7 Best Daily Running Shoes in 2025

How we test running shoes

We like to keep everything transparent and fuff-free; hence, our rigorous testing process. Everything starts with the shoes that we buy on our own, avoiding sponsorships and contracts with the brands. 

Then, we log 30-50 miles of wear testing in each shoe. We have to test the shoes properly, so we do everything in them, from recovery runs and short faster runs to fartleks and LSDs. 

We also take the shoes to the lab where we measure 20+ metrics on each shoe. This data makes all the shoes easily comparable in our comparison tables. We also cut the daily trainers in half to analyze all the parts, layers, and details.

There are 3 large categories in the world of running shoes that depend on the pace: daily trainer running shoes, tempo running shoes and, and race shoes. Shoes for daily runs are, as indicated, made for daily running which includes jogging, zone 1 and 2 runs, recovery runs, and LSDs (long slow distances). 

6 features of daily running shoes 

Everything is about the pace. Slower (and longer) runs ask for more comfort and the price of increasing weight. We’re not in a rush, so it’s not important to go as light as possible (like it would be for competition running shoes). 

We can say that the 2 main features of daily trainers are comfort and the fact that they are made for slower paces. Here’s how exactly those 2 are reflected, on average, in the shoe design: 

1. Daily trainers are cushioned, often high-stacked to allow great impact protection 
2. There’s quite a lot of padding in the tongue and in the heel to hug the foot from all the angles 
3. They get to be heavier because they carry a lot: high stack height, a lot of padding, thick insoles, etc. 
4. They are stable! This means they feel planted even when cornering. We owe thanks for this to their wide platform. 
5. Being made for slower runs means they most often feature a standard foam and not a premium one. This cut in energy return makes them more durable though. 
6. They are more affordable than premium tempo and race shoes. 

Arch support in daily training running shoes 

When we talk about arch support, it’s usually about runners with low arches or flat feet. These runners overpronate in most cases, which means their ankles roll inwards, so much that they use the inner side of the shoes more. 

Because of this, overpronators enjoy stabilization in the heel and under the arches, especially on the inner side of the shoe, which stabilizes the heel and makes it overpronate less. These features are found in so-called stability running shoes. 

A very popular DIY test (and not always trustworthy) is the so-called wet test. When runners wet their feet and look at the footprints, this is what they can conclude 

There are different technologies that brands use to make stability running shoes. You don’t have to overthink these if you’re a beginner. If you have a specialty running store nearby, they can maybe scan your feet while running on the treadmill and recommend the best shoe type and model. If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, we always recommend seeing a specialist first. 

Note: Arch support matters the most in daily trainers. When it comes to tempo shoes, there are only a few of them with stability features because the pace is higher, we spend way less time in contact with the ground, so these features matter less. In trail shoes, the terrain varies so much that we have only a few stability trail shoes on the market.

What makes daily trainers so comfortable? 

What runners usually look for in daily trainers is what they can’t get in race shoes and that’s comfort. This pillow-like feel comes from a highly-stacked foam that can be very soft, a padded tongue, a padded heel, and a thick insole. Of course, not all daily trainers have it all, but a variation of it. 

Stack height and recommended foot strike 

Let’s look at the data immediately. The average heel stack of daily trainers sits at X, while for tempo shoes and race shoes, it sits at Y and Z, respectively. Most runners prefer having cushioned running shoes as their daily trainers, although some of them go for minimalist or barefoot shoes (which we cover down the road). 

In our lab, we measure both stack heights according to the guidelines from WorldAthletics. This means that we measure the stack heights and the center of the shoe, which is why shoes have to be cut in half to do this accurately, and we do it at 12% and 75% of the inner length of the shoe (for the heel and forefoot respectively). 

The amount of midsole below your feet can vary and, depending on your foot strike, you should look for more foam where you land. Heel strikers focus on the stack height at the heel, and forefoot strikers focus on the stack height under the forefoot. 

If you’re a heel striker, it’s also important to check whether there’s rubber on the outsole at the heel. Fortunately, in most cases, running shoes focused on the forefoot strikers are made for races and tempo training!

Some shoes are made with forefoot strikers in mind and, while they can be used by heel strikers, it’s important to understand that the exposed midsole slides on wet surfaces and is way less durable than the rubber-covered outsoles. 

How to choose the best heel drop for you 

Heel to toe drop or, shorter, heel drop, represents the difference in height between the heel stack height and forefoot stack height. Some running shoes are “flat” or zero drop, meaning the forefoot and the heel are at the same height. The heel drop goes from 0 mm to 16 mm but the upper limit is not written in stone. 

