Best Running Shoes for Women 2024

Whether you’re training for a marathon or just getting outside for a few miles after work, we want to help you find the best women's running shoes for your feet.

Let's get one thing out of the way first: There isn't one best running shoe for all women. There are a lot of things to consider when you're choosing new shoes, including how you train, the shape of your feet and your gait.

The good news is that the top running shoe brands make a variety of models, so you're sure to find one that works for you.

Some brands even account for biomechanical differences between women and men, meaning the best women's shoes might be slightly different from their counterparts in the best men's running shoes.

Our Top Picks

We put in the miles, pooled our notes and checked the data to come up with our favorite running shoes for women. Here are 10 of the best women's running shoes on the market today:

• Best Shoe for Beginner Runners: Brooks Ghost 16
• Best Cushioned Shoe: HOKA Bondi 8
• Best Overall Workout Shoe: On Cloud 5
• Best Shoe for Overpronators: New Balance Fresh Foam 860v13
• Best Treadmill Shoe: Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40
• Best Road Racing Shoe: Saucony Endorphin Pro 4
• Best Fitting Shoe: Karhu Ikoni 2.5
• Best Trail Shoe: Altra Lone Peak 7
• Best Shoe for Long Runs: ASICS Gel-Nimbus 26
• Best Everyday Training Shoe: Mizuno Wave Rider 27

[This article is part of the Fleet Feet Buyer's Guide for The Best Running Shoes 2024.]

How We Decide on the Best Women's Running Shoes

The first thing we do is run. A lot. And walk and stroll and chase our kids. That gives us an idea of how these shoes perform in a variety of situations.

Then we check the data provided by our fit id® outfitting process. We get millions of data points each year to tell us how shoes fit, so we can confidently recommend shoes that fit a wide variety of foot shapes.

Finally, we tap into our decades of experience in the industry. We make sense of the running shoe jargon (like the difference between compression molded vs. injection molded midsoles) to tell you what matters most: how it fits and how it performs.

What You Should Consider When Picking Women's Running Shoes

Picking the right shoes comes down to a few big things. Here's what we suggest thinking about.

How You Run (or Walk!)

Are you planning to break your marathon PR? Or are you walking the dog around the block? Your activities and training plans will weigh heavily on your decision.

If you're shaving seconds off your PR, you'll want lighter and faster shoes. If you just want to be comfortable for a few easy miles after work, you might want to pick a shoe with more cushioning.

The shoes on this list were chosen for their versatility; most of these shoes will be great for beginners and can scale with you as your running picks up.

The Shape of Your Feet

Feet come in all different shapes. Wide forefoot, narrow heel, high arches—we know 'em all. Finding the right shoe for your foot can make all the difference when it comes to logging lots of miles.

If your shoes aren't comfortable, you're less likely to want to lace them up and hit the road. So shop for comfort first. If you aren't sure of what you need, stop by a local Fleet Feet for a free, one-on-one outfitting experience.

How You Style Them

It's worth repeating: Comfort is the most important decision when you're buying running shoes. But style matters, too!

Soft shoes don't have to be chunky (although they definitely can be chunky, if you like that look), and stability shoes don't have to look the part. You can find hundreds of colors, patterns and fabrics that will look good during a 5K and turn heads on a coffee date.

Attributes: Comfortable, accommodating fit, versatile

Versatility is what makes the Brooks Ghost 16 one of the best women's running shoes on the market.

Designers refined the newest version to be comfortable, cushioned and lightweight, so you can wear it for everything from easy miles and gym workouts to long days on your feet or a grueling marathon. Plus, it's roomy enough for a wide variety of foot shapes, and it comes in wide sizing for runners who need it.

New this year is an updated nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 foam that gives the shoe a lighter feel on your feet and is more durable to hold up to daily training.

With a smooth ride and accommodating fit, the women's Brooks Ghost 16 gives you everything you need to start running or walking your way to your goals.

Read more in our Brooks Ghost 16 review.

Attributes: Max cushioning, very soft ride, lightweight feel

Considered by many to be one of the best cushioned shoes around, the ultra-cushioned Bondi 8 provides pure joy on your run. HOKA amplified the Bondi’s core features with a generous bed of ultralight and resilient foam that keeps each step soft and bouncy, while a smooth rolling sensation transitions you effortlessly from heel strike to toe-off.

The big bed of foam underfoot uses HOKA’s early-stage Meta-Rocker shape and an extended heel geometry to give you a buttery smooth transition from heel to toe. Plus, with a 31 mm stack height in the heel and a 27 mm measurement in the forefoot, you'll never bottom out while you’re pounding the pavement.

The softness and comfort of the Bondi 8 are perfect for easy runs, high mileage weeks and recovery days. It's also ideal for people who work on their feet all day, like nurses and doctors (HOKA even makes the women's HOKA Bondi SR with a leather upper and slip-resistant outsole).

If you're looking for the best women's running shoes with the most cushion, the HOKA Bondi 8 is a game-changer.

Read more in our HOKA Bondi 8 review.

Attributes: Lightweight, responsive cushioning, stylish

From walking around town to working out, the On Cloud 5 can do it all.

On engineered the Cloud 5 to move in any direction, thanks to responsive cushioning and lightweight materials. The shoe's Helion foam midsole works with On's signature Speedboard to energize every step, whether you're walking the dog or hitting the floor for another burpee.

The flexible and durable engineered mesh upper, alongside the speed laces, lets you put these on and go (although they also come with traditional laces, if that is more your speed). Our reviewers loved the different lacing options in our On Cloud 5 review.

