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Entering the gym in 2024 with the same old worn-out sneakers you've been rocking for the past couple years is…fine, we suppose, but the best workout shoes should really be up-to-speed with the latest technology to help you smash your fitness goals (and not so busted that they've lost their grip and shock absorption). While you certainly can wear the kicks from your last half marathon for tackling plyometrics or lifting, too, you're ultimately setting yourself up for a disadvantage by not tailoring your shoes to the exercise at hand.
“Wearing the right pair of shoes for your workout is a game-changer, not just because you’ll be able to perform better, but you’ll also reduce your risk of injury,” says physical therapist Dan Giordano, co-founder of Bespoke Treatments (which has locations in California, New York, and Washington). Giordano offers up the example of a running sneaker with a lot of cushion—that wouldn’t be the right pick for powerlifting, and vice versa. “The cushion that helps protect your feet from the repetition of your stride on the run could throw you off balance in the weight room,” he says. This could also decrease force production, or the amount of force you can put into the ground during your lifts—that foam is standing between you and your next PR, in other words.
The Best Workout Shoes for Men, at a Glance
Your go-to gym shoes finally gave out, and now you need a replacement ASAP. Stop sitting around and skip right to the finish line:
- The Best Running Shoes for the Treadmill: On Running Cloudswift 3, $160
- The Best Daily Trainer: Hoka Clifton 9, $145
- The Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet: Saucony Guide 16,
$140$65 - The Best Trail Running Shoes: Nike Ultrafly, $260
- The Best Shoes for Spin Class: Fizik Tempo Powerstrap, $130
- The Best Workout Shoes for HIIT: Reebok Nano X3, $140
- The Best Cross-Trainers: Nike Metcon 9, $150
- The Best Weightlifting Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars, $60
How to choose the right workout shoe
As Giordano mentioned, different activities require different features. If you're a runner, you know that understanding your gait is key to selecting the right shoe. F45 head trainer Michael Hornig always recommends trying on shoes in person or getting fitted by in-house to find a size that fits securely while alleviating ankle rolling and injuries. "One size (or type) does not fit all," Hornig adds.
So what if you want to have your cake and eat it, too (i.e. find a hybrid shoe that will suit a variety of exercises)? Plenty of workouts these days involve some combination of running with weights—think CrossFit. In that case, Giordano says the best workout shoes are something in between for cross-functionality. “Look for an option that’s not too high off the ground in the heel,” he says. “This will reduce the potential for you to rock backward or forward in your lifting movements, and give you a sturdy platform of support.”
Cross-trainers have their place, but some of the best gym shoes are suited for specific types of movement, just like our favorite workout clothes. Serious distance runners know that they need running shoes with soles that provide good lift-off and bounce, providing high energy return and propelling them forward with each stride. Meanwhile, weightlifters will want the opposite, with a shoe that keeps them securely in place.
Style is another limiting factor that will guide your decision, but fortunately, gym shoes usually come in multiple colorways, so you can find something you won't be embarrassed to wear outside.
With so many options released each year, we tapped top trainers with different sweat styles for their go-to picks, below. And to round out our picks, we mined the annual GQ Fitness Awards for the newest technical men's footwear hand-picked by our editors.
The Best Running Shoes for the Treadmill: On Running Cloudswift 3
For those who clock their miles on the treadmill rather than the pavement, personal trainer Dan Castillo, the head of brand strategy at Sole Treadmills, recommends On's Cloudswift running shoes. Those specific shoes have since been replaced by the Cloudswift 3 runners, which carry over a lot of the same traits that Castillo appreciated about the OGs, like a flexible sole and bottom. “This sneaker is extremely lightweight, which is what I look for in a traditional running pick,” he says. He notes that it's not the type of shoe that he'd recommend for heavy lifting, but adds that they're “amazing for everything from sprints to longer runs, as well as moving around the city.”
The Best Daily Trainer: Hoka Clifton 9
Running coach Matthew Luke Meyer is a fan of Hoka's Clifton line, which is currently on its ninth iteration. His original pick, the Clifton 6, is no longer in production, but the latest Clifton 9 is lighter and even more cushioned than ever before. “This has been my go-to daily trainer for the last two years. I’m on my twelfth pair, and I don’t plan on switching any time soon," Meyer says. “It's great because it's the trifecta of light, supportive, and comfortable.”
The Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet: Saucony Guide 16
Hornig describes the Saucony Guide 13s as the “supportive but not corrective” shoes he needed to help support his flat feet. “The Sauconys alleviated my knee pain and enabled me to run longer and more consistently,” he adds. Recently, the Guide 13s have been upgraded in the form of the Guide 16 running shoes. They boast a frame which offers a more natural gait cycle, encouraging a smoother run overall.
The Best Shoes for Marathon Runners: Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
The Adizero Adios Pro 3, as in say “Adios” to the competition, nabbed a GQ Fitness Award last year for its streamlined features, from ultralight cushioning and a high-traction rubber sole to a textile lining that offers a comfortable fit for athletes. Like Nike's Vaporfly technology, the carbon-infused rods running underneath the foot provide stiffness while also minimizing energy loss. To get less technical, they're lightweight shoes made for long-distance runners who need to conserve as much energy as possible with every stride.
The Best Trail Running Shoes: Nike Ultrafly
We recently singled out Nike's Ultrafly trail runners in last year's GQ Fitness Awards, where we praised them as the carbon-plated Nike racing shoe that's finally been adapted for the trail. Nike's Vaporfly technology—so good that it was initially banned by the World Athletics governing body—gives runners competitive energy return with each step. On top of that, trail runners will find a Vibram outsole and impressive traction for stability on wet, slick, and uneven surfaces.
The Best-Looking Trail Running Shoes: Norda 001
Back in 2022, we GQ Fitness Awards to find these attractive trail runners from Norda, a little-known Canadian brand. You may not know this name yet, but the innovative footwear brand came sprinting off the blocks with the 001 Shoes. To create these unique workout shoes, Norda used a super lightweight technical fabric called Dyneema, which you'll also find in racing yacht sails. As we head into 2024, the shoe's ultra-thin upper is still unlike anything we've tried before. As we noted at the time, the end result is an “incredibly cool looking shoe that just feels right when you’re moving as fast as you can over broken terrain.”
The Best Shoes for Spinning: Fizik Tempo Powerstrap
The co-founder of Pedal House, Joseph Foley, knows a thing or two about cycling shoes and these Tempo Powerstrap shoes are his top choice for their look, value, and performance. “I personally tested them out for a year teaching four to five classes a day," he says. "They last, and I still have them.”
The brand's been around since the ‘90s, originally starting with saddles before expanding into products like shoes. “Its shoes are Italian-made and normally in a higher price bracket, and the quality of the shoes can be seen all over professional cycling events,” Foley explains.
The Best Adjustable Shoes for Cycling: Scott Road Comp Boa
Clipping into and out of a bike can be a nuisance if you don't have the right footwear, but not with these Scott shoes, which fitness and cycling instructor Jason Tran recommends for their Boa system. He explains that it's “like a dial that really customizes the fit to the foot” for a locked-in feel. “There’s also a lower velcro strap, which keeps the foot secure and offers a tight, comfortable fit.”
The Best Workout Shoes for HIIT: Reebok Nano X3
“For any type of high-intensity workouts or plyometrics training, I always turn to the Reebok Nano line," Kenny Santucci, trainer and owner of Strong New York, says. Santucci explains that these shoes are versatile and lightweight for any type of high-impact training, featuring “a stable sole with some cushioning that is good for plyometrics, multi-directional movements, or strength training depending on the demands of the workouts.” He adds that the shock-absorbing EVA foam midsole is also agile enough to take a beating so your feet don't feel a thing.
The Best Cross-Training Shoes: Nike Metcon 9
Colorado-based trainer Mike Aidala originally recommended the Metcon 5, which have since been replaced by the Metcon 9 model. As he explains, “The Metcon is the most comfortable training shoe I have found that’s built for both stability and speed.” Aidala is a fan of the shoe's low profile and outer rubber material that holds the shoe together when he's running or doing agility work. “It also looks really lean and sleek, which is important when training because if you look good, you feel good.”
The Best Weightlifting Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars
Converse went from being the best shoes for basketball to becoming the best shoes for weightlifting. At least, that's according to Santucci, who has been wearing them for the past 20 years since before there were any specialized training shoes. “For strength training and weightlifting, you want a flat, hard sole that will provide a stable base," he says, and “both the high top and low top version of the Chuck Taylor All Stars fit the bill a flat, stable bottom that enables you to ground your whole foot into the floor and generate power through your whole foot.”