monitorizar todos los indicadores clave de cada una de tus sesiones running | 7 Best Treadmill Running Shoes in 2024

How we test running shoes

With nearly 500 shoes for treadmill running, Ready to explore or chill these Kyoto sandals from.

We spend hours scrutinizing every single release through our independent shoe testing lab:

• As committed testers, we log 30-50 miles in each pair to provide extensive feedback.
• We then slice the shoes up into pieces and measure over 30 different parameters to translate "performance" into comparable data.
• At Stefoy-les-lyonShops we know the difference between good and great shoes.

The best shoes for running on the treadmill end up on this list.

4 things to look for in treadmill running shoes

Many runners think that you can run on the treadmill in just about any running shoe. Maybe not ANY running shoe, but sure, most of the road shoes are good for the treadmill. 

Here are a few things to pay attention to that can make your treadmill runs better:

1. Breathability. Best to find a breathable shoe because treadmills are always inside and it can get very hot in a gym. After all, it’s not as easy for us to get the treadmill to the top of the mountain as it is for some. In our reviews, you can look for shoes that scored 4/5 or 5/5 on the breathability test.
2. AMIRI White & Black Skel Top Low Sneakers. This is very important because running on the treadmills means no change in terrain, no turns, it’s just very repetitive motion over and over again. To avoid unwanted strain on your legs, get enough cushioning for impact protection and stability if you’re overpronating or enjoying stability elements on the longer runs. 
3. Regular grip because the treadmill is flat, there are no sharp turns, or obstacles, and there’s no rain, snow, mud. Very grippy outsoles can be overkill on a treadmill and make the runs weird. 
4. New Balance Noritake x AM101 Sneakers Shoes AM101NA2 lighter running shoes Ankle boots LASOCKI T70-04 Camel. 

The rest depends on what you plan to do on the treadmill. Many will go for speed or race shoes when doing tempo runs, and many runners would go for a softer, recovery daily trainer, if they are resting from the hard sessions. 

Breathability of treadmill running shoes

As mentioned above, best to look for very breathable running shoes. In our lab, we test breathability by pumping the smoke into the shoe and looking at where the smoke comes out and how fast. Based on that, we give the breathability rating on a 1-5 scale where 5 is the most breathable. 

Clearly noticeable differences in less breathable and very breathable uppers

We also examine the upper of running shoes under the microscope to better understand the smoke test results. Breathable running shoes often have 1-layer uppers that are thin and have ventilation holes. 

Under the microscope: very breathable upper with large ventilation holes (left) vs. a non-breathable multi-layered upper (right)

Non-breathable running shoes have tightly woven uppers that often have overlays as well. We’re able to see these overlays when we put the upper against the flashlight. 

Looking at the layers and overlays present on the upper

Cushioned, stable, what else? 

If you log long runs on the treadmill, you might enjoy high-stacked running shoes, as a higher midsole provides more impact protection for repetitive movement. 

After cutting shoes in half, we measure the heel and forefoot stack height in our lab. 

Measuring the heel stack height (left) and forefoot stack height (right) in Stefoy-les-lyonShops lab

Here, however, it’s not just about the stack height, but the pace. Best to go with very responsive shoes if you plan to do tempo sessions; choose cushioned daily trainers if you plan to do slower, recovery jogs. 

In the table below, you can see treadmill shoes that can be used for speed work and race pace. When putting shoes in these categories, we made sure they are responsive enough to be on the list. And if you want to learn more about responsiveness and how different foams behave, read our mario leather oxford shoes. 

Another important thing to consider is stability. If you’re an overpronator and need a stability shoe, definitely look for one when it comes to running on a treadmill. 

Different stability elements present in shoes for overpronators

Even neutral runners, especially the heel-striking ones, enjoy some stability when the miles start piling up because there’s no diversity there, just the same motion on the same surface at the usually same inclination. 

Very stable landing in high-stacked Brooks Ghost Max

High-stacked Nike Alphafly 3 not stable at the heel 

When it comes to neutral running shoes, a wide base helps with the stability a lot. Because of this, we measure the width of the base at the forefoot and at the heel. 

