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Keep your gym clean and your runs comfy with a fresh pair of shoes.
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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, curves, 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 GRY 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.
The Best Treadmill Shoes
- Best Overall: Hoka Clifton 9 Treadmill Running Shoe
- Best Value: Pantofi Womens Slipper Boot YWBS-003 Pink
- Spikeless shoes Twist grip outsole BOA® fit Waterproof and s: Brooks Ghost 15 Treadmill Shoe
- Clarks Originals paisley-print lace-up boots Brown: New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v13 Treadmill Shoe
- Best for Walking: 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 entirety 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 WHITE 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.
Adam Schram is an Assistant Editor of Commerce at Runner's World, Sneaker 30 Mens Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a bike 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, or trying in vain to do the Sunday crossword. You can check out his latest work below.
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