Running on the trail is fun and all, but having to drive up the nearest trail can eat up a good chunk of your time. For your daily training, chances are, you’ll spend most of the time running on the asphalt, concrete, and gravel surfaces you’ll find all around the city.
The best men’s running shoes for daily training usually have more cushioning than trail or racing footwear, providing plenty of shock absorption to minimize the potential for injury. Why the extra cushioning? Mostly, because it’s meant to be used everyday and if you run daily, it’s going to put a lot of wear and tear on your lower extremities, so the more of the impact the shoe can absorb, the better.
Some of the best men’s running shoes for daily training also have a wider forefoot for better comfort during extended time on the road, making them suitable even for doing long-distance runs, in case you decide to incorporate those in your workouts. If you’re looking to train speed, though, you can also try more lightweight running shoes, which usually combine a minimalist upper with more flexible cushioning. You can also try running shoes with plates, since you can gain some extra speed with the addition of its propelling ride.
These are the best men’s running shoes for your daily training.
Nike Pegasus 40
Pros
- Very durable
- Great energy return
- Very comfortable during runs
Cons
- Narrower fit
- Not great for speed
Equipped with a very soft midsole, this running shoe is extremely comfortable for daily training, allowing you to run hard while sparing your foot from a lot impact. Is it the most comfortable running shoe we’ve worn? Not really, but it does bundle that comfortable midsole with great performance elsewhere that makes it more excellent as an everyday runner. The dual-layer mesh upper, for instance, is incredibly soft, ensuring you’re at no risk of getting blisters on any part of your feet, all while getting excellent padding, especially across the heel. The outsole, on the other hand, feels tough and grippy, ensuring it can handle both dry and wet surfaces around the city with relative ease. It’s pretty affordable, too, so you don’t have to wince thinking about running it down to the dirt with everyday use.
Saucony Axon 3
Pros
- Excellent value
- Soft and plush midsole
- Very durable
- Suited for different types of training
Cons
- Low-drop geometry might not work for rearfoot runners
- Not as stable as its predecessor
Runners with wider feet will appreciate the more accommodating profile of this running shoe, allowing you to wear it all day without feeling tight on your lower extremities. It’s also very durable, with tough materials on both the upper and outsole, ensuring this thing will hold up to the rigors of daily training. The midsole feels soft and plush, similar to what you’ll find in many daily trainers, making it very comfortable for most kinds of training, although we do find it a little less stable compared to its predecessor, which used a slightly harder foam material. It is, however, very light and nimble, which we love for those days we want to pick up the tempo during our runs.
Hoka Mach 6
Pros
- Smoother and more responsive ride
- Overall more durable build
- Excellent wraparound feel
Cons
- Very different feel from the Mach 5 might turn off loyal fans
- Feels a bit too tight first time you run in it
We’re still not convinced that the Mach 6 is that much better than the Mach 5. However, we do like the fact that it has a smoother and more responsive feel than its predecessor, which we really appreciate. Where the Mach 5 felt soft and flush on landing, this one pushes you off the ground with urgency, making it equally capable for speed runs on top of its daily training duties. Whether you switch to this from the Mach 5 will depend on how you feel about that changeup, which, in our opinion, is quite the big deal.
There’s still enough stack height in the midsole to reprise the comfortable ride, by the way, so it’s still perfectly viable for daily training, along with a lightweight build, very stable footing, and grippy rubber on the outsole that should provide the traction needed for your city runs. The knitted upper is designed to wrap around your foot for a secure feel, which we like, although it can feel a bit too tight at first. Once you break in the shoe, though, it should be good.
Brooks Ghost 15
Pros
- Available in four different widths to let you find the perfect fit
- Excellent stability
- Very durable
Cons
- On the heavier side
- Not as springy as other shoes in the list
You can tell by this shoe’s 15 iterations that it’s quite the popular model. For good reason, too, since it’s always been among the best running shoes we’ve used when it comes to fit and comfort. They prioritize that so much, in fact, that they offer the shoe in four different widths. The midsole isn’t as thick as many of the daily running shoes in the list, which allows it to be very stable, especially as you’re running through turns, although it still delivers a very soft feel and excellent shock absorption, sparing your feet from a lot of impact. What it doesn’t do well is support high-tempo runs, as it’s heavier with less rebound. However, if you put a lot of value in fit, comfort, and durability in your daily running footwear, we can almost guarantee you’re going to love this shoe.
