Choosing the right running shoe is essential for comfort, performance, and injury prevention—especially as warmer weather invites more time outdoors. With longer days and sunnier miles ahead, spring and summer are the perfect seasons to reassess your current footwear and consider a fresh upgrade. Our team of experienced runners has tested the latest models to help you find the ideal shoe for your warm‑weather runs.
This guide offers a detailed look at the top running shoes available this spring and summer. We break down our hands-on testing process and explain why investing in quality, season-ready footwear can elevate your entire running experience. Inside, you’ll find clear, easy-to-follow insights to help you choose a shoe that matches your running style, goals, and the miles ahead.
Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts, including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure that the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature highly rated products.
New Balance Ellipse
The New Balance Ellipse is a sleek and versatile running shoe designed for comfort and performance. Featuring a Fresh Foam midsole for plush cushioning and a breathable upper for ventilation, this shoe is perfect for long-distance runs and everyday training. The durable outsole ensures reliable traction, making the Ellipse a great choice for runners who value both style and functionality.
This shoe has the same comfort of returning home after a long trip - it provides a lot of comfort, stability and safety. It's a great everyday runner!
First Impressions:
Soft like a cloud but not bouncy or sloppy. Supportive around the heel and not too tall. They felt nimble and controllable, but still cushy and soft. The upper is a full shoe, it breaths but does not feel open or breezy like some of the others in this category.
The shoe has a tremendous about of cushion in the midsole including arch which lightens the foot strike especially on a downhill. However, the shoe never felt broken in. The shoe was wide in general and coupled with the upper mesh of the shoe being unsupportive, my foot never stayed in the same place in the shoe while running. Finally, its backwards drip made it quite uncomfortable to just walk in.
Things We Liked:
The comfort and the looks of them weather running around town doing errands or training.
The cushion is an amazing balance between comfort, control and energy return neutral.
Areas for Improvement:
The upper feels heavy and stuffy. Hot days will over heat the foot.
The stability in the top mesh part of the shoe needs to be more stable. The sole of the shoe is very high compared to other running shoes so you need to be able to really secure your foot in place in order to not lose balance in the wide shoe and high sole.
Final Thoughts
The New Balance Ellipse is a surprisingly soft yet remarkably stable daily trainer that feels effortless on pavement but is supportive and controllable enough if you detour through a light trail. Running in this shoe feels soft but not squishy soft. It has a very neutral energy return, not something I’d expect from these soft clouds tied to my feet. Other shoes with this level of softness have felt bulky or bubbly, especially in the heel. The New Balance cushion is consistent throughout the sole, with very little bulk in the heel. All of this cushion translates to a very low impact on my hips and knees.
The stability of the cushion is enhanced by a flat bottom with a very mild grip. As of writing this I had not experienced wet pavement, but I could see where this could pose a problem especially in urban environments with smooth concrete sidewalks.
The upper of the shoe is a closed fabric that could be stuffy on hot days, but in my early spring runs the upper kept my foot temperature in a comfortable range with a basic running sock. Out of the box, the shoe laces were stretchy. Those who like to snug the laces may find the stretch in these factory laces too much.
The Pros outweigh the Cons for me in this shoe - soft footbed without jeopardizing stability. Great for running on pavement and the added bonus of stability to venture on to a dry trail. However, the energy return was about neutral and the shoelaces made it difficult to achieve a snug fit. The New Balance Ellipse is my new favorite this season.
Specs:
- Drop: 8mm
- Weight: 7.7 oz(women); 9.6 oz (men)
- Price: $145
- Category: Cushion
- Type: Running - Road
- Fit: True to Size
- Ideal for: Recovery, Long Distance
Buy:
Women's | Men's
New Balance 1080v15
The New Balance 1080v15 is the latest iteration of the beloved 1080 series, offering enhanced comfort and performance. Featuring Fresh Foam X cushioning for a soft yet responsive ride, this shoe is perfect for long-distance runs and recovery days. The engineered knit upper provides a secure and breathable fit, while the durable outsole ensures reliable traction. Whether you're logging miles or enjoying a casual jog, the 1080v15 delivers a premium running experience.
I move with purpose, supported in every stride.
First Impressions:
My first impression of the New Balance 1080 v15 was how balanced and natural it felt right away. It delivers plenty of cushioning, but without the overly tall, max-stacked feel of some shoes, and it avoids being overly soft or squishy. The ride feels smooth, centered, and stable underfoot. What stood out most is that it simply feels normal—in the best possible way. It doesn’t try to be flashy or overengineered; it just offers immediate comfort, an easy fit, and a dependable ride from the first step.
