The half-marathon is the fairest running distance—the average person can't make it right from the couch, and the average runner doesn't need to recover long from 13.1 miles, unlike a marathon. Some running shoes can hinder your speed, while others can help you run faster.
In this article, I'll share my picks of the best half-marathon running shoes by different brands and back my choice with facts and personal experience.
The 11 Best Half-Marathon Shoes by Categories
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BEST OVERALL
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BEST WOMEN'S
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BEST FOR MEN
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BEST FOR TRAINING
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BEST FOR RACING
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BEST FROM ASICS
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BEST FROM NIKE
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BEST FROM HOKA
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BEST FROM BROOKS
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BEST FROM SAUCONY
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BEST FROM NEW BALANCE
Saucony Endorphin Speed 3—The Best Overall Half-Marathon Shoes
Specs
↙️ Drop: 8mm
↕️ Stack: 36mm
🪶 Weight: 8.1oz/230g
☁️ Cushion: Great (4/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Great (4/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$170
Rating
★★★★☆ Functionality
★★★★★ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★★☆ Durability
★★★★★ Price
OVERALL 23/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- Super lightweight
- Very breathable upper
- Energy-efficient cruise
- Responsive and bouncy ride
- Balanced cushioning
- Comfort all around
What’s NOT? 💩
- Outsole isn’t very durable
Best Deals
What's changed?
Minor improvements of a perfect neutral long-run shoe. The stack became 1mm higher, and the platform expanded slightly to the sides. The plastic plate added wings on the sides that give extra stability. The colorway became more solid and bold. Overall, it's an excellent deal for the price.
ON Cloudsurfer—The Best Women's Half-Marathon Shoes
Specs
↙️ Drop: 10mm
↕️ Stack: 32mm
🪶 Weight: 9.0oz/255g
☁️ Cushion: Great (4/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Great (4/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$160
Rating
★★★★★ Functionality
★★★★★ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★★☆ Durability
★★★★☆ Price
OVERALL 23/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- One of the lightest daily trainers
- Open and airy upper
- A lot of padding around the foot
- Very soft cushioning
- Pretty responsive ride
- Sensation of the pods collapsing under the foot
What’s NOT? 💩
- Not very stable for heel strikers
- Compression won't last very long
- The exposed midsole can be slippery
Best Deals
What's changed?
Vast improvement. Previous models were firm, and your foot struggled, but this one delivers cushioning sensation. The vendor removed the SpeedBoard (plate) and improved the midsole, which now features the CloudTec phase technology.
Adidas Takumi Sen 9—The Best Half-Marathon Shoes for Men
Specs
↙️ Drop: 6mm
↕️ Stack: 33mm
🪶 Weight: 6.3oz/180g
☁️ Cushion: Great (4/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Moderate (3/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$180
Rating
★★★★★ Functionality
★★★★☆ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★★★ Durability
★★★★★ Price
OVERALL 24/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- Super light, unnoticeable on your feet
- Enough cushioning and flexibility
- Soft landings and good energy return
- Sticky outsole
What’s NOT? 💩
- Stitched tongue
- Takes time to lace up comfortably
Best Deals
What's changed?
Minor changes. The shoe lost weight a little, and the upper was improved. The shoe exceeds expectations.
Nike Pegasus 40—The Best Half-Marathon Training Shoes
Specs
↙️ Drop: 10mm
↕️ Stack: 33mm
🪶 Weight: 9.7oz/275g
☁️ Cushion: Great (4/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Great (4/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$130
Rating
★★★★★ Functionality
★★★★★ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★★★ Durability
★★★★★ Price
OVERALL 25/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- Truly versatile
- Support the entire cycle of training
- Able to pick up the pace
- Breathable
- Soft cushioning
- Long-lasting shoe
What’s NOT? 💩
- Heel support and stability could be better
Best Deals
What's changed?
The minor improvement compared to the excellent previous model (Nike Pegasus 39). The upper was improved and shoe obtained a different lacing system. Additionally, the new model gained 0.2oz/5g in weight. I noticed that the heel lockdown was also improved too, however it looks exactly the same.
The Best Half-Marathon Race Shoes—Asics MetaSpeed Sky+
Specs
↙️ Drop: 5mm
↕️ Stack: 39mm
🪶 Weight: 7.0oz/200g
☁️ Cushion: Great (4/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Moderate (3/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$250
Rating
★★★★★ Functionality
★★★★★ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★★☆ Durability
★★★☆☆ Price
OVERALL 22/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- Very soft cushioning for a race day shoe
- Very lightweight and breathable
- Great pop from a carbon plate
- Shoe geometry is good for long strides
- Upper locks down well and provides a secure fit
- The decent grip of 1.5mm rubber on the outsole
What’s NOT? 💩
- Some runners experience rubbing on the heel counter
- You would like to go ½ size up
Best Deals
What's changed?
Minor changes. The midsole is different and softer. The carbon plate is less aggressive than in the previous version.
Asics Superblast—The Best Half-Marathon Shoes from Asics
Specs
↙️ Drop: 10mm
↕️ Stack: 45mm
🪶 Weight: 8.5oz/240g
☁️ Cushion: Great (4/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Poor (2/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$200
Rating
★★★★★ Functionality
★★★★☆ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★★★ Durability
★★★★☆ Price
OVERALL 23/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- Feels light on the foot
- Able to pick up the pace
- Comfy for long-run cruise
- Secure lockdown
- Good padding in the collar and heel
- Pretty stable for the stack height
- Excellent grip
What’s NOT? 💩
- Take time to break into the shoe
- Sensitive to temperature change
- Firm without a plate
- Expensive
- Illegal 45mm stack height
Best Deals
What's changed?
