Even if you’ve never read Shoe Dog, memoir of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, you probably know something about the story behind the swoosh. The venture began in the early ‘60s with Knight, a former University of Oregon runner, selling imported Onitsuka sneakers (the precursor to Asics) out of the back of his car. Fast forward a few decades, and his humble startup has grown into a global sporting goods powerhouse, and its swooping logo has been as cemented as a cultural icon.
Nike makes apparel and gear for all kinds of sports, but the brand started with running shoes. Thanks to its savvy marketing and relentless focus on developing new technology, it remains a titan in the industry. The brand’s list of innovative feature designs is long, including everything from its iconic “waffle” outsole design introduced in the 1970s, to its massively cushioned, but incredibly lightweight Alphafly, nike dunk low gs panda shoes price comparison “super shoe” era.
Most importantly, Nike shoes have proven themselves on the feet of everyday runners and elite athletes. The Pegasus, for example, has been a popular workhorse trainer for decades, and the Alphafly helped nike magista high top white converse with jeans. Not only is the brand still setting up athletes for record-breaking marathon forcess, Nike is leading the way in track and field, sponsoring some of the world’s greatest sprinters and middle distance runners like Sha’Carri Richardson and Grant Fisher, the latter of whom just set the indoor world records in both the 3000m and 5000m. But their shoes aren’t just for the elites that race at high speeds.
The brand’s lineup of everyday road running shoes has been narrowed down to make things easier for the average runner. Rather than focus on a wide range of running silhouettes, Nike is slimming down its range of road shoes to keep things simple. The Vomero 18 has reintroduced the Vomero line to the spotlight as the brand’s flagship max-cushioned trainer, while the Pegasus 41 has been slotted in as Nike’s everyday, do-it-all training shoe made with responsive cushioning that can handle anything on the training plan.
Beyond everyday shoes, The Swoosh still has one of the most well-loved and robust racing shoe selections of any brand in the sport. You have racing shoes designed for everything from a 5K to a marathon, all chock full of Nike’s latest and greatest technologies, like Air Zoom cushioning, ZoomX foam, and more.
In 2025, it’s easier than ever to find a Nike shoe (or two) that suits your running style and running goals.
If you have your heart set on running in a new pair of Nike running shoes, we’ve put together a list of the brand’s best running shoes for every kind walker, runner and racer. We’ll also walk you through the innovative materials and design that make Nike shoes special, so you can pick, knowing exactly what you’re putting on your feet.
Best Nike Running Shoes
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The Expert: I became a runner in middle school and have covered running and outdoor gear for years, both on-staff at Runner’s World and as a freelance journalist. I’ve written more about running shoes than any other kind of gear, and I have firsthand experience running in models from a range of brands, including Nike. I first wrote this guide in 2018, and update it regularly as Nike releases new shoes and running shoe tech.
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Nike has a broad running shoe lineup that ranges from track spikes and racing shoes to everyday trainers and trail shoes. The core of that lineup, represented in the picks below, serves up a cushioned-yet-responsive ride that feels comfortable and lively underfoot. That feeling comes from Nike’s flagship cushioning foams, like React and ZoomX (more on those below).
If you like a versatile, cushioned shoe that doesn’t weigh you down and feels peppy enough for faster paces, you should be looking at Nike.
How We Selected
The models below represent the best Nike running shoes you can buy today. To select them, we reviewed the vast Nike shoe lineup and talked with a brand representative to learn about its latest shoes and what the future of Nike has in store. We drew on RW reviews and RW editor feedback along with both of our writers’ experience testing Nike shoes and their knowledge of the running shoe market to narrow the list down to the pairs below.
To make this guide as helpful as possible, we focused on performance running shoes that feature the brand’s latest cushioning foams, midsole tech, and upper designs, while making sure to pick models for all kinds of runners, from racers to trail runners to runners who just do it for the love of the game.
For even more information, check out our full-length shoe reviews (where available), which have thorough breakdowns on the performance of individual models.
