Asphalt running shoes – overview of the best shoes for asphalt
Personally, I do a lot of running on asphalt and have a pair of dedicated asphalt running shoes.
It can be particularly stressful for the body, which is why the right running shoes are especially important.
In this article, I will give you some tips for choosing the best asphalt running shoes so you can avoid injuries and become an even better runner.
Further down in the article, I will go into more detail about what you should look for in asphalt running shoes. In short, it is your use (training/competition), shock absorption, running style and comfort.
What characterizes a good asphalt running shoe?
Below I will try to guide you through the process of choosing an asphalt running shoe that fits your foot, your running style and not least your use. It may well be that you don’t need a pair of running shoes, but that you should go out and have several running shoes.
Do you run more than 20 km/week?
To nail something down with a seven-inch nail. If you run more than 20 kilometers per week, I recommend that you use several different running shoes to reduce the risk of injury. It is not more expensive to have more running shoes, as each one wears out less. It is good for your joints and your body to switch between different running shoes so that you don’t develop bad habits, including overuse injuries.
How to choose asphalt running shoes
Below I have listed the four elements that I consider most important when choosing your new asphalt running shoes. Like most other runners, you probably spend the majority of your runs on asphalt. It is therefore important to be aware of the different features of good asphalt running shoes. The following sections about shock absorption and stability are mainly aimed at training running shoes. For competition running shoes there are some other requirements, which you can read much more about in my article about competitive running shoes.
- Your use
- Shock absorption
- Stability
- Bodices
- The outsole
- Running style
Your use
The first thing to clarify is how you will use the running shoe. Will it be mainly for training or will the shoe be mainly used for competitions. This makes a big difference, as running shoes for training will typically be more comfortable, while running shoes for competitions will be more focused on speed. And this is even though both shoes are intended for running on asphalt. Choosing the right type of shoe for the given use is a must.
Shock absorption
For running on asphalt, I would recommend a running shoe with quite strong shock absorption. Especially if you planning to train for your first marathon or other races where you have to run longer distances several times a week. Here it would be advisable to have a running shoe that reduces wear and tear on the body by absorbing most of the shock when you land on the ground. Every time you take a step, your body is affected by 3-5 times your body weight, which makes shock absorption even more important if you are a heavy runner. However, there are also many myths about shock absorption. Avoid falling into the same trap as so many before you, and read the article in the link.
Stability
In my asphalt running shoes, I mainly use running shoes that have strong stability. But of course, this is a matter of taste, and there are certainly other experts who think differently. However, this is what has worked for me. For other types of running, such as interval running and trail running, I typically use running shoes that are more flexible and that adapt more securely to the surface. As a rule of thumb, you can expect shoes for hard surfaces to be of the more stable kind.
Bodices
In a running shoe primarily for asphalt, you will either run really fast or far. The upper should therefore be thin, in order to effectively transport sweat away from the foot, which helps to increase comfort. A thinner and more flexible upper will usually also be tighter and provide a more secure and firm fit around the foot. Your foot should never be able to slide around in your running shoes.
Outsole
The outsole of an asphalt running shoe will always be fairly flat, as there is no need to have a strong grip, as is known from trail running shoes, for example,on flat and hard asphalt. That’s why you should always take a look at the outsole and see if it’s flat. A rough outsole intended for trails or mountain running will just make running on asphalt more uncomfortable.
Running style
Running style gets its own category, as it is so important. In competition running shoes and trail running shoes, which are intended for shorter distances, less wear and generally more uneven use, the running style etc. is not as crucial as with asphalt running shoes. When you run on asphalt you will often run in exactly the same way and get exactly the same wear and tear all over the shoe and thus also your body. Therefore, it is super important that you choose a shoe that suits your running style. If you are a pronating runner, you need a shoe that helps against overpronation.
Back to running style. If you don’t know exactly what your running style is, you can use my running style article to find out if you are a pronator, neutral or supinator runner. And then you can choose running shoes according to your running style. I have collected all reviews of running shoes on this page and divided them by running style, so you can easily and conveniently find a shoe that suits you and your use.
Are some brands better than others?
Since the vast majority of runners train on asphalt, paths and other slightly hard surfaces, the market for sports shoes for this purpose is huge. All the major brands make excellent shoes for this purpose. You can therefore count on There are no brands that are better than others..Here is a selection of the brands that I think make the best asphalt running shoes and that I have personally had the most success with:
Ultimately, choosing asphalt running shoes, like choosing any other running shoe, is about finding what works for your foot and your running style. It’s something you feel comfortable in and that you believe will help you become a better runner. Because we all want to be better runners, right? And running starts with the running shoes.