10 Best Road Running Shoes For Men in 2022

Jens Jakob Andersen
Jens Jakob Andersen on
| Reviewed using methodology 1.4
10 Best Road Running Shoes For Men in 2022

With tens of brands to choose from, getting the perfect pair of road running shoes for men can be a challenge. 

And if you don’t want to go through the lengthy process of trial-and-error, we’ve tested and selected the ten best men’s road running shoes.

Whether you’re competing, training, or a beginner, this list has got you covered. All the shoes you see here come from five different categories, accommodating all types of runners.

Best overall
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21
£140 £80 From Amazon
Best Nike
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38
£130 £77 From SportsShoes
Best neutral
Saucony Endorphin Speed Saucony Endorphin Speed
£170 £118 From Amazon
Best Asics
Asics Novablast Asics Novablast
£140 £78 From SportsShoes
Best value
Nike Revolution 6 Nike Revolution 6
£70 £22 From Very
See all 1296 men's road running shoes

Overview of this guide

How we test road running shoes

Before earning a spot on this list, our selection of the greatest road running shoes for men goes through a tedious process. 

To keep everything bias-free, we: 

  • Buy each shoe with our own money
  • Wear test them for at least 30-50 miles
  • Cut them open in our shoe testing lab 
  • Measure each of their parts using our calipers, durometers, weighing scales, etc. 

And to see how they stack up against other running shoes, we calculate their CoreScore. Through multiple expert and user reviews, we generate a rating that goes from 0-100, determining how good or bad a shoe is. 

Best running shoes overall for men

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21
£80
See deal  
£120
See deal  
£162
See deal  
No stock  
Top pick

Corescore

92
Superb!
4.6 / 5 from 66,593 users
91 / 100 from 18 experts

Pros

  • fits true to size
  • secure fit
  • great stability
  • gusseted tongue
  • soft but not mushy
  • superb durability
  • no lace bite

Cons

  • not for speedy runs
  • could be lighter

Verdict

Thanks for making our daily runs nice and stable, Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21! The upper hugged our feet well, and the midsole is balanced - it's neither mushy nor too rigid. It just kept our motions in check, preventing any excessive movements. It's certainly not a light shoe, but having tested its precursors, we can say that Brooks is heading in the right direction! Apart from support, what stood out to us also is its tank-like durability.
See our full review and facts
Brooks Ghost 14
Brooks Ghost 14
£90
See deal  
£130
See deal  
£138
See deal  
No stock  
Also great

Corescore

93
Superb!
4.7 / 5 from 34,349 users
91 / 100 from 15 experts

Pros

  • All about comfort!
  • True to size
  • Lots of padding
  • Smooth ride
  • Really stable, even on light trails
  • Breathable
  • Great out of the box
  • Built for longevity (500 miles, easily)
  • Great grip 

Cons

  • Lacks breathability for hot summer days
  • Not the best for long distances

Verdict

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!
See our full review and facts

Best Nike running shoes for men

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38
£77
See deal  
£82
See deal  
£89
See deal  
£90
See deal  
Top pick

Corescore

86
Great!
4.3 / 5 from 2,515 users
88 / 100 from 21 experts

Pros

  • Wider than Pegasus 37
  • Very stable ride
  • Peppy toe-off
  • Hugs your feet 
  • Padded upper
  • Very durable (400-500miles)
  • Grippy even on dirt roads
  • Legit workhorse
  • Doubles as a gym shoe
  • A joy to run in

Cons

  • Runs warm
  • Above-average weight

Verdict

If there's one thing we can't take away from the Pegasus 38, it's that it's the GOAT of all workhorse shoes in our arsenal! It oozes with plushness, stability, and pop, doing it all from slow days, tempo sessions, and gym workouts even. If you want to run with fun, take the Pegasus any day!
See our full review and facts
Nike Free Run 5.0
Nike Free Run 5.0
£90
See deal  
£100
See deal  
£125
See deal  
£125
See deal  
Also great

Corescore

83
Good!
4.3 / 5 from 12,358 users
86 / 100 from 1 experts

Pros

  • Insane lightness
  • Glove-like fit
  • Heel loop
  • Easy lacing system
  • Super breathable 
  • True to size
  • Comfotable as an everyday slipper
  • Extremely flexible

Cons

  • Short runs only
  • Lack of proper outsole
  • Insole not removable

Verdict

Ah, the Nike Free Run… Calling this a running shoe is a stretch, but there’s still a vestige of folks out there in the minimalist fan group that likes the slipper-like feel of Nike’s long-running “Free” lineup. The 2021 update steers back toward a less bizarre-looking shoe than we saw in 2020 but continues with the ultralight and ultra-flexible design.
See our full review and facts

Best neutral running shoes for men

Saucony Endorphin Speed
Saucony Endorphin Speed
£118
See deal  
£120
See deal  
No stock  
No stock  
Top pick

Corescore

93
Superb!
4.6 / 5 from 3,552 users
92 / 100 from 29 experts

Pros

  • Fast & responsive
  • Cushioned especially for the long runs
  • Spring, trampoline effect
  • Excellent durability 
  • Featherweight like a race shoe
  • Breathable
  • True to size
  • Perfect foot lock
  • Incredible value

Cons

  • Needs adaptation period 
  • Questionable grip on wet surfaces

Verdict

Among all the shoes we've tested, nothing comes close to how the Saucony Endorphin Speed fits the bill as a speedster that can certainly go the distance! Whether it's a 10K, half marathon, or marathon, you can set PBs in this baby! If you're looking for an all-rounder that can both go fast and slow, this is NOT it. It's made for speed, and it sticks to that!
See our full review and facts
Brooks Ghost 13
Brooks Ghost 13
£82
See deal  
£120
See deal  
£120
See deal  
No stock  
Also great

