Best running shoes for beginners
The first pair is the one people most often get wrong, usually by buying either the cheapest shoe in a sports shop or the one an elite runner won a marathon in. Neither is what you want. A first running shoe should be cushioned enough to be forgiving, stable enough that you do not have to think about it, and durable enough to survive you working out what you are doing.
You do not need a carbon plate. You do not need a zero drop shoe. You do not need to spend £250. What you need is a daily trainer, which is the boring middle of the range where most of the good shoes live, at somewhere between £100 and £150.
Two things genuinely matter more than the model. The first is fit, so leave a thumb width at the end and do not buy something that pinches on the assumption it will give. The second is that you buy for the running you are actually doing, which for most beginners is short, slow and on pavement.
The shortlist
These are the shoes the Shoe Finder quiz returns when you answer it as someone in this situation. Same database, same scoring, nothing added by hand. Answer it yourself and you will get a list shaped around your own feet, weight and budget rather than an average.
Puma Velocity Nitro 5
£110 · Everyday trainer · 244g · 8mm drop · 33mm stack
Brilliant value all rounder that does easy runs and faster days without fuss.
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A sensible place to start if this is your first proper pair
- Forgiving enough for someone new to running
- Well inside your budget at £110
Saucony Ride 18
£129.99 · Everyday trainer · 259g · 8mm drop · wide fitting
Last year's model, usually heavily discounted.
The outgoing Ride. A sensible, unfussy daily trainer at a much better price.
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A sensible place to start if this is your first proper pair
- Forgiving enough for someone new to running
Brooks Ghost 18
£135 · Everyday trainer · 289g · 12mm drop · 36mm stack · 4E available
The safe, do everything trainer. If you are unsure what to buy, start here.
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A sensible place to start if this is your first proper pair
- Forgiving enough for someone new to running
New Balance Fresh Foam 680v9
£79.99 · Everyday trainer · 276g · 8mm drop
A plain, comfortable first running shoe at a sensible price.
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A sensible place to start if this is your first proper pair
- Forgiving enough for someone new to running
- Well inside your budget at £80
Asics Gel-Excite 11
£79.99 · Everyday trainer · 290g · 8mm drop · wide fitting
Asics at their cheapest. Fine for shorter runs and the gym, not for building big weeks.
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A sensible place to start if this is your first proper pair
- Forgiving enough for someone new to running
- Well inside your budget at £80
Nike Pegasus 42
£129.99 · Everyday trainer · 286g · 10mm drop · 37mm stack · wide fitting
The safe all rounder. Handles daily runs, treadmill sessions and the odd parkrun without fuss.
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A sensible place to start if this is your first proper pair
- Forgiving enough for someone new to running
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15
£140 · Everyday trainer · 304g · 6mm drop · 40mm stack · 4E available
A sturdy, no drama trainer that lasts. Widths up to 4E if you need room.
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A sensible place to start if this is your first proper pair
- Forgiving enough for someone new to running
Mizuno Wave Rider 30
£140 · Everyday trainer · 265g · 8mm drop · 42mm stack · wide fitting
Dependable everyday trainer that lasts well and rarely gives anyone trouble.
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A sensible place to start if this is your first proper pair
- Forgiving enough for someone new to running
How this list was put together
Every shoe in our database is scored against a set of rules, and this page shows the top eight for this particular need. The rules are written down in full on the how it works page, including which ones rule a shoe out completely. Nothing on this page is ordered by commission, and the prices are RRP, so shop around because they are very often discounted.
This is a starting point rather than a fitting. Where you can, try shoes on, and if you are running through pain see a physio rather than buying your way out of it.
Common questions
How much should I spend on my first running shoes?
Between £100 and £150 buys a genuinely good daily trainer from any of the major brands. Below about £80 you start losing midsole quality and durability. Above £180 you are mostly paying for racing technology that will not help you yet.
Do I need to get my gait analysed?
It is free at most running shops and it will not do any harm. Treat the result as one input rather than a diagnosis. Comfort is the single best predictor of whether you will get on with a shoe.
Can I use running shoes for the gym?
For treadmill running, yes. For lifting, not ideally, because a soft cushioned sole is unstable under load. For general classes they are fine.
Get a list for your feet, not an average one
The shortlist above assumes a fairly typical runner. The shoe finder asks about your width, how your ankles roll, your weight, where you run, your budget and any recurring niggles, then gives you three shoes and tells you why each one made it. It takes about a minute and there is no email or sign up.