The Very Best Workout Shoes for Men

Whatwe’relookingfor

Support:High |Cushion:Medium |Width:Wide |Outsole:Gym/road |Weight:323g

The On Cloudpulse is a HIIT shoe, which makes it a jack of all trades — though I wouldn’t call it a master of none. It’s got a little more support and cushion than a CrossFit-oriented shoe, is built tougher than a cardio-focused shoe, and is wide and stable enough for most weight training. There are better shoes out there specifically made for running or lifting, but none that can do it all in such a street- and office-friendly package as the Cloudpulse. As style editor Ted Stafford told us when we asked him aboutstatus gym sneakers, “Guys who are looking for atraining sneakerwith the latest innovation for comfort and performance should try On Running training sneakers as soon as they can. They’ll be hooked.”

Whether running on a normal conveyor-belt treadmill, a rubber-treaded Woodway, or on the sidewalk, the Cloudpulse felt just cushioned enough to provide comfort without feeling squishy. This lack of squish was crucial when weights got involved, where cushier shoes can feel a bit squirrelly underfoot. The shoe has a roomy fit that is still supportive without getting in the way of my foot’s biomechanics. There was ample room for my toes to splay out while lifting dumbbells and kettlebells, but powerlifters would benefit from a flatter shoe with even less cushioning. At 323 grams, it’s built tougher than a running shoe, but it’s still lighter than a CrossFit shoe, which is typically reinforced for rope climbing and box jumping. Finally, as someone with sweaty feet, I appreciated how breathable the mesh uppers were.

Support:Low |Cushion:Medium |Width:Wide |Outsole:Gym/road |Weight:175g

The Nike Free Run 5.0 has a stretchy fabric upper, a relatively low profile, and a medium amount of cushion. If you want an easy shoe to wear to the gym for all types of sports and the occasional run — at an affordable price — I highly recommend the Free Run 5.0.

Chris Chung, a New York–based running-and-fitness-content creator, says lifting in the Nike Frees feels “almost like wearing a sock.” Chung uses an older model of the Nike Free — the Flyknit 3.0 — but the knit upper of the latest version, the 5.0, offers the same flexibility and socklike feel. “I like to have more freedom in my feet when I’m lifting,” says Chung, who prefers a more flexible sole that allows him to feel the ground. “It feels more natural to me.”

Support:Low |Cushion:Low |Width:Wide |Outsole:Gym |Weight:378g

If you plan to spend more time hitting the floor weights than doing cardio or using machines, the Nike Metcon 9 offers better stability in exchange for some of the foam cushioning that makes running and cardio more comfortable. As a forefoot striker, I was able to tolerate it on a treadmill, but heel strikers would struggle — and I would not recommend using it on the pavement at all. However, the extra-wide toe box and reinforced sides make it a great choice for CrossFit, where rope climbing and box jumps are a constant challenge to any shoe’s durability.

Jeremy Rellosa has been wearing the Metcons for gym workouts for the past five years, and besides some light tread wear on the soles, they’ve held up to all types of workouts, including weight lifting, rowing, HIIT sessions, and treadmill warm-up runs. Todd Brandon-Morris, the founder of inclusive fitness brandOut-Fit, says the Metcon should be “the standard for any versatile athlete” because they’re “firm enough for heavy weight lifting” but also great for jumping and running. Sewell tells us they’re also very popular in the CrossFit community: “They are lightly cushioned and have little to no heel lift, making them good for proper biomechanics when performing deadlifts, squats, swings, and snatches,” he says, adding that they have “good tactile feedback too.”

“For general gym-training purposes, I’ve been wearing Nike Metcons for years,” saysDr. Clinton Lee, a Brooklyn-based certified strength and conditioning specialist. “They have a relatively flat sole (which I prefer for lower-body training), and they look good. There are options to get previous editions from outlet stores for inexpensive prices, and Nike always has new iterations popping up in case you want something more recent.”

[Editor’s note: Please note that Nike only offers customizable Metcon 9s.]

Support:Low |Cushion:Low |Width:Extra-wide toe |Outsole:Gym |Weight:310g

Altra shoes are known for two main features: a generously wide toe box that allows you to splay out your feet and a zero-drop heel, which means your heel and toe are level within the shoe. Many customers love the brand for this one-two punch of comfort, especially for hiking and outdoor pursuits. But it turns out that this design is perfect for the weight room, too. “The Solstice’s wide and flat base gives me — and my legs — confidence during heavy lifts,” said Rellosa of his Altras. It also has a rubbery reinforcement cage around the forefoot and laces, which keeps feet locked in.

