7 Best Long Distance Running Shoes in 2022

It’s an all-star for race day and fast tempo sessions! After putting it through the paces, we can say this is a shoe that can be a standalone - comfortable and durable enough for the long miles, fast enough to outrun the competition, and versatile enough for training runs. 

If you want to blast through all of your runs and last long on the roads, take the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2. 

The shoe is off to a good start - it’s light (8 oz vs. the average 9.4 oz, in our lab testing). So if you don’t want to have tired legs while raking up miles and miles on end, the Endorphin Speed 2 has got you covered! 

The shoe has a nylon plate which provides a flexible yet responsive ride. To balance out its rigidity, it’s coupled with light and cushy foam for comfort. And thanks to the shoe’s rockered shape, you can roll through effortlessly. 

The party doesn’t end here. What’s surprising about the Endorphin Speed 2 is that it fits better than its race sibling - the Pro 2 - that we’ve also tested!

Hands down, the Endorphin Speed 2 is a rockstar! If you want one shoe that can handle anything, buy this.

We just can’t get enough of the Asics MetaSpeed Sky. It even got to our list of best running shoes! And it’s here to take the spotlight yet again for long-distance shoes.

We rarely say this, but the Asics MetaSpeed Sky is the best shoe that we’ve ever tested. Period.

Having a great fit is always a bonus for a long-distance shoe. Even more, it’s a COMFORTABLE fit. It doesn’t rub against the skin, it just stays locked-in real nice, and there was plenty of room up front!

And wow, what a midsole! Cushy in all the right places, and rebounding in each stride. The FlyteFoam Blast is literally a blast to run in!

In our durometer test, the shoe measured at 27.3HA (21% stiffer than the average), which means it’s a winner against the ZoomX Invincible Run (14.2HA) when it comes to stability.

The rocker screams efficient and seamless roll through. So, no need to push the shoe, IT will push you.

As a race shoe, it weighs just right (6.7 oz). It’s light on paper, and it sure does feel like it on the run. After several high-mileage testing, our legs felt fresh!

This is a bold statement, but the Asics MetaSpeed Sky can beat the Swoosh any day. For a top-performing race day shoe, it’s worth every penny in that $250 tag!

Long days on varied terrain? Take a look into the Altra Olympus 4.0!

There’s a lot to write home about the Olympus. But one that stood out to us is its superb traction. On gravel path, dirt single-track, beat-up forest roads, technical rocky climbs, mud, and wet, loose trails, the shoe was a BEAST!

The shoe’s Vibram outsole is the star of the shoe. Apart from its unrivaled latch to varied terrain, it also takes durability up a notch. It can outlast any shoe in your rotation!

Its platform follows the shape of the foot (an Altra signature), meaning there’s enough room for toe splay and the base is wide for stability. On uneven ground, the shoe gave us the confidence we needed to tread through.

Even when going downhills and when cornering, we were more than confident. There was none of that unsteady sensation AT ALL. 

If there’s one thing we didn’t like about the shoe it’s that it lags behind in responsiveness. But comfort makes up for that! There’s just enough padding in the shoe’s sidewalls and the midsole is plush. Not something that you would expect from a trail monster. 

Despite being oh-so plush, the shoe is the most breathable Olympus yet! So even during long hauls on the trails, our feet stayed cool and dry.

While it’s borderline expensive at $170, it’s a great buy if you want one shoe for everything. It can eat up miles without being fazed by all the harsh trail elements.

The Ghost 14 from Brooks really fits the bill as the shoe for all runners. It's a workhorse that's comfy enough for easy days, responsive for tempo sessions, and is heavy-duty to handle light trails. Overall, a no-fuss daily trainer that will work for all your runs!

Already in it’s 21st edition, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS sure fits the bill for runners who overpronate (foot rolls inward excessively) and suffer from foot conditions like flat feet.

Choosing the wrong shoe can mean pain, and Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 does its job so handsomely, it can do anything but that. It’s supportive in all the right places, and that’s without skimping comfort.

It’s cozy and hugs the foot nicely without being restricting, which we highly appreciate.

The magic happens in the midsole as it is the home of the Guide Rails (sidewalls that keep the foot centered). It is not obtrusive nor is it harsh -  it is only activated when the foot starts to move too far on the sides.

Because of this, it’s even suitable for neutral runners who just need a little more support.

And true to its Brooks lineage, the Adrenaline GTS 21 is a tank! After several wear tests, the shoe still looks untouched, and the midsole is not packing out. We are estimating it to last well between 400-500 miles.

Yes, it’s heavy (10.2 oz), but we are not displeased. With such features, it’s a justifiable weight. And hey, Brooks is going the right direction. The past iterations of the Adrenaline GTS were WAY heavier.

If you want a shoe that’s simple but has all the makings of a heavy-duty stability trainer that can last hundreds of miles, buying the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 is a no-brainer.

A workhorse for $120? Yep, you read that right!

The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 remains a good value-for-money running shoe if you want one shoe that does it all. It can be your easy day shoe, tempo shoe, and even your gym shoe! The Pegasus is literally a shoe that screams “save your money and take me!”

It has the right amount of comfort if you want to take it slow, and has the right pop if you want to  run with speed. Some time in the gym perhaps after some light jogs? Pick up the Pegasus 38.

It’s been around for more than 3 decades, and testing the shoe made it clear to us why it remains a fan-favorite. Apart from being versatile, it’s also very durable. We are sure it can last around 400-500 miles!

Even though the React midsole is 18% softer than the average (in our lab tests), it isn’t showing any signs of early wear nor bottoming out. It’s dense and can last for miles!

If you’re looking for a marathon contender, this can do the job too. And we assure you, it will do it pretty well. It has done so in many years, and we don’t see that changing in this version.

We LOVE everything about the Pegasus 38, but just can’t write off its heft. The average daily trainer weighs in at 9.6 oz and the Pegasus is at 10.25 oz. It’s heavy alright!

Built around comfort, our feet were right at home in the Asics Novablast 2! It's springy and soft (as in everywhere!) - much like a spa day treat in long, easy miles. And with all that plushness, you might think this is a shoe that wears easily. Good news! It DOESN'T. It's built to eat up miles (300-500 miles), and we can confirm this!