What shoes do half marathon runners wear? Are there better shoes for a marathon or even a road ultra? Let’s talk about the best long distance running shoes for your foot. From a whole lot of testing by myself and others we’ve got your recommendations.Best Long Distance Running ShoesAfter 33,000 miles of running I have some opinions and luckily for you I’ve also been able to run in a wide variety of running shoe models, brands and styles. Providing me with extra knowledge to help you find the shoe that’s going to feel great with plenty of cushion, structure and lifespan to make it through training and race day.

Beyond my own experiences, I’m lucky to have worked with thousands of long-distance runners who have shared their opinions with me as well.

More than anything else you need a shoe that FEELS GOOD TO YOU.

Seriously, there’s an actual study that proves this!

In this article we are going to look at what makes a good long distance running shoe from pounding the pavement for a half marathon to a trail race, and then my specific shoe recommendations.

Why It’s Important to Have Good Long Distance Running Shoes

The right running shoe matters so much because over the many, many miles you put in, it’s really easy to have issues like ankle pain while running or knee pain while running.

Not simply from weak hips and glutes, but from shoes that aren’t right for you! In fact, wearing the wrong type of running shoes is the top cause of foot pain when running.

A few of the common things we’re trying to find in a good distance shoe.

  • has enough room in the toe box for your feet to spread and potentially swell over the miles
  • allows you to change the lacing to provide more room or lock in your heel
  • keeps your arch from falling inward which places pressure on knees and ankles

Best Long Distance Running Shoes of 2025

7 Best Long Distance Running Shoes

I’ll be sharing one from each of the major running shoe brands. Each brand has a slightly different fit and feel, so if you’ve tried a shoe from them previously now you’ll know which model will go the distance.

Click on any shoe name below to see complete details.

Best Long Distance Shoes Overall for Daily Training: New Balance 1080 v14

New Balance’s Fresh Foam is every bit as lovely as it sounds. These shoes feel fabulous when you slip them on and yet maintain good responsiveness. Unlike the super plush HOKA Bondi that you can sink in to, you’ll remain quick off the ground in these shoes.

These shoes do not have a padded collar which some runners may dislike, but I didn’t notice any issues with that. I did the normal heel lock lacing as will all my shoes and they felt great.

I’d say these shoes run not wide or narrow, but directly in the middle. However, New Balance is known for offering wide sizes in most models!

new balance 1080 v14 review

Best Long Distance Cushioned Trainer: Asics Novablast 5

The Asics Novablast 5 is  a max cushioned daily trainer that doesn’t cause you to sink in and still results in energy return. It will easily be the shoe you reach for on long run days.

Looking at the shoe I expected it to be heavier and a little firm. But it’s actually a great lighter weight cushioned trainer. It’s not quite as plush as the NB FreshFoam, but I think for many runners that’s a plus as it will provide a little more support for running with higher arches.

For me this is one of the best Asics I’ve run in for awhile. A great breathable upper in a shoe that once again doesn’t run narrow, but I wouldn’t call built for wide feet.Novablast 5 Review

We hate to gush about a shoe, but so far it’s really checking a lot of boxes for the middle of the pack runners.

Best Long Distance Running Shoe for Moderate Cushion: Brooks Ghost

THe Brooks Ghost is a classic that often appears on our best of lists and for good reason.

The Brooks Ghost’s impressive cushioning, lightweight feel, and support make it a great choice for high-mileage running thanks to the DNA Loft v3 foam cushioning it uses.

These feel like a shoe with a lot more structure and while cushioned, they don’t have the plush feel of some shoes. We really liked the change to the Ghost 16’s, they just feel so much better from previous models.

This is useful to many runners who end up with lower back pain while running in a too cushioned shoe.

Ghost 17 Heel Drop

The change our team is most excited about is in the heel to toe drop.The Ghost 17 is a neutral running shoe now with a 10mm heel to toe drop.

It’s not a huge difference, but if the 12 mm felt too high, you’ll really appreciate this. Plus, the lower drop will make a difference in potentially reducing knee pain or IT Band issues that often pop up with newer runners.

Best Stability Long Distance Shoe: Asics Gel-Kayano

We recently did a full review of the Asics GEL Kayano and here it is again as a long-standing winner. It’s a favorite marathon training shoe and one that will help to provide you with the extra support your foot needs.

