8 Running Shoes To Get You Started On That Marathon (Or Out Of The House)

These sneaks are perfect for newbies who are on a walk/run combo or “couch to 5K” program. They are also great if you plan to cross train with other workouts. With almost 8,000 positive 4.5 star reviews on Amazon, they are easily a crowd-favorite for comfort and cute design. So why are they a best-seller? The comfy, float-on-a-cloud like feel is certainly one reason. One reviewer says, “Best shoe for wide flat feet…I have flat wide feet! I wore these shoes all day yesterday and my arch, ankles, nor feet were hurting or tired! My ankle tends to roll out of joint due to having no arch! I had full support and they feel like I’m walking on clouds all day!! Did I mention you don’t have to break these in? They are comfortable from the time you put them on! Not to mention I have wide feet (width size D) they weren’t tight at all!!! Thank you for creating a shoe for people like me in mind!”

Arches need some extra love? These popular shoes from Brooks are ideal if you have medium to high arches and they still offer wide sizes. There’s plenty of cushioning for carrying you through all the miles. You’ll enjoy the soft landing thanks to the extra padding on the cushy inserts, too. These would be ideal for runners who train for multiple distances like a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or full marathon. (And more power to you if you are training for a longer distance!) Now, if you pronate, you might need additional inserts, but if you are a pretty neutral runner, you’ll appreciate this shoe as is. Tons of reviewers on Amazon and Zappos rave about them. One loyal Brooks fan wrote, “I’ve had these shoes for a few months and absolutely love them. I have flat, wide feet so trying to find a good shoe is really hard. These shoes have great arch support and are just very comfortable. Oh, and they’re cute too! I’m not going to lie, I’ve always been one where I just slide my foot into the shoe without untying the shoe first. I can’t do that with these shoes. I like that it’s forced me to untie them.”

Asics are a pretty solid choice if you’ve got any foot issues and need some extra stability. For example, you run neutral or over-pronated (your foot rolls inward after landing) or you have low or flat arches. These shoes will help correct that imbalance so you can avoid injuries like Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, or heel spurs (ouch). They also will hold up through all the miles you run, so they are a good fit for longer distances. Power on! One other nice feature is that Asics designs their women’s shoes with midsole compression specifically with our bodies in mind—another reason you might find yourself getting injured less. Almost 1,600 reviewers are pretty satisfied with these shoes, with one on Amazon writing, “These are just truly worth every penny. I like (or should I say need) arch support and these are great for that. They are very cushy but provide tons of support.”

Want to get a pair of Asics, but can’t swallow the usual over $100 high price tag? No worries. You can still get Asics for a reasonable price. The Gel-Excite 6 shoes are made to keep you going on a variety of surfaces, whether that’s the sidewalk, a treadmill, or a trail. Reviewers who are nurses or caregivers also gave them high praise for helping them get through a long day standing or running around at their jobs without back or foot pain. How great is that? One wrote, “From the moment I put the shoes on, my feet felt extremely comfortable. I was afraid that I was going to be putting them to use before breaking them in but my first time wearing them, they survived a 7km hike through hilly, rocky terrain. They never failed me in my efforts to become fitter. I have a wide foot but these shoes still looked very stylish on my feet without making me look like I had a couple of boats for feet. These were my first pair of ASICS in a LONG time, but should I need another pair of sneakers I will not hesitate to order another pair of ASICS!”. It’s also worth a mention that they come in fun color options like sour yuzu or ice mint, if that sort of thing motivates you!  

Here’s a special shout out to all you trail runners out there. Way to get that dose of nature in on every single run and make all us city dwellers jealous. If you’re looking for a high-rated trail shoe to support your craft, the Speedcross 5 shoe from Solomon is full of high reviews. These are known for a tough grip to allow you to run over rocks or other terrain with ease. Plus you still get plenty of cushioning so you’ll land soft wherever you go. There’s even a mesh system to keep debris from getting in your shoe and irritating you as you run. These are, of course, great for running, but you can easily use them for any hiking or climbing you do, too. Reviewers say they are comfortable but still stand up to tough conditions. One wrote, “Love them! Went running in very muddy area today and no slipping. Shoe is very comfortable, fits well, and no rubbing. Definitely recommend.”

Some running shoes can feel heavy, like they are going to weigh you down with every step. As if running wasn’t hard enough! Luckily that’s not the case with the Nike Revolution 5, which are light to run in. These are designed for neutral and under pronators (a.k.a. your foot rolls outward when you run.) Even though they feel lighter than some other shoes, you’ll actually get lots of cushioning and support for any distance you run in these. Reviewers like them for the comfy fit and ability to run on multiple surfaces, or just stand for a long period of time at their jobs. One wrote, “These are my holy grail shoe! I have large, extremely wide feet and I am an underpronater. So finding a womans shoe is DIFFICULT for me. I ordered these on a whim, and holy crap I need more. I am a true 9.5 wide and ordered these in that size and they are perfect. They help me walk/run more correctly too which is awesome! Will be back for more.”

Running can cause all kinds of injuries in the best of us, like plantar shin splints, ankle or knee pain. If you’re especially injury prone every time you start running, training in a pair of Hoka’s may be the solution you’ve been hoping for. These are some of the most uber-cushioned sneakers out there. Warning: If you’ve never run in these before, you may have to get used to the extra support in the heel area. On the other hand, they have over 2,300 reviews on Zappos. One glowing reviewer writes, “I have been a runner/hiker for 40+ years, and the Hoka Bondi 7 is by far the best shoe I’ve ever worn. I also have titanium in one hip and with these I do not have any pain. Well done, Hoka One One!”

Adidas wasn’t originally known for their running shoes. Their technology has improved ten fold over the past few years, though, and you can now feel confident you are getting shoes that are truly made for runners here. The Ultraboost gets high praise for being lightweight (ideal if you plan to sign up for any races or want to improve your speed work.) They also have a sock liner insert that molds to your foot, so you know they are going to be comfortable to run in. They got high praise from reviewers who were novice and veteran runners alike. One wrote, “THE ABSOLUTE BEST! Ultra comfy and stylish. These are my go to shoes to run or just throw on for errands.” Note that adidas recommends to size a half size up for wide feet!

New Balance’s Fresh Foam are ultra comfortable and guess what? — They come in both wide and extra wide sizes! This lightweight shoe was made with a data-driven design to ensure comfort and stability for runners. One reviewer raved, “Ahhhhh! I love my new NB shoes! The in plenty of room for my wide feet, great toe box size. I always feel good about buying New Balance shoes. I have balance issues, my feet can tolerate athletic shoes. My “go to” shoes are New Balance.”