Are you a beginner having plans to start running because you care about your health and want to look cool? But you don’t know where to start? Well, we’d suggest you start with the proper gear. Gear is as important in any sport as clothes on the human body. You’d want to have the proper watch, the right kind of shorts, and running shoes for beginners. Most important of all is, of course, the shoes.
Not only will shoes affect your form. They can alter your stamina, speed, bounce back and strike. That’s why you ought to have a nice pair of running shoes to get started. In this blog, we are going to cover our 5 favorite running shoes for beginners. Hope it proves helpful.
1. Adidas Women’s Cloudfoam QT Racer Xpressive-Contemporary Cloudfoam Running Sneakers shoes
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Features
Lightweight
Just by its looks, you can have an idea of how lightweight these shoes can be. And just so you know, lightweight shoes are the preferred kind of shoes for beginners.
Having heavyweight shoes on your beginner runs is not the wisest thing to do. Those kinds of shoes are better for experienced runners, who know how to consume just the right amount of energy for a steady pace and who know how to keep a stable form throughout.
The lightweight feel of these shoes is what makes them good running shoes for beginners. Plus, they are good for speeding up and slowing down as well, as the lightweight will not gain as much momentum as a heavyweight one.
Memory sock liner
Now, this is a feature not a lot of running shoes for beginners offer. Memory sock liners are something you should always look for in shoes, whether you’re a beginner runner or not.
The featured cloud foam memory sock liner will curve itself according to the curves and arches of your foot, so you get a more comfortable experience while running. The memory sock liners are quite great for providing arch support and are correlated with comfort.
Breathability
The shoe features a mesh upper. And although this is something you’ll be coming across quite often in many shoes. We think it makes quite a good combo in this shoe with all the durability, lightweight, and memory sock liner. This combo makes it one of the perfect running shoes for beginners.
Plus, the midsole and the heel are cushioned. This makes it quite durable, as opposed to the idea that all lightweight shoes are less durable. The cushioning provides more comfort to you in addition to breathability and memory sock liner, Which is always a plus.
Pros
- Memory sock liner for comfort
- Lightweight feel
- Highly breathable
Cons
- The inner padding needs improvement
- A little slippery inside
2. ASICS Women’s Gel-Excite 4 Running Shoe
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Features
When it comes to ASICS, no one makes better running shoes for beginners than them. It’s true; the technologies they feature in their shoes and the material and the angles they incorporate all seem to complement each other so nicely.
Rearfoot Gel
Their Gel technology is one of the most famous of all technologies in the world of shoes. The rearfoot Gel technology works as a shock absorber during the strike phase of the running. This allows you to conserve the maximum amount of energy and put a minimum strain on your leg muscles.
The rearfoot Gel also allows a much better smooth transition to midfoot stance during running, which ensures the perfect amount of bounce back for the next step. This is something beginners genuinely need in their shoes.
AHAR outsole
The outsole of this shoe is designed for durability. The AHAR outsole is specifically concentrated on high abrasion areas to withstand maximum abrasion.
This is perfect for beginner runners whose form is still unstable and does not know the ideal energy distribution. You can have a good amount of practice in these shoes without worrying much about wear and tear because these shoes are designed to withstand.
Once you feel comfortable with your form, just switch to another, more professional shoe. However, this shoe is no less professional either.
Removable sock liner
The removable sock liner is always a good thing to have in a shoe. It can increase the depth of a shoe and can make things more comfortable for you.
The company also claims that if you need to place an orthotic inside your shoe, you can always remove the sock liner. This again makes this shoe a perfect running shoe for beginners, as those who use medical orthotics are usually beginners.
Pros
- Removable sock liner to serve different purposes
- Reflective design
- Highly durable (even by the looks of it)
Cons
- A little snug in the toes
- The soles could use a little more cushioning
3. JOOMRA Women’s Minimalist Trail Running Barefoot Shoes
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Features
Removable insole
The removable insole turns the shoe deeper and is a nice feature for those who prefer slightly deeper shoes for some low ankle support feel.
Plus, if you feel like the shoes are still in good condition for wearing thanks to their durability, your feet are not because they have grown to be a little larger than last summer. Then don’t worry. You can remove the insoles, and they will be large enough to fit your feet.
You can also get a barefoot feeling once the insoles are removed, which is a plus for people who like shoes that give a barefoot feeling.
Wide toe box
Now, this is perfect for running shoes for beginners. The wide toe box is something that makes this shoe not only comfortable but also quite breathable as well.
There’s nothing more demotivating for a beginner runner to have sore toes after an excellent running session. But thanks to this shoe’s wide toe box, you can easily wiggle your toes around and have a comfortable run all the time.
Design and traction
The outer sole is rubber, which is pretty common for almost all running shoes out there. But what improves this shoe’s traction is the pattern that’s engraved into its outsole.
The pattern improves its traction so much that it can be used to run off-tracks onto dirt roads and countrysides.
The shoe also features reflective strips, which is always a nice thing to encounter as they start to shine when dusk dawns. The reflective strips pretty much eliminate safety concerns at night as well.
Pros
- Great traction
- Removable insole
- Wide toe box
Cons
- Could use some arch support
- The padding could’ve been better
4. ASICS Women’s Gel-Contend 6 Running Shoes
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Features
AMPLIFOAM midsole
The AMPLIFOAM midsole is one of the very profound technologies of ASICS. The technology ensures increased durability at softer densities.
This means a more natural running form, along with added comfort. Plus, the midsole provides greater flexibility with this technology, which means increased platform adaptability. This is something great for beginner runners as they need as much platform adaptability in their shoes as possible, as this can prevent rookie injuries.