The Asics Gel Kayano 32 is known for its supportive, multi-density midsole and firmer foam through the arch. They’re one of the best motion-control shoes with firmer medial (inner) and softer lateral (outer) midsole sidewalls.ASICS Gel Kayano Review

The updated 4D Guidance System helps keep your foot from rolling inward, which can reduce strain on the plantar fascia, while the FlyteFoam Blast+ Eco midsole softens impact with every step. That means less pressure on your heel and more comfort during walking workouts.

The ASICS GEL Kayano was first released in 1993 and due to its popularity is now on the 32nd edition!

The shoe has been designed to be a stability shoe for overpronators, but it’s highly popular for high-mileage neutral runners as well.

Best Neutral Long Distance Running Shoes: Saucony Kinvara

The Kinvara is another shoe that I have run in since it was first released. In fact, it’s been my go to half marathon shoe for over a decade. Based on all of my testing, it’s a great running shoe for up to about 17 miles.

This is not a plush shoe or a stability shoe. It really is a super light, slight cushion, responsive trainer. Some of you may prefer to use this shoe on tempo runs or days where you’re aiming to hit goal pace miles, and stay with the more cushioned shoes on easy days.

They have gone back to the original Kinvara stack height of 29mm and we’re so here for it!!! They feel fantastic with this change. It’s still plenty of cushion, it’s just not squishy or bouncy like an Endorphin Pro. It’s sleek and streamlined and does the work.Saucony Kinvara 16 Review

Due the lower heel drop, this has been a shoe I found really helped with my IT Band issues and have heard this from many others since I first discovered it.

Best Long-Distance Trail Running Shoes: HOKA Speedgoat

The HOKA Speedgoat is a serious favorite among HOKA fans. You can count me in to this group.

Having tested a ton of trail running shoes in the last year, the Speedgoat stands out for a few reasons. The cushion is fabulous when spending a lot of time on your feet. Even with the cushion and stack height, it remains a light shoe which doesn’t waste energy as the miles increase.

I love the toe cap to protect my feet from rocks. While it does have good lugs on the Vibram rubber outsole, I wouldn’t say it has the most traction of all the trail shoes. However, unless you are doing a wet rocky run you should be good.

Hoka Speedgoat review

Best Long Distance Running Shoes for Speed: Nike Alphafly 3

If you’re looking for a carbon plate running shoe, then the Alphafly is the king of the hill.

The Alphafly is a much more comfortable long run shoe than the Vaporfly and it’s easy to see why it’s the choice shoe for marathon runners. There’s a beautiful bounciness to the shoe, while still feeling stable. If you’ve not yet tried any of the Alphafly models, it’s a significant difference from your daily trainer.

As noted, there is a bounciness to the ZoomX, an insanely thin Atomknit mesh upper, a feeling of support in the arch and the pop of that full carbon plate.

Somehow they managed to carve out just a bit more of the shoe to drop 15% weight and yet maintain the level of cushion that’s necessary for the speed. With a shoe at this level, even minor adjustments are big and those two things alone are huge.

Nike Alphafly 3 Review

The combination of the longer wider carbon fiber plate and ZoomX foam and the Zoom Air units make the Nike Alphafly 3 one of the most technologically advanced running shoes on the market.

When to Replace Long Distance Running Shoes?

If you’ve found a pair of shoes that you love during training, then get a new pair about a month before the race.

This gives you a chance to wear them on a few shorter runs and one long run.

Assume that most shoes have a lifespan of about 500 miles. So if you’ve already put 350 miles on them they are starting to breakdown and you’re losing some of that energy return they love to tout in the cushion.

What To Look For In Long Distance Running Shoes?

When considering a pair of running shoes for 13.1 miles to over 26.2 there are a few key areas that you want to examine. The goal is to find a shoe that can take you through most of training, so then you can grab a new pair and flow easily in to race day.

#1 Comfort

Your long distance running shoes should be, first and foremost, comfortable. This sounds too simple, but why would you force yourself to wear a shoe that doesn’t feel great.

To me that’s often a sign that the shoe is going to rub causing blisters or that your body doesn’t like it, which is a great way to get injured.

#2 Cushioning

Remember that more is not always better. A super plush shoe like the Hoka Bondi could lead you to sink in a little bit as the run goes on and lead to lower back pain while running. Surprising, but not uncommon. Which is why I love that shoe for my recovery days.

The flipside is going with minimal cushion can be really hard on the feet and joints with endurance events.

In general, I recommend moderate cushioning for nearly every runner. And as always you should have a rotation of shoes, so so many be more or less cushioned than others.