Adidas Supernova Rise
Pros
- Good balance of cushioning and responsiveness
- Handles uptempo speed well
- Excellent fit
Cons
- Not as comfortable as other daily runners
Designed specifically for daily training, this running shoe uses an all new foam called Dreamstrike+, giving it a plush midsole with a highly-cushioned heel counter that creates a comfortably balanced ride. It feels soft on the underfoot without being mushy, providing good feedback, some ground feel, and a smooth transition with every stride. If you like a more balanced feel for your daily trainer, you will definitely enjoy this. Because of this midsole, it handles both easy runs and uptempo paces with relative ease, allowing for excellent stability even at higher speeds. It can even handle extended runs well, especially with the amount of impact the midsole soaks in. We love the way the upper wraps around the heel, which provides a perfectly secure fit the whole time, along with the grippy outsole, which ensures you keep your footing at all times in dry and wet city terrains alike.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v13 Gore-Tex
Pros
- Excellent midsole optimized for heel strikers
- Great for walking, too, so you can wear it outside of training
- Hardwearing rubber outsole
Cons
- Heavier build
- Not good for speed training
The midsole is what really makes this running shoe, with its dual-density construction that combines the outfit’s soft Fresh Foam cushion with a denser EVA foam under the midfoot. The result is a shoe that soaks up impact especially well in the heel, while keeping the rest of the stride smooth and responsive with a firmer feel in the forefoot. We find this shoe to excel at more controlled paces, which makes it ideal for daily runs and even marathon training, with enough of a nimble feel that it will help keep you stable even while you’re running tired. One look at the outsole and you can tell this shoe isn’t playing. Not only does it provide excellent traction for city surfaces, it’s also very durable, ensuring it will handle a higher number of miles than other daily runners. It’s available in two widths, too, so those with wider feet can find a good-fitting size. New Balance recommends going one size up because of the lockdown design of the upper, by the way, although we found our exact size to actually be a good fit.
Asics Novablast 4 Platinum
Pros
- Cushy midsole with powerful toe-off
- Comfortable upper with excellent fit
- Very stable
Cons
- Runs a little hot during warmer days
- Not the best for running on slippery ground
Is there a more comfortable pair of running shoes than this one? Maybe, but this sneaker’s midsole cushioning enables the kind of soft landings that make us feel like we’re running on pillows. It just feels different in a really good way. It has a strong toe-off, too, so you get a good amount of energy to help propel you forward, despite that cushy feel, as well as a very stable ride, courtesy of the wider midsole geometry. The upper materials feel durable, as well, with the improved padding on the tongue and the reinforced heel really locking in the fit, although it doesn’t feel as breathable as other shoes in the list, so things can get sweaty during the hotter days of the year (don’t forget your running hat and running sunglasses, too). This Platinum version of the running shoe uses a bouncier outsole that we particularly like for the added boost it brings to our runs, although the standard version also offers great traction if you don’t want the extra bounce.
Puma Deviate Nitro 2
Pros
- Stiff midsole is suitable for speed training
- Soft cushioning for a low-impact ride
- Handles mixed terrain well
- Very durable
Cons
- Heavier build
There are quite a number of shoes in this list that are not ideal for drawn-out speed sessions, since they cater more towards comfort, fit, and longevity. That’s not the case with this running shoe, which boasts a stiff carbon plate to help you sustain a high-tempo pace, returning energy and helping launch you forward with every stride. Despite the stiff midsole, the cushioning remains soft, so it brings plenty of comfort underfoot, leaving minimal impact and making it suitable for daily training. The same comfortable feel also lets you run for longer, so you can keep this on when you’re training for distance. It also gets a very grippy outsole that can actually handle mixed terrain, ensuring it can take on every road and sidewalk, along with any side trails you decide to take along the way.
On Cloudeclipse
Pros
- Very secure, comfortable fit
- Overly thick midsole
- Not too firm and not too mushy
Cons
- Thin outsole may not hold up long
- Not much energy return
Now, that’s a running shoe with a thick midsole, measuring 37mm at the heel and 31mm at the forefoot, so there’s no way this thing isn’t going to be absorbing every imaginable impact from the road. Yes, that thick of a midsole does look unstable, which is why they added a shank to offset it and inject a dose of stiffness into the underfoot. It’s got their signature hollow sections, of course, which help soften your landings for an overall smoother feel from heel to toe although there isn’t much energy return, so you probably won’t want to wear it for more technical training.
It has an engineered mesh upper that delivers a secure fit and breathable comfort, with the tongue hooked up together with the laces to help lock your feet in place. The toe box feels especially pillowy, too, which assures you immediately. At the very bottom, it gets rubber pads serving as the outsole, providing the necessary grip for those slippery patches of road.