7 Best Treadmill Running Shoes in 2023

Third time’s a charm for Novablast as this version is a versatile trainer which helped us cruise comfortably in our runs. We felt that it balances the right amount of energy with an insanely soft platform, claiming its rightful place as best overall in cushioned running shoes.

It was delightful sinking into the generous cushioning, which our lab measured to be 45% softer than average. Our runs felt extremely airy, supported and balanced. The shoe boasts a light weight of 8.5 oz (vs 9.5 oz average). We also gauged its torsional rigidity at 4/5, explaining why the shoe felt stable while offering a good amount of propulsion.

Even after miles and miles of running, we barely scratched the outsole. Our durometer confirmed this with an 83.0 HC result - above the average running shoe’s outsole hardness. Harder rubbers usually last longer. 

We sensed the midsole could accommodate wider feet than average and our lab results confirmed this: +3.1 mm in the forefoot and +3.9 mm in the heel when compared to the average.

The stack height felt high — even higher than advertised — which is why we couldn’t resist checking and discovered it to be 12% higher than the average.

The Tempus from Saucony is a stability running shoe for a variety of paces and distances. Whether you're running slow (just not recovery-day slow), picking up the pace, or running short or long miles, this shoe can handle it. Even more, it's not the type of support shoe that's reserved solely for overpronators (whose feet roll inward). The Saucony Tempus also welcomes neutral runners who want stable strides all the way.

Our best pick for treadmill speed training is the Metaspeed Edge+. Staying true to its name, it's all about speed containing a carbon plate that pushes our paces to the limit. We felt the energy return and the rocker design promoting smooth forward movements — providing the fire to power through our fastest-paced workouts. 

We checked how flexible the shoe is by bending it to 90°. It stood its ground til our force gauge showed a whopping 63.0N, double the average force for running shoes! We also gave its torsional rigidity a 4 out of 5, which we experienced through stable foot placements in every stride.

With its thin tongue padding (0.9 mm) and outsole (2.1 mm), the Metaspeed Edge+ helped us fly in our runs. In the lab, it weighed light as a feather at 208.0g (7.3 oz.), while other running shoes averaged 22% heavier. What’s astonishing is that Metaspeed Edge+ is even lighter than other race shoes (average of 214.0g or 7.5 oz.)

Our indoor runs felt very airy, keeping our feet sweat-free. This shoe is not just lightweight; it’s also insanely breathable! It scored the highest (5/5) on our breathability test in the lab. 

We don’t recommend this pair to those who need a more stable (and therefore wide) platform since this pair is narrower, especially in the heel.

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 builds on the winning recipe that made its predecessors favored among runners all around the world. It shines as a reliable, well-cushioned, and stable daily trainer that's perfect for easy to moderate runs. Even with a slight shortfall in forefoot cushioning, its value at $140 marks it as a standout choice and a welcome enhancement over prior models.

This is a shoe with, by far, the best cushioning for treadmill runs because its midsole offers the perfect balance of energy return, fun and support. Its maximum cushioning screams comfort — even on our longer runs!

We stepped into clouds, reaching a stack height of 40.2 mm (21% higher than average). With our durometer, we measured its midsole to be 2.1x softer than the average running shoe. Even in winter, the foam is still 25% softer than the average running shoe at room temperature. We concluded this by doing a 20-minute freezer test where we measured the softness of the midsole again.

In our 90° bend lab test, the pair resisted the force til 62.1N, while most shoes gave in at 31.1N. This means the shoe is very stiff, energizing our lively and propulsive runs.

Adding to our comfort is the breezy runs we experienced with this shoe’s upper. We tested it against smoke and light and gave it the highest mark of 5/5 for breathability. It's light and stretchy tongue padding locks down well and is thinner than the average (2.1 mm vs. 5.8 mm).

We don't recommend the SuperComp Trainer to runners who prefer lightweight shoes. This one weighs in at 10.5 oz (298g) and is significantly heavier than the average of 9.5 oz or 268g.

After lab and run trials, we found Deviate Nitro 2 to be the best do-it-all treadmill running shoe. It handled all kinds of runs we did — recovery sessions, speed workouts and LSDs — with finesse, ease and power.

Our treadmill runs felt easy on the legs as the midsole cushion gave a buttery and smooth ride. Our durometer showed that this pair is 33% softer than average. Even after placing the Nitro 2 in the freezer for 20 minutes (to simulate cold weather), it remained 13% softer than other running shoes at room temperature. The shoe is soft, no matter the temperature!

Teaming up with comfort is a midsole that fueled and electrified our speed intervals too! It brought so much vibrance to our indoor run and turned it into a sprightly ride. What also helped is the stiffness. The Deviate Nitro 2 is 90% stiffer than the average at room temperature! 

In the lab, we measured the thickness of the outsole and it turned out to be 9% thicker than average, cementing its position as a durable shoe that can handle miles and miles of treadmill running.

We do not recommend the Deviate Nitro 2 to runners looking for a roomy toebox since the shoe’s measurement of 96.3 mm is right below the average of 97.9 mm.

The Nike Winflo 9 emerged as the winning pick for our top budget treadmill trainers after we conducted our various lab and run tests. For a wallet-friendly price of just $100, the Winflo 9 provides a host of excellent features, such as a soft midsole, a breathable upper, and a grippy outsole, making it a terrific choice for treadmill workouts.

The Winflo 9 offers comfortable cushioning that should help keep the foot protected on the treadmill. Our testers remarked on the midsole's softness during their run tests, and sure enough, our lab measurement backed up that observation. We measured it at 18.4 HA, which is softer than Nike's premier racing shoe, the Alphafly Next% 2. Not too shabby for a budget shoe.

Nike also nailed the upper of the shoe. Not only is it plenty breathable, scoring a 4 out of 5 on our tests, but it also provides comfort without sacrificing durability. The shoe got a 3 out of 5 on our toebox durability test, so this budget shoe shouldn't break down easily amid consistent use on the treadmill.

Meanwhile, the outsole figures to be even more durable. We measured it at 92.8 HC, which is the hardest outsole out of over 200 pairs we've tested in our lab.

But this is a budget shoe after all, and one big area where it falls short is in its lack of responsiveness. That is why we don't recommend this shoe for runners who want a livelier ride while on the treadmill.