6 Best Winter Running Shoes, 40+ Shoes Tested in 2023
As opposed to regular running shoes, running shoes for winter are more protective and warm. And to combat slick surfaces, they are also much grippier.
It’s not easy to filter out the best of the best among winter shoes, which is where we come in. We test various running shoes for the cold, snowy, and icy season, and select the most suitable pairs from different categories.
How we test running shoes
We do not just cherry-pick the shoes we choose to put on this list. Each model goes through a myriad of tests in our own shoe testing lab to determine their quality as winter running shoes.
To examine every model, we carefully go through these:
- Log a minimum of 30-50 miles before giving our feedback
- Cut open each shoe to examine its parts
- Measure every part in various parameters like ventilation, lightness, stiffness, etc.
To give you an idea of how they stack up against other running shoes on the market, we also calculate their CoreScore (a rating of 0-100) from thousands of expert and user reviews.
Best winter running shoes overall
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 18% in trail running shoes
- Top 16% in Nike running shoes
- Top 4% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Fantastic waterproofing
- Grips on everything dry and wet
- Great for road-to-trail transitions
- Also for hiking
- Responsive
- Stable on rocky terrain
- Supports moderately flat feet
- Straight-out-the-box comfort
- Lighter than other GTX shoes
- Locked-in heel
- Worth every penny
Cons
- Lacks durability
- Not for summer runs
Verdict
Best road winter running shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 16% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Fantastic comfort
- Not-scrunched-up fit
- Provides stability even on uneven terrain
- Good to go from day one
- Smooth ride
- Simple yet stylish design and colorways
- Awesome grip, even on wet surfaces
- Ample padding and cushioning
Cons
- Questionable durability and waterproofing
- Annoyingly short laces that come undone easily
- Not for narrow feet
Verdict
Best trail winter running shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 26% in trail running shoes
- Top 18% in waterproof running shoes
- Top 26% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Superb protection
- All-day comfort
- Smooth, pleasant ride
- Waterproof, yet breathable
- Roomy toe-box
- Secure fit
- Grippy even on wet rocks
- Extremely stable
- Sturdy and durable
- No breaking-in needed
- Doubles as a hiker
Cons
- Could be lighter
- Too firm underfoot for some
- Not particularly responsive
Verdict
Best Nike winter running shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 30% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Keeps feet dry
- All-day comfort
- Excellent cushioning
- Supportive
- Lightweight
- Boundy
- No heel slips
- Excellent grip
- Locks the feet in place
- Enough heel support
Cons
- Tight toe box
- Poor quality
Verdict
Best value winter running shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn morePros
- Comfortable cushioning
- Waterproof
- Versatile responsivemess
- Delivers warmth
- Grippy outsole
- Roomy toebox
- No heel slip
- Relieves pain
Cons
- Not for rocky surfaces
- Not for narrow feet
Verdict
Most popular winter running shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. It also has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn morePros
- Soft and bouncy ride
- Cozy upper
- Plenty of support
- Roomy toe box
- Extremely durable outsole
- Secure lockdown
- Surprisingly flexible
Cons
- Heavy
- Not for summer days
Verdict
