10 Best Shoes for New Runners in 2025 (100+ Shoes Tested)

01/04/25 • 32 min

If you're starting a running habit this year, you're in the right place. On this channel, we put in the work daily, testing 113 new running shoes over the past year. Here are the 10 best of those shoes for new runners in 2025.

Sign up for the Supwell app for a chance to win a free daily trainer: https://supwell.circle.so/checkout/marketplace-and-forum-ld3nz (along with DAILY motivation, the most supportive hobby jogger community, best buy, sell and trade shoe marketplace and exclusive Hobby Jogger gear discounts)

Hobby jogger winter gear is here https://hobbyjogger.com/

If you're going to buy any new shoes, use my Running Warehouse link to support the channel:

Best Deal (Asics Gel-Nimbus 26. I said in the video it was on sale for $107. It's actually $109. Sign up for the Supwell app either way to get the 10% off code) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=neo+zen&searchtext=nimbus+26&from=supwell

Best Soft Daily Trainer (New Balance 1080v14) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=1080v14&searchtext=1080v14&from=supwell

Best Overall - More Fun (Asics Novablast 5) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=1080v14&searchtext=novablast+5&from=supwell

Best Overall - More Versatile (New Balance 860v14) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=novablast%205&searchtext=860v14&from=supwell

Best for Bigger Runners (Brooks Ghost Max 2) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=860v14&searchtext=ghost+max+2&from=supwell

Best Nike - Comfort (Nike Vomero 17, $112 deal at Nike.com) https://www.nike.com/t/vomero-17-mens-road-running-shoes-4x7CMp/FB1309-101

Best Nike - Speed (Nike Pegasus Plus) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=pegasus%20plus&from=supwell

Best for Gym & Running (Brooks Hyperion 2) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=hyperion+2&from=supwell

Best for Marathon Training (Hoka Mach X2) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=hyperion+2&searchtext=mach+x+2&from=supwell

Best Running Socks - Overall (Feetures Elite Max Cushion) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/Feetures_Elite_Max_Cushion_No_Show_Tab_Socks/descpage-FEMCNS2.html?from=supwell

Best Running Socks - Comfort (OS1st Wicked Comfort) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/OS1st_Wicked_Comfort_No_Show_Socks/descpage-OSWCNS.html?from=supwell

Best Running Socks - Lightweight (Balega Hidden Comfort) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=sl2&searchtext=balega+hidden+comfort&from=supwell

Best for Marathon Training - Wide Feet/Bigger Runners (Brooks Hyperion Max 2) https://www.runningware...

Hobby jogger winter gear is here https://hobbyjogger.com/

If you're going to buy any new shoes, use my Running Warehouse link to support the channel:

Best Soft Daily Trainer (New Balance 1080v14) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=1080v14&searchtext=1080v14&from=supwell

Best Overall - More Fun (Asics Novablast 5) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=1080v14&searchtext=novablast+5&from=supwell

Best Overall - More Versatile (New Balance 860v14) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=novablast%205&searchtext=860v14&from=supwell

Best for Bigger Runners (Brooks Ghost Max 2) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=860v14&searchtext=ghost+max+2&from=supwell

Best Nike - Comfort (Nike Vomero 17, $112 deal at Nike.com) https://www.nike.com/t/vomero-17-mens-road-running-shoes-4x7CMp/FB1309-101

Best Nike - Speed (Nike Pegasus Plus) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=pegasus%20plus&from=supwell

Best for Gym & Running (Brooks Hyperion 2) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=hyperion+2&from=supwell

Best for Marathon Training (Hoka Mach X2) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=hyperion+2&searchtext=mach+x+2&from=supwell

Best Running Socks - Overall (Feetures Elite Max Cushion) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/Feetures_Elite_Max_Cushion_No_Show_Tab_Socks/descpage-FEMCNS2.html?from=supwell

Best Running Socks - Comfort (OS1st Wicked Comfort) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/OS1st_Wicked_Comfort_No_Show_Socks/descpage-OSWCNS.html?from=supwell

Best Running Socks - Lightweight (Balega Hidden Comfort) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=sl2&searchtext=balega+hidden+comfort&from=supwell

Best for Marathon Training - Wide Feet/Bigger Runners (Brooks Hyperion Max 2) https://www.runningware...

Previous Episode

Mizuno Neo Zen vs Asics Novablast 5 (20 Mile Day Test)

The Asics Novablast 5 and Mizuno Neo Zen are two of the best training shoes to hit the market recently. Priced at $140, they go head-to-head in the fun daily trainer segment. In this episode, I compare the two and let you know which is more fun, which is more reliable and which is the better buy for most people.

Hobby jogger winter gear is here https://hobbyjogger.com/

If you're going to buy any new shoes, use my Running Warehouse link to support the channel:

Asics Novablast 5 https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=novablast+5&from=supwell

Mizuno Neo Zen https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?start=0&count=30&prevsearch=novablast%205&searchtext=neo%20zen&from=supwell

0:00 Intro

2:53 Overview

8:47 Weigh In

10:36 Stack Check

15:58 Fit & Feel

21:28 Running in the Mizuno Neo Zen

25:18 Mile 1 - Struggle Bus

30:33 Mile 2 - Warming Up

35:52 Mile 5 - Warmed Up

39:18 Last Mile

41:03 Post-Run Thoughts

45:30 Refuel

49:34 Second Run

51:49 Comparison After 20 Mile Day

Thank you for the support! Here are five ways you can support the channel:

1. Join my app to take your training to the next level. Buy/sell/trade running shoes and swap training and shoe advice with fellow hobby joggers: https://supwell.circle.so/checkout/marketplace-and-forum-ld3nz

2. Buy your new shoes, running gear and fuel through my Running Warehouse link. I also have a discount code on the app above that gets you 20% off apparel and 10% off fuel and discount https://www.runningwarehouse.com?from=supwell

3. Get matched with the best running shoe for you at https://runningshoematcher.com (I built the running shoe database and matching logic. It's pretty cool and actually works)

4. Buy a hobby jogger hat and other cool Supwell Certified drip at https://hobbyjogger.com

5. Follow the Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supwellrunning/

Today's TrueStack measurements:

Novablast 5 - 35.6mm

Neo Zen - 42.7mm

Superblast 2 - 43.8 mm

Next Episode

Here's How to Run HIGH MILEAGE Without Getting Injured - 3 Rules

One of the most common questions I get asked is how I run high mileage without getting injured. In this episode, I break down the 3 rules I follow to run high mileage and stay healthy. These are the principles I used to build to 100 miles per week.

Hobby jogger winter gear is here https://hobbyjogger.com/

If you're going to buy any new shoes, use my Running Warehouse link to support the channel:

https://www.runningwarehouse.com?from=supwell

0:00 Intro

2:58 What Is High Mileage?

7:00 Rule of 6

9:50 THERE IS NO WAY TO AVOID INJURY

12:28 Rule of Zero

22:58 3/1 Rule

26:30 What About the 10% Rule?

27:40 Other Things to Consider

Here's my list of best running shoes for beginners in 2025: