How to Find the Best Running Shoes Online

Photos by Marques Jackson Photography.

By Marnie Kunz

If you’re wondering how to find the best running shoes, this guide will help. As a running coach and longtime runner, I have shopped for shoes many times as well as helped coaching clients find the best shoes. Here are my best tips for how to find the best running shoes online:

Do I Need New Running Shoes?

First of all, if you’re a beginning runner, it’s important to get good running shoes. Running shoes are the only equipment you really need to run, and you need to find the best running shoes for you to prevent injuries and keep your feet and legs protected as you run.

Related Post: When to Replace Running Shoes

If you’re already a runner, you should change your running shoes regularly to make sure the cushioning doesn’t get too flat or worn down. Running in old, worn running shoes is one of the most common causes of running injuries. Shoe companies recommend changing your running shoes every 300-500 miles, which is a big range, I know. Some factors that can influence the exact miles you get our of your running shoes include extreme temperatures (which wear down the shoes faster), if you walk in your shoes (many people forget that walking miles still count as miles/wear), and your running gait. Washing your running shoes in the washing machine, or even worse, the dryer, will also break them down faster. Also, individual running shoe models may last longer than others due to features like the type of material in the midsole.

Generally, you will start to feel when your running shoes have less spring in them. Your legs may get worn faster or you start to feel minor pains from your daily runs. Listening to your body is one of the best ways to see when you need new running shoes. If they feel flat, they probably have gotten too worn.

Assess Your Running

Before you embark on a running shoe shopping spree, learn more about your running gait and preferences. Will you be training mostly on roads, trails, track, treadmill or a mix? How far do you run per week? Will you be doing speed work? What race distances will you run? Consider your running habits so you can search for running shoes that suit your needs. For instance, if you do more short, fast runs, you may want a lighter shoe. In contrast, if you do a lot of pavement pounding miles, good cushioning will be a necessity. If you love trail running and are always in the wild, check out trail running shoes, which are specifically made for the uneven terrain of trail running.

Running Gait

When I grew up running track and reading Runner’s World, running gait was always a big deal when finding the right running shoes. Running stores often do gait analyses and recommend shoes based on your foot strike pattern. There is ongoing debate about if running shoes can do as much to correct your gait as originally thought, or if your gait should even influence you running shoe choice.

If you want to error on the side of caution though, learn about your running gait and the shoes that are recommended for your gait, and decide for yourself. Also, coach’s advice - focus on improving your running form if you do have pronation issues.

What is your running gait? Your gait is your foot strike pattern as you run. You can get a good idea of your gait by taking a short video of yourself running. Set your phone on the ground at a track or on a flat surface and run toward your phone, with your video on, at foot level. Check out your foot strike pattern and see if you lift your feet straight up and down or if you have some rolling sideways motion.

A little rolling motion is normal, but if your ankles roll pretty noticeably, you probably overpronate. There are running shoes specifically for a regular running gait, called neutral running shoes. For us overpronators, stability running shoes are supposed to offer additional support to help us keep our feet on track and rolling less. I have mild overpronation, which is more noticeable in one foot than the other, so I buy stability running shoes. People with flat feet or collapsed arches usually overpronate. Carrying excess weight also often leads to overpronation.

Some of my favorite stability running shoes include Nike Air Zoom Structure (now being replaced with the Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit) and New Balance 680V6 and New Balance 860V10.

What Is the Best Brand of Running Shoes?

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this question! There are many different running shoe brands and options available and I know it can be overwhelming - Nike, New Balance, Saucony, Asics, Brooks, HOKA, Under Armour, Adidas, and minimalist running shoes like Merrell.

First I will say, I don’t generally recommend minimalist running shoes to people I coach. Some people do well with them but for beginners and for most of us who run on a lot of pavement, I do not advise them due to the lack of cushioning. It is a process to slowly allow your body to adjust to minimalist shoes and the evidence on the benefits of minimalist running shoes is inconclusive.

That said, as with all running shoes, there is no easy answer on the best running shoe brand. We all have different bodies and preferences, so one that feels good for you may not feel good for me. Also, all the major running shoe companies have their own versions of running shoes for stability, trail running shoes, neutral running shoes, and lightweight racing shoes.

So it’s more important what features you need for running shoes than the brand. If you have no past brand preferences, check out all neutral running shoe options to start, for instance, if you are a neutral runner. I generally have had great experience running with New Balance and Nike shoes, so I stick to those brands.

Once you find a running shoe brand and style that works for you, stick with it. The old saying “If it’s not broke don’t fix it,” is very true for running shoes.

My PT Kathleen always tells me that because I sometimes get caught up in the excitement or sparkle of new shoe models or releases. She says if I’ve been running well in my New Balance or Nikes, stick to those. This is important for preventing running injuries, as jumping into the wrong running shoes can easily give you an injury.

If you have no experience with different brands, look for the features of the running shoes you need before brand. If you’re a trail runner or want to rotate trail shoes in with your regular ones for those muddy days on rugged terrain, check out Nike Air Zoom Pegasus Trail, Adidas Terrex Two Ultra Parley and Saucony S20483-2 Trail running shoe, for instance.

Style

It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of a new shoe drop or dope new running shoe style, but save your shiny sneakers for street wear and stick to practical running shoes. Just because a shoe looks amazing or is a current fad, doesn’t mean it’ll be the best running shoe for you. Also, if you’re looking for running shoe deals, you can often get a savings from ordering older colors or styles. I do this all the time - I order older New Balance stability shoes on Amazon or check the Nike sale section for older running shoe colors.

Remember, the end game is awesome, injury-free running so colors and appearance should be secondary.

What are your favorite running shoes? Comment below.

Related Posts: Best Summer Running Gear, When To Change Your Running Shoes

Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach, a dog lover, an Akita mom, and the founder of Runstreet. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.

Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, Runstreet Inc. may earn a small commission.