Rearfoot Gel
Just like the previous ASICS we reviewed, this one too has a rearfoot gel technology. Perhaps almost all of the ASICS shoes have rearfoot gel, which makes them one of the perfect running shoes for beginners.
The combination of rearfoot gel along with AMPLIFOAM midsole makes this shoe a great choice if you’re a complete rookie. The midsole will provide you with adaptability, while the gel will make sure you get the bounce back you deserve.
Ortholite sock liner
The ortholite sock liner means that this shoe is specifically designed for moisture control. Or to put it in simple words, breathability.
To keep things fresh and breathable, ASICS has included the ortholite sock liner. OrthoLite is a highly breathable material. Being a compressible material, it allows the air to flow in and out of the shoe due to compressions and decompressions during running. Also, it is less heat retentive than memory foam, which is also a plus.
Pros
- Flexible and platform adaptable midsole
- orthoLite sock liner
- Overall supportive fit
Cons
- The toe box is a little snug
- Could use a little support
5. Nike Women’s Air Zoom Pegasus 36 Running Shoes
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Features
Responsiveness
It is Nike so one could expect nothing but the best. The responsiveness of these pairs of shoes is quite impressive. And that comes thanks to the small details Nike puts in their shoes.
The shoe’s built features an airbag that runs the entire length of the shoe heel-to-toe. Of course, you can see the airbag because it’s inside. But what it does is absorb the impact on every stride. What does it mean to absorb the stride impact? Simple, it means that more potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Simply put, it increases the bounce back.
Lightweight
So unlike many shoes, this one does not feature a dead weight but puts extra rubber in its sole for improved traction.
Pegasus 36 has its rubber soles placed at certain locations only. Areas where the foot strikes the most powerful on the ground. And areas where it experiences the most friction during the toe-off phase.
Lesser rubber means lesser weight. Lesser weight equals faster and swifter running.
Breathability
And finally, the pegasus 36 is made of highly breathable material, Flymesh Fabric. This fabric is not only breathable but also quite durable. This means that you can run as long as you want; the shoes will keep both your feet fresh and the shoe itself strong enough to keep you going through the most challenging of terrains.
Pros
- Highly breathable
- Lightweight
- Very responsive
Cons
- A little short heel wall
- A little snug
Comparison Chart
| Product name | Rating | Price | Dimensions | weight |
|
1. Adidas Women’s Cloudfoam QT Running Sneakers shoes Amazon affiliate link. |
4.5 / 5 | $27.61 – $143.70 | 11.2 x 7.6 x 4.2 inches | 6 ounces |
|
2. ASICS Women’s Gel-Excite 4 Running Shoe Amazon affiliate link. |
4.6 / 5 | $39.95 – $119.99 | 11.6 x 7.4 x 4.4 inches | 8.96 ounces |
|
3. JOOMRA Women’s Minimalist Trail Running Barefoot Shoes Amazon affiliate link. |
4.4 / 5 | $9.99 – $36.99 | 12.5 x 3.4 x 3.1 inches | 15.2 Ounces |
|
4. ASICS Women’s Gel-Contend 6 Running Shoes Amazon affiliate link. |
4.6 / 5 | $34.97 – $132.99 | 10 x 15 x 6 inches | 32 ounces |
|
5. Nike Women’s Air Zoom Pegasus 36 Running Shoes Amazon affiliate link. |
4.6 / 5 | $74 – $275.40 | 11.6 x 7.2 x 4.1 inches | 14.11 ounces |
The Buying Guide On Running Shoes For Beginners
Durability
You want your shoes to be durable at all costs. This is because you’re still a beginner, and you would need the shoes to be as durable as possible. This is because, as a beginner runner, your feet and stance are still accommodating daily to improve your form. This means more pressure on the shoes to accommodate your changing styles.
Plus, as a beginner, you are little aware of the proper stance to keep and the pace to maintain. It might not seem like it, but the less durable shoes suffer from a constantly changing pace.
Hence, make sure your shoes are durable enough until you’re an expert runner, and you can maintain pace and stamina while keeping a steady form and vertical ratio.
Cushioning and shock absorption
While making sure the shoes are durable, make sure that the shoes are cushioned enough, so your feet do not turn out sore after running sessions. That can be a very discomforting and demotivating experience.
Also, make sure the shoes feature some shock absorption technology. This makes sure that you do not waste many energy-absorbing shocks during the strike phases of running. The more shock absorption a shoe features, the more it favors bouncing back. And what do you get with a nice bounce back? Speed, stability, form, and the stamina to run that extra mile. Plus, there’s always less strain on your calf muscles and Achilles tendon with good shock absorption.
Arch Support And Heel Drop
Arch support is something beginner runners must always look for, as a shoe with minimum arch support will bring you discomfort and soreness. If you have high arches, make sure the shoe you’re buying has high arch supports and vice versa.
You can ignore arch support a little when you lean towards the more experienced side since, by that time, you’ll be experienced enough to know how to adjust your stance and form sufficient to provide maximum arch support naturally.
As for the heel drop, normal running shoes feature mostly a 10mm heel drop. Make sure that the heel drop is no less than 10mm. Also, don’t go for too much of a heel drop, as those shoes are better left for experienced runners.
Heel drop makes sure you get the maximum bounce back and transition to a midfoot stance after the strike phase of running. It also makes sure that you get a smooth transition to the toe-off phase as well. The results? Faster running with controlled stability with the minimum use of stamina and a stable pace and making sure you don’t waste your stamina on controlling your pace.
Conclusion
And that’s it for our blog on running shoes for beginners. Grab your shoes and start running, because if you don’t run now, you can never run later.
Also, check out these amazing running shorts for thick thighs to give your running regimen a spark!