The Top 7 Running Shoes That Made Beginners Fall in Love With Running

We share our top picks for every kind of runner, from lightweight to max-cushioned and everything in between.

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The right pair of shoes can make running better, so much easier, and fun. The right footwear can do wonders when you’re a new runner, and help you stick with it. Whether you’re starting out on the treadmill, running a neighborhood loop, or maybe a friend coaxed you into signing up for a local 5K, the best running shoes will help you find your rhythm and stride. But with so many choices out there, choosing the best pair for you can be a daunting task. It’s a good thing you stopped here at Runner’s World.

In this guide, we recommend shoes by top brands, such as Nike, Brooks, Hoka, and a couple of other lesser-known brands we think you should check out too. We’ve labeled each of these shoes with accolades, such as Best Cushioned and Best for Trail, to help point you in the right direction and find what kind of shoe you need that’s specific to your run journey. We hope you’ll find a comfy fit and joyful ride.

Instead of getting lost in shoe tech and becoming overwhelmed by all the “best running shoe” choices you’ll find online (although our Best Running Shoes guide is a great place to start), it’s good to start with the basics before making any decisions. Each shoe we test is judged by these three attributes: fit, comfort, and ride.

Before trying on shoes, it’s important to know your shoe size and foot shape. You can go to a local running store to get your foot measured or scanned, or do measurements yourself at home. All you need is a sheet of paper, pencil, and ruler.

You can find your size on our shoe chart, but be aware that brands don’t follow the same sizing conventions. You should also consider going up a size to accommodate foot swelling.

Another thing to note is that your shoe size can change over time, even throughout your adult life. Measure your feet every couple of years to check for changes. This is especially true during and after a pregnancy, when women can see their shoe size go up a half size or more due to the hormones relaxing some of the muscles and ligaments in your foot.

While running, each foot strike exerts a force of 2.5—sometimes five—times your bodyweight. This is why it’s important to find a shoe with a supportive midsole that feels soft but not too soft; you want some firmness underfoot to buffer the shock your body receives with each step.

We could get into the weeds of stack heights (the measure of a shoe’s thickness from the bottom of your foot to the ground) and types of foam, but you won’t really know if a shoe’s cushioning is right for you until you try it on and go for a test run. (Running stores will usually allow you to test the shoe on the floor before purchasing it.) A higher stack height may mean a plusher ride, but it may also feel unstable, especially on sharp turns and uneven surfaces.

Upper style is another feature to consider when shopping for shoes. You want a breathable upper so your feet won’t overheat and sweat too much as you run. Some shoes have flat tongues and built-down collars, but you may want to consider a more traditional upper with a padded tongue and collar for comfort—and to prevent friction.

We recommend beginners start with a neutral, cushioned shoe, like the Brooks Ghost, as a testing barometer to discover personal preferences. Maybe you’ll stick with the Ghost—or maybe you’ll want a shoe that’s lighter or has more cushioning.

If you want to run faster, consider lightweight trainers with a rocker profile (exactly what it sounds like: a shoe where the sole looks like a rocking chair’s bottom) and supercritical midsole foam. If you’re prone to injury, you may want to try a stability shoe or a more cushioned trainer. But check with a specialist, like a podiatrist or orthopedist, if you have more pressing issues, like past injuries, foot trauma, or gait or limb difference.

I have worked at Runner’s World since 2018 and have been a runner since my high school days running cross country. As Running Reviews Editor, I run in hundreds of shoes every year. We also have approximately 300 testers that include staff and local runners of all paces, arch types, and gait patterns who test all incoming trainers. Our testers help us determine the best models for every kind of runner, including new runners like you.

Our favorite rec for beginners turns 18. Like a new haircut changing up your look, the Ghost 18 has a new triple jacquard engineered air mesh upper with round light yarn. This new design gives the Ghost a lifestyle aesthetic; it’s a double-duty trainer for cross country meets and outings on the streets.

We love the new flat-knit tongue which helps provide a secure, locked-in fit along with the padded collar and its soft heel tab. A minor caveat with the new mesh is that the shoe feels slightly stiffer and narrower than previous iterations. Some testers felt the shoe needed a week or less of breaking in the Ghost 18 for a more flexible ride; others who have bunions reported rubbing.

For those who need a wider fit, we suggest Brooks’s other daily trainer, the Glycerin 23 (see below). The shoe has plush DNA Tuned cushioning and a broader platform for wide feet.

But you can’t beat Brooks’s comfy fit and Goldilocks cushioning: the shoe isn’t too wide or too narrow (though there are width options if you need more wiggle room), nor is it too soft or too hard.

Our staff and testers love the Brooks Ghost because its a trusty workhorse for eating miles in a comfortable package. The Ghost 18 honors its reputation.

In our Ellipse review we called it “The Feels-Like-a-Run-Club Shoe” because that’s just what it is and exactly what it’s intended for. According to New Balance Senior Global Project Manager Paul Zielinski, the brand wanted to create a shoe that makes the runner “stop thinking or stop worrying about the run, stop worrying about other things.” With a retooled Fresh Foam X midsole, the shoe has a trampoline-like bounce; the experience is meant to capture the sheer joy of running with a group of friends.

Some testers described the shoe as too bulky or heavy, but that didn’t deter them from placing the Ellipse high on their list of top trainers. The shoe is a solid daily trainer that can accumulate high mileage as well as serve as a supportive recovery shoe post-tough workouts. All in all, it’s a terrific starter for new runners just joining a run club or taking it solitary. This cushioned trainer is meant to make your runs feel easier—and bouncier.

“It is super comfortable and cushioned,” said tester Kendall Collier. “Felt good when my legs and hips were tired after longer and harder training days.”

