Essentials Shopping

The best running shoes for men to unleash your potential in 2024

By Tom Horton, Rachael Green, Carolin Lehmann

Edited By Leslie Gornstein

Updated on: August 28, 2024 / 3:16 PM EDT / Essentials

CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

Man kneeling down to tie a black running shoe — Closeup shot of a man tying his shoelaces while exercising outdoors Getty Images/iStockphoto

While human feet are all roughly the same, there are some subtle differences that make your feet unique. In general, men's feet tend to have lower arches and be wider at the heel and midfoot. To accommodate that, men's running shoes tend to have wider heel cups, wider toe boxes and a little less support under the arches. Meanwhile, women's running shoes tend to be the opposite, offering narrower heel cups and toe boxes and a little more arch support to accommodate higher arches.

For men whose feet are pretty close to that norm, choosing the right running shoe will be a breeze. But for men who might have higher arches, narrower heels or otherwise stray from the norm, running shoe shopping can get complicated. Luckily, with so many options on the market, the best running shoe for you is out there. It's just a matter of getting to know exactly what you need.

That's where this guide comes in. We put together a list of the absolute best running shoes for men available to buy today. Find top-quality, well-reviewed shoes from brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and more below.

Best men's running shoes to transform your run

Variety is the spice of life, or so they say, and we say that applies to your footwear as well. From comfortable running shoes that pad your run to super shoes that will help you set a new PB, we put together the following list of quality running shoes depending on your needs.

Best men's running shoes: Hoka Clifton 9, $145
Best running shoes for men with flat feet: Asics Gel-Kayano 31, $165
Best running shoes for men with high arches: New Balance Fresh Foam X More v5, $155
Best running shoes for men with narrow feet: Puma Deviate Nitro 3, $160
Best running shoes for men with wide feet: Brooks Ghost 16, $140
Best running shoes for heavier men: New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6, $165
Best men's trail running shoes: Nike Pegasus Trail 5, $91 (reduced from $150)
Best men's running shoes for marathons: Nike Alphafly 3, $285

Before you hit the ground running, take a look through our picks for the best men's running shoes. You may just find the perfect sneaker to unleash your full potential.

Best men's running shoes: Hoka Clifton 9

The Hoka Clifton 9 is one of the brand's most popular models to date. It's a cushy daily trainer with a room toe box and wide heel balanced by a narrower fit around the arch--an almost ideal shape for most men's feet. For men who need a reliable running shoe for logging the bulk of your miles in a week, this is the luxuriously cushy ride you'll enjoy spending that much time in.

$$145 at Hoka

Best running shoes for men with flat feet: Asics Gel-Kayano 31

Flat feet need extra structure to prevent the foot from rolling too far inward and thick cushioning to minimize the impact of each foot strike on your joints. That's exactly what the Asics Gel-Kayano 31 delivers. It has a 4D guidance system that gently cradles your foot so it doesn't roll too far in either direction along with a tall (40 mm) stack of cushy foam infused with gel for maximum shock absorption.

$$165 at Asics

Best running shoes for men with high arches: New Balance Fresh Foam X More v5

If you have high arches, the big risk while running is putting excess strain on your feet and joints because the shock isn't being distributed over a wide enough area. So the most important feature in a running shoe for you is cushioning.

The foam in the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v5 is one of the softest the brand makes. To add to that plush feel, this shoe has a wider base that adds stability and helps compensate a bit for your high arches by creating a wider area on the shoe itself that impact shock can spread through.

$$155 at New Balance

Best running shoes for men with narrow feet: Puma Deviate Nitro 3

Puma running shoes have a reputation for running narrow, so they're a great pick for men who feel like their feet slide around too much in most running shoes. The Puma Deviate Nitro 3 uses an engineered knit upper that has a little more structure to it so you'll get a snug fit. Meanwhile, the nitrogen-infused foam is soft, bouncy and durable. The race version of this shoe, the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3, was one of the stars of the Olympic marathon trials this year.

$$160 at Puma

Best running shoes for men with wide feet: Brooks Ghost 16

The Brooks Ghost 16 is a popular shoe for a lot of runners. It's cushy, lightweight and provides a good amount of support while still being suitable for neutral feet. But we especially recommend it for wide feet because it's available in both wide and extra wide sizing. If your foot is just a touch above regular, the regular sizes of the Brooks Ghost 16 also tend to run a little wider than some other brands.

$$160 at Brooks

Best running shoes for heavier men: New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6

For larger men, running shoes should have a wider base, a bit more stability and a more durable foam that won't compress as easily as some of the airier, bouncier foams you find in some running shoes. That's why we recommend the New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6.

