Best Running Shoes in India - Reviews and Comparison 2022

Types feature basically cover the running surface. You need to know on which surface you are going to use the pair. Different shoes are designed for the distinct surface.

• Road

This is the most common type of running shoes. Shoes designed for road running purpose can be used on plain surfaces with slight irregularities, pavements and footpaths. They have a flat sole, good cushioning, flexibility and stability as per the stride requirement. They aim to stabilise your feet in both small and medium irregularities. Moreover, they are good at holding the impact of the hard surfaces, and the wear and tear are on the lower side as compared to the rugged trails.

• Trail

Trail shoes are ideal for rough surfaces having lots of ups and downs and rocks such as hills and natural terrain, off-road, and muddy areas. As compared to road shoes, trail running shoes are heavy and stiffer. They provide adequate support, stability and a rugged sole to protect your feet from sharp rocks. Besides, they are known for traction, which gives a better grip. Furthermore, they are stiffer at the midsoles.

• Treadmill

Treadmill shoes, also known as cross-training shoes, are designed for indoor activities. They have a thin platform due to which they allow more contact between the feet and the ground. You can use it for physical training and gym sessions. They are lightweight, flexible and have soft soles with good ventilation.

• Maximum

Running shoes with maximum cushioning means maximum padding and more stack height. They are soft shoes which are best for everyone and especially marathon runners. They prevent injuries, are suitable for your joints, and minimise the impact on your feet. 

When the cushioning is heavy, the shoe becomes very soft. These shoes, with maximum cushioning, are suitable for expert runners, especially marathon runners. These reduce the chances of injury and cause less strain on the knees as compared to other shoes.

• Moderate

Moderately cushioned shoes are for those who prefer to feel the ground while running. This provides a better gait while helping knee muscles at the time of running. Moderately cushioned shoes are suitable for beginners and casual runners as it strikes a balance between long-lasting comfort and responsiveness.

• Minimum

If you like the feel of the ground, then minimum cushioned shoes are for you. They have a low stack height and are the best running shoes for the impact since your body adapts a better gait. Also, they help in strengthing the knee muscles.

• Barefoot

Athletes and professional runners prefer minimum clearance between the ground and their feet, i.e. 3.5 mm, and therefore, they choose barefoot cushioning running shoes. These type of shoes have no-padding and no stack height. These shoes come with wider fronts to ensure your toes are able to breathe while running. It is safe only for tracks used by pro runners as there is no danger of any unwanted obstacles or unevenness on such routes.

Human feet are categorised into three types basic or neutral, over-pronation and under-pronation or Supination. Each type of feet has its own style of running and requires a different set of shoes.

• Basic

In basic or neutral pronation your heel strikes the ground first followed by the forefoot and toes. The natural inward movement of the feet is usually 15%. In this running style, the entire body weight is distributed evenly on the feet. Neutral pronation type shoes with better heel cushioning and medial support are right for such feet.

• Over-pronation

In this case, the natural inward movement of the feet is more than 15% inward. This condition is most commonly known as "flat feet". Over-pronation is a stride in which the inner heel strikes the ground first followed by the big toe. Runners with this type are prone to a lot of injuries; therefore, their shoes should have stability or motion control.

• Under-pronation

Runners that have their feet roll outward more than 15% are called supinators and under-pronation is also known as Supination. This is precisely opposite of over-pronation as in this the outer heel strikes the ground first followed by the little toe and the foot rolls outward. Running shoes that has cushioning and quick heel to toe traction are best for this case.

If speed matters when you are running then this feature is essential while buying a pair of running shoes. Professional runners who participate in 100m sprints and marathons choose their shoes designed explicitly meeting their needs. 

• Daily Training Shoes

These are the durable shoes that can withstand the toil of daily use. They are a complete package offering comfort around the feet and stability for your regular road running sessions. This is best suited for beginners and intermediate runners.

• Lightweight Training Shoes

These shoes are not for daily use, and feature reinforced toe, high abrasion rubber sole and flexibility. They are not as durable as everyday training shoes and needs to be changed every 500 – 800kms. These are good if you are a beginner or moderate runner who runs not more than 45 mins a day and three days a week. 

• Racing Shoes

Racing shoes are for professional runners who participate in 5k, 10k marathons. They are ultra-lightweight, sans cushioning and less stable. They are suitable for pro runners because they have better endurance with strong feet muscles.

• Spikes

Spikes are for sprint runners who cover 100m to 400m. They provide grip to your forefoot to get that extra push, which you need to cover a short distance. Spikes are stiff with minimal cushion support in the heel. The feet have spike pins to brace the force and speed in the tracks. They are certainly not recommended for concrete roads or other hard surfaces. Usually, spike pins come in 6mm, 9mm and 12-15 mm diameter. Amongst these, 6mm is for track athletes, 9 mm is suitable for wet weather conditions like marathons, and 12-15 mm is for too muddy conditions such as the cross-country races.

