7 Best Sneakers For Women

How we test sneakers for women

To help you out and make the sneaker-choosing process as short as possible and straightforward, we did the dirty work: we bought the sneakers, tested them, and published all the lab results in a way that allows you to compare sneakers to each other and to the averages. 

To stay unbiased, we buy the shoes with our own money and wear them on our feet. No freebies, no brand ambassadors, just pure research spirit!

Women’s vs men’s sneakers: 3 most important differences 

Women have different feet from men, so one would think the sneakers will be different too! Wrong. At least, not always. Some models are just made in different sizes, while others actually do offer a variation in the heel/forefoot/overall width. Many say that women’s sneakers are narrower than men’s but it depends on the brand and on the model. 

If you’re lucky enough to be able to wear men’s sneakers as well (which means your size is somewhat bigger, so it overlaps with men’s sizes), you can find out on your own if there are any differences. Brands rarely (almost never) publish data on this. 

Sneakers for women also have different sizes and different industry labels for width. If you’re getting a unisex sneaker, we recommend measuring your (longer) foot and finding a size that matches the length of your feet (often it’s marked as MONDO or JPN and it’s given in centimeters or millimeters). 

There are other details that make women’s sneakers distinguishable, like colorways or materials, but lately it’s all become a grey zone. Men’s sneakers are also available in purple or pink, and women’s sneakers are not discounted only in the smallest of sizes. Finally! 

6 features to look for in women’s sneakers

Based on our experience both from the lab and outside of it, these features are the ones to look for in sneakers if you are looking for a pair that will be comfortable and last a long time. We always recommend getting one pair that is perfect rather than a few that shine only in 1-2 areas.

1. Stack height and stability
2. Softness
3. Arch support 
4. Durability
5. Breathability
6. Weight 

In this guide, we will cover every one of these features in great detail, backed with our lab data, and we will add even more details that we think are relevant!

Platforms, low to the ground, or something in between?

How high off the ground our feet are in sneakers depends on the stack height. In our lab, we measure it after cutting the sneaker in half so that we can take the exact measurement at the middle of the footbed. 

Platforms offer basically no ground feel, so you can enjoy the midsole at its fullest. However, some women prefer sneakers that are lower to the ground, as they promote a natural feel and ride, and they can sense the ground to a certain degree. 

Sneakers with lower platforms can be quite flexible, unlike those with high platforms.

When sneakers are lower to the ground, there are no concerns regarding their stability. However, in platforms, this is something to be cautious about. 

The best way to learn more about this, if you can’t try the sneakers on, is to look at the width of the platform. The wider the platform, the more stable the sneaker! Another factor that plays a role here is softness but more about that in the next chapter.

Finding soft sneakers for women

“They are so soft!” or “They are like walking on pillows” is what most women think comfort is like when talking about sneakers. Many enjoy softer sneakers and our lab data can help you find exactly that! 

To measure the softness of the midsole, we stick a Shore A durometer needle into it. We do it on a sneaker cut in half so that we can perform the measurement on the exposed side of the midsole and not on the outside. This way, our measurement reflects the softness of the midsole itself, without protective overlays, colors, and other details found on the outer side of the midsole.

The lower the number on the durometer’s display, the softer the midsole. And vice versa, higher numbers indicate firmer midsoles. The trouble with softer midsoles is that they can also be quite unstable when found in high-stacked sneakers, especially when they have narrow platforms. 

On the other hand, firmer midsoles feel more supportive and stable. But they are not pillow-like as many women expect. 

Arch support in sneakers for women 

Women who overpronate or have flat feet often enjoy walking in sneakers with arch support. Without this support, pain can be felt in the feet, heels, and under the arches, and the walks become significantly less comfortable overall. 

If you’re not sure whether you need arch support, we recommend reading our in-depth guide Arch Support: What, How and Why. 

Durability of sneakers for women

In our shoe lab, we test the durability of 3 different parts of the sneaker. You may prioritize only one if that’s where you usually see the damage first on your sneakers. We test the durability of the toebox, heel padding, and the outsole. 

The durability of the toebox is assessed on a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is the most durable. We assign this rating based on the depth and the width of the hole made by our Dremel. In some cases, the Dremel goes through the upper entirely and, in others, it barely scratches it! 

Ladies whose big toes point up or whose pinky toes often want to “escape” so they poke a hole through the upper, should prioritize toebox durability. In the table below, we show only the top-rated ones because dozens of sneakers scored the highest on this test!

When testing the durability of the heel padding, we apply the same system as we do when we test the toebox. We look at the damage and assign a 1-5 rating based on it. 

