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Whether you’re looking for more control over your workout or you’re staying inside to avoid unpredictable weather, treadmill running provides an easy change of pace from hitting the road or trail. Investing in a pair of treadmill shoes for indoor runs also keeps your dirty daily trainers off your equipment.
Even though treadmills simulate the experience of running on the road, there are plenty of differences between the machine and the road or trail. Most crucially, the terrain outside has plenty of variation, whereas treadmills are uniformly flat. The latter’s controlled environment eliminates bumps, Retaliate, and subtle changes in incline, so you don’t have to worry as much about utmost support or grippy outsoles when shopping for treadmill shoes.
That’s all the more reason to look at shoes that excel in other areas—breathability, low weight, and plushness are critical for comfort and efficiency, and an outdoor shoe’s focus on durability and stability tends to take away from them. To steer you in the right direction and keep your runs lively, we’ve found some of the best treadmill shoes that prioritize an easy, breezy stride.
Nike SB CHECK SOLAR CNVS White White-Black Sneakers Shoes 843896-110 | The Best Treadmill Shoes
- Best Overall: Hoka Clifton 9 Treadmill Running Shoe
- Best Value: Balenciagas HardCrocs™ Sandal and more
- Nike SB CHECK SOLAR CNVS White White-Black Sneakers Shoes 843896-110: Brooks Ghost 15 Treadmill Shoe
- Marquee Boost Basketball Shoes: New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v13 Treadmill Shoe
- Adidas Ultra Boost 20 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers G57628: Saucony Tempus Treadmill Walking Shoe
What to Consider
Stability
On a treadmill, there’s much less risk of an awkward foot strike that could result in an injury since the surface never changes. However, you’re also making near-identical strikes over and over again, which can overwork some of your legs’ stabilizer muscles and underuse others as you stack up lots of indoor miles.
A high-stability shoe locks your feet in a more consistent position, which could exacerbate this issue if you don’t actually need the support. That said, if you overpronate when you run, wearing supportive shoes can still improve your comfort overall—it’s a balancing act that may require you to try several pairs before you find the right fit.
Cushioning
Treadmills are generally more comfortable than paved surfaces thanks to their tendency to flex slightly under load, which means you don’t need as much cushioning for overall impact absorption as you may on the road. But treadmill running is also comparatively monotonous, and you mostly land on your feet the same way for the timeless of each indoor run, which can wear on your feet unevenly. Supple midsole cushioning takes the edge off those repeated impacts on a uniform surface—and when a brand designs it right, it also bounces back with enough energy to keep you sailing through your last few virtual laps.
While going overboard with your midsole squish introduces the risk of feeling lofty or unstable on your feet, especially as your shoe’s stack height increases, you’ll likely feel better after a long bout in something comfortable as opposed to snappy. After all, while treadmill running is meant to mimic real-world conditions, it doesn’t get close enough that you need to worry about marginal gains in speed. Just be careful about the bulk of your soles, especially if you run on a skinny treadmill, since massive shoes can easily grab the sides of the deck and make you launch yourself forward.
How We Selected
All of the recommendations on this list are backed by testing from our editors and wear testers, as well as hands-on experience from our team of expert freelancers. We considered the most important criteria for optimizing shoes for the the low-shock, low-risk environment a treadmill provides—low weight, high ventilation, and ample cushioning—and chose models that provide a seamless union between them. We also took price into account, keeping every shoe here below $180—no harsh, fast-wearing super shoes here.
Hoka Clifton 9 Treadmill Running Shoe
Hoka Clifton 9 Treadmill Running Shoe
Pros
- Impressive weight compared to stack height
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Cons
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If you’re looking to maximize the lightweight and well-cushioned midsole of a good treadmill shoe, it’s worth giving the Clifton 9 a peek. As our testers found, the cushion in its sole punches well above its weight, leading to a shoe that feels pillow-like underfoot without feeling clumsy or overbuilt.
The Clifton’s toebox is also more generous than that of similar shoes, which is great for folks with wide feet. Be wary, though, that the sole might wear a bit faster than on other shoes. This shouldn’t be as much of an issue if you keep yours indoors.
