Running shoes for road
In the list below, you can choose from a selection of road running shoes that we’ve reviewed. If you want to compare them according to their different features, just click on the crossed arrows in the top left corner of the running shoe image, and then, once you have selected the shoes, click on the icon on the right, also showing two crosses and the number of shoes selected.
The asphalt running shoes have features that are optimised for running on firm, hard ground. They also have the grip, cushioning and foot protection to make these running shoes perform well on asphalt, especially in street conditions.
If you want to narrow down the list, you can filter by various criteria in the left-hand bar when viewed from desktop, and on mobile you can narrow down the asphalt running shoes by clicking the “Filter” button above the list.
Showing 1–12 of 180 results
From the point of view of running shoes, there are basically 3 types of surface, the hard solid surface, the soft loose surface and the recortan track. The rubber surface of running machines and treadmills is classified as a hard and solid surface for the former approach.
It’s not hard to guess that track running shoes are for recortan surfaces, track running shoes are for soft loose surfaces, and street running shoes are for hard solid surfaces, which are optimized for asphalt or other hard and firm surfaces. The emphasis here is on optimization, in other words you can run on asphalt in a trail running shoe, or you can run on trail in a street running shoe, but it may not be comfortable or safe, and the results may not be very good (but nobody should try to run on a running machine in a trail running shoe)
The type of surface (firm, loose, trail) is important for a running shoe for 3 reasons: traction, cushioning (stability) and the wear of the upper. These three things also strongly influence the weight of the shoe, with trail shoes being the lightest of the three types, followed by road running shoes and then trail running shoes.
Tracks
Staying with the asphalt-optimized street running shoes, the grip of the 3 types is weakest for asphalt-optimized running shoes. One reason for this is that they do not need to grip the outsole, spikes or nails to achieve optimal traction, as is the case with trail running shoes or track shoes. Running on asphalt, on the other hand, requires a much more abrasive rubber compound, which can be less grippy. The rubber compound of an outsole of road running shoes optimised for asphalt needs to be both wear-resistant, but not at the expense of optimal traction.
Cushioning
With asphalt being the hardest of the 3 surfaces, it is here that the most cushioning and shock absorption is needed, which is why road running shoes typically have a higher midsole. Most hobby runners are running on street, asphalt, and due to inadequately trained muscles or joints, higher cushioning is needed. Nowadays, trail running shoes are also quite high, but because more stability is needed on terrain, trail running shoes are on average lower than asphalt shoes.
Upper
A road running shoe does not need strong toe protection like a trail running shoe. In return, however, you can use lighter and more breathable materials. This further helps to reduce the weight of these shoes, and in the summer, you won’t get hot feet on hot tarmac.
Running shoes for the road are the most varied of the 3 types of running shoes. There are asphalt running shoes for different speeds, distances and seasons. This is because street running shoes sell the most, and the more runners, the more demand. It’s hard to find the ideal running shoe among so many types, and we’re here to help. If some of the options in the filter are not clear and you’re having a hard time deciding, read our post “What running shoes to buy?” for help.
If the price of your running shoes is important, don’t just look at the specific price tag, but also how durable or versatile the shoes you’ll be running on the asphalt in. Typically you can run 800-1000km in a running shoe. If you don’t want to change your running shoes often, check our reviews for shoe durability.
Versatility is also an important factor. If you don’t want to buy separate asphalt running shoes for different distances or speeds, check our reviews to see how versatile a shoe is, how well it supports different distances or speeds.