When it comes to lifting weights, trainer and entrepreneurPercell Dugger(and many other experts) say you want a shoe with as much of a barefoot feel as possible. This allows you to fully plant your feet into the ground, which helps you avoid injuries. “Research has shown that a lot of shoes with very thick soles can weaken your ankles over time,” explains Dugger, who adds that “injuries like ankle sprains and knee problems all start with your feet and footwear.” The Solstice XT 3’s lightly cushioned sole and zero drop are just what you need for that barefoot feel.

Support:Low |Cushion:Low |Width:Narrow |Outsole:N/A |Weight:390g

Another sneaker that appeared in ourstatus gym-shoeroundup, the high-top Converse All Star has a cult following among weight lifters owing to its completely flat sole. (It’s also the only weight-lifting shoe we heard about multiple times.) There’s killer value here: It’s good for your wardrobe (and your wallet) that one of the best weight-lifting shoes is also an iconic, classic sneaker.

“When I know I’m going to be weight lifting and not doing any cardio-related exercises, I throw on my Chucks,” said Rellosa. Sewell also likes them for this purpose, adding that they’re the next best thing to going barefoot (which, he says, “allows for the most beneficial alignment of the body if you really want to train hard with heavier weights”).

Support:Medium |Cushion:Medium |Width:Standard|Outsole:Gym/road |Weight:288g

In my heart of hearts, I’m more into cardio than weights, which is why the Cloud X4 was my personal favorite out of all the shoes I tested for this review. It was the most breathable shoe I tried, and despite being pretty svelte (both in height and weight), it put a spring in my step that made me want to sprint harder on the tread than I otherwise would have during the Barry’s Bootcamp sessions I wore them to.

While less popular than On’s running-specific shoes (like the Cloud 5), the X4 is the better choice for indoor gym use because it has a wider toe box and is designed with lateral stability in mind. It’s not quite as stable or as durable as a more lifting-oriented shoe — or even compared to an all-rounder (like the Cloudpulse) — but it’s fine for machine use and the medium dumbbells you encounter during a HIIT workout. I also just liked how it looked. The unique X-shaped lacing pattern is ostensibly there to improve lateral stability, but it also looks cool. They were the only shoes of the bunch that got complimented when I wore them outside of the gym.

Support:High |Cushion:High |Width:Wide |Outsole:Road/gym |Weight:275g

If your gym’s concrete floor has spotty fatigue mat coverage, a shoe with extra cushioning can be a lifesaver — especially if you’re prone to shin splints or joint pain. The downside to cushioning is that a taller shoe can lose out on lateral stability, but Hoka designed the Clifton with that in mind. “I have stability side to side, left and right, not just forward,” said Barry’s Bootcamp senior instructor (and former Abercrombie & Fitch model)Hunter Crossof his trusty Hokas. “So if I’m turning on a dime, or doing a lateral lunge, I won’t roll an ankle.” As someone who works on his feet doing and leading multiple HIIT workouts a day, Cross also appreciates that he can get nearly a full year out of a fresh pair before the foam loses its springiness.

In my own testing, the Clifton’s wider toe box gave my toes plenty of space to splay out when lifting weights. But the Clifton 10 I tried (which is slightly taller than previous versions of the shoe) did require me to lace them tightly — using the double-lock lace holes — to prevent my foot from sliding around the interior, and I cannot recommend these for lifting any serious amount of weight. If the already roomy standard D width is still not enough, many colorways are also available in EE.

Support:High |Cushion:Medium |Width:Wide (also available in extra-wide) |Outsole:Road |Weight:366g

A pair of 990s is suitable for just about everything:travel,date night,walking around, and the gym. Its cushioned midsole and discreet dad-sneaker look make it a shoe you can dress up or down and wear for both relaxed and more active pursuits. I wear mine for long days out on the town when I know I’ll be walking for miles on end, but they are also quite capable in the gym if you aren’t doing too much sweaty cardio.

