How we choose the best running shoes for 2022

In the lab, we looked at cushioning measurements in the heel and forefoot, to give you an idea of the overall cushioning in each shore. Most shoes have a drop between 8 and 12 millimetres, some have less than 6mm and a few minimalist designs have zero drop.Ĭushioning: Cushioning provides impact absorption. A higher drop can lead to more heel striking. That said, if you’re going long distances, the extra cushioning of a heavier shoe might be a better option.ĭrop: A shoe’s drop is the difference between the heel and forefoot measurements, or, in simple terms, how much your toes drop below your heel. Weight: Lighter shoes typically have less cushioning, which can make them feel faster. The more experienced you become, the more you may look for a specific characteristic within a shoe – which is why we give each model such a thorough inspection – but it’s worth remembering that, at a basic level, comfort is key.Įach shoe on the list below was chosen because of its high overall performance scores, but we also looked at three important categories that should help you find the best model for you:

This shows that, for many runners, the aim in choosing footwear is simply to find shoes that stay out of your way, don’t intrude upon your run and just allow you to get on with it. As in: it doesn’t pinch, it doesn’t feel heavy, it doesn’t make their feet sweat – and so on.

Quite often, they don’t talk about the things the shoe does, but instead focus on the things it doesn’t do. One of the things we’ve noticed over the decades of producing shoe reviews at RW is the way our network of runners express themselves when they’re filing their feedback on the shoes they’ve tested. When it comes to running, all sorts of things come into play – your biomechanics, your weight, the surface you run on and the shape of your feet, meaning no one shoe will suit every kind of runner. There’s no such thing as the perfect running shoe.

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