Fresh Foam X is one of the plusher foams that New Balance makes. It's an EVA blend molded into one solid piece that's optimized to provide extra cushioning at key pressure points. While some say it feels a little heavier than, say, New Balance's Fuel Cell or Propel foams, it's that heavier duty construction that makes it such a great pick for heavier runners. It won't collapse as easily as one of the lighter, airier foams.

That soft yet durable foam is paired with New Balance's Stability Plane technology, a thin but rigid plate underneath the midsole that provides a stable base for you to land on with each step. Overall, it's a stability shoe without feeling as stiff as traditional stability shoe. So you get the durability and plushness you need without over-correcting your gait.

$$165 at New Balance

Best men's trail running shoes: Nike Pegasus Trail 5

The Nike Pegasus Trail 5 is a durable and versatile trail running shoes that's designed to handle all kinds of terrain. The durable outsole has enough grip for gravel or dirt trails without being too sticky when you hit a stretch of paved road. Using the same ReactX foam as the popular Nike Pegasus 41, this trail running shoe offers a great balance of responsiveness and support.

Get a pair while they're on sale for $91 (reduced from $150).

$$91 at Nike

Best men's running shoes for marathons: Nike Alphafly 3

The Nike Alphafly line of super shoes is the reigning king of marathons. It was the shoe Eliuid Kipchoge wore when he set a new world record for fastest marathon time in 2018. It was also the shoe that Kelvin Kiptum wore when he beat Kipchoge's record in 2023. Featuring a thin, stretchy upper and a carbon plate sandwiched between the bounciest foam you've ever run in, this racing shoe is fast and fun to run in.

$$285 at Nike

Tips for buying running shoes for men

While there isn't a major difference between the feet of men and women, there are some subtle differences in the average width and shape that has impacted how many brands design running shoes. So even when you're looking at the exact same model from the exact same brand, the men's version might have a slightly different fit than the women's version.

The most noticeable and most common difference is that the standard width is frequently a D in men's sizes and a B in women's sizes. Shoe width ranges from 4A at the narrowest up to 6E at the widest. On that scale, B is one step below D, making it slightly narrower even though both men's and women's sizes might listed as "regular" or "standard" on the product page. This isn't a universal rule, but it's common enough that if a shoe isn't offered in different widths, you can probably assume those are the widths you're working with.

For men with narrower feet, then, one way to use this to your advantage is to get the shoe you want in women's sizing. Subtract 1.5 from your shoe size to find your equivalent size in women's shoes. You'll end up with something that fits the same length-wise, but offers a slightly narrower width. This is especially handy when the model you like doesn't come in different widths.

The second big difference is in the shape of the shoe. Again, every brand has its own approach, but many use gender-specific lasts -- the mold used to create the shape of the shoe -- when creating the men's and women's sizes of a running shoe. There are a couple of key differences in the shape of that last that can impact the fit. Typically, men's lasts are wider in the heel and have a little less support in the midfoot because men's heels tend to be wider and their arches tend to be lower.

Again, runners can use these minor differences to dial in a better fit. For example, men with higher arches can get their preferred running shoe in women's sizes to get that slight boost in arch support.

How we picked the best men's running shoes

Customer reviews: We read through verified reviews from customers just like you to see what all the hubbub was about for some of the best men's running shoes (and to make sure the hubbub was legit).
Expert recommendations: We checked in with a number of professional sources to learn about the best men's running shoes. This includes certified personal trainer and Your Future Fitness director Andrew Blakey; podiatrist at the Ankle and Foot Centers of America Dr. Gregory Alvarez; and orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine Dr. Marc Matarazzo.
Star rating: Nothing under four stars here. We prioritized only the most well-loved shoes when picking out athletic footwear.
Your needs: We picked running shoes that catered to different needs, from comfort to style, to make sure there was something for everyone.

Tom Horton

Tom Horton is a resident health expert for CBS Essentials, with deep experience in topics ranging from chronic conditions to health-care devices to diet options. He lives in upstate New York, and draws his power from local bookstores, long hikes on a sunny day, and his cat Sammy.