Things We Liked:
I also really like that it doesn’t try too hard. A lot of modern shoes feel like they’re chasing extreme energy return or aggressive geometry, but this one stays more natural.
Again, the comfort level of this shoe is by far the best I've felt in a long time.
Areas for Improvement:
The upper could be a bit thinner to help them not get hot. I wore them without socks and noticed a sweat for sure.
The soles were super thick, granted it gave a ton of cushioning, but it did feel excessive. Also, I did not enjoy the choice of colors available for this model, the seemed rather muted and drab.
Final Thoughts
The New Balance 1080v15 stands out for its exceptional comfort, making it a great choice whether you're going for a run or just walking around town. Its cushioned midsole delivers a soft, supportive feel underfoot, while the breathable upper allows plenty of airflow to keep your feet cool during longer wear or warmer days.
Beyond performance, the 1080v15 also impresses with its sleek, stylish design that easily fits into everyday wear. It comes in a wide variety of colors, giving you plenty of options to match your personal style while still enjoying a shoe that feels as good as it looks.
Specs:
- Drop: 6mm
- Weight: 7.3 oz (women); 9.2 oz (men)
- Price: $170
- Category: Cushion
- Type: Running - Road
- Fit: True to Size
- Ideal for: Most running; Long, recovery, race, etc
Buy:
Women's | Men's
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9
The New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 is a trail-running shoe designed for rugged adventures. Featuring a Vibram MegaGrip outsole for superior traction and Fresh Foam X cushioning for long-lasting comfort, this shoe excels on technical terrain. The breathable upper ensures ventilation, while the reinforced toe cap provides added protection against rocks and debris. Whether you're exploring mountain trails or forest paths, the Hierro v9 is ready for the challenge.
The best trail shoe I have ever worn!
First Impressions:
They were very comfortable, had great traction on the trails, and they had a very nice cushioned response.
Things We Liked:
The cushion response of each step was amazing and made even difficult terrain comfortable.
Areas for Improvement:
I honestly cannot think of anything I would improve.
Final Thoughts
The New Balance Hierro v9 feels like a trail shoe built for runners who want both comfort and performance without compromise. It is exceptionally comfortable, wrapping the foot in a way that feels secure without being restrictive. On long outings, that comfort really stands out, helping prevent the usual hot spots or irritation.
Where the Hierro v9 truly excels is on technical terrain. The traction is excellent, gripping confidently on rocky, uneven, or loose surfaces. It gives you the kind of control that lets you focus on the trail ahead rather than worrying about your footing.
The ride is impressively responsive for a trail shoe. There’s more cushion and spring than you typically expect in this category, which adds a lively, energetic feel to each step. The shoe feels like it gives back a bit of energy, making climbs and long stretches feel more comfortable.
All of this comes together to create a shoe you could genuinely run in all day. Whether it’s a long-distance trail run or an all-day adventure, the Hierro v9 delivers comfort, grip, and responsiveness in a way that keeps you going strong.
Specs:
- Drop: 4mm
- Weight: 8.9 oz (women); 10.9 oz (men)
- Price: $160
- Category: Neutral
- Type: Running - Trail
- Fit: True to Size
- Ideal for: Trail
Buy:
Women's | Men's
Our Comprehensive Testing Process
To bring you this guide, our expert team, comprised of seasoned runners and footwear specialists, conducted extensive testing on a wide array of shoes. We are committed to providing reliable and unbiased recommendations based on real-world performance.
Each pair of shoes was subjected to a minimum of 20 miles of running across varied terrains, from city pavements to park trails. Our testers meticulously evaluated each shoe based on a set of key criteria to ensure a thorough and balanced assessment.
Key Evaluation Criteria:
- Comfort: We assessed the initial feel and long-run comfort, noting any pressure points or areas of discomfort.
- Fit: Testers evaluated how the shoe conformed to the foot, including the security of the heel, the width of the toebox, and the overall lockdown.
- Weight: We considered the physical weight of the shoe and how it felt during a run—whether it felt light and nimble or heavy and cumbersome.
- Breathability: The upper materials were tested for airflow to determine how well they managed heat and moisture during a run.
- Flexibility: We analyzed the shoe's flexibility in the forefoot and its overall ability to move naturally with the runner's stride.
- Overall Ride: This is a comprehensive assessment of the shoe's performance. It includes the quality of the cushioning, the smoothness of the heel-to-toe transition, and the general feeling of the shoe in motion.