There is no doubt that shoe manufacturers use fancy-schmancy widgets to make the shoes more comfortable for you, but that doesn't mean that technology works for everyone. Therefore, it is best to try the pair and take your decision without being lured by the advanced know-how.

To know your running profile, check several sessions you take in a day or week. Find out if you are a regular or intensive runer. For example, if you are used to running four to five times a week, be it for training purpose or you are preparing for a marathon, it is preferable to choose a pair of running shoes that has advanced cushioning and support to ensure maximum comfort.

• 10 to 12 km/hour

Are you buying the running shoes to complete at least three long outings per week at a speed of 10 to 12km/hour? In such a case, get a pair that has good cushioning to reduce the shock waves and gives maximum comfort. Also, the footwear should offer stability to support your feet throughout the long distance.

• More than 12km/hour

If you wish to run slightly faster, say, more than 12km per hour to 14km per hour, get a pair of running shoes which is more lightweight, have a dynamic structure, and provides a better boost.

• More than 14km/hour

If you are a regular runner and run at a speed of more than 14km per hour during the sessions, then you need an ultra-light pair.

The way your foot moves is affected by the type of arch you have. Ultimately, your arch type impacts the kind of shoe you'll need.

If you do not know what type of arch you have, take the wet test. Place a paper on the ground and put a moderately wet foot on this piece of paper. If the print has a narrow connecting band, you have a high arch. A medium arch will leave an imprint of your forefoot and heel connected by a slightly narrow band. And if you have nearly all of the bottom of the foot on the paper, you have a low arch.

Yes, of course! Fitness walkers do walk in running shoes and in fact, find them more comfortable. However, you need to consider above-discussed features before making the purchase.

Well, the colour of the shoes doesn't matter but the colour of sole matters.

Black soles, made of carbon rubber are heavy and durable. Whereas, white and coloured soles, made from blown rubber, have a lower-density, softer material that contains more air and weighs less. Therefore, if you run on a concrete surface which can cause more wear and tear to the shoes, get black soles. And if you run on a smooth track, treadmill, or grass, white or coloured soles will do fine.

Flat pair of shoes is usually not recommended as these come with negligible cushioning and cause injuries to knees, heels, ankles, and back. However, if you are a professional runner who runs on a padded track, you can choose barefoot cushioned shoes.

Not really. In reality, running shoes are designed for running and not for lifting weights. However, if you want to keep only one pair of shoes, then you can lift lighter weights in your running shoes, but the heavy weightlifting is a big no-no as that needs shoes providing a stable and firm stance on the ground.

Surprisingly it does! It is suggested to try a new pair of running shoes at the end of the day because the continuous movement of your legs throughout the day makes your feet swell. If the new pair fits you when your feet are at their maximum size, they are right for you to wear anytime.

There should be a gap of at-least ½ to 1 inch between your big toe and the front end of the shoes. When you are running, your feet slide insides the shoe so there should be enough space to avoid black nail.

Thumb rule when buying running shoes is don't buy perfect size. Your feet swell when you run, and therefore, oversized running shoes are suggested. You can go half-size larger than whatever you typically wear. However, if you cover ultra-long distances, then your feet will swell even more, and you can buy an even larger size than just half-size.

One way is, flip the shoe over and press near the toe using your thumb. If you can press it significantly, the shoe is past its prime. Second is, hold the shoe upright, cup your palm around the heel and fold the toe towards the heel. If you find creasing in the middle of the sole, it's time to get a new pair.

Puma, Adidas, Reebok, Nike, New Balance, Asics, Sketchers, Avant, Lancer are some of the top running shoe brands in India.

Most of the running shoes are washable but yet you should clean it as per the care instructions given with it.

It is safe to machine wash a pair of running shoes until and unless clear instructions are given not to do so. Plus, put the pair in a shoe bag before tossing them into your machine and use handwash mode.

If you are a regular runner, who runs 25km/h in a week on an average, you will not need a new pair until 4-6 months.

The best way to stretch a pair of running shoes is, wear them and walk around the house. Otherwise, you can freeze them overnight or wear them with a few layers of socks on.

Your running shoes squeak either due to the rubber bottoms or moisture content in the insole.

Different shoes make you stronger, faster, and less prone to injury. As per studies, there is a correlation between running in different footwear and reduced injuries. The reason is, every time you wear a different pair of shoes, your feet's interaction with the ground changes slightly which results in strengthening new muscles and reduction in the repetitive stress on the same body parts. (This is one reason that experts suggested a runner should have two pairs of running shoes. For the second reason, read 3.4).

Machine wash is one option. If you prefer handwash, then remove the dirt off the uppers and outer sole. Moreover, you can remove the insoles and clean them separately.