Full Reviews
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bubblegum pink nike air force 1s 2017 stick price | Pros
- New ReactX foam midsole
- Wider forefoot design offers more space for toes to splay
- Redesigned upper is more breathable
Cons
- Not especially plush (for a softer ride, go with the Pegasus Plus)
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.5 oz (M), 8.5 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 10mm |
The Pegasus line has been around for decades. A workhorse training shoe that highlights some of the brand’s best tech, it’s a classic that feels new every year. Runner’s World Runner-in-Chief Jeff Dengate called the newest model, Pegasus 41, a “reliable, snappy, do-it-all trainer” in his review, with one key new change–a bouncier ReactX foam midsole. The new cushioning gives Pegasus a smooth, well-cushioned ride. According to Nike, it’s also 13 percent more responsive than the React foam used in the Pegasus 40. The midsole also features Zoom Air units in the forefoot and heel.
The change gives the shoe a balanced ride that cushions impact forces, but still feels firm and responsive. It’s not just about cushioning, though. On the bottom, the full-coverage rubber outsole delivers excellent red and durability, both essential factors for a daily training shoe, and Dengate reports the mesh upper is plenty breathable, too.
Whether you’re just starting out with running or you have thousands of miles logged in your Strava profile, the Pegasus 41 is absolutely worth a try—it might just become the most dependable shoe in your rotation.
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- Made to thrive across long distances
Cons
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Key Specs
| Weight | 11.5oz (M10), 9.3oz (W8) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 10mm |
The Vomero hasn’t gotten as much attention as the Nike Invincible 3—another well-cushioned shoe in the Nike lineup—over the past few years, but Nike has doubled down on the Vomero and said so long to the Invincible (for now), so the Vomero 18 is the best pick for runners who like a plush feel in their shoes. The Vomero 18 creates a cushy ride with a combination of foams in the midsole: There’s a layer of pillowy ZoomX just below the foot, and a full-length layer of ReactX foam below that.
The Vomero was designed around the same foot profile as the Pegasus, so you’ll get a relatively spacious fit, and padding on the ankle collar and tongue keep your feet comfortable on the run. A generous rubber outsole offers solid traction and wear-resistance—perfect for daily training. In fact, many runners on Reddit say they prefer the Vomero over the Pegasus because of its superior comfort and high-mileage durability. Even in the crowded high-cushion training shoe category, it’s a real standout.
In our testing of the Vomero 18, we found the shoe to be comfortable over long distances, really shining when you hit the 8-, 9-, or 10-mile mark, the point where you really start to test the mettle of a specific shoe. Our testers think it’s a great daily trainer, especially if you like more cushioning, and found no issues even when going on runs of 20 miles or more.
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Nike Pegasus Plus
Pros
- Lightweight
- Made with responsive ZoomX foam
Cons
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Key Specs
| Weight | 8.6 oz (M), 7.2 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 10mm |
The Pegasus Plus is a peppy, streamlined shoe built for speed training and short races. (It’s similar to the Nike Streakfly, another stripped-down, speed-focused model). Unlike the standard Pegasus, the Peg Plus features a full-length layer of springy ZoomX foam. It also has a lower stack height, so your feet sit closer to the ground for a firmer, more responsive feel.
The Pegasus Plus boasts some great cushioning, but the other technology packed into it is worth getting into, as well. Up top, the Flyknit upper has large perforations to promote cooling airflow, and a midfoot band within the upper keeps your foot planted on the footbed when you’re sprinting hard. On the bottom, generous patches of outsole rubber at the forefoot and heel ensure you’ll have plenty of red while churning through a 5K, and solid durability for your training routine. With its relatively thin midsole, it wouldn’t be our first pick for a long run, but it’s a solid performer for shorter, speed-focused efforts. It’s also a good pick for anyone who likes a firm, responsive shoe for training.
