Cross-trainers have their place, but some of the best gym shoes are suited for specific types of movement, just like our favorite workout clothes. Serious distance runners know that they need running shoes with soles that provide good lift-off and bounce, providing high energy return and propelling them forward with each stride. Meanwhile, weightlifters will want the opposite, with a shoe that keeps them securely in place.
Style is another limiting factor that will guide your decision, but fortunately, gym shoes usually come in multiple colorways, so you can find something you won’t be embarrassed to wear outside.
With so many options released each year, we tapped top trainers with different sweat styles for their go-to picks, below. And to round out our picks, we mined the annual GQ Fitness Awards for the newest technical men’s footwear hand-picked by our editors.
The Best Running Shoes for the Treadmill: On Running Cloudswift 3
For those who clock their miles on the treadmill rather than the pavement, personal trainer Dan Castillo, the head of brand strategy at Sole Treadmills, recommends On’s Cloudswift running shoes. Those specific shoes have since been replaced by the Cloudswift 3 runners, which carry over a lot of the same traits that Castillo appreciated about the OGs, like a flexible sole and bottom. “This sneaker is extremely lightweight, which is what I look for in a traditional running pick,” he says. He notes that it’s not the type of shoe that he’d recommend for heavy lifting, but adds that they’re “amazing for everything from sprints to longer runs, as well as moving around the city.”
The Best Daily Trainer: Hoka Clifton 9
Running coach Matthew Luke Meyer is a fan of Hoka’s Clifton line, which is currently on its ninth iteration. His original pick, the Clifton 6, is no longer in production, but the latest Clifton 9 is lighter and even more cushioned than ever before. “This has been my go-to daily trainer for the last two years. I’m on my twelfth pair, and I don’t plan on switching any time soon,” Meyer says. “It’s great because it’s the trifecta of light, supportive, and comfortable.”
The Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet: Saucony Guide 16
Hornig describes the Saucony Guide 13s as the “supportive but not corrective” shoes he needed to help support his flat feet. “The Sauconys alleviated my knee pain and enabled me to run longer and more consistently,” he adds. Recently, the Guide 13s have been upgraded in the form of the Guide 16 running shoes. They boast a frame which offers a more natural gait cycle, encouraging a smoother run overall.
The Best Shoes for Marathon Runners: Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
The Adizero Adios Pro 3, as in say “Adios” to the competition, nabbed a GQ Fitness Award last year for its streamlined features, from ultralight cushioning and a high-traction rubber sole to a textile lining that offers a comfortable fit for athletes. Like Nike’s Vaporfly technology, the carbon-infused rods running underneath the foot provide stiffness while also minimizing energy loss. To get less technical, they’re lightweight shoes made for long-distance runners who need to conserve as much energy as possible with every stride.
The Best Trail Running Shoes: Nike Ultrafly
We recently singled out Nike’s Ultrafly trail runners in last year’s GQ Fitness Awards, where we praised them as the carbon-plated Nike racing shoe that’s finally been adapted for the trail. Nike’s Vaporfly technology—so good that it was initially banned by the World Athletics governing body—gives runners competitive energy return with each step. On top of that, trail runners will find a Vibram outsole and impressive traction for stability on wet, slick, and uneven surfaces.
The Best-Looking Trail Running Shoes: Norda 001
Back in 2022, we GQ Fitness Awards to find these attractive trail runners from Norda, a little-known Canadian brand. You may not know this name yet, but the innovative footwear brand came sprinting off the blocks with the 001 Shoes. To create these unique workout shoes, Norda used a super lightweight technical fabric called Dyneema, which you’ll also find in racing yacht sails. As we head into 2024, the shoe’s ultra-thin upper is still unlike anything we’ve tried before. As we noted at the time, the end result is an “incredibly cool looking shoe that just feels right when you’re moving as fast as you can over broken terrain.”
The Best Shoes for Spinning: Fizik Tempo Powerstrap
The co-founder of Pedal House, Joseph Foley, knows a thing or two about cycling shoes and these Tempo Powerstrap shoes are his top choice for their look, value, and performance. “I personally tested them out for a year teaching four to five classes a day,” he says. “They last, and I still have them.”
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