Finding the best heel drop for you is important because going with the wrong one can aggravate your (previous) injuries. Here’s how: 

1. With the rise of the heel drop, the higher leg muscles are utilized. So in 10 mm-drop shoes, you will be using hip muscles a lot. If you ever had an iliopsoas tear, or you generally have weak muscles around the hips, you might feel a burning sensation or fatigue in this area. 
2. The lower the drop is, the lower the leg muscles are utilized. In this case, if you run in zero-drop running shoes, you will be using your foot muscles the most. Given that the majority of us grew up wearing conventional (higher drop) sneakers and shoes, this change to zero drop is the one that asks for the longest adaptation period for most runners. 
3. In low-drop running shoes, higher than 0 mm but lower than 5 mm, you will be using lower leg muscles the most, like calves, Achilles, etc. 

Given your current state and condition, you should choose a heel drop that works best for you, in a way that it does not hurt you. Even a discomfort is not an option. If you’re a beginner who never ran before, the general advice is to go with a heel drop higher than 8 mm. Around 10 mm is great. 

Heel-to-toe drop is a topic that fascinates us, which is why we went down the rabbit hole. If you want to learn more, do it here: Heel to Toe Drop: The Ultimate Guide. 

Softness of daily training running shoes

In the world of running shoes, usually softness equals comfort. And sure, daily trainers can be quite soft! How do we know that? 

Just because you enjoy very soft shoes does not mean they should all be.. Very soft. Sometimes going too soft means also getting almost no energy return which ends up in premature fatigue due to our feet doing so much work. It’s important to find the right balance.

When the midsole is slightly firmer for you, insoles can save the day. We measure the thickness of the insoles that come with the shoes so you can, in advance, know whether you want to swap them with thicker ones! 

Daily training running shoes are very stable!

That's because they have wide platforms. Some competition running shoes have very narrow platforms, and they become unstable (wobbly) even on slightly uneven terrain or when cornering. This is very rarely an issue with daily running shoes! 

Their platforms are wide and stable. We don't just look at them but measure them as well to find the widest, the narrowest, and those in between. 

Daily trainers are less responsive and that’s OK 

There are 2 types of foams found in running shoes: standard and premium. Here’s a quick overview of both: 

If you’re a beginner, you should not overthink this. Find a comfortable daily trainer that works for you and that’s it. If you’re an avid runner and want to learn more, we highly recommend reading our Ultimate guide on running shoe foams. 

Daily trainers have lower energy return but that does not mean that they are dull or brick-like. Standard foams make them more durable which is a very important feature in the world of daily trainers. 

All the padding in the world is here 

Daily running shoes are comfortable thanks to the padding too. In our lab, we look at the heel padding and tongue padding. 

The same applies to the tongue padding. Fast, aggressive shoes most often have thin, sometimes even see-through tongues, while everyday-running shoes have thick tongues. This thickness is a great preventative measure for a lace bite! Sometimes we really need to tighten the laces, and having a thick tongue helps to avoid experiencing pain at the instep as a result of that pressure from the laces. 

If this specific feature interests you, here are shoe choices to rub that itch! 

Weight of daily training running shoes

Daily running shoes are, on average, heavier than the tempo and race shoes. And that’s completely understandable, given how cushioned and padded they are! 

Let’s look at the average weights:

• Daily trainers: 9.9 oz or 280.7g
• Tempo running shoes: 8.3 oz or 235.3g 
• Competition running shoes: 7.4 oz or 209.8g

Daily trainers get to be lighter when they use premium foams and have less protection and padding. Those more padded ones and those with stability technologies tend to weigh more. 

Durability of daily runners

Some runners want their running shoes to last longer. OK, who doesn’t want that? Depending on which part of the shoe usually gives up on you first, you can look at different lab tests we did and the results to find the most durable daily trainer. 

In our lab, we test the durability of the upper, heel padding, and outsole. In the first 2 tests, we assess the durability on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most durable. 

Testing the durability of the upper of daily trainers in RunRepeat lab

Mesh uppers are usually more durable but less breathable. Knit uppers are softer and more comfortable, but easier to rip. 

Heel padding durability test 

The durability of this part of the shoe depends on how you put the shoes on, how often, the shape of your heel, and whether there’s heel slipping happening. 

On our website, you can find dozens of daily trainers with very durable heel padding areas. 

When it comes to the durability of the outsole, the material is dense and, obviously, not stretchy. So, we don’t have to assess things. 

