Running shoe guides

Each guide explains what actually matters for one particular need, then shows the shoes our shoe finder picks for it. Same database, same scoring, no hand picked favourites. If you are down to a straight choice between two shoes, the comparisons take them apart side by side.

• Best running shoes for wide feetRunning shoes that come in a genuine 2E or 4E fitting, or have a naturally roomy toe box, picked from a database of current UK models.
• Best running shoes for overpronationStability and support running shoes for runners whose ankles roll inwards, ranked by the same engine behind the Shoe Finder quiz.
• Best running shoes for heavier runnersRunning shoes with foam and outsoles that hold up under a heavier runner, rather than packing out after a few hundred miles.
• Best running shoes for beginnersSensible, forgiving first running shoes, with the specifications that matter explained in plain English and nothing you do not need.
• Running shoes for achilles and calf painWhy heel to toe drop matters if your achilles or calves keep flaring up, and which current shoes have the higher drop that takes load off them.
• Running shoes for knee painLower drop, well cushioned running shoes that shift load away from the front of the knee, and an honest explanation of what a shoe can and cannot do.
• Most cushioned running shoesThe softest, thickest stacked running shoes available in the UK right now, and who actually benefits from that much foam underfoot.
• Best trail running shoesTrail shoes chosen for British conditions, which mostly means mud, wet rock and churned up bridleways rather than dry mountain trail.
• Best carbon plate running shoesCarbon plated race shoes available in the UK, what the plate actually does, and whether it is worth the money at your pace.
• Best running shoes under £140Genuinely good running shoes at sensible money, because the most expensive shoe is very rarely the one most people should buy.
• Best running shoes for flat feetSupportive running shoes for low arches and flat feet, and an honest explanation of why a flat foot is not automatically a problem that needs fixing.
• Best running shoes for the treadmillWhich running shoes suit treadmill running, why outsole grip and durability matter less indoors, and what actually makes a difference on a belt.
• Best running shoes for marathon trainingShoes for marathon training and race day, why most of your miles want a different shoe from the race itself, and how many pairs you actually need.
• Best running shoes for parkrun and 5kLight, quick running shoes for parkrun and 5k, including whether a faster shoe is worth it and what to do about grass and mud in winter.
• Best running shoes for winter and wet weatherRunning shoes for British winters, covering grip on wet pavements and mud, whether waterproof shoes are worth it, and what actually keeps feet warm.
• Best low drop and zero drop running shoesLow and zero drop running shoes available in the UK, what heel to toe drop actually changes, and how to move to a lower drop without hurting yourself.
• Lightest running shoesThe lightest running shoes in our database by measured weight, what you give up to get there, and when light actually makes a difference.
• Best running shoes for walking and being on your feetRunning shoes that work well for walking, long days on your feet and the gym, and why a running shoe often beats a dedicated walking shoe.
• Most durable running shoes for high mileageRunning shoes built to survive high mileage, what actually wears out first, and how to tell when a shoe is finished rather than just dirty.
• How to choose running shoesWhat actually matters when buying running shoes, which specifications are worth reading, and which shop advice you can safely ignore.