“I reach for my 990s when I want to give my feet a break after a long day of being stuffed into stiff dress shoes,” said associate editor Jeremy Rellosa. “And because I like to wear them for so many different occasions, I try to keep them clean by using them strictly for gym sessions and not outdoor workouts, where they’d likely get grimier.” The 990s will fit most feet; they come in a ton ofsizes and widths. (We also selected the 990v6 as thebest women’s workout shoe for everyday wear.) Strategist writer and self-describedgym ratTembe Denton-Hurst likes her 990s because they offer “incredible support and are super-comfortable to walk in.”

Support:Low |Cushion:Low |Width:Standard |Outsole:n/a |Weight:310g

I got my first pair of Feiyues as a kid in elementary school during a summer visit to my grandparents’ home in Beijing. They’re perfect for kids because they’re versatile enough to do anything in but cheap enough to get dirty with reckless abandon. That’s also what makes them a good gym shoe. “I’ve been alternating daily between two pairs of Fe Lo 1920s for two years,” said Rellosa. “I wear them mainly for walking around the city but also for weight lifting. The primary areas of wear are in the heel counter, which is thin and has frayed but hasn’t caused any irritation against my heel.”

Strategist U.K. contributor Anna Fielding is a fan of these stylish, affordable trainers fromFeiyuethat have their roots in versatile movement. “The trainers originated in 1920s Shanghai, where they were adopted bymartial arts practitioners,” she wrote. “These days parkour enthusiasts use them too, as do Chinese schoolchildren doingPE lessonsand Shaolin monks. They are lightweight plimsolls, with a canvas body and acushioned sole. They have bounce. They have grip. And unlike other plimsolls, they’re actually supportive.” Feiyue’s Fe Lo sneakers have a canvas upper that won’t bust open like a flimsy running-shoe upper might. “You can easily wear them without socks, and — good for the sockless to know — I’ve also found they stand up to repeat washing-machine cycles,” Fielding continues. “They stay looking fresh, whites white and colours sharp, longer than any pair of Converse. They don’t fall to pieces, as Keds can, even if you treat them badly and kick them off without bothering to undo the laces.”

Support:Medium |Cushion:Medium |Width:Standard |Outsole:Court |Weight:420g

Tennis shoes naturally make up some of the best all-purpose workout shoes. That’s because the sport requires both forward and lateral movement, and shoes that have a durable construction and thick tread to meet the demands of shuffling around the hard court. The Gel-Resolution is my top pick for thebest men’s tennis shoe, and it got nods from five experts I spoke to for its versatile fit. Unlike other tennis shoes, the Gel-Resolution should fit anyone comfortably regardless of the width or volume of their feet. NYU’s head tennis coach, Horace Choy, said the Resolution is “very popular” with his team in part because the shoe’s low profile means you’re “closer to the ground, which I personally think makes you feel a little faster.” The Gel-Resolution is a relatively light shoe, and its secure fit allowed me to change up my game by playing faster and more aggressively. I also recommend this shoe for pickleball, which incorporates many of the same movements as tennis.

[Editor’s note: While we previously listed Asics’ Gel Resolution 9, the brand has since released an updated version, the Gel Resolution X, linked here.]

Support:Low |Cushion:Medium |Width:Extra-wide toe |Outsole:Road/trail |Weight:303g

Altra is known for its “zero-drop” shoe designs (meaning the heel-to-toe drop is flat) and wide footbed, which allows your toes to splay out — two features intended to boost comfort and happen to make for a good weight-training shoe. The Outroad carries over the grippy, lugged outsole of the brand’s more trail-oriented models but adds enough cushion to be comfortable on the road and in the gym. While it’s not explicitly designed for gym use, it has good lateral stability and would be fine for most weight-training exercises. They’re also comfortable for walking in, making them a great choice for travel. I only wish they were available in a more discreet colorway.

Support:Medium |Cushion:Medium |Width:Standard |Outsole:Road |Weight:281g

Yes, you don’t want to use running shoes for all of your workouts, but if you’re looking for a basic running shoe that can also handle other activities from time to time, go with the Pegasus. In our guide to thebest running shoes, we recommended the Air Zoom Pegasus if “you’d rather not think too much about your running shoes.” It’s been a staple of Nike’s running lineup ever since it was introduced nearly four decades ago, and its cushioning comes from a layer of the brand’s proprietary React foam in the midsole. It’s a workhorse of a shoe that is meant to be used for logging miles with daily training, so it will more than satisfy the occasional road run in addition to other aerobic workouts.

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