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.
Under Armour Halo Runner SE
The Under Armour Halo Runner SE is a special edition of the popular Halo Runner, offering enhanced comfort and style. Featuring a cushioned midsole for shock absorption and a breathable upper for ventilation, this shoe is perfect for everyday training and casual wear. The durable outsole ensures reliable traction, while the sleek design adds a touch of modern flair to your running gear.
The Halo Runner wraps around your foot with a secure, comforting feel, like the weighted blanket of running shoes. It's not flashy, but it is reliably dependable!
First Impressions:
Right out of the box, the Halo Runner stands out with its unique interlocking ribbon midsole design, giving it a distinctive look. With the first few steps, it feels snug and secure, with a stable base that adds noticeable support underfoot. The cushioning is immediately comfortable and protective — more supportive than ultra-soft — creating a smooth, stable feel. As the Halo Runner is built for comfort and reliable easier runs, it is not springy or responsive.
Things We Liked:
The standout feature of the Halo Runner SE is absolutely its cushioning, providing for comfort while running or wearing around town and spending long days on your feet. Using these for recovery runs feels natural on tired feet.
Areas for Improvement:
While the Halo Runner SE delivers strong comfort and stability, it could improve in performance versatility. A slightly lighter build with more responsiveness and a less rigid feel would help the shoe transition beyond easy efforts and better handle moderate-intensity runs.
Final Thoughts
The Under Armour Halo Runner makes a strong first impression with its distinctive interlocking ribbon midsole design and an immediately comfortable, secure fit. The shoe is snug and supportive without being restrictive, with a natural feel from the early miles. Underfoot, the cushioning is well-balanced. It is soft enough to absorb impact yet firm enough to provide stability, which makes it ideal for easy miles, everyday runs, walking, or extended wear.
While the Halo Runner shines most in its all-around comfort and stability, this focus on comfort does come at the expense of responsiveness. Runners looking for a more dynamic, springy feel may find it lacking during faster or higher-intensity efforts. A bit more responsiveness and a lighter feel could improve its versatility, but for those prioritizing comfort and consistency, the Halo Runner delivers a dependable, easygoing experience.
Specs:
- Drop: 5mm
- Weight: 10.5 oz (women); 10.5 oz (men)
- Price: $150
- Category: Cushion
- Type: Running - Road
- Fit: True to Size
- Ideal for: Recovery, Long Distance, Cross Training
Buy:
Women's | Men's
Under Armour Reign 6
The Under Armour Reign 6 is a versatile training shoe built for athletes who demand durability and performance. Featuring a stable base for weightlifting, a flexible forefoot for dynamic movements, and a grippy outsole for traction, this shoe is perfect for gym workouts and cross-training. The breathable upper keeps your feet cool, while the cushioned midsole provides comfort during high-impact exercises.
Minimal feel, maximum control—the Reign 6 keeps you grounded when it matters most.
First Impressions:
Right out of the box, the Reign 6 felt surprisingly light and really breathable—my feet didn’t feel boxed in at all. The first thing I noticed, though, was the grip.
The design is sleek. Built for stability.
Things We Liked:
Its great for weightlifting and great for an everyday wear, just not all day. Have received many compliments on how they look.
My favorite features of the UA Reign 6 right out of the box were the weight—they feel incredibly light—and the grip. They’re impressively grippy, which really adds to the overall stability.
Areas for Improvement:
A bit more cushion so that it can be worn all day.
The contrast in colors and materials is pretty bold, which I think looks great. That said, I’ve seen some feedback about the stiffer materials cracking over time. I haven’t experienced that myself, but I can see how some of those harder components might wear down or break with everyday use.
Final Thoughts
Right out of the box, the Reign 6 felt surprisingly light and really breathable - feet don't feel boxed in at all. The first thing that jumps out is the bold pattern and the extreme grip. It’s seriously strong, especially during lifts and side-to-side movements. Ran these as a replacement golf shoe for a round of golf, and they held up way better than one would of expected—no slipping at all. They also feel very close to the ground and stable, which make it obvious that these are built for control and performance.
Specs:
- Drop: 2mm
- Weight: 13.66 oz (women); 13.66 oz (men)
- Price: $130
- Category: Stability
- Type: Cross Trainers
- Fit: True To Size
- Ideal for: Weightlifting, Crossfit, Cross Training
Buy:
Women's | Men's
Under Armour Explor Trail
The Under Armour Explor Trail is a rugged trail shoe designed for outdoor enthusiasts. Featuring a durable upper with protective overlays and a grippy outsole for traction on uneven terrain, this shoe is built to handle challenging trails. The cushioned midsole provides comfort for long hikes or trail runs, while the breathable materials keep your feet cool and dry.
A masterclass in trail-ready grit, these shoes turn jagged terrain into a high-speed playground.
First Impressions:
The Under Armour Explor immediately impresses with a rugged, "armored" aesthetic that doesn't sacrifice agility. The fit is secure and true-to-size, featuring a reinforced upper that locks the midfoot in place—crucial for navigating technical switchbacks.
Love the design-I wanted to LOVE this shoe. I like the fit of the heel and arch. it's not bulky and has good response-- could almost pass for a road shoe. They have the Salomon style pull cord laces and garage which are great! The grip is great in the mud (they spent most of the time in mud and gravel).I got questions and compliments everywhere I went in them as to their style not looking like a typical trail shoe. However, they are not breathable but did keep some rain out. the upper is hard and rigid. It took even my very narrow foot a couple of tries to even get them on. I really had to break in the upper
Things We Liked:
The standout feature is the Vibram® Megagrip with LiteBase technology
the arch support and the fulcrum feel to the turnover (there was no technical information as to the design of the fulcrum or really even the arch, so I am just going by what I typically feel in a race shoe and it felt familiar) These would be great on races that have both paved and dirt trail
Areas for Improvement:
One area for refinement is the heel collar rigidity. While the structural integrity is excellent for support, the initial stiffness can lead to minor friction or "hot spots" during the first few runs.
The beveled lace housing goes up too high on the foot. after 6 miles it was pressing so hard, I got a blister. It has no give and is too structured. Also, the rise/ outline under the ankle bone is too high and needs cushioning. this too had ne taking them off or taping to keep it from rubbing. The entire upper needs more flexibility if you are going long distances
Final Thoughts
The Under Armour Explor represents a significant leap forward in the brand's trail lineage, successfully shedding the bulk of previous off-road iterations to deliver a streamlined, aggressive performer. By integrating high-performance Vibram® components with a refined HOVR™ midsole, the design bridges the gap between raw mountain protection and the snappy responsiveness required for competitive trail racing. Compared to earlier models that often felt overly stiff or bottom-heavy, this version feels significantly more integrated, moving with the foot rather than resisting it.
The construction focuses on "tactical agility," utilizing an abrasion-resistant upper that withstands debris while maintaining a breathable microclimate. While the ride is firmer than a maximalist cushion shoe, the energy return is far superior, making it an ideal choice for runners who prioritize speed and stability over pillowy softness. It is a sophisticated evolution that proves Under Armour has mastered the nuances of technical terrain, offering a reliable workhorse for everything from muddy forest paths to rocky alpine ridges.
Specs:
- Drop: 12mm
- Weight: 14.25 oz (Unisex)
- Price: $150
- Category: Neutral
- Type: Running - Trail
- Fit: True to Size
- Ideal for: 10k, Half Marathon
Buy:
Unisex
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.