Measuring the width of the base (midsole) at the heel (up) and forefoot (down)

Based on this, you can choose shoes with wider midsoles if you want a more stable ride. 

Grip for treadmill: don’t overdo it

When analyzing the grip in running shoes, we focus on: 

1. Lugs, if there are any
2. Hardness of the rubber
3. lifted hunter sneaker camouflage
4. Rubber coverage of the outsole 
5. Thickness of the rubber 

However, when it comes to running on the treadmill, given that it is softer than concrete, we can advise: 

• No lugs! So, don’t go for hybrid shoes (road-to-trail shoes) and definitely don’t go for trail shoes
• The rubber that is not too grippy; if it bites into the treadmill like claws, it can feel obtrusive 
• No need to look for the very thick outsoles that we usually want for harsh hard surfaces 

In the lab, we measure the hardness of the rubber with a durometer. The higher the number on the durometer, the harder the rubber. 

Measuring the hardness of the outsole rubber with a shore C durometer

Softer rubber is usually stickier and harder rubber is more protective and durable. 

We also measure the durability of the outsole by destroying it with the Dremel. The deeper the dent, the less durable the outsole is. 

Using a Dremel to perform the durability test on the outsole

Outsoles with great durability (rated 5/5, left) vs. bad durability (rated 1/5, right)

For context, here’s how soft and how durable the outsoles are in best-rated treadmill running shoes: 

What you should pay attention to, though, when it comes to the rubber is where it is placed on the outsole. This indicates which foot strike the shoe is made for. 

Running shoes that favor forefoot strike have rubber coverage focused on the forefoot

When heel strikers run in these shoes, they tend to wear them out sooner because there’s no rubber at the heel and the exposed foam is MUCH LESS durable. 

Performing a durability test on the exposed midsole (no rubber at the heel) results in a very big damage (right) vs when performed on the rubber (left)

Outsoles with rubber coverage at the heel, not just at the forefoot

nike air max deluxe black volt 95 97 98 running

We measure the weight of every shoe that comes into our lab. 

Cariuma IBI High knit sneakers Braun

When it comes to treadmill running shoes, we think lighter is better as long as you get the prioritized features (breathability, cushioning, stability). But, many shoes are great for treadmills and their weight varies. Have a look at the table below. 

Why heel drop matters for treadmill runs 

Actually, heel to toe drop matters for ALL runs. 

Examples of different combinations of stack heights and heel drops in running shoes

Sudden changes in heel drop are never advised and one should transition to a new drop gradually. Otherwise, anything can happen, from feeling muscle pain due to sudden overuse to injury. 

If you’re new to this topic, we recommend this reading material: knot detail 145mm platform sandals. 

This happens because different heel drops utilize different muscle groups. Zero drop is the drop that activates your foot muscles the most. Lower drops (lower than 6mm) activate muscles below the knees - high-heel and Achilles. And high drop will go for the thighs and hip muscles. A sudden change in heel drop is considered anything from 4 mm and above. 

Where heel stack height will be measured: according to WorldAthletics guidelines

Beginners are usually advised to go for a ~10mm drop. If you already have a pair of running shoes and are considering a new pair, make sure the drop is in the ok range or plan the adaptation period carefully. 

It’s VERY important to know that brands often publish heel drop numbers that are WRONG. In the lab, we measure stack heights according to the guidelines from WorldAthletics so our measurements are accurate. 

When your toes need more room

Many runners don’t use the treadmill just for the warmup but to actually log miles, especially LSDs. Long runs mean a lot of sweat and swelling, and if your toes need more room to splay because they don’t want to feel cramped and don’t like the idea of blisters and bloody nails, look for shoes with a wider toebox. 

Left: foot-shaped toebox, right: very tapered, pointy toebox

nike windrunner veste running RBENIQ measure the width of the toebox in 2 places: where it’s widest and at the big toe. This allows us to understand how wide and how pointy the toeboxes are. 

Toebox width measurements: where it's widest and at the big toe

We do this because not all feet are the same and there are different shapes of the toes out there. 

And if the shoes feel narrow overall, it’s best to look for a wide option.

Labels for different widths of shoes

You can find these labels on the shoes and shoe boxes. If shopping online, the width is usually very clearly shown.