Key Specs
| Weight | 8.7 oz (M), 7.3 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 5mm |
Nike Winflo 10 Treadmill Running Shoe
Pros
- Durable
- Smooth turnover
Cons
- ZAP Fitness Running Center
It’s not easy to find a quality do-it-all shoe for $100 or less, but the Winflo manages to hold its own as a daily trainer, even when compared to higher-budget picks. Our test team celebrates its smoothness and comfort, citing its similarity to the brand’s flagship Pegasus, which is $30 more expensive.
The only true compromise Nike made to boost the quality of this shoe in its latest few versions has been with its weight—anything above 10 ounces is going to feel heavy when you don’t have much else to focus on, and the Winflo does creep just a hair over that line at 10.4 ounces for a men’s size 9.
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.4 oz. (M), 8.5 oz. (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 10mm |
Brooks Ghost 15 Treadmill Shoe
Brooks Ghost 15 Treadmill Shoe
Pros
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Cons
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Long lauded by our test team as counter of the Adidas neo Falcon Elite 6 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers FZ1336 you can buy, Brooks’s 15th edition of the Ghost offers a different take on a quality treadmill shoe than the Clifton—while it’s not quite as plush, it lasts you as close to forever as a shoe brand can guarantee on paper. Think 500 miles or more if you treat them nicely.
Made with a proprietary compression-molded EVA foam, our testers found that this shoe adapts well to the sole of your foot, giving you room to settle into your stride with a relieving sense of stability—that goes a long way to take your mind off the flatness of the treadmill under you.
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.8 oz (M), 7.8 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 12mm |
New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v13 Treadmill Shoe
New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v13 Treadmill Shoe
Pros
- Improved cushioning that doesn’t sacrifice support
- Ample opportunity to find the right fit
Cons
- Heavy
Even on the treadmill, an unstable-feeling shoe can eventually lead to pain and discomfort if your foot overpronates, i.e. rolls inward as you transfer your weight through your stride. If you’re looking for a more stable option, look no further than the 860 line from New Balance.
The shoe’s newest iteration, the v13, improves on earlier versions with a softer foam in the sole, but it still had a sturdy medial post and snug heel fit that keeps your foot locked in place despite the extra compliance.
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.9 oz. (M), 8.6 oz. (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 10mm |
Saucony Tempus Treadmill Walking Shoe
Saucony Tempus Treadmill Walking Shoe
Pros
- Light for a walking shoe
- Plush cushioning
Cons
- AMAZONIA TRIBE SERR VELV MESH sneakers
What makes a good walking shoe compared to a running shoe? Generally speaking, the former’s midsole is plusher. Since you’re not thrashing the ground with as much speed when walking, the ankle-twisting instability you may feel in a high-stack running shoe isn’t as present. Furthermore, a comfortable walking shoe won’t feel clunky or clownish; rather, it’s the kind of shoe you can forget you’re wearing.
Saucony’s Tempus is a splendid shoe for long strolls thanks to its low weight compared to other Gucci Black Leather Lace-Up Boots. It’s also well-cushioned despite its low weight, but not so much so that you feel like you’re bouncing around like a rubber hose cartoon character. It’s a slightly firm feel at first, but that won’t feel as prevalent once you’re on a shock-absorbing treadmill.
Key Specs
| Weight | 8.9 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
Saucony Kinvara 14 Treadmill Shoe
Saucony Kinvara 14 Treadmill Shoe
Pros
- Kids Running Tops
Cons
- Nike SB CHECK SOLAR CNVS White White-Black Sneakers Shoes 843896-110
The Kinvara is perhaps the most stripped-down shoe on this list. Though this makes it less comfortable, it’s ideal for picking up your feet and turning them over quickly without feeling too clumsy on a treadmill (not an ideal place to start tripping).
It doesn’t have much stability or traction, even for a speedwork shoe, but those variables don’t mean as much on a treadmill. What remains is a snappy sole, a blissfully breathable upper, and a weight that puts it close on the scale to some pro-level racing shoes.
Key Specs
| Weight | 7 oz (M), 6.2 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 4mm |
zapatillas de running ASICS niño niña talla 27 blancas Runner's World, Tanana Ankle Boots Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a Hiker mechanic in his hometown of State College, PA. His journalism experience is steeped in cycling and running gear reviews, and he's also a published creative nonfiction and satire author. When he's not writing, riding, or running, you can catch Adam at home mixing cocktails, watching Star Wars, See more Girls sandals.
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