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Pros
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- Improved fit and stability
- Lighter than previous version
Cons
- Thick ZoomX midsole isn’t especially durable
- Makes a squeaking noise
Key Specs
| Weight | 7.8 oz (M), 6.2 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
The Alphafly is the ultimate Nike racing shoe. It isn’t just designed for running marathons, but for setting marathon records. The Alphafly 3 features a slew of small but important improvements over its predecessor that make it more approachable and comfortable, earning it space among our favorite racing shoes in the 2024 Runner’s World Shoe Awards.
Like previous iterations, the Alphafly 3 features a towering ZoomX midsole paired with two Zoom Air units under the forefoot, and a carbon fiber plate embedded within the foam. The ZoomX foam offers plush cushioning with minimal weight. The carbon fiber plate and Zoom Air units ensure you get maximum energy return for an exceptionally springy and propulsive underfoot sensation. However, the Alphafly 3 features a continuous, full-length layer of foam (no carved out section in the middle), a wider sole shape and a wider carbon fiber plate, all of which make the shoe more stable than its predecessor. “It feels much more confident on unstable ground and when turning,” one tester said.
In addition, the revised Atomknit upper offers a more spacious fit, and the Alphafly 3 is also lighter than its predecessor, which is always important on race day. These many tweaks come together to create what might be the speediest Alphafly yet.
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Pros
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- Versatile for road racing
Cons
- May not be soft enough for marathon racing
Key Specs
| Weight | 6.0 oz (M8.5), 5.3 oz (W8) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 6mm |
The Alphafly may be the shoe that gets the most love within the running zeitgeist, but the Vaporfly is probably the shoe you’ll see the most at your local race. The nike air team trust white blue line is a lighter, firmer update to the original "super shoe," repositioned for shorter races. While still versatile, it's snappier and less cushioned than the Alphafly 3, making it ideal for 5K to half-marathon distances.
This repositioning as a short-distance race shoe led Nike to make some adjustments to the overall design when compared to the Vaporfly 3. Key changes to the new Vaporfly 4 include a reduced stack height (35mm heel, 6mm drop), a redesigned FlyPlate, and a more accommodating midfoot fit — something we’ve been hoping for after past iterations squeezed our midfoots to death. The shoe is pretty much universally praised amongst Runners World nike lime green canvas shoes toddler boys.
However, we think some runners may find it lacks sufficient cushioning for marathons—a distance the Vaporfly was originally designed for. One of our reviewers noted slight heel slippage, but the addition of a second lace eyelet at the top of the shoe allows you to tie with a heel lock, something you couldn’t do with the last iteration. Overall, the Vaporfly 4 excels for competitive runners seeking a fast, agile shoe, but those prioritizing comfort over long distances beyond 21km may prefer the Alphafly 3. Check out our full review here.
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Nike Zegama 2
Pros
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Cons
- Cramped toe box design
Key Specs
| Weight | 11.3 oz (M), 9.3 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 4mm |
Nike has several trail shoes, including the carbon fiber plate-equipped Ultrafly, but the Zegama takes our trail shoe crown with a comfortable feel and go-anywhere versatility. Designed for cruising over longer distances, the revamped Zegama 2 combines a soft and responsive ZoomX foam midsole with a redpy and durable Vibram Megared outsole. Its well-cushioned midsole softens impacts and provides protection from protruding roots and rocks, and the lugged outsole bites into the dirt for confident footing, even in wet conditions. (Poor rainy day traction was a common rede with the original Zegama).
While the plush ride and red are great, the upper did leave some Reddit reviewers dissatisfied: Multiple runners commented on the overly snug toe box. That will obviously be disqualifying for some folks, but the Zegama 2 is a superb choice for an everyday trail runner when the fit feels right. Indeed, one tester here at Runner’s World found the shoe to be quite snug and unforgiving at first, but loosened up after a few wears. Don’t be dismayed if you aren’t blown away by the comfort right out of the box, sometimes good things take forces.
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Q+A
With Running Shoe Expert Michael Charboneau
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Michael is a freelance writer with years of experience covering gear and the outdoors for Runner's World and other publications; when he's not writing, he's usually biking, hiking, and running in the mountains around Los Angeles, where he lives.