If this is the area that gets destroyed first in your sneakers, we recommend finding sneakers that scored at least 4 on our test, ideally 5/5. Again, in the table below, we showcase only the top-rated sneakers that have very durable heel padding areas. There are many, many more in our database! 

Then, we move to the outsole. Given the type of material (rubber, rubberized foam, exposed midsole), we can actually measure the depth of the dent, so we don’t have to assess it. 

We use a tire tread gauge to measure the exact depth of the dent. The deeper the dent, the less durable the outsole. 

Women’s sneakers for different seasons: lab data for breathability 

Some sneakers look so good, you want them immediately, and maybe you forget to check how breathable they are. That’s where we chime in. We’ve all been there, getting a phenomenal pair, putting it on, and realizing it’s a sauna. 

We test the breathability of sneakers by pumping smoke into the sneaker’s toebox and assessing it based on how much smoke comes out and at what pace. We assign a rating of 5/5 to very breathable sneakers and 1/5 to non-breathable ones. 

Then, we look at the uppers under the microscope. This is super valuable for us as it allows us to better understand what’s happening. In some cases, we see ventilation holes, but the toebox does not let any smoke out! So, microscope images solve this for us by showing us that the ventilation holes are fake! 

There are many examples where the microscope has solved the mystery, so it’s a permanent part of our breathability testing. 

Sneakers that breathe the least are great for cold weather. They trap the heat inside and make our feet cozy! 

We found that sneakers rated with 2, 3, or 4/5 breathability ratings can work for all seasons, especially fall and spring. It depends on the weather and the thickness of your socks! 

Weight of sneakers for women

The best feeling is when you’re wearing sneakers and barely noticing them. This is possible only when sneakers are not weighing us down. So, we want them light. But, sometimes there are sneakers that may weigh more, and they look so good, and feel so good, we’re ready to pay that price. 

It’s important to understand that the heavier the sneaker, the less time we’re able to spend in them (in most cases). Especially if we’re moving around, they start feeling heavy, and it leads to foot and leg fatigue. 

Some sneakers may look heavy because they are chunky, while others may look lightweight only because they are low to the ground. Oh, how looks can be deceiving! As always, you can consult our lab data to make sure you’re getting the weight you can deal with. 

Materials found in women’s sneakers 

There are different materials found in women’s sneakers and it’s good to be informed about their pros and cons. Here, we list the most important ones, along with our lab data. 

To understand these together with our lab data, we’ll look at the most durable and most breathable uppers and what they are made of! 

It’s not a material but a very cool detail: reflective overlays! Many women love having those, not just for visibility but good looks as well. 

Is the leather fake or real?

For some, figuring out whether the leather is fake or real can be quite challenging. If you’re buying the sneakers in person, we recommend looking at where the leather was cut up close and figuring out: 

• Does it have traces of blue color? Fake leather. Real leather is not tanned with blue chromium salts.
• Is the bottom side all fuzzy with threads going into all directions? Fake leather. On the contrary, if it’s polished and nice, it’s real leather. 
• Does it feel foamy? Fake leather. Real leather feels dense and packed. 
• If fake, the 1st layer may look as if it was separating. If real, at the very top, there’s often a grain pattern.

In the lab, we test the leather by torching it. 

Wide toebox in sneakers for women

If your toes often need more room, we recommend finding sneakers with a wider toebox. We found a way to properly measure this by pouring a special gel into the sneaker, freezing it, and then measuring the width of our gel mold. 

We measure the width of the toebox at the big toe and use this as THE toebox-width measurement. 

Having more room in this area means that sneakers have toeboxes that are less pointy (less tapered) and more rounded. 

Different styles for different occasions 

Depending on the overall design, materials, breathability, and other features, we have sneakers that belong to very different styles. 

This is entirely up to you and your personal preferences. Some of these are worth paying more attention to because some of their features may surprise you: 

• Platforms may be very high and very unstable if the platform is narrow. Also, consider the weight as they should not be weighing you down. 
• Dad shoes and chunky sneakers can be heavy and maybe too heavy for you.
• Minimalist sneakers offer a lot of ground feel which may cause premature foot fatigue when you’re not used to them. They are also very flexible (torsionally and longitudinally) which is great for women who love the natural feel and ride but may be too minimalist for those who have some foot conditions like painful arches or plantar fasciitis.
• Classics and retros may struggle with durability when the upper is made of canvas. And, unless there’s a lot of mesh, they don’t breathe well or dry quickly.
• Futuristic sneakers may feature a heel drop that’s quite aggressive for women who are not used to it and who may be spending time in sneakers with a low drop.