These best running shoes for 5k will help you put in Kudos-worthy performances over any distance up to 3.1 miles…
See how these compare to the best running shoes
If you’re pushing for a parkrun PB, your old, knackered to-the-shops-and-back trainers aren’t going to cut it. Running as fast as you can over 3.1 miles (5k) is – as anyone who’s tried it will know – very hard, and you’re going to need all the help you can get.
When it comes to footwear, that means light, fast and responsive trainers that can propel you forward with every step – crucially, without weighing you down.
So whether you’re chasing a sub-20-minute time, or just want something to help you finish your first 5k, here’s our pick of the best running shoes to do the job.
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Saucony Endorphin Speed 3
BUY IT NOW:
£165 / saucony.com
PROS:
- Spacious upper
- Durable outsole
- Just as at home over longer distances
- Good amount of grip
CONS:
- Wide fit may be a little loose for some
- Pricier than the Speed 2
Speed: 5
Comfort: 5
OVERALL: 5
The clue is in the name here in terms of what you can expect from one of the newest members of Saucony’s Endorphin range. The Speed 3 is designed to get you running your fastest, but also feels more stable than its predecessor if you want to mix up your speeds.
There are a few things that make it a standout option, starting with a mesh upper that’s both breathable and more accommodating than the one on the Speed 2 – and offers a good amount of space up front in the toe box.
Saucony’s special sauce comes from combining its soft PWRRUNPB midsole foam to provide an enjoyable bounce and its Speedroll shoe design that gives you that feel of being pushed forward onto your toes.
The outsole is built for road runs, with a pattern that’s designed to grip well to pavements and harder surfaces. When you’re ready to progress beyond the 5k distance, there’s a nylon plate packed in to promote big energy returns on longer runs.
If you’re just sticking to the short stuff, this really is a standout shoe.
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Hoka Rocket X
BUY IT NOW:
£155 / hokaoneone.eu
PROS:
- Makes fast running feel good
- Lightweight design
CONS:
- Fit may be too narrow for some
Speed: 5
Comfort: 4.5
OVERALL: 4.5
If you’re all about bringing that speed and don’t want to spend big for a shoe that feels nice to run fast in, Hoka’s Rocket X is one to consider. Shop around and you can pick it up for closer to £80 than the usual £155 price tag, and that represents a bit of a bargain.
It wraps the feet up with a light upper that hugs close to your feet and offers a strong locked-down, racing-flat fit. Hoka matches up a 1mm carbon fibre plate with a slightly firm midsole foam and an early-stage meta rocker to offer stability in the forefoot, which delivers an aggressive and enjoyably smooth ride from start to finish. The outsole prioritises areas at the heel and forefoot to cover key impact areas, further reducing the overall weight of a shoe that’s a great go-fast option.
Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2
BUY IT NOW:
£229.95 / nike.com
A shoe you can expect to see lined up at the front of every race start line, Nike’s latest Vaporfly includes its responsive ZoomX midsole foam and a full length carbon plate to help make this a shoe to run a zippy 5K in.
The snug upper is built to hug in all of the right places with a lightly padded tongue and lacing that keep the weight down and also takes the pressure off your racing feet.
The grooved outsole is one to reserve for road runs.
PROS:
- Built for speed
- Suitable for a range of distances
- Snug upper
CONS:
- Some will need more support
- Expensive
Speed: 5
Comfort: 4.5
OVERALL: 4.5
Puma Velocity Nitro 2
BUY IT NOW:
£100 / uk.puma.com
PROS:
- Versatile
- Great value for money
- Comfortable upper
- Grippy outsole
CONS:
- Not the most breathable
- Could be lighter
Speed: 4
Comfort: 5
OVERALL: 4.5
The Velocity Nitro 2 performs way above what its price tag suggests. It’s an excellent shoe for partnering your 5k efforts.
The upper is plush and comfortable, while the Puma Grip rubber outsole can handle both wet and dry running conditions with ease. Puma uses its Nitro foam midsole to provide a responsive and pleasantly bouncy ride that makes it work at easy, moderate and quicker paces. It offers stability at the heel, too, for anyone concerned the ride might be too excitable and want that added protection.
Asics METASPEED Edge+
BUY IT NOW:
£225 / asics.com
PROS:
- Nice and bouncy
- Works best going quick
CONS:
- Expensive
- Not the most durable
Speed: 5
Comfort: 4
OVERALL: 4
The Edge+ is expensive, but if you’re a quick runner and looking for something to fight for a podium finish, then it’s got plenty going for it.
Asics keeps the weight down with a recycled polyester upper, including skinny braid laces and a wafer-thin tongue. There’s more of its FF Blast Turbo cushioning than the first Edge, and a carbon plate that helps get the feet turning over quickly and efficiently.
The AsicsGrip outsole is well built for wet roads and, while it’s pricey, it’s one that can help chase down those big 5k PBs.
Asics NOVABLAST 2
BUY IT NOW:
£130 / asics.com
PROS:
- Stable and enjoyable ride
- Strong outsole durability
CONS:
- On the heavier side
- Cushioning will be too soft for some
Speed: 4
Comfort: 5
OVERALL: 4
The Novablast is another versatile option that works at a range of paces and distances, but is pacey enough to push the envelope over 5k. Asics packs this latest iteration with its FF Blast cushioning technology which – matched with a wide, trampoline-inspired outsole –helps to give the Novablast 2 a noticeably bouncy ride.
There’s additional support provided at the back of the shoe through a TPU heel stabiliser, and Asics’ AHARPLUS outsole is fit to eat up plenty of road-running time before you need to think about buying a new pair.
Skechers GoRun Speed Elite Hyper
BUY IT NOW:
£165 / skechers.co.uk
PROS:
- Fast and light
- Barely-there upper
- Excellent grip
CONS:
- Ultra-responsive feel won’t be for everyone
- Best for short distances only
Speed: 5
Comfort: 4
OVERALL: 4
Skechers is beginning to roll out some really good running shoes, and in the Elite Hyper it has one with a need for speed. If you like to run quick, this is the shoe for you – coming alive when you up the pace.
The mono-mesh upper is thin and light, while Skechers’ Hyper Burst foam and carbon plate – which sits primarily in the forefoot – combines to give this shoe a slightly firm, but unexpectedly peppy ride. That’s topped off with a Goodyear outsole that gives the Elite Hyper strong traction even if it’s wet underfoot.
New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite V2
BUY IT NOW:
£210 / newbalance.co.uk
PROS:
- Built for speed
- Suitable for training and racing
CONS:
- Not enough stability for some
- Heavier than the original
Speed: 5
Comfort: 4
OVERALL: 4
Another 5k racer option, the RC Elite 2 packs an energy-returning carbon plate, making it tailor-made for fast running.
New Balance plants its bouncy FuelCell foam inside the midsole and there’s an outsole that prioritises heel and forefoot areas to improve durability. Its knit upper, