7 Best Neutral Running Shoes in 2023
Neutral running shoes are intended for people with neutral pronation, when the foot is not rolling inwards excessively. These shoes have no additional stabilizers or foot guiding features.
Making up around 85% of the running shoe market, there is more than plenty of neutral shoes to choose from. We have personally tested over 100 of these shoes from 30+ brands to pick out the cream of the crop.
Be it a go-to daily trainer that you’re after, a race-day shoe, or a rugged trail option, we’ve got our top picks in five different categories.
You can also learn more about pronation and other nitty-gritties of running shoes in the bottom section of this guide.
Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to educate, not to make any medical diagnosis or recommendation.
How we test running shoes
There are thousands of good running shoes out there. But we know how to pick the great ones.
How? We are a team of running shoe fanatics equipped with a shoe testing lab and a set of strict criteria:
- Every shoe gets cut into pieces and is measured on 30+ different parameters, from cushioning softness to upper breathability to shoelace slippage.
- Our testers log 30-50 miles on average to test each pair in a variety of conditions.
- We do not receive shoes for free, all products are purchased with our own money to keep us unbiased.
- Our system aggregates all available expert and user reviews on every single shoe.
Our findings are then summarized in a CoreScore. It is a number from 0 to 100 which helps to compare each shoe against 1700+ other neutral running shoes.
The top picks make it to this list.
Best neutral running shoes overall
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Great all-rounder
- Super-smooth and responsive ride
- Plush cushioning
- Comfy upper
- Grippy outsole
- Above average durability
- Fairly priced
Cons
- Heavier than other similar shoes
- Not many colors available
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Best neutral running shoes for race
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Breathable
- Responsive
- Carbon rods
- Soft midsole
- Laces stay tight
- Price
Cons
- Runs narrow
- Unstable at slow speeds
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Best neutral trail running shoes
What makes it the best?
Pros
- 2 carbon plates: very propulsive ride
- Insanely stable
- Looks fast and runs fast
- Lightweight
- Very cushioned & responsive
- Worth the investment
- Room for feet swelling
- Grippy
- No break-in
- Vegan materials used
Cons
- Not for technical terrains
- Might accumulate mud
- Expensive
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Best neutral running shoes with wide toebox
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Fits like a dream
- Accommodating stretchy upper
- Efficient transitions
- Surprisingly peppy
- Laces stay tied tightly
- Low to the ground
- Durable construction
- Great deal
- Do-it-all shoe
- Impressive weight
- Breathable
Cons
- Not for long runs
- No reflective details
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Best neutral lightweight running shoes
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Roomy fit
- Lightweight
- True to size
- Insanely breathable
- Fast & efficient
- Responsive
- Durable for a race shoe
- Most comfortable race shoe
- Price ($200)
Cons
- Unstable heel
- Poor midfoot lockdown
- Learning curve
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Neutral running shoes with best cushioning
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Super bouncy
- Cushy feel for miles
- Breathable
- Light AF
- Ready for cornering
- Locks you in
- Tongue stays in place
- Grippy outsole
- Mad durable
- Sets the bar for a do-it-all shoe
Cons
- A tad too long
- More expensive by $10
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Best neutral running shoes for long distance
What makes it the best?
Pros
- All about comfort!
- True to size
- Lots of padding
- Smooth ride
- Really stable, even on light trails
- Great out of the box
- Built for longevity (500 miles, easily)
- Great grip
Cons
- Lacks breathability for hot summer days
- Not the best for long distances
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Comparison of the 7 best neutral running shoes
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Do you need neutral shoes?
Yes, if you pronate neutrally or if you underpronate (supinate). This is a widely-known general rule. However, novice runners might use neutral shoes as well, as shown in this comprehensive study of 927 novice runners.
Around 85% of running shoes on the market today are neutral, meaning they have no arch support. Nike Pegasus is one of the most popular neutral running shoes.
To figure out your pronation (foot mechanic), you can look at your arches and used footwear. Compare your findings with the illustrations below:
Wet test: discover your arch type
You can also do a so-called wet test to discover the type of your arches.
- Wet the soles of your feet, one at a time
- Stand onto a piece of paper while allowing the moisture from your feet to sink into the paper
- Step off
- Look at the shape of your footprint and compare it to the ones shown below.
If you have a high arch, the footprint will show only the front and heel of your foot with nothing in between. If there’s a thin line connecting them, you have a moderately high arch - better than the extreme.
If your footprints look like the 2nd or the 3rd one (or something in between), you’re a candidate for neutral shoes! On the other hand, overpronators usually look for stability shoes and motion control shoes.
If all this sounds too complicated, running specialty stores have treadmills with feet-scanning options. They can easily assess your pronation and tell you which features to look for in a shoe. Going to the specialist is also always a good idea as they can implement a holistic approach.
Features of neutral running shoes
It’s easier to understand the features of neutral running shoes when the comparison is given, for orientation.
Neutral running shoes are usually lighter than other shoes because they don’t have additional stability features. Their outsole/midsole design is simple, without rigid implementations. They are softer and allow the feet to move freely.
Saucony Ride (neutral) weighs 9.9 oz vs. Saucony Guide (stability) weighs 10.5 oz
These are general properties only. There are extremes like neutral running shoes that are maximally cushioned and weigh more than 500g.
How to recognize neutral running shoes
If you don’t want to check the features of the shoe online or ask the store employees, here’s how you can recognize neutral running shoes.
For easier comparison, we’ll show how all 3 types of running shoes compare.
Running-shoe market dropdown by stability features
Chances are the model you choose is the neutral running shoe, given that they occupy the majority of the running shoe market.
FAQ about neutral running shoes
1. Can overpronators run in neutral running shoes?
Overpronators need stability elements because those prevent the ankle from rolling excessively inward and leading to potential pain and injury. Neutral running shoes are not recommended, especially for severe overpronation cases.
2. Can neutral pronators run in stability running shoes?
Neutral pronators might run in any kind of shoe. In theory. But why risk stability features influencing your gait or why pay for features you don’t actually need? The good news is that 85% of running shoes are neutral shoes.
3. How reliable is the arch-type/pronation test?
It’s not difficult to assess arch type or pronation. The trouble comes when we realize that science doesn’t back this widely-accepted criteria for choosing a shoe (as explained here). That’s why it’s most important to choose the shoe that is comfortable. If you have a history of injuries or are experiencing severe pain, it’s imperative to see a specialist.
