Comparing Running Shoes for Women
Specs and Ratings Below | Compare to Other products
Awards | ![]() Best Overall | ![]() Best Balance of Comfort and Responsiveness | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $165.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $140.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $100 List $99.95 at Amazon | $180 List $179.95 at Amazon | $170 List $94.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Great underfoot cushion, well-tractioned, perfect for mellow mileage, ultra-stable | Versatile, balanced propulsion and comfort, perfect for more running occasions, well updated | Comfortable upper, low-profile ride, affordable, designed for heel strikers | Smooth comfort, solid responsiveness, stable | Versatile, great midfoot bounce, stable |
Cons | Heavy, lacks versatility | Still not the best traction, not lightweight | Simple design won't suit all runners, lacks energy return, only moderately stable | Heavy for a speed shoe, middling traction | On the expensive side, low-drop won't suit all runners, not as wide as other Altra shoes |
Bottom Line | A great recovery day shoe, this stable and cushion-stuffed shoe is a dream come true for mellow mileage | This shoe stands out across the board and is perfect for nearly all road running occasions | Grounded and streamlined, this road runner combines minimalism and reliability at an affordable price, ideal for runners seeking no-fuss daily use | We recommend this low-tech hybrid running shoe for smooth comfort, stability, and easy propulsion | Perhaps not a universally-beloved runner, this low-drop, natural-feeling shoe is great for uptempo runs that roll right into lifting sessions |
Rating Categories | Asics Gel-Kayano 31... | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Brooks Trace 3 - Wo... | Brooks Hyperion Max... | Altra Vanish Tempo... |
Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
Stability (15%) | |||||
Upper Comfort (15%) ![]() |
|||||
Weight (15%) | |||||
Traction (5%) | |||||
Specifications | Asics Gel-Kayano 31... | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Brooks Trace 3 - Wo... | Brooks Hyperion Max... | Altra Vanish Tempo... |
Sizes Available | 5 - 13 US, regular |
5 - 12 US regular, wide |
5 - 12 US, regular & wide | 5 - 12 US, regular |
5.5 - 12 US, regular |
Style | Daily Trainer | Daily trainer | Daily Trainer | Max-Cushion | Racing |
Measured Heel Stack Height | 38 mm | 40 mm | 33 mm | 35 mm | 35 mm |
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 13 mm | 9 mm | 11 mm | 8 mm | 7 mm |
Plate Type | None | None | None | Full length plastic | None |
Rocker Angle | 23.0 deg | 26.5 deg | 28.0 deg | 24.5 deg | 25.0 deg |
Rocker Apex Location | 72.7% | 61.9% | 59.4% | 65.0% | 65.0% |
Measured Weight | 8.43 oz | 7.30 oz | 7.18 oz | 7.17 oz | 7.26 oz |
Upper | Engineered mesh | Jacquard mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Engineered mesh |
Midsole | FF BLAST PLUS ECO | FF BLAST MAX | DNA Loft | DNA Flash v2 | Altra EGO PRO |
Outsole | Hybrid AsicsGrip | AHAR LO | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | Finger loop | Finger loop | Extended pull tab | None |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details