Tested
MOVE IT
We tested 10 of the best running trainers – our 2 favourites are half the price of most and felt like bouncing on clouds
Including a bright pink pair that garnered numerous compliments and another that secured a personal best
KEEN to get out and complete your first 5km run?
Whether you're a seasoned walker, following the NHS's Couch to 5km or eager to try parkrun, you’ll need a good pair of trainers.
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We love running, and between us, we've tried endless pairs in a bid to suss out the best on the market.
It can be a bit of a minefield trying to work out which ones are most suitable for you, so we've put together a list of our winners and losers.
It's important to remember that everyone is different, and getting your running style (or gait) analysed in a specialist shop is always a good idea.
But if you want a bit more guidance before you head to your nearest store, here are our thoughts on 10 of the most popular styles.
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1. Nike Journey Run Women’s Running Shoes, £62.99
- Comfort: 4/5
- Speed: 3/5
- Bounce: 4/5
- Weight: 3/5
- Overall: 4/5
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Nike shoes can often set you back £100 or more, so it was nice to find a pair under the £80 mark.
Lucy said: "These are a really nice, simple pair of running trainers; they’re extremely comfortable and my feet felt really supported when I went out for a steady 5km run.
"I love the fact that these have a reinforced toe area, as I always end up with holes in the toe area of my trainers.
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"The reinforcement makes these extra durable so I can imagine they’d last a fair while, plus, the sole of the shoe feels quite spongy and my run had a nice ‘bounce’ to it, without my trainers having a huge foam platform, which so many trainers seem to have these days.
"The all-black shade of these makes them great for the winter runs too, when rain and mud can totally tarnish any other shade of shoe."
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2. Brooks Ghost Max 2, £145
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- Comfort: 5/5
- Speed: 4/5
- Bounce: 4/5
- Weight: 5/5
- Overall: 4.5/5
Huge in America and making big waves over here in the UK, Brooks seem to be building up their fan base pretty rapidly.
The Ghost Max 2, which follows on from Brooks’ popular Ghost Max trainer, has a nitrogen-infused DNA Loft V3 cushioning (aka super cushioned for comfort and bounce).
A GlideRoll Rocker also supposedly helps deliver "smooth heel-toe transitions", perfect for the beginner through to the advanced runner.
"If I was to think of one word when running in these, it would be ‘supportive’," Lucy said.
"These trainers are made to last, which is exactly what you want when you’re paying over £100 for a pair.
"These aren’t the ‘bounciest’ of trainers, however, I still felt comfortable running and there was enough cushioning every time my foot hit the pavement.
"I will also add that they are a lot lighter than they might look, which is ideal when you’re running as nobody wants to feel heavy-footed.
"Plus, I am in love with the stand-out colourway. A big thumbs up to these."
3. Asics NOVABLAST 4, £135
- Comfort: 5/5
- Speed: 4/5
- Bounce: 4/5
- Weight: 5/5
- Overall: 4.5/5
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"Put simply, I love these trainers," Alice said.
"The all-white look might not be the most practical, but these are the perfect mix of mega-bounce and support.
"At only 225g, they are super lightweight - I mean they weigh practically nothing - and I feel like I'm running on clouds when I wear them.
"I'm not exaggerating when I say I can feel myself running faster.
"Like most running shoes, I'd suggest going half a size up in these."
The Asics NOVABLAST are described as having a "trampoline-inspired" sole which provides "maximum cushion", and that's pretty much spot on.
They are one of the brand's best-selling running shoe, and it's easy to see why.
4. Hoka Women’s Clifton 9 Shoes, £130
- Comfort: 4/5
- Speed: 3/5
- Bounce: 3/5
- Weight: 4/5
- Overall: 4/5
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"In all honesty, I haven’t run much in Hokas but there’s a first time for everything," Lucy said.
"Everyone these days seems to be wearing either Hoka, Brooks or New Balance, so I needed to get on this bandwagon.
"For £130, I was expecting a very comfortable run, which is exactly what I got.
"Made for road running and walking, these - much like the Brooks trainers - aren’t incredibly bouncy, but they’re still very comfortable and my foot felt supported.
"I did notice that the back of the shoe was really padded, as was the trainer tongue.
"I feel like I could wear these for a long time without needing to take them off."
If you plan on wearing your trainers all day, not just for running, then these might be worth a buy.
5. New Balance SuperComp Trainer v3, £230
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- Comfort: 4/5
- Speed: 4/5
- Bounce: 5/5
- Weight: 5/5
- Overall: 4.5/5
These stand-out New Balance trainers are by no means cheap.
"However I’ve run two London marathons in New Balance and I swear by them for comfort and stability," Lucy said.
"These kicks are no different; they’re comfortable, and they’re suited to all types of runs, from the 5km parkrun to a half marathon."
So if you have plans to keep up your running and increase the kilometres, then they might be a good investment.
"I noticed straight away how light these trainers are," Lucy added. "In fact, they weigh just 209g.
"The classic NB FuelCell midsole foam has been created to help drive you forward and these also contain a carbon plate which offers greater energy return during runs.
"In layman's terms, this means they could make you a quicker runner.
"Whilst I may not have been moving any quicker during my 5km run, I certainly felt light as air as I trotted down the pavements.
"These have a great level of bounce and felt really good on my creaky knees and ankles.
"I will say that if you do invest in these, go up half a size.
"I am typically a 6.5 in trainers yet these were a tad short in length for me, so I’d comfortably go up to a 7."
6. Asics Gel-Nimbus 26, £180
- Comfort: 5/5
- Speed: 3/5
- Bounce: 4/5
- Weight: 4/5
- Overall: 4/5
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Another classic shoe from Asics. And these come in so many colours, so there should be at least one design you love the look of!
