Data Analysis: The Best Running Shoe Brands
At RunRepeat we specialize in reviewing running shoes. We’ve now analyzed more than a million reviews from 33 brands which include reviews from more than 2,000 running shoes from the last decade. Here’s our analysis of what the best running shoe brands are.
Overall, we recommend not focusing on fancy logos, but specific models. Every year, even the best running shoe brands launch running shoes that fail. If you’re looking to buy a new pair of running shoes, take a look at our guide to the best running shoes, or our overview of running shoes.
That being said, some brands generally receive better reviews than others.
The best running shoe brands
Below is a matrix that plots each running shoe brand against reviews and popularity. Some less known brands produce great products, and some of the most well-known brands are the least liked. If you’re more interested in this, check our analysis on how expensive running shoes are not better.
The Corescore is a 0-100 score that incorporates user and expert reviews into one score number.
Below is a table illustrating the same as the matrix.
| Rank | Brand | Avg. Corescore | Number of reviews | Link to shoes |
| #1 | Topo Athletic | 87.1/100 | 6,254 | Topo Athletic running shoes |
| #2 | Brooks | 85.9/100 | 576,543 | Brooks running shoes |
| #3 | Hoka | 85.2/100 | 189,450 | Hoka shoes |
| #4 | On | 85.1/100 | 60,749 | On running shoes |
| #5 | Salomon | 84.9/100 | 251,641 | Salomon running shoes |
| #6 | Altra | 84.8/100 | 78,389 | Altra running shoes |
| #7 | Saucony | 84.4/100 | 220,387 | Saucony running shoes |
| #8 | Vibram FiveFingers | 84.2/100 | 57,454 | Vibram FiveFingers shoes |
| #9 | 361 Degrees | 83.7/100 | 1,083 | 361 Degrees shoes |
| #10 | Mizuno | 83.4/100 | 69,747 | Mizuno running shoes |
| #11 | Newton | 83.3/100 | 3,254 | Newton running shoes |
| #12 | Nike | 83.0/100 | 554,041 | Nike running shoes |
| #13 | Inov-8 | 82.9/100 | 13,634 | Inov-8 running shoes |
| #14 | Skechers | 82.7/100 | 29,534 | Skechers running shoes |
| #15 | La Sportiva | 82.5/100 | 6,196 | La Sportiva shoes |
| #16 | ASICS | 82.4/100 | 1,340,229 | ASICS running shoes |
| #17 | New Balance | 82.3/100 | 347,676 | New Balance shoes |
| #18 | Vivobarefoot | 82.0/100 | 3,717 | Vivobarefoot shoes |
| #19 | Under Armour | 81.9/100 | 276,207 | Under Armour shoes |
| #20 | Adidas | 81.9/100 | 387,444 | Adidas running shoes |
| #21 | PUMA | 81.6/100 | 74,509 | PUMA running shoes |
| #22 | Merrell | 81.5/100 | 97,613 | Merrell running shoes |
| #23 | Arc'teryx | 81.4/100 | 670 | Arc'teryx running shoes |
| #24 | Dynafit | 79.9/100 | 544 | Dynafit running shoes |
| #25 | The North Face | 79.0/100 | 3,197 | The North Face shoes |
| #26 | Reebok | 78.4/100 | 37,671 | Reebok running shoes |
| #27 | Scott | 78.0/100 | 452 | Scott running shoes |
| #28 | Salming | 73.7/100 | 99 | Salming running shoes |
Best running shoe brands based on user reviews and expert reviews, separately
Some brands are loved by experts, but less liked by users and vice versa. The illustration (and table below) shows how each brand scores from users and experts separately.
This table shows the ranking of each brand based on user reviews and expert reviews.
| Rank | Users | Experts |
| #1 | Brooks | Topo Athletic |
| #2 | Under Armour | Salomon |
| #3 | Newton | Newton |
| #4 | PUMA | Inov-8 |
| #5 | Salomon | Skechers |
| #6 | The North Face | 361 Degrees |
| #7 | On | Hoka |
| #8 | Mizuno | Arc'teryx |
| #9 | Saucony | PUMA |
| #10 | Nike | On |
| #11 | ASICS | La Sportiva |
| #12 | Skechers | Dynafit |
| #13 | Adidas | Altra |
| #14 | Merrell | Merrell |
| #15 | Topo Athletic | Brooks |
| #16 | Hoka | Saucony |
| #17 | 361 Degrees | Salming |
| #18 | New Balance | Adidas |
| #19 | Reebok | Nike |
| #20 | Scott | ASICS |
| #21 | Altra | New Balance |
| #22 | La Sportiva | Scott |
| #23 | Vibram FiveFingers | Under Armour |
| #24 | Inov-8 | Mizuno |
| #25 | Vivobarefoot | Vibram FiveFingers |
| #26 | Dynafit | The North Face |
| #27 | Arc'teryx | Reebok |
| #28 | Salming | Vivobarefoot |
For the trail lovers: the best brands
Same analysis as from above, just for trail running shoes. We’ve only included brands with at least 4 trail running shoe models.
Again, consider taking a look at the specific trail running shoes that are best rated.
| Rank | Brand | Corescore | Number of reviews | Link to shoes |
| #1 | Topo Athletic | 86 | 3,022 | Topo Athletic trail shoes |
| #2 | Altra | 85.3 | 34,627 | Altra trail shoes |
| #3 | Salomon | 84.9 | 250,525 | Salomon trail shoes |
| #4 | Brooks | 84.6 | 14,164 | Brooks trail shoes |
| #5 | Hoka | 84.3 | 30,989 | Hoka trail shoes |
| #6 | Nike | 84.3 | 18,708 | Nike trail shoes |
| #7 | Inov-8 | 84.2 | 11,115 | Inov-8 trail shoes |
| #8 | On | 84.2 | 1,298 | On trail shoes |
| #9 | Vibram FiveFingers | 83.4 | 13,375 | Vibram FiveFingers trail shoes |
| #10 | La Sportiva | 82.7 | 6,212 | La Sportiva trail shoes |
| #11 | Saucony | 82.3 | 45,092 | Saucony trail shoes |
| #12 | Under Armour | 82 | 8,760 | Under Armour trail shoes |
| #13 | ASICS | 81.8 | 357,495 | ASICS trail shoes |
| #14 | Arc'teryx | 81.4 | 675 | Arc'teryx trail shoes |
| #15 | New Balance | 81.4 | 92,466 | New Balance trail shoes |
| #16 | Vivobarefoot | 81.2 | 1,338 | Vivobarefoot trail shoes |
| #17 | Adidas | 81.1 | 41,476 | Adidas trail shoes |
| #18 | Merrell | 81 | 56,677 | Merrell trail shoes |
| #19 | Scott | 80.3 | 416 | Scott trail shoes |
| #20 | Dynafit | 80.1 | 523 | Dynafit trail shoes |
| #21 | Mizuno | 79.5 | 1,028 | Mizuno trail shoes |
| #22 | The North Face | 79.1 | 3,122 | The North Face trail shoes |
