, as in we didn’t fall or trip and our dogs were kept intact by the end of clocking those miles.

Best-Looking Running Shoe: Tracksmith Eliot

In the pursuit of a good-looking (a.k.a. not aggressively neon) running shoe, you might think you need to pass up on some key technical advancements. But in the past decade, Tracksmith has revived the relatively pedestrian category of running gear by bringing back some of the sport’s old spirit. The Boston-based brand has put aesthetics at the forefront of its performance-forward gear. Its Eliot Runner is its first foray into footwear, bringing the brand’s signature preppy, retro style to your feet. More than just good looks, though, these sneakers offer a surprisingly smooth ride courtesy of the Pebax foam midsole, which we found hits the right balance between firmness and springiness—much like the pine needle-laden roads of New England that they were designed to mimic. The shoe is slightly narrow in the toe, but its super-thick insole just feels good underfoot, and partly because these look so damn sleek, they might actually encourage you to lace up more often.