The Superblast is a max cushion shoe by Asics. It is the first iteration of the model that sets between the Novablast and Metaspeed Sky. The Superblast fits true to size, unlike most Asics running shoes.
Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3—The Best Half-Marathon Shoes from Nike
Specs
↙️ Drop: 8mm
↕️ Stack: 40mm
🪶 Weight: 6.3oz/180g
☁️ Cushion: Great (4/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Poor (2/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$250
Rating
★★★★★ Functionality
★★★★☆ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★☆☆ Durability
★★★☆☆ Price
OVERALL 20/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- Super breathable upper
- Feel the plate work
- Soft cushioning
- Super lightweight
- Feels like a natural extension of your feet
- Fits well most of the feet
What’s NOT? 💩
- Can be unstable for heel strikers
- Very expensive
- The tongue is non-gusseted and unexpectedly long
Best Deals
What's changed?
Noticeable and very anticipated improvement. The upper has a new design. The upper won't absorb water and sweat anymore. The heel added structure, and the collar has more padding. Nike changed the geometry of the midsole and removed the foam where it didn't work to decrease weight. The outsole features more rubber.
Hoka Mach 5—The Best Half-Marathon Shoes from Hoka
Specs
↙️ Drop: 5mm
↕️ Stack: 33mm
🪶 Weight: 8.1oz/230g
☁️ Cushion: Great (4/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Moderate (3/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$140
Rating
★★★★★ Functionality
★★★★★ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★★★ Durability
★★★★★ Price
OVERALL 25/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- Good daily trainer able to pick up the pace
- Lightweight daily trainer
- Breathable
- New upper ensures an excellent fit
- The design is gorgeous
- Great cushioning and responsive bounce
- Shoe geometry rolls you through the stride
What’s NOT? 💩
- Cushioning is sensitive to temperature
- Lack of outsole grip for wet surface
Best Deals
What's changed?
It is a significant change from the previous model. The upper was updated and now features the engineered mesh. The tongue is flat and gusseted. The new ProFly+ foam in the midsole ensures softer cushioning and prolongs the shoe's life.
Brooks Hyperion Tempo—The Best Half-Marathon Shoes from Brooks
Specs
↙️ Drop: 8mm
↕️ Stack: 28mm
🪶 Weight: 7.3oz/207g
☁️ Cushion: Great (4/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Great (4/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$150
Rating
★★★★☆ Functionality
★★★★★ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★★★ Durability
★★★★★ Price
OVERALL 24/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- Lightweight
- Very breathable
- Well-responsive
- Good energy return
- Nudges to run fast
- Durable
- Snug fit
- You can catch a good deal
What’s NOT? 💩
- Stretch laces and woven upper make a foot slip and take time to adapt
- Not a good fit for wide feet
- A relatively old model (from early 2020)
Best Deals
What's changed?
It is the first iteration of the shoe that fits the gap between Brooks' daily training shoe (the Ghost 15) and carbon-plated race day shoe (the Hyperion Elite). It is a perfect lightweight tempo day shoe that works well on long distances up to a marathon.
Saucony Kinvara 14—The Best Half-Marathon Shoes from Saucony
Specs
↙️ Drop: 4mm
↕️ Stack: 31mm
🪶 Weight: 7.0oz/199g
☁️ Cushion: Poor (2/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Great (4/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$120
Rating
★★★★★ Functionality
★★★★★ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★★☆ Durability
★★★★★ Price
OVERALL 24/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- Quite breathable
- Very lightweight, disappears on feet
- Sock-like fit and lockdown
- Responsive and bouncy ride
- Affordable price-tag
What’s NOT? 💩
- A little firmer than you expect
Best Deals
What's changed?
Significant improvement without a price increase. The Powerrun foam in the midsole prolongs the shoe's lifespan. The insole features PowerRun+, which provides extra cushioning.
New Balance Fuelcell Rebel v3—The Best Half-Marathon Shoes from New Balance
Specs
↙️ Drop: 6mm
↕️ Stack: 30mm
🪶 Weight: 7.4oz/210g
☁️ Cushion: Plush (5/5)
🧱 Flexibility: Moderate (3/5)
💰 Retail price: ~$130
Rating
★★★★☆ Functionality
★★★★★ Comfort
★★★★★ Quality
★★★★★ Durability
★★★★★ Price
OVERALL 24/25
What’s HOT? 🔥
- Very breathable upper
- Fits well most of the feet
- Secure grip
- Decent durability
- Very lightweight
- Responsive and energetic ride
- Very affordable price
- Versatile shoe
What’s NOT? 💩
- Low-stack shoes (somebody likes it, somebody doesn’t)
Best Deals
What's changed?
Minor changes. The shoe added 1.5mm in the stack and has a more minimalistic design. The price tag is reasonable for what the sneakers provide.
I completed my first 10K on a dare. In a year, I ran a half-marathon. Another year later, I finished a marathon race. Today I run 4 marathons a year and a half-marathon every week. I learned everything about running the hard way. So, I help runners achieve better results easier.
