7 Running Shoes With The Best Traction in 2025

How we test Running shoes with the traction

Every running shoe that enters the lab has been chosen by us and paid for with our money. Our testers run in the shoes to get a personal feel of them, and then the shoes are taken to the lab, where we perform a battery of tests. To do the tests, we have to cut the running shoes in half, remove their upper, and tear them into smaller pieces. We use different machines and tools, like durometers, a smoke pump, a microscope, digital callipers, and machines made specifically for testing the traction or energy return. 

Once we’re done testing, we publish all the results on our website. These results allow you to compare the shoes and allow us to present the shoes that perform the best. 

High traction is of great importance to runners who live in a wet climate or often run in rainy and snowy conditions. Rain, slush, snow, whatever makes the roads wet and slippery. Add occasional slick areas to that equation (e.g., mall stairs, tiles around fountains), and you really need a superb grip. 

As seen in the image above, we have to tear the shoes into pieces to test everything. This allows us to get a complete picture of traction and shoes overall.

4 things to know about running shoes with high traction 

We back everything with our lab data. But, as a starting point, we recommend getting familiar with these features of running shoes with high traction: 

1. You can recognise them in the shop only if you memorised the rubber compounds that perform highly on the traction test. It is, however, recommended to look for rubber outsoles, which means no exposed midsole or as little as possible. Also, new premium rubber is grippier than rubberized EVA outsoles. 
2. Thicker (and more durable) outsoles will last longer, which means they will be able to provide traction for longer. A thin outsole that quickly reveals foam beneath the rubber is a bad choice. 
3. Some running shoes are so grippy you may hear them while running or they may even feel like they are working against you, as if they were kind of stopping you in place. This is a great sign. 
4. On average, running shoes with high traction are more expensive than the rest of the running shoes. This is related to many other features that are present in such shoes, but still, it’s good to be prepared. 

Getting the lab data for traction of running shoes

When testing the traction in our lab, we are actually measuring the dynamic coefficient of friction (CoF). This number tells us how good the running shoe is when it comes to traction. Lower than 0.25, and we consider it unsafe even for dry surfaces, between 0.25 and 0.45, it has a good grip on dry terrain, and shoes with CoF higher than 0.45 are considered to excel on dry, slick and wet surfaces. 

When doing this test, we follow the SATRA TM144 methodology. Here’s what that means: 

• We press the shoe with a force of 500N against the sliding surface at a 7-degree angle. This mimics the real-life contact with the ground that happens during the gait 
• We test the traction at the forefoot. In other categories, where the main movement and activity happen at the heel, we test it at the heel. 
• The surface we perform this test on is a concrete slab. We regularly make fresh slabs to avoid inconsistent results due to their wear and tear. 

The role of outsole durability, outsole thickness, and rubber coverage 

Previously, we thought that softer rubber is stickier and less durable, while harder rubber is more durable and less grippy. Things have changed. Today, we have premium compounds that deliver superb grip while remaining highly durable. What makes this relation so weak? Well, we have to take into account the outsole material (compound type), the thickness of the outsole, and its coverage. 

Once our dremel is done, we use a tyre tread gauge to measure the depth of the hole. Deeper hole = less durable outsole. Here, it’s obvious that the outsole will last longer if there’s more of it. But not many shoes can afford that, especially race ones, where light weight is the goal. 

And finally, we get to the outsole coverage. Looking at the outsole design, it’s easy to notice that some outsoles are almost fully covered with rubber, some have it only at the forefoot, and some are in-between. Obviously, the greater the coverage (where you land), the better the grip! More ground contact is what we’re looking for. 

The sooner you destroy the outsole, the sooner you’ll experience slipping (traction will worsen). 

Rubber or rubberized outsole: what to expect

Given that the traction depends on what’s at the bottom of the running shoe, we have to focus on 2 main options. Running shoes can have a rubber outsole, which means they have a proper rubber layer at the bottom. They can also have a rubberized EVA outsole, which is a blend of EVA foam and rubber. 

To compensate for this low durability, brands have to make rubberized outsoles thicker.

Based on our lab data, running shoes with rubber outsoles score higher on the traction test. Rubberized outsoles offer more flexibility and a quieter ride, but they fall short in durability. In order to cut weight and increase shoe flexibility, you may also find exposed midsole on some outsoles. 

While the rubberized outsole and exposed midsole may look similar, the rubberized outsole is made to be used for traction like a rubber outsole; the exposed midsole is not. Exposed midsole is extremely non-durable and not grippy.

Outsole design for wet weather 

Dealing with a lot of rain on the roads means your outsoles actually have to channel water and keep you safe. Outsoles made for such weather should have grooves and channels, just like car tyres do when they are made for wet terrain. And they should score high on the traction test!

Still, it’s not easy to eyeball the traction of the outsole. Given that it depends heavily on the material (the rubber compound used), we urge runners to always check the lab data. 

If you plan to run in wet weather, there are other things to take into consideration, like breathability, water resistance levels, and price. We covered this in great detail in our guide about the best waterproof shoes. 

Running shoe brands with the best traction

It’s always tricky to present data in averages, because there will be running shoes that perform excellently and poorly; however, the averages still tell a story. In the case of running shoes and their traction, analysing our lab data, we’ve discovered that Puma, Asics, and Altra make the shoes with the highest traction. On the other hand, Nike, for example, took the last spot. 

While brands can have their own rubber compounds and technologies, they can also collaborate with Vibram. Having a Vibram outsole is like having a Gore-Tex membrane, it’s the most known name in the world. Vibram is significantly more present in the trail world (trail running and hiking), though. 

Brands like La Sportiva, NNormal, Merrell, Hoka, Topo, etc. offer shoes with Vibram outsoles. The good thing is, if you decide to find shoes with a Vibram outsole, you won’t be able to miss it. The logo is always present, just like already-mentioned Gore-Tex. 

Price of running shoes with the best traction

We already saw that traction is not a standalone feature that is correlated with 1 shoe feature only. So, looking at the average prices is tricky, because what also comes into play are: type of foams which includes shock absorption and energy return, outsole thickness and weight of the shoe,… this all plays a role in the overall price. 

However, if we wanted to have a look at the shoes with high traction as a group, we’d find out that their price averages at £170. The average price of running shoes with moderate traction sits at £150 and with low traction at £80. 

The good thing is, these prices are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices, which means it’s how much they retail for, once released. If you want to find a good discount, head over to our dedicated Deals page.