10 Best Treadmill Running Shoes in 2021

Now on its 38th iteration, the Nike Pegasus continues to convince us that it’s the GOAT of all workhorse shoes. It has surpassed everything we threw at it with flying colors! 

We love to put our shoes to the test to really see how they’d perform, and this shoe has been nothing short of AWESOME. From daily runs, tempo sessions to gym training, it eats them all up. 

To reach this rank, of course, we had to evaluate it as a treadmill shoe, and it’s been fantastic! When it comes to blending comfort and pop, nothing does it better than the Pegasus 38. 

And its stability was just as great. In our lab tests, we have gathered that it’s 109.5mm wide in the forefoot and 80.7mm wide in the heel. In essence, it’s as stable as you can get! 

Like a true Pegasus, this version doesn’t skimp on durability. Although its React midsole is 18% softer than average foams, it still is dense. After a series of rough wear tests, it’s still not bottoming out. Because of this, we’re estimating it’s going to last well between 400-500 miles. 

If you think the party stops there, it only gets better! 

The traction of this shoe is INSANE. Even on dirt, we felt confident. And its superb lockdown takes everything to a whole new level. The upper hugged our feet so well, we had NO issues with slips. 

At $120, the Nike Pegasus 38 is terrific!

The Brooks Glycerin 19 is dubbed as Brooks’ softest running shoe yet, and we couldn’t disagree. Seriously, its cushioning is just out of this world! 

We’re telling you, this shoe’s comfort is just a solid 10/10. It’s very plush underfoot, it’s almost like our feet were enveloped with fluffy clouds! And because we’re geeks for everything shoes, we’ve measured that it’s 75% softer than other shoes. 

If the feet had dreams, it’s this one right here. 

And the upper only makes this shoe streets ahead! It’s soft and well-padded, it’s been giving our feet nothing but pampering from the first stride down to the last. 

With the gusseted tongue, our feet are locked securely in place. No wobbling, no rolling. It’s just pure goodness when it comes to lockdown. 

And if you’re thinking this shoe forgoes sturdiness in favor of comfort. Well, it’s here to prove you wrong. After pacing it through, the midsole is just as lively as it was fresh from the box. The outsole is not wearing out either! With its high-strength qualities, you can easily get 400-500 miles before retiring it in your closet.

It can break records, and it sure has got everything to pace you on your treadmill. If we can pick one shoe that screams fast, the obvious answer is the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2. 

It’s the superlative of bouncy. So much so, we felt like we were zooming through the blocks with each step in it! 

And unlike other speed trainers, it doesn’t fall short on comfort. It’s NOT harsh to the feet at all. If anything, all we got underfoot was pure softness. 

In our lab tests, we have gathered that it’s 39.6N flexible (contrary to the average 37.2N). In simpler terms, it’s more supportive than other daily trainers and it doesn’t lose its ability to be a fun ride! 

At 8.1 oz, it’s got the makings of a dedicated race-day shoe. It’s super lightweight, we totally forgot about it on the run. 

Even better, its lockdown is king! The upper just molded into our feet, keeping everything nice and tucked in. ZERO wobbling and slips in this shoe. 

Ultimately, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 is true to its name. It’s made for speed, and it sure does run like it! And if you want one shoe for your tempo training runs and race day, this is THE shoe. 

Being a staple among runners who overpronate, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS sure does everything right. And having tested past editions, the Adrenaline GTS 21 is easily our choice for the best of the best! 

Unlike other stability shoes in our arsenal, it’s not rock solid. On the contrary, it’s a very balanced ride - an amazing blend of support and comfort. In each step, we were surefooted and cushioned. 

Even better, stability is only there when you need it. So if you’re a neutral runner in need of extra support, this shoe is just as enjoyable as it is for those with moderate to severe overpronation. 

And the upper has been nothing but cozy. Even better, it does a stellar job in locking the feet in place, taking support a step further. 

Like a true Brooks, it doesn’t shy on strength! We love to really hammer our shoes on the pavement, and this one is no different. And boy did this shoe wow us! It still looks and runs like brand-new. 

At 10.2 oz, this shoe just tips our scales! But if it means more support and comfort, plus a solid durability, we’d be more than willing to take it any day.

If you want comfort that lasts, nothing does it better than the Reebok Floatride Energy 3. For a shoe that doesn’t break the bank, we were more than surprised! 

Upon step-in, our feet were welcomed with a 360-degree plushness. The upper was soft, we swear we could run barefoot in it. And the midsole? It’s as pillowy as it could get. 

The breathability just won us over! When we tested it out under hot temps, this shoe was marvelous. 

And good news to our fellow wide-footed runners, this shoe has more than enough room to open up to our feet. The toe box is amply spaced, you can wiggle your toes with no sweat. 

With its gusseted tongue, lockdown is taken up a notch. The tongue stays in place, and the feet are tucked in. In our test runs, we had NO issues with slips. 

Because we love to really bruise our shoes (to see how good they are), we had to really beat up the Reebok Floatride Energy 3. And amazingly, it withstood everything we threw at it! 

After clocking 100 miles, its quality is A-OK!