The Glycerin 23 is a favorite among testers for its soft, comfy ride that cushions the impact of daily training as well as long runs. The DNA Tuned midsole is a network of small cells in the forefoot and large cells in the back to absorb heel strikes. Our testers also found the foam satisfyingly responsive on their runs.

Jeff Miles, a tester who was recovering from knee surgery and who normally averages 7:45 training pace, described the Glycerin 23 as comfortable with a propulsive ride. “Combine this with the durability of the shoe and you have a great base for an everyday trainer. I love a versatile shoe that you can run in no matter the conditions or the goals for that day’s run.”

New runners who worry about “running being bad for your knees” should go with the Glycerin 23, for its supportive, generous bed of foam. If you have wide feet or hate cramped toes, the Glycerin has an accommodating foot shape that won’t cause constriction.

For new runners who want more ground feel and want to go the zero-drop route, look no further than the Torin 9. The shoe has a modest height at only 28 mm in the forefoot and heel, but it doesn’t skimp on softness or support. The new dual-density P35X midsole provides increased comfort with a soft carrier and denser core.

Altra added a Vibram outsole, making the shoe extra grippy on slick roads and an excellent hybrid on groomed trails. The brand’s signature wide toebox allows your toes to splay, making the Torin 9 a good choice for runners with bunions and wide feet.

Tester Sara Satullo appreciated the extra toe room. “This is the first zero drop shoe I’ve tested, so no points of comparison. But I was struck immediately by how the roomie tobox didn’t make the shoe feel boxy,” she said. “It is a sharp looking shoe and doesn’t feel clunky when running.”

A cushioned shoe with ample toe room? Sounds like you’re talking about a Hoka. But the Vomero 18 signals a shift in Nike’s trainers. It’s built with the input of women’s feedback. The wider base provides a stable platform to run in, despite the tall 44mm stack height. If you underpronate, i.e., supinate or turn your foot outward when running—that 44 mm is the route to go.

The Vomero 18 is soft but delivers high rebound. The top layer of midsole foam is ZoomX, a PEBA-based foam that’s known for providing a lightweight ride with high rebound.

They’re a terrific choice for new runners who need more cushioning or who’ve signed up for a marathon and have their calendar marked with weekend long runs. The foam on the Vomero 18 will help your body endure hours on the road, which is why it’s great for runners with bad knees. That ZoomX foam is super plush yet supportive.

“Hands down these are the best shoes I’ve tested!” said shoe tester Casey Green. “Despite all the extra cushioning the ride was incredibly smooth, responsive, and the shoe never felt weighed down despite the added padding. Every mile I ran in them felt great and slight accelerations or faster average paces were no problem.”

Yes, another Brooks shoe on this beginner list. The Adrenaline GTS 25 is a comfy guidance trainer with unobtrusive stability tech. Dense foam on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe—Brooks’s guide rails system—act as bumpers to help with foot and knee alignment when your form is erratic from overpronation or late-onset pronation due to exhaustion.

Senior Editor Cat Bowen wrote that she feels a noticeable difference when running in the Adrenaline GTS 25. As an overpronator, the shoe starts with her feet and aligns the rest of her biomechanics, making her run more efficiently.

“As a severe overpronator I am someone who frequently really needs that guidance, and it sucks when protecting my knees and hips comes with a penalty for my foot comfort,” she said. “But the differences in my running when I’m tired between the Adrenaline GTS 25 and a neutral shoe are fairly profound.” For more of her testing notes, read her full review at link below.

The Experience Wild 3 is a great first shoe for runners new to the trail because it feels like a road shoe. The Wild 3 isn’t stiff with ripstop materials, intrusive with shark tooth lugs, or narrow in the midfoot. The shoe has Altra’s signature wide toebox that allows toe splay and a broad foot shape that provides comfort and stability on uneven terrain.

The Vibram Megagrip provides effective, reliable traction so you can run through loose mud and on slick rock confidently. It’s also a new entry point to running low-drop with a 4 mm offset. The low stack doesn’t silence ground feel and EgoP35 cushioning provides protection and energy return.

Besides shoes, what other things should I consider as a new runner?

Step right up. At Runner’s World, we all started running like you, and we’re here to help. We have our How to Start Running program, which provides expert advice, fueling, and gear recommendations. We also have beginner training plans that outline the steps to start so you won’t burn out fast your first couple weeks of running.

How do I determine if I should run in a specific shoe, i.e., max-cushioned, lightweight, stability, etc.?

I can’t stress enough that you should head to your local running store or outlet before committing to a pair of shoes. You won’t know if a shoe is for you until you try it on and go for a test run on a store’s treadmill, floor, or patch of sidewalk outside. You can get your feet scanned and evaluated and sit with a small pile of shoeboxes to narrow down which pair you should take home.

If you have an injury history or other foot problems, you should enlist the help of a specialist, like a podiatrist or orthopedist, before choosing shoes or even starting any workout regimen.

The gear a runner needs is dependent on the individual, where they run, the weather they run in, how long and how short their runs are, among other considerations. Some things you can go without, others you may need but don’t know where to start. Allow us to be your guide.

We have so many recommendations to offer, from running shorts to watches to hydration bottles. We offer expert advice on each product to help you determine if it’s a perfect fit for your running style.

Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.

Cat Bowen, senior editor of commerce; reviews, is a seasoned runner with more than 20 years of distance running experience, including dozens of marathons, half marathons, and even a few ultra marathons. For over a decade, she has tested parenting, fitness, home, and running gear and written in-depth guides to help readers with their next purchase. Holding multiple advanced degrees and currently studying kinesiology, Cat Bowen brings research-backed insight to all of her guides. Passionate about women’s health and neurodivergent inclusion, she advocates for closing research gaps and helping others—especially AudHD people—find joy in running and fitness.

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