Reviews You Can Rely On
We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Comparing Running Shoes for Women

Specs and Ratings Below | Compare to Other products
 
Awards Top Pick Award
Best Stability-Focused Shoe
  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall
Top Pick Award
Best Balance of Comfort and Responsiveness
Price $140.00 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers		$165.00 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$170 List
$94.99 at Amazon		$140.00 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$180 List
$179.95 at Amazon
Overall Score
72
70
73
77
74
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Pros Great stability, reliable comfort, comfortably reworked midsoleGreat underfoot cushion, well-tractioned, perfect for mellow mileage, ultra-stableVersatile, great midfoot bounce, stableVersatile, balanced propulsion and comfort, perfect for more running occasions, well updatedSmooth comfort, solid responsiveness, stable
Cons Heavy, steep differential, lacks energy returnHeavy, lacks versatilityOn the expensive side, low-drop won't suit all runners, not as wide as other Altra shoesStill not the best traction, not lightweightHeavy for a speed shoe, middling traction
Bottom Line For reliable stability and unending comfort, this is the shoe is one of the bestA great recovery day shoe, this stable and cushion-stuffed shoe is a dream come true for mellow mileagePerhaps not a universally-beloved runner, this low-drop, natural-feeling shoe is great for uptempo runs that roll right into lifting sessionsThis shoe stands out across the board and is perfect for nearly all road running occasionsWe recommend this low-tech hybrid running shoe for smooth comfort, stability, and easy propulsion
Rating Categories Brooks Adrenaline G... Asics Gel-Kayano 31... Altra Vanish Tempo... Asics Novablast 5 -... Brooks Hyperion Max...
Landing Comfort (30%)
7.5
9.0
7.5
9.0
7.5
Responsiveness (20%)
6.5
4.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
Stability (15%) Sort Icon
9.5
9.0
8.5
8.0
8.0
Upper Comfort (15%)
7.5
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Weight (15%)
4.0
3.3
5.6
5.6
5.8
Traction (5%)
9.0
9.5
7.0
6.5
5.0
Specifications Brooks Adrenaline G... Asics Gel-Kayano 31... Altra Vanish Tempo... Asics Novablast 5 -... Brooks Hyperion Max...
Sizes Available 5 - 13, US, narrow, regular, wide, & extra-wide 5 - 13 US,
regular		 5.5 - 12 US,
regular		 5 - 12 US
regular, wide		 5 - 12 US,
regular
Style Stability Daily Trainer Racing Daily trainer Max-Cushion
Measured Heel Stack Height 38 mm 38 mm 35 mm 40 mm 35 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 14 mm 13 mm 7 mm 9 mm 8 mm
Plate Type None None None None Full length plastic
Rocker Angle 26.5 deg 23.0 deg 25.0 deg 26.5 deg 24.5 deg
Rocker Apex Location 69.2% 72.7% 65.0% 61.9% 65.0%
Measured Weight 8.05 oz 8.43 oz 7.26 oz 7.30 oz 7.17 oz
Upper Engineered mesh Engineered mesh Engineered mesh Jacquard mesh Mesh
Midsole DNA Loft v3 FF BLAST PLUS ECO Altra EGO PRO FF BLAST MAX DNA Flash v2
Outsole Rubber Hybrid AsicsGrip Rubber AHAR LO Rubber
Heel Tab Type None Finger loop None Finger loop Extended pull tab