The 6 Best Treadmill Shoes of 2023

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Make the most of your gym time with these picks from Nike, Hoka, New Balance, and more.

Whether you’re looking for more control over your workout or you’re staying inside to avoid unpredictable weather, treadmill running is certainly a change of pace from hitting the road or the trail. Dedicating a fresh pair of treadmill shoes to indoor runs can help optimize your experience—and give your regular trainers a break.

Even though treadmills simulate the experience of running on the road, there are plenty of differences between the machine and the trail. Most crucially, the terrain outside has plenty of variation, whereas treadmills are uniformly flat. The controlled environment eliminates bumps, curves, and subtle changes in incline, so you don't have to worry as much about utmost support or sticky treads when shopping for treadmill shoes.

Read on to see our picks for the best treadmill shoes that take advantage of these static conditions.

We get it: It might sound like a lot to invest in yet another pair of shoes just for the treadmill, especially if you’ve come to love a pair for the road or trail already. But a fresh pair of shoes that won't track dirt and that better relieves your feet from repetitive, identical impacts is a nice extra arrow to have in a regular runner's quiver.

There's also a bit more room to play with dedicated treadmill shoes, depending on the support your feet need. As opposed to road or trail shoes, treadmill shoes can be a bit more stripped down. Because your outdoor shoes come into contact with more abrasive and variable conditions, they need to be more durable and stable.

On a treadmill, since the surface never changes, there's much less risk of an awkward strike that could result in an injury. The best treadmill shoes take advantage of this opportunity and are often lighter, more cushioned, and better ventilated than outdoor shoes, taking the focus away from the structural redundancies that make more sense on an uneven path.

Like all other running shoes, your treadmill shoes should properly fit your feet and running style. Even though your treadmill's terrain isn't nearly as demanding as most outside runs, a shoe that supports your stride will likely prevent undue pain, discomfort, and energy loss. Repetitively taking the same impacts might exacerbate how your stride affects your runs, so it's important to stick with a shoe that supports your feet.

Knowing your stride style, where you strike on your foot, your arch support needs, and the pronation of your ankles will make you feel leagues more confident with the choice you ultimately make. If you’re not sure what fit is right for you, be sure to check out our guide on how to better understand where you stand and how you move. If you’re still lost, don't be afraid to stop by a local running shop and get your feet sized in person.

All of the recommendations on this list are backed by testing from our editors and wear testers here at Runner's World. We looked for the shoes in our arsenal that are optimized for the conditions on a treadmill, including weight, ventilation, cushioning, and how these factors impact each other. We used our own tests, as well as online reviews from fellow running enthusiasts, to ensure that each treadmill shoe we recommend can go the distance, both in performance and value.

Long lauded by our test team as one of our favorite shoes, Brooks's 15th edition of the Ghost perfectly exhibits what a good treadmill shoe can and should look like.

Made with a proprietary compression-molded EVA foam, our testers found that this shoe adapts well to the sole of your foot, giving you room to settle into your stride with a relieving sense of stability—that goes a long way to take your mind off the flatness of the treadmill under you.

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It's not always easy to find a quality do-it-all shoe that doesn't break the bank. The Winflo manages to hold its own—our test team celebrates its smoothness, similar to the Nike Pegasus 39.

That said, the biggest compromise Nike made to boost the quality of this shoe in its latest few versions has been with its weight, so it might not be the right pick if you often feel your running shoes are too heavy.

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Even on the treadmill, an unstable-feeling shoe can eventually lead to pain and discomfort. If you’re looking for a more stable option, look no further than the 860 line from New Balance. The shoe's newest iteration, the v13, improves on earlier versions with a softer foam in the sole, and it expands on the 860's lauded near-perfect fit.

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If you’re looking to maximize the lightweight and well-cushioned midsoles of a good treadmill shoe, it's worth giving the Clifton 9 a peek. As our testers found, the cushion in the sole of this shoe punches well above its weight, lending to a shoe that feels pillow-like underfoot without feeling clumsy or overbuilt.

The toebox is also more generous than other similar shoes, which is great for folks with wide feet. Be wary that the sole might wear a bit faster than on other shoes, but this shouldn't be as much of an issue if you keep yours indoors.

Hoka is best known for its comfort-oriented shoes, but that doesn't mean it doesn't make some models with a little extra snap. The Mach 5, a perfect example, offers impressive energy return while remaining a versatile shoe.

The Meta-Rocker sole helps add extra spring to the transition between your heel and toe with each strike, and this helps you pick up the pace with more gusto than the other shoes on this list. It has a firmer feel as a result, though, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for a lot of cushioning.

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Whether you’re coming back from an injury or you simply enjoy a more relaxed pace, the Go Walk shoe from Skechers is a solid entry into the walking shoe world. The design doesn't feel too bulky, but the sole is bouncy, responsive, and breathable—perfect for a slower-paced shoe that doesn't get much fresh air. The pleasantly light insole helps make this shoe an effective option for gentler strides.

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Adam Schram is an Assistant Editor of Commerce at Runner's World, though you might see his byline on Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a bike mechanic in his hometown of State College, PA. His journalism experience is steeped in cycling and running gear reviews, and he's also a published creative nonfiction and satire author. When he's not writing, riding, or running, you can catch Adam at home mixing cocktails, watching Star Wars, or trying in vain to do the Sunday crossword. You can check out his latest work below.

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