Pick a running shoe by the run you do most

The men's running shoes here cover first runs, long easy miles, fast sessions and trails. Start from the run you do most often:

• Starting out and everyday runs: the adidas Galaxy 7 is made to help you start and progress, up to your first 5K. The adidas Supernova Ease is a stable daily shoe for short to mid-distance runs. The Nike Revolution 8 and Downshifter 14 are built for everyday road running.
• Cushioned everyday runs: the On Cloudmonster 1 pairs oversized CloudTec cushioning with a Speedboard. The Nike Winflo 11 combines Cushlon 3.0 foam with a full-length Nike Air unit.
• Faster runs: the adidas Adizero Evo SL uses LightstrikePro cushioning. The Duramo Speed 2 is described as light and fast, with Lightstrike cushioning for a 10k goal.
• Trails: the adidas Tracefinder handles trail running, hiking and off-road walks. The Puma Voyage Nitro 3 has a full NITROFOAM midsole and a PUMAGRIP outsole with lugs. The Anta Summit Stride is an entry-level trail shoe.

The cushioning names, decoded

Each brand names its foam, and the name tells you where a shoe sits. Under Armour pairs use either Charged Cushioning, as on the Rogue 5 and Pursuit 4, or UA HOVR. The Sonic 7 and Turbulence 2 listings say HOVR reduces impact and returns energy. adidas uses Cloudfoam on the Runfalcon, Lightmotion on the Duramo and Lightstrike on its faster shoes. On builds on CloudTec, with Helion superfoam on the Cloudmonster Void.

Stability and wide feet

If you want more support, the On Cloudrunner 3 is built for stability on everyday runs. The Nike Quest 6 has a midfoot fit band to keep you stable. For wide feet, the Skechers Go Run Now Stover comes in an Extra Wide fit.

If you are new to running, start with the Galaxy 7 or the Revolution 8 and build from there. Compare more in men's running, Under Armour running and men's walking shoes.