#3 Base Level of Support

Speaking of support, it’s an incredibly important aspect when picking the right distance running shoes.

As we run over long distances, our muscles eventually become fatigued, and this causes our form to deteriorate. When you’re tired, wearing supportive shoes can help you run longer and with better form and that’s exactly what we need during a marathon.

What I am NOT implying is that you should buy a stability shoe. I don’t want to force your foot in to any particular direction.

Instead, we like shoes with a slightly wider base that provide natural elements of stability.

#4 Durable Outsole

When it comes to durability, it’s important to look for a solid rubber outer rather than one made of blown rubber. This will ensure your shoes survive more of your training.

Even though a rougher outsole could add weight, it’s worthwhile to take that into account, especially if running in the summer on extremely hot concrete or asphalt.

#5 Breathability

I recommend running shoes with good breathability. Because we naturally have sweaty feet while running and our feet swell, we want to dissipate as much heat as possible. This will again prevent blisters or hotspots from forming.

When looking for shoes with a lot of breathability, look for styles that have mesh uppers. A waterproof shoe might be great for certain winter or rain adventures, but it will be a much hotter shoe.

#6 Type of Feet

Another really important thing to consider is the shape of your foot and specifically the height of your arch.

This is because your arch affects your gait, or how your foot strikes the ground when you run.

High arches running shoes

Different types of gaits determine which areas of the foot require the most support and this will affect how much arch support to look for in your shoes.

When running, people with flat feet or low arches frequently notice that their feet roll inward which is called overpronation.

Such runners should consider stability shoes which provide additional support through the midsole and into the heel preventing injuries.

However, neutral shoes are best for MOST runners and those with high arches since they need a lot of cushioning, particularly in the midfoot.

#6 Toe box Room

You’ll want to look for a shoe with ample space in the toe box.

In general, the longest toe should have a thumb’s distance from the shoe box. This prevents the toe from repeatedly striking the toe box, which can cause problems like runner’s toes.

We also want to ensure there is plenty of room for our toes to move as our foot swells during the race. If you’re getting numb feet while running, then your shoe is too small.

However, a shoe that is too wide may also cause your foot to move about inside it and your toes to rub against the toe box, which could result in blisters or other issues.

#7 Fits the Terrain

The type of terrain you’ll encounter when long-distance running will also affect which shoes are best for you.

For example, the shoes you’ll need for trail marathons will be very different from the ones you’ll need for road marathons.

Road runners will need plenty of cushioning while trail runners will need outsoles with a good grip. In this article we’ll include some trail shoes, but mostly focus on road options.

Other Things to Consider

While one pair could get you through all of training, it might be run down enough that you don’t want to wear it for race day.

If you’ve found a pair that you love during training, then grab a new pair about a month before the race.

And of course, it’s important to know when to replace your running shoes!

Other questions to ask yourself when considering the best running shoes to buy are:

  • Do you have pronation issues that you can’t correct with strengthening exercises?
  • Do you want a pair specifically for race day that is lighter? (consider them your race shoes)
  • Have wide feet? (feet swell the farther we run and in heat, so know your foot)

A major factor is understanding how running shoes should fit.

Go through those key pieces before selecting any shoe from the list of ideas that follow.

How Many Running Shoes Should You have?

I cover in depth why you need to rotate running shoes, but for the sake of time say a minimum of two pairs of shoes for marathon training.

And yes, that’s two different styles for during training and then a new pair coming up on race day.

If you’ve only done a 12 week training plan, then maybe you won’t need a new pair for race day. But most of us start training in an older pair and pile on the miles.

Those fresh shoes will have better structure and cushion, which we absolutely want when running 26.2 miles.

How Do You Tell When Your Running Shoes Are Worn Out?

If you train over longer distances, your shoes will likely wear out sooner.

If your running shoes are worn out, the upper may be worn or torn, the outsole may be smoothing out, the midsole foam may appear compressed, and you may be getting foot or knee pain when you run if you weren’t before.

These are the classic signs that your shoes are worn out, so head on over to get a new pair to be ready before the race!

If this is your first marathon, don’t forget to check out these beginner marathon training tips and my new Couch to Marathon Training Plan.

Looking for more reviews to find the best things for your run?

Checkout our full page of my must have running gear reviews and guides to save you time searching and money! I share what’s worked for me and fellow runners, along with what wasn’t worth the price tag.

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