I'm a Health Editor and marathon runner who's tested nearly 1000 pairs - my definitive pick of the best running shoes for every distance and gait

Don't be confused by the jargon - these are the designs worth investing in.

Senior Health Editor Ally Head testing some of the best running shoes for women, from New Balance, Hoka, ON running and adidas
(Image credit: Ally Head)

I have a confession to make - I currently have more running shoes in my house than I care to count. As the Senior Health Editor here at Marie Claire UK and a nine-time marathon runner, I'm constantly testing the latest designs and Whatsapping friends and family with my recommendations.

While I've been running for the best part of ten years now, it's only in recent years that people seem to have cottoned on to just how joyful lacing up can be. It's no exaggeration to say we've become a nation of runners - everywhere you look, there's another lycra-clad run club or Instagram post full of someone achieving a shiny new personal best.

If you're one of the keen beans now lacing up regularly, know this - one of the simplest ways you can improve your running is by investing in the best gym wear. Enter: this handy guide to the best running shoes for women.

As someone who runs marathons for fun and tests kit as part of their nine-to-five, I've tested close to a thousand pairs of running trainers in my time. While my all-time favourite running shoes are the ON Cloudmonster 2's, New Balance Rebel v4's and adidas Adios Adizero Pro 4's, I've rounded up all of my go-to's below for you, for every gait type, distance, and occasion.

All of the running trainers below have been tested by me or the team over a 5km, 10km, half marathon or marathon distance and get my seal of approval. I've also enlisted the help of our Barre and Pilates-loving Junior Shopping Editor Valeza Bakolli, marathon runner and Ecommerce Analyst Sophie Cookson, Fashion Writer Sofia Piza and Senior Beauty Writer Lollie King. Keep reading for an honest review of which trainers are worth your investment - and which aren't.

No, we're not talking about the best gym trainers, but running trainers specifically designed with return, bounce, and boost in mind. Shop the best options from the likes of Nike, adidas, Under Armour, and more, but also a few more purse-friendly trainer alternatives, too. We've run in all of the shoes included, so they have our seal of approval as the top running trainers you can buy.

Not into running? Don't worry, we've also rounded up the best cross training shoes, best weightlifting shoes, and best sustainable trainers for you, too.

Why is investing in a pair of the best running shoes for women so important?

Yeah, surprisingly enough your old Converse aren't the best bet for your morning miles (that said, they're in our round-up of the best weightlifting shoes for a reason). Why? Well, wearing incorrect trainers can increase your risk of injury and encourage poor running form.

Think about it: if you wear super flat Converse for your 5km, your foot arch won't have adequate support, your joints won't have proper cushioning as your body hits the floor, and your hips, knees, Achilles, and tendons will likely have to work harder to over-compensate. End result? Likely injury, if you run regularly (aka three times a week or more).

Health Editor Ally Head testing some of the best running trainers for women

Health Editor Ally Head testing some of the trainers in this round up at the Paris Half

(Image credit: Ally Head)

Testing process: What we looked for in the best running shoes for women

  • Adequate cushioning: When you hit the floor during a run, you're putting as much as three times your body weight through your foot. Think about that for a second - it's a lot. We made sure all of the shoes in this round up have proper cushioning underfoot.
  • Appropriate weight: Again, this one's fairly common sense and worth thinking about pre-investing in running trainers. The lighter your shoe, the easier it'll be for you to move quickly in them, so there are plenty of light trainers in this edit. That being said, if you're a distance or marathon runner, making sure you've opted for a shoe with proper support for the mileage is key - options for that below, too.
  • Designed for the right terrain: In short, are you someone who's going to be running on pavements home from work or heading out to the countryside for steady miles come the weekend? If it's the former, invest in road shoes; the latter, trail shoes. Road shoes are more cushioned, to protect your body from the impact of the concrete, and trail shoes have more grip and support, for muddy trail routes.

Best running shoes for women: 21 to shop now

Best every day running shoe:

Best running shoe for beginners:

Best running shoes for wide feet:

Best running shoes for stability:

Best running trainer for energy return:

Best running shoes for short distances:

Best value running shoe:

Best lululemon running trainer

Best ON running trainer

Best Allbirds running trainer

Best VEJA running trainer

Best ASICS running trainer

Best marathon training running shoe

Best Nike running trainer

Best running trainers for speed work

Best fashion-forward trainers

Best Under Armour running trainer

Best cushioned running shoe

Best running shoe for easy runs

Why should you trust me?

Senior Health Editor Ally Head trying some of the best running shoes for women. Style pictured: the New Balance Rebel v4s.

(Image credit: Ally Head)

I'm a nine-time marathon runner and Senior Health Editor who's been working in the health industry for almost ten years. I started my career at Women's Health magazine and have been testing running trainers over all distances - from 5km to ultramarathons - ever since.

When it comes to shoes, I know how to distinguish a trainer worth your money and one that... isn't. I get to test the latest releases as part of my job, you see, and also learn first-hand from the brands how they're innovating in the shoe sphere. Sure, carbon plates might be great for race day, but they're not going to do you any favours if you do your training mileage in them...

Ally Head
Senior Health and Sustainability Editor

Ally Head is Marie Claire UK's Senior Health and Sustainability Editor, nine-time marathoner, and Boston Qualifying runner. Day-to-day, she heads up all strategy for her pillars, working across commissioning, features, and e-commerce, reporting on the latest health updates, writing the must-read wellness content, and rounding up the genuinely sustainable and squat-proof gym leggings worth *adding to basket*. She also spearheads the brand's annual Women in Sport covers, interviewing and shooting the likes of Mary Earps, Millie Bright, Daryll Neita, and Lavaia Nielsen. She's won a BSME for her sustainability work, regularly hosts panels and presents for events like the Sustainability Awards, and is a stickler for a strong stat, too, seeing over nine million total impressions on the January 2023 Wellness Issue she oversaw. Follow Ally on Instagram for more or get in touch.