Even though the Cloud 5 delivers versatile performance, the best part might just be the minimalist design. Lace-up the Cloud 5, and you won't look out of place at the gym or at the coffee shop. Read more in our On Cloud 5 review.

Attributes: Medial posting for stability and overpronation, roomy toe box and padded heel collar, soft ride.

The women’s New Balance 860 v13 is known for providing stable, reliable support with an accommodating fit and smooth ride.

New Balance uses its soft and lightweight Fresh Foam X in the 860 v13 to give it a smooth and comfortable ride, while firmer, more energetic foam under the forefoot gives you snappy toe-offs. For women who have low or flexible arches, or tend to overpronate, the firm medial post guides the foot away from overpronation.

The sleek look and padded heel collar give this shoe a more secure lockdown and fits a variety of foot shapes.

Read more in our New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v 13 review.

Attributes: Bouncy ride, lightweight, straightforward fit.

The women's Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40 is a light and nimble workhorse for your running and training.

Nike packed the legendary Pegasus with a full-length React foam midsole that can go the distance. React foam is a popular choice used in many of the best Nike running shoes because it's lightweight, bouncy and durable. Plus, there are Zoom Air units in the forefoot and heel to give you extra pep.

Compared to the Pegasus 39, designers re-engineered the upper, giving it a midfoot wrap to provide a secure fit and better breathability. The unique heel shape and thick, responsive foam are designed to optimize your landings and create an effortless heel-to-toe transition with each stride.

Perfect for your runs, workouts and HIIT classes, the women’s Pegasus 40 can do it all.

Attributes: Carbon plate, snappy ride, airy mesh.

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is a great shoe to pick up the pace and race your best.

Saucony’s Speedroll technology and carbon plate will have you rolling through the miles with smooth, fast transitions. Plus, the combination of PWRRUN PB and PWRRUN HG Foam is lightweight, plush and propulsive to help you to run your best.

In our Endorphin Pro 4 review, Ashley described the upper as “it feels like I’m wearing a sock with a sole. And honestly, I can’t think of a better feeling for a fast workout and race-day shoe than that!” Plus, this is a carbon-plated racing shoe that comes in a women’s fit, as opposed to unisex, making it a great road racing shoe for women.

Attributes: Perfect fit, plush, anatomical lacing

Designers used the 3D scanning data captured during Fleet Feet's fit id® outfitting process to develop a shoe that fits comfortably for a wide range of foot shapes, while still delivering a performance-minded ride. As a result, the Ikoni 2.5 is a reliably comfortable fit for most women.

A bed of lightweight Aerofoam feels super plush and responsive and is supported by a half-length Fulcrum rocker in the midfoot. This combination helps to roll the foot through its heel-to-toe transition and makes runs and walks feel effortless with each step.

The newest Ikoni is an excellent women's running shoe for up-tempo days on the track, Sunday long runs and walks around the neighborhood.

Attributes: Wide toe box, grippy for uneven terrain, rock plate

Altra’s Lone Peak is consistently on the list of the top trail shoes—and for good reason.

The wide toe box that Altra’s shoes are known for is great on trails because it allows your toes to splay, providing better stability on uneven surfaces. The MaxTrac™ outsole provides the perfect combination of grip, traction and durability on all types of terrain, which ours testers loved in our Altra Lone Peak 7 Review. Plus, it contains an updated StoneGuard™ for extra protection that has drainage holes so that water does not stay in the shoe after any creek crossings.

Altra also takes into account the biological differences between women and men when designing the women’s Lone Peak. Altra's Fit4Her™ technology in the Lone Peak caters to the specific form of the female foot, which has a narrower heel and midfoot, a higher instep, a longer arch and unique metatarsal spacing.

Tackle the trails in the Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7.

Attributes: cushioned, comfortable fit, premium feel

The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 26 is the newest member of this iconic shoe. With more than a quarter of a century’s worth of experience packed into the latest version, the Nimbus 26 continues the legacy of excellence.

ASICS uses a combination of Pure-GEL and FF Blast PLUS Eco cushioning for comfort whether you are standing all day, going on long runs, doing run/walk intervals or walking. The entire shoe screams comfort. One reviewer stated, “From the cushioning in the heel collar to the whole underfoot feel, it’s soft, soft, soft. When I run in these, I feel protected from the impact of the road since there’s such a tall stack of plush cushion,” in our ASICS Gel-Nimbus 26 review.

The stylish knit upper that includes a thin, stretchy tongue makes it one of the most comfortable iterations of the Nimbus. Whether you're logging easy miles leading up to a race or hammering out your longest run yet, the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 26 is up for the challenge. Get a more in-depth look at this shoe in our ASICS Gel-Nimbus 26 review.

Attributes: Springy, durable, reliable

The women's Mizuno Wave Rider has long been one of the best running shoes on the market, and the Wave Rider 27 is sure to maintain its spot on the list.

The Mizuno Wave Rider 27 has Mizuno Enerzy foam to give you a bouncy and cushioned ride mile after mile.

A bio-based Wave Plate in the heel helps disperse impact forces and leads to a smooth transition, while also providing a more environmentally friendly way to produce this fan-favorite shoe.

The new air mesh upper gives you plenty of stretch, while still providing breathability and support.

Women looking for a comfortable and consistent running shoe will find it in the Wave Rider 27.

How We Picked the Best Women’s Running Shoes

We used data from our fit id® outfitting process, interviews with designers and real-life wear testing to determine the best women’s running shoes for most runs and the most runners.

You can shop with confidence at Fleet Feet: We offer free shipping on all orders over $99, and you have 60 days to return any gear if you don’t like the way it looks, fits or feels. Plus, with our price-match guarantee, you can make sure you never pay too much for a new pair of running shoes.