• First and most importantly, do not wear shoes without socks.

• Put a little disinfectant in the cold water and handwash the insole. Don't use warm water and detergents.

• Dry the shoes between wearing and don't put directly in the shoe bag or gym bag after using.

Dry wet running shoes by stuffing newspaper in it once you have removed the insoles. When wet shoes air-dry, they tend to stink. Paper will soak maximum water in the first 10 minutes. After that, you can switch to another batch.

• Give your shoes a 48-hour break. It takes that much time for the foam to decompress. (This is the second reason for keeping two pairs of running shoes.)

• Keep a pair of running shoes away from direct sunlight as heat dries up, shrinks, and hardens the midsole reducing their durability and cushioning.

• Don't keep shoes under heavy shoes. The uppers are pliable, and crushing wears running shoes down.

• Always unlace the running shoes to take them off instead using your foot for the same. This prevents the heel cup from getting crushed and losing support.

• Don't stockpile a lifetime supply of running shoes in your closet. Usually, within two years, the midsole starts to break down.

• If you will not use your shoes anytime soon, keep them in a shoe bag to prevent any stains or mildew.

• Wear running shoes to run only and not for lateral activities or other sports.

This Puma pair of grey & yellow running sports shoes has regular styling and lace-up detail. Other basic features - comfort, stability, and durability- all are present in this pair.  It is most suited for intermediate runners who run on tracks or fields.

It has regular ankle height and medium arch type with no cleats and neutral pronation. It is designed for court surface type to cover the medium distance. Furthermore, it comes with 90 days warranty and medium cushioning. In fact, crafted with PUMA SoftFoam technology, the shoe has maximum cushioning for relaxed strides. This is one of the striking pieces from PUMA advanced in design and features.

The grey-white synthetic running shoes by Puma is designed for everyday comfort wear while running. This trendy sports shoe is executed with stylised synthetic perforated upper and chunky midsole gives it a sporty look. The medium cushioning makes it easy to run that extra mile even on a hard surface. The pronation is neutral, and ankle height is regular. It comes with no cleats and is designed for medium arch type.

The rubber and marking outsole offers traction on even terrain path. It has been designed to give unparallel style and comfort to runners and racers. This is definitely the shoe that you must not miss to experience.

NRGY Comet is Puma's one of the flagship models and considered as one of the best puma running shoes for both men and women. Besides impressing you with their sleek design, new upper, the model adds style to the traditional lightweight runner.

Due to the use of unique technology in the midsole- IGNITE foam drop-they are incredibly lightweight, flexible and breathable providing superior energy return. Also, its ethylene-vinyl acetate outsole ensures enhanced cushioning and comfort.

With round toe style, neutral pronation, and medium arch type, this is one of the most comfortable roads running shoes in our arsenal.

Puma's dare running shoes is a perfect example that a high-quality sports shoes can be stylish as well. We like both the closure style and peacock white colour of this pair. It has a regular width and rubber sole. They are actually designed for court surface type and training or gym purpose only. Due to no cleats and medium cushioning, it is best to wear them indoors. The rubber outsole and toe pads add to the durability and grip.

They are highly recommended to basic-pronators and people with a neutral gait.

If you are preparing for your 100m sprint race, then we are sure HEALTH's this pair should come along. This is the only pair on our list with spikes which facilitates fast running. The bright blue colour is another thing that will make you stand you out of the crowd besides your incredible speed.

This specially designed shoe for athletes is made with mesh material and thereby offers ventilation and breathability. Apart from running, they are suitable for other activities like triple or long jump.

When you talk about top running shoes for men and women in India, and you cannot just ignore the sports brand Reebok. Whether you choose Run panthea or Cl Jogger 3, you are on the right side of the bargain. Smartly designed with synthetic leather on the upper part, these come in epic colour- jet black. While you are busy racking up the kilometres, the EVA midsole keeps your feet cushioned for the long haul. What we admire the most in this pair is forefoot flex grooves for their assisted mobility and ground-gripping traction that helps runners on their toes.

It's time to update your running shoes collection with these top-of-the-line Reebok sports shoes. 

Yamo 1.0 M running-inspired shoe collections from Adidas is one of the best sports shoes for running in India. This one is a perfect combination of synthetic with double layer mesh to ensure breathability and durability. The lightstrike EVA midsole provides stability against your foot, while both walking and running. Moreover, it is designed for the flat feet long road runners. The Adidas performance logo on the tongue and side cage for laces uplift the style game. Checkout reviews and comparison of best women's winter jacket, best running shirts for men, best hammocks, best running shirts for women, best men raincoats, best women raincoats, best men's winter jackets, best camping chairs, best camping tents, best camping beds, best camping tables, best sleeping bags in India.