Find your fast feet on the roads with the newest super-cushioned, speed-run and racing trainers, as we take a look at the best running shoes for women in 2024.
Best running shoes for women
- Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 (£230; saucony.com)
- New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 (£260, newbalance.co.uk)
- Brooks Glycerin 21 (£165; brooksrunning.com)
- Altra Via Olympus 2 (£145; altrarunning.eu)
- UA Infinite Elite Performance Endurance Shoe (£145; underarmour.co.uk)
- On Cloudmonster 2 (£170; on.com)
Keep reading for our full reviews.
1. Saucony Endorphin Pro 4
£230; saucony.com
I’ve been a huge fan of these trainers since the second iteration, although I think they really took off from version three. It’s just a very fast trainer that will make you feel super sprightly on the starting line. At a barely-there 185g, you won’t believe how light these are – they’re like floating on air. The game-changer technology compared to previous versions of this popular racer is in the midsole, as its a fused blend of the very responsive PWRRUN HG and PWRRUN PB foam, set atop a full-length carbon plate for maximum energy return. There’s also a bouncy SRS (super responsive sockliner) foam in the sockliner. The mesh upper is very sleek and modern, and I love the gusseted tongue with its nifty top flap that folds over your laces to keep everything neatly tucked away. You can also expect Saucony’s popular Speedroll technology, which propels you forward. They felt SO bouncy from the off, but the real noticeable difference for me came at the end of a speed session when my legs were starting to tire and yet I could still maintain some zip. They pair really well with the Endorphin Speed 4 (£180) – which you can even get in the same colour!
2. New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4
£260; newbalance.co.uk
Reportedly very fast, I was excited to give these super shoes a whirl. One thing to note is that they are an investment buy, but for that spend you get a very lightweight 188g of racing shoe, with a thinner, full-length Energy Arc carbon plate and bouncy FuelCell midsole, for optimum energy return, plus a swanky new mesh upper. They’re true to size, and you’ll notice just how much spring in your step they provide. It is worth wearing them around the house before your run, and perhaps consider re-lacing them to your specification to ensure there’s no slippage in the heel counter (I had a bit of rubbing on my left foot after five miles).
But what I will say is you’ll notice that these provide supreme bounce when you start to tire, whether that’s in the latter part of a 1K effort or in the final stages of a race.
3. Brooks Glycerin 21
£165; brooksrunning.com
As a long-term fan of the Brooks Ghost (it’s such a reliable shoe), I was keen to try the latest iteration of their ever-popular Glycerin model; the main differences being that it’s plusher than the Ghost and slightly heavier (266.5g verses 258g). With a larger stack height and more nitrogen-injected DNA LOFT padding in the midsole than its predecessor, this is your all-out comfort trainer – perfect for those long and steady runs. It has a new warp-knit material on the upper, which snugs the foot nicely and boasts a little bit of flex, and you’ll find that the toe box is roomy enough for a comfy push-off.
I took these for a run out-of-the-box and didn’t experience any rubbing whatsoever. They’re not the trainer I’d race or do speedwork in, but you can’t go wrong with this reliable and comfortable option for everyday runs or if you’re new to running and are looking for the best running shoes for women. Also available in GTS (support) and StealthFit (tighter-fitting) options.
4. Altra Via Olympus 2
£145; altrarunning.eu
Altra shoes have come to me a bit later in my running years, and I really love the brand’s Mont Blanc Boa trail trainers (£185) because they suit my wider-than-average feet. The first thing you’ll notice about the Via Olympus 2 is the foot-shaped toe box, which is wider and gives a somewhat barefoot feel because your toes can splay out nicely with every push-off. At 272g, these are one of the heavier pairs on test, but they’re also one of the most affordable. The trainers come with the brand’s signature zero drop, plus a reasonable (33mm) stack height, while Altra’s EGO MAX midsole foam makes stepping into these shoes akin to stepping on a bed of dough – they really soft and comfy.
I was surprised to find the toe box a bit too wide and airy when running, so do consider your foot shape before buying. An all-round great trainer for those wanting a more natural running feel or who have wide feet.
5. UA Infinite Elite Performance Endurance Shoe
£145; underarmour.co.uk
I’m going to level with you: when I first tried a pair of Under Armour running trainers – many moons ago when I was a fitness writer – it wasn’t love at first sight. I can remember now that they felt a bit too firm and with less flex than I was used to. So, it blows me away how far the brand has come with their running trainer offering – they’re such a strong contender for your running shoe collection. We’ve already fallen for the speedy UA Flow Velociti Elite trainers (£225), and these are just as impressive. They’re not a racer, so you won’t find an energy-boosting carbon plate, but what they have in spades is cushioning – supreme springy, comfortable UA HOVR+ cushioning. They didn’t rub, but they did give good rebound energy. I absolutely adore these for long Sunday ‘run day’ training sessions.
6. On Cloudmonster 2
£170; on.com
The latest iteration of On’s cushioned running trainer looks really sleek, with its dual-density superfoam construction and bigger-than-ever CloudTec (the brand’s recognisable cushioning that’s made to compress horizontally and vertically). It also has a Nylon Speedboard plate in the midsole for greater energy return when rolling from midfoot to forefoot. Weighing in at 230g, it’s not as light as the racer shoes we’ve tried, but is still very lightweight for an everyday runner. These trainers are true-to-size, with good room for your toes to spread on push-off. I also liked the gusseted tongue and lacing system – it was really easy to get a good fit – although I would have liked a tad more ‘bounce back’ with each footfall. But I’m being picky; I think On fans will love these.
