7 Best Running Shoes For Women, 100+ Shoes Tested in 2023

Almost reaching its 40th version, the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus still remains as our go-to workhorse. That said, we just can’t get enough of it! 

If you want a bang-for-the-buck running shoe, this is THE shoe. It’s an all-rounder that gets the job done excellently. 

Whether you’re running easy or tempo, clocking up serious miles, or training in the gym, it won’t fail you. Even better, the Peg is available colorways, so you can strut around town in style.

What makes the Pegasus 38 the amazing shoe that it is is its balance of comfort and responsiveness. In our lab tests, we found that it’s 18% softer than the average running shoe, while having some pop, thanks to the Zoom Air pods. 

It’s crazy bouncy and propulsive, even though it’s heavier than the average shoe, it doesn’t feel like it. From the initial step to our last, its springiness made our strides come to life. 

A plus is its durability. It’s got some touch of stiffness underfoot, it’s hard to even gash it. 30 miles of rough wear testing later, the outsole remains free from scratch. 

It’s no wonder why the Nike Pegasus 38 tops this list. It’s a reliable workhorse that doesn’t break the bank. Even better, it’s a serious Nike performer.

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!

Grip reigns king in the Salomon Sense Ride 4. Not once did we lose our step during steep climbs. Even better, it paced us. 

It’s hard not to love the Salomon Sense Ride. It nails it in the comfort department, it almost even feels like a proper road shoe. The upper is so darn airy and soft, we want to keep it on forever. 

But what really won us over was the ride. It’s so lively and peppy, we were as quick AF! And we wouldn’t let the opportunity to run some tests slide. With our durometer, we scrutinized its firmness - the main reason behind its responsiveness - and found that its midsole is 31.7% more rigid than the average. 

Trail-ready is not enough to describe the shoe’s outsole. It’s a solid tank. It’s very firm at 81.5HC (vs. the standard 75.1HC), it’s more than ready to take a beating and crush everything underneath. 

Despite its toughness, it never taxed our feet, which took us by surprise. More than fast, the Salomon Sense Ride is also a fun shoe. 

To top it all off, its traction is a certified winner. On loose, rocky, and hard-packed terrain, we were surefooted as hell.

Overpronation, if not aided with the right pair of stability shoes can be a nightmare. And if you’re looking for the best of the best among all the support shoes in our arsenal, nothing comes close to the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21. 

It’s not your typical stability trainer. They tend to be firm and stiff, becoming overbearing to the feet. But not the Adrenaline. It hits the sweet spot between comfort and support, even neutral runners can enjoy it. 

From the bottom up, this shoe has stability written all over it. The upper conforms to the contours of the feet, they remain locked in place. The sidewalls only took everything up a notch. It guided our feet and knees, keeping everything centered for a wobble-free run. 

Like a true Brooks, the Adrenaline GTS 21 is tough. It’s so sturdy, you can get 400-500 miles out of it. 

At 10.2 oz, it’s a hefty shoe. But with all the perks it comes with, we don’t mind one bit. And as opposed to its precursors, it’s a commendable weight loss. Safe to say, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 is heading in the right direction.

When it comes to racing flats, the ASICS MetaSpeed Sky is king. Of all the race-day shoes we’ve tried, nothing beats it to this day. 

It’s as elite as elite can be. Everything about it just screams fast. It has a carbon-fiber plate that literally launched us forward, and a bouncy midsole that pushed us to our next step. 

And the fit is downright awesome. From the rear to the midfoot, our feet were locked securely in place. Up front, we had ample room for our toes to wiggle. 

Even after some foot swelling, we never felt restrained in the shoe. 

Whether it’s an easy or fast-paced run, it’s a solid 10/10 in stability. And our lab test results only proves this further. In our durometer test, it showed that it’s 22.5 HA firm. Meaning, it’s a touch rigid, making our runs surefooted, despite its insane bounce. 

We love to get down to the nitty-gritties. But even to the tiniest details, the ASICS MetaSpeed Sky has perfected everything. And if you want to outrun the competition, we can’t recommend it enough.

Brooks Revel 5 is the shoe that proved to us top quality does not always mean expensive. Its comfort is even along the ranks of high-end shoes on the market. Scratch that. It’s even better. 

The shoe’s foam is very plush and soft, our feet were kept cozy upon lace-up down to the last mile. And if we had to choose one shoe for our easy runs, picking the Revel up is a no-brainer. 

For long hauls, it doesn’t cut corners on protection. It absorbs impact so well, our feet and legs didn’t even need recovery after. It even felt like we could push another mile! 

For such a plush ride, we weren’t expecting it to perform in tempo runs. But it’s got some tricks up its sleeve. It had some pep, it was easy to push forward. 

At 8.7 oz, it’s way lighter than other running shoes (average at 9.4 oz). It weighs like a feather, we completely forgot about it on the run. 

And if you think it swears off strength, the Revel 5 is here to change your mind. At 79HC firm, the outsole is made to last.

The Salomon XT-6 has been a hugely popular shoe for nearly a decade both for its looks and its ability to take you anyway on a trail. With heaps of protection, insane grip, and a responsive, speedy ride the XT-6 is still a relevant trail shoe to help you explore the less beaten trails. It’s a shoe that’s sure to leave you confident traversing steep gradients, or comfy at the end of a long hike.