The earliest signs of footwear bring us all the way back to 7,000BC – 8,000BC. Unlike the shoes you might be wearing right now, these shoes were made from animal hides and plant materials, such as vines.
Obviously, a lot has changed since then. We now have shoes with heels, shoes with metal for protection, shoes with carbon fiber to make you a better athlete, and so many more varieties to choose from. Fast forward to today, and the running shoe industry is worth hundreds of billions of dollars. For this list, I will be ranking the top 5 running shoe brands based on variety, performance, and my personal experience.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
H.M. ON CLOUD
On Cloud was founded in 2010. On shoes are good, and all except I feel like they haven’t developed enough yet. In the next 5 years or so, I could totally see On Cloud cracking the top 5. I haven’t worn any of their running shoes yet, but I have heard great things about them.
H.M. ASICS
Asics was founded in 1949 in Kobe, Japan. Asics have been a popular running shoe for a while now. However, I don’t feel like Asics is better than any shoe on this list, so they will not be making the top 5.
TOP 5
5. HOKA
Coming in at number five is a very popular running shoe that some might argue should be higher on this list: HOKA. Founded in the French Alps in 2009, the now American company has made a name for itself in the running market. With over a dozen different running shoes, HOKA’s are a great starter choice if you’re looking to get into running. With that being said, typically beginners wear HOKA’s, due to their very cushy and support-focused design. Personally, I’ve never worn HOKA’s just because I believe there are better shoes on the market, but that doesn’t mean they are not a great pick.
HOKA CLifton 10 from active feet.com
4. SAUCONY
A very different shoe style from HOKA is Saucony. It’s the oldest on this list, founded in 1898 and named after the Saucony Creek in Pennsylvania. However, Saucony wasn’t always a running shoe brand; that wasn’t until the 1970s, when 2 of their running shoes were awarded in a runner’s magazine. From then on, Saucony has been primarily a manufacturer of running shoes. Consequently, Saucony has over 70 different runnprovidingdessignificantly, giving it a much wider variety than HOKA. HOKA is focused on cushion and distance-focused runs, while Saucony wearers tend to do more speed-centered runs and workouts. For my sophomore and Junior seasons of track and cross country, I wore Sauconys. The shoes held up great and were a good mesh of speed, rebound, but also support for long runs. Specifically, I wore Saucony Axon 2s as an everyday running shoe. However, I have heard great things about the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2s and would love to try those someday for a run.
Saucony Axon 2 from Shoebacca.com
3. BROOKS
At number 3 is a very popular shoe, not only for running but also every everyday tennis shoes as well, Brooks. Brooks was founded in 1914 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Similar to Saucony, Brooks wasn’t really known for running shoes until the 70’s when they too had one of their shoes featured as the best running shoes. Since now that Brooks is now a running-based brand, they have over 150 different running shoes, giving them the most variety on this list so far. Brooks shoes are typically known to be good trainer shoes. Trainer shoes just mean that they are what runners wear every day. From my own experience with Brooks, I wore Brooks Revel 4s for my Freshman year of cross-country and my Sophomore year of track. The shoes were good, reliable, and decently cushioned. If you are looking to get into running steady mileage, then a Brooks running shoe is definitely suitable for you.
Brooks Glycerin GTS 22 from Fleetfeet.com
2. NIKE
Surprisingly, for some, I am putting Nike at number 2. Nike is a juggernaut in the shoe industry and definitely in the running shoe industry. Founded in 1964, Nike has over 80 different running shoes. Obviously, Nike has everyday trainers for beginners; however, Nike’s supershoes are what they really shine. The Nike Alpha Fly 3 is no joke; pro marathon and distance runners widely wear this shoe during races. Eliud Kipchoge, the only man to break 2 hours in the marathon, did it in Alpha Fly’s. Now the Alpha Fly’s are strictly road racing shoes, but on the track is another place where Nike separates themselves from the competition. Jakob Ingebritsen, arguably the G.O.A.T. of middle-distance races, broke the 2-mile World Record wearing Nike Dragonflies. Personally, I own a pair of Dragonflies for my Track and cross-country races. The dragonflies are almost a must if you are looking to run competitive races on a track. The reason Nike is number 2 is because of the durability, specifically in their road race shoes. The Nike Vaporfly and Streakfly are also good road race shoes; however, I have seen firsthand that these shoes literally fall apart due to high mileage. Note that all of Nike’s super shoes are well over $100, and personally, if I’m spending that much money, I would like the shoe to last a little longer than 200 miles. Overall, Nike is a great running shoe brand and is by far leading the charge on super shoes.
Nike Alpha Fly 3 from Noble Physiotherapy
1. NEW BALANCE
That’s right, the number one running shoe brand is New Balance, in my opinion. New Balance was founded in 1906 as a shoe brand that wanted to correct the balance in people’s shoes for their arches, hence the name New Balance. New Balance didn’t start making their first running shoes until the 60’s, and since then they’ve added over 150 pairs to their arsenal. New Balance has a wide variety of running footwear, from track spikes to cushy trainers for beginners. New Balance has it all. My personal favorite New Balance shoe is the FuelCell Rebel v5. I wore these shoes from the end of my junior track season to the end of my senior cross country season. I put on over 500 miles on them, and guess what, they’re still in great shape. These New Balance shoes have an unprecedented level of durability and swagger, of course. As long as New Balance keeps manufacturing Fuelcell Rebel v5 running shoes, I am not going to buy from a different brand. That is why New Balance is the best running shoe brand.