When looking at the dents, we use the tire tread gauge to measure their depths accurately. 

Harder rubber is usually more durable and protective, while the softer one is stickier and more flexible (agile). This is not a rule and we can see some variation in our results as well. 

Many runners keep running in their shoes as long as they look good. Keep in mind that midsoles have a shelf life as well. You may not notice it immediately, but if your legs start feeling weird, you get premature fatigue, or something simply feels “off,” think of how many miles the shoes have covered and whether you may need a new pair. 

Finding daily runners with wide toeboxes

We take pride in our gel measurements! We pour the gel into the shoes, make the mold in the freezer, and then measure the width of the toebox. 

Knowing both measurements is very important because some runners need more room at the big toe, while others need more room around the pinky toe.

The greater the difference between these 2 measurements, the pointier the toebox! 

Some runners don't just need a wide toebox but also a high one. If you also have big toes that are pointing up, this is a great lab test to refer to! 

Minimalist and barefoot daily trainers 

As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, we usually recommend running in cushioned daily trainers. This means they should have at least 30 mm below the heel. However, some runners prefer running in minimalist or barefoot shoes. 

Barefoot shoes are the most extreme and are known for: high flexibility, no supportive elements, being very low to the ground with almost no cushioning, very flexible heel counters, no extra padding in the heel or the tongue. Basically, you can twist these shoes completely and curl them in a roll! 

Minimalist running shoes can usually be twisted to the maximum (and score 5/5 on our test for torsional stiffness)

Minimalist running shoes are less extreme. It’s about a different combination of 1. Flexibility 2. Weight 3. Stack height 4. Stability technologies and 5. Heel-to-toe drop. So, there’s room for some variation, as in, some can have higher stack height but a lower drop, or some stability technologies but to make up for them in a lower stack and lower drop, etc. 

Why caution is needed when buying minimalist or barefoot daily trainers

These daily running shoes are low to the ground and usually zero drop. This asks for a long adaptation period if you come from the world of regular cushioned running shoes! 

• The impact forces are much higher in non-cushioned running shoes than in cushioned running shoes. There’s not enough foam to protect your feet from the heavy impact and the harsh surfaces (asphalt, concrete, etc.). 
• When running shoes are low-drop or zero-drop, runners often move from heel striking to forefoot striking. This is a huge change in biomechanics and should be done slowly! It takes months for some runners to fully adapt. Not just that, but low-drop and zero-drop shoes utilize foot muscles and lower-leg muscles more, unlike cushioned running shoes which use higher-leg muscles like thighs and hip muscles. It’s important to know this in case you had or currently have some injuries. 
• Having little to no cushioning also makes runners run differently, more lightly, with less force and slower. This is also a change that is reflect in different muscle use which is why an adaptation is needed. 

If you’re curious about heel to toe drop and the effect it has on your leg muscles, we highly recommend reading our in-depth guide: Heel to Toe Drop: The Ultimate Guide. 

When to use waterproof daily running shoes

Maybe once or twice your feet got wet on the run/walk, and you thought, “I really need waterproof running shoes!” We’re here to double-check that. 

The best thing about these shoes is that they are waterproof but that comes at a price: they are not breathable. Also, they are more expensive. 

When you should NOT use waterproof daily trainers:

• If you’ll run into only a few wet sections or run in light rain occasionally but definitely not often 
• If you have very sweaty feet, as these running shoes are not breathable 
• If you live in a warm climate because, due to their non-breathability, these shoes will become unbearably hot 

When you SHOULD use waterproof running shoes for daily runs: 

• The climate you run in is cold to moderate, so the trapped heat in the shoes won’t bother you
• The weather conditions are rainy, quite often; it’s more than a few puddles on the way

Differences between men’s and women’s daily running shoes

Although we are aware that men and women, in general, don’t have the same shapes of feet, the standard footwear industry does not honor that. In many cases, women’s shoes are the same as men’s, only of different sizes. Even when widths change, often it’s about making the upper more roomy and not the casts themselves wider. 

Industry labels for widths are different though. Here’s an overview: 

Also, if you wear a size that allows you to choose between men’s and women’s shoes, you’re in luck! But it’s important to know which size to get. Here’s how they compare: 

Some brands make only unisex running shoes (HOKA calls them All gender). Unisex or not, we recommend checking the length in centimeters or millimeters, and not relying on sizes per se. Sizes vary depending on the brand, and the lengths are standardized. 

Often, there are both women and men symbols, or sizes given for both genders.