Corescore

91
Superb!
4.7 / 5 from 95,954 users
88 / 100 from 35 experts

Pros

  • Superb comfort
  • Stable ride
  • Very breathable even on summer days
  • Good grip both on wet and dry surfaces
  • Smooth transitions 
  • Flexible 
  • Wide toe box
  • Great for slow and long runs

Cons

  • Can't go fast
  • Outsole lacks durability

Verdict

If you want a shoe that screams comfort, we couldn't recommend the Brooks Ghost 13 enough! It's a neutral daily trainer that's padded so generously all throughout, it felt like a couch to our feet. It didn't make us run fast, but it made our feet stable and protected from all the pounding on the pavement - easily, this is our champion on long, easy-paced runs!
See our full review and facts

Best Asics running shoes for men

Asics Novablast
Asics Novablast
£78
See deal  
£84
See deal  
£91
See deal  
£104
See deal  
Top pick

Corescore

89
Great!
4.5 / 5 from 9,105 users
88 / 100 from 24 experts

Pros

  • Remarkably bouncy
  • Energetic and smooth ride
  • Perfect for long and tempo runs
  • Good air flow
  • Feels lightweight 
  • No wear&tear 60 miles in

Cons

  • For even and flat terrain only
  • Adaptation period needed

Verdict

Now, this is what we call fun! The Asics Novablast is really springy (trampoline-like) and comfortable, we'd take it anytime for our long-distance runs and tempo sessions. Where it runs to a problem is that the cushioned midsole renders the ride unstable. But in other news, it's a true and solid Asics when it comes to the durability department - it's built to last!
See our full review and facts
Asics Gel Kayano 27
Asics Gel Kayano 27
£103
See deal  
£108
See deal  
£158
See deal  
£164
See deal  
Also great

Corescore

91
Superb!
4.6 / 5 from 56,775 users
90 / 100 from 21 experts

Pros

  • Excellent stability
  • Superb lock-in feel
  • Plush 
  • Comfortable
  • Luxurious feel 
  • Smooth ride 
  • Good for walking
  • Amazing grip
  • Extremely durable

Cons

  • Not for speed runs

Verdict

Now on its 27th iteration, the Kayano is everything we expect from a premium stability shoe. It's sturdy, supportive, has got an incredibly plush comfort (surprising for a stability shoe)! If there's a hang-up to it, it's the shoe's hefty weight, which for us, is not something that should be penalized, given its top-tier performance.
See our full review and facts

Best value running shoes for men

Nike Revolution 6
Nike Revolution 6
£22
See deal  
£44
See deal  
£44
See deal  
£47
See deal  
Top pick

Corescore

77
Decent!
4.1 / 5 from 519 users
72 / 100 from 2 experts

Pros

  • Fits true to size
  • Peppy midsole
  • Budget-friendly
  • Good amount of flexibility
  • Consistent performance in any condition
  • Great as leisurewear

Cons

  • Runs narrow
  • Poor lacing
  • Lacks grip
See our full review and facts
Nike Quest 4
Nike Quest 4
£52
See deal  
£60
See deal  
£62
See deal  
£63
See deal  
Also great

Corescore

75
Decent!
4.2 / 5 from 203 users
N/A

Pros

  • True to size
  • Wider than other Nikes
  • Breathable
  • Durable
  • Very affordable 
  • Grippy thanks to mini lugs
  • Sleek modern looks
  • Great, secure fit
  • Outstanding weight

Cons

  • Not a springy ride
  • Short runs only

Verdict

At the entry level, there’s usually not a ton to review or write about, but the Nike Quest 4 fills a niche with a trendy-looking shoe at a bargain price. If you desire that Nike swoosh and have less than $80 in your pocket there aren’t many options, but surprisingly this stylish trainer fits the bill and isn’t all that bad!
See our full review and facts

What are the most popular men's road running shoes in 2022?

  1. Brooks Ghost 14
  2. Asics Novablast 2
  3. Nike Downshifter 11
  4. Adidas Ultraboost 22
  5. Adidas Supernova+
  6. Asics Gel Kayano 28
  7. Saucony Endorphin Speed 2
  8. On Cloudmonster
  9. Adidas Galaxy 5
  10. Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2
  11. Nike Air Zoom Tempo Next%
  12. Nike ZoomX Invincible Run
  13. Hoka One One Bondi 7
  14. Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22
  15. Asics Magic Speed

See all men's road running shoes sorted by popularity

What are the cheapest men's road running shoes in 2022?

  1. Reebok Lite Plus 3 - from £16
  2. Nike Revolution 6 - from £22
  3. Adidas Runfalcon 2.0 - from £23
  4. Adidas Questar Flow NXT - from £24
  5. Adidas Duramo 10 - from £25
  6. Adidas Galaxy 5 - from £30
  7. Reebok Energen Plus - from £30
  8. Under Armour Charged Rogue 2.5 - from £33
  9. Adidas Fluidstreet - from £35
  10. Asics Jolt 3 - from £36
  11. Reebok Energylux 3 - from £38
  12. Asics Patriot 12 - from £39
  13. Nike Renew Ride 2 - from £40
  14. Asics Gel Contend 7 - from £40
  15. Under Armour Charged Vantage - from £41

See all men's road running shoes sorted by lowest price

Author
Jens Jakob Andersen
Jens Jakob Andersen

Jens Jakob is a fan of short distances with a 5K PR at 15:58 minutes. Based on 35 million race results, he's among the fastest 0.2% runners. Jens Jakob previously owned a running store, when he was also a competitive runner. His work is regularly featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC and the likes as well as peer-reviewed journals. Finally, he has been a guest on +30 podcasts on running.

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