The Gel-Nimbus 26 has a gel and foam sole "to deliver soft landings and smooth transitions".
"On first look at the giant sole, I thought it would be too much, but again, the bounce in these is phenomenal," Alice said.
"They are another cloud-like shoe that is perfect for people who don't like to feel the hard pavement under their feet."
At £180, they're not the cheapest, but are fairly similar to a couple of other styles, so if you're choosing between the two, we'd go with the NOVABLAST 4s.
They are, however, designed for longer distance running, so might be a great option if you're looking beyond a 5km.
7. Under Armour Velociti Elite 2 Running Shoes, £225
- Comfort: 4/5
- Speed: 4/5
- Bounce: 4/5
- Weight: 5/5
- Overall: 4/5
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"If you have a huge trainer budget, then I would highly recommend these," Lucy said.
"I’ve worn these for various distances, both running and walking, so if you’re planning on increasing your running distance, these are a good option.
"These feel light during runs and the carbon plate (which tends to be the reason why some trainers cost eye-watering amounts) adds that little extra ‘oomph’.
"Plus, when I’ve worn these, I’ve received my fair share of compliments thanks to the bright pink colour.
"I do want to clarify though that many cheaper trainers are still really great and will work fantastically for your first 5km run, so don’t feel like you need to splurge this much on trainers to get a good pair."
It's also not a good idea to run in carbon-plated shoes all the time, as they are really built for racing and they work your muscles in a different way.
8. Nike Invincible 3 Women's Road Running Shoes, £174.99
- Comfort: 3.5/5
- Speed: 4/5
- Bounce: 3/5
- Weight: 3.5/5
- Overall: 3.5/5
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These are advertised as having "maximum cushioning" which provide "the most comfortable ride for everyday runs".
They are made of a breathable Flyknit material and are a little wider and taller than previous models.
"On the whole, I think these are pretty comfortable," Alice said.
"From day one, they haven't rubbed and they have lasted very well.
"But, they feel rather high and firm underfoot, and they are a little narrow in the centre - so perhaps not the best choice if you have wide feet.
"I can also only wear these with long socks as the hardbacks tend to make them fall down - not a deal-breaker, but something to consider."
9. On Cloudmonster 2, £170
- Comfort: 4/5
- Speed: 4/5
- Bounce: 4/5
- Weight: 4/5
- Overall: 4/5
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"These definitely win on looks for me," Alice said.
"I love the contrast between the orange and white and think they just look very cool!
"They are also super comfortable, have a nice foamy bounce, and have a decent grip for running on roads and pavements.
"The sole is really unusual; you can actually feel the grooves under your feet - but I actually really liked this. It was almost like a subtle massage.
"They are also engineered to be 'forward rolling' to encourage momentum - and I could genuinely feel this.
"They are, however, pretty pricey and I think there are trainers that are just as good for significantly cheaper."
On recommend going half a size down in these, but I found my usual was spot on.
10. Adidas Ultraboost 22, £130
- Comfort: 3/5
- Speed: 4/5
- Bounce: 3/5
- Weight: 3/5
- Overall: 3.5/5
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Like most brands, Adidas makes a wide range of runners - and they come with varying price tags.
At around £100, the Ultraboost sits somewhere in the middle.
"This is definitely the pair I've worn the most, and overall, I think they are a solid pair of trainers," Alice said.
"They have a knitted sock style, so feel very breathable and don't majorly rub my toes at the front or side.
"They also have a cushioned sole, without being trampoline-like.
"However, they're not as light as some other models, and I'm not sure I'd want to wear these for anything longer than 10km.
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"Having said that, I did get my 10k personal best in these - despite them not being designed for racing.
"I'm not crazy about the way they lace up - it's quite difficult to get them feeling tight and secure - but I love the unusual, limited edition designs these come in.
Sun Health’s favourite workout gear
FROM leggings to sports bras - everybody has their go-to workout gear. These are our favourites.
Eliza Loukou, Health Reporter
Girlfriend Collective Compressive High-Rise Leggings
"I have a workout set from Girlfriend Collective that's my go-to - the Paloma Racerback Bra and Compressive High-Rise Leggings. They can be expensive unless you get them on sale, but this set has lasted loads better than other sportswear I've bought. The leggings haven't lost any elasticity since I got them four years ago and the bra is super comfy and supportive. Plus, all of Girlfriend Collective's activewear is made out of recycled materials!"
Lizzie Parry, Head of Health
"I try to vary my workouts with a mix of cardio and weight training each week. I've tried and tested lots of different leggings but always seem to come back to the Power Leggings. They don't fall down when you run, and I love the fact that whatever the colour there's no risk they will go see-through when I'm squatting. They can be expensive, but I tend to only buy them in the sale or when I spot a discount code, and they do last really well."
Alice Fuller, Senior Health Reporter
Shock Aborber Ultimate Run Bra
"I've had this longer than I care to admit, but it really is the best sports bra I've tried. It is incredibly supportive while not digging in like some others do. The size range isn't the best, it is very adjustable. Plus, it comes in so many colours!"
Vanessa Chalmers, Health Features Editor
"I mostly do spin classes and there's no way I'd do it without a portable fan attached to the bike in front of me! The aircon is rarely strong enough and any spin-goer will know it's a sweaty affair, which becomes unbearable after a while. This fan has three speed settings and is easily adjustable to the height you want it at."
Isabel Shaw, Health Reporter
"I absolutely love this. While it's designed for running (as the name suggests), I find it perfect for everything I do - from yoga to weight training. It’s really lightweight and the fit is incredibly flattering and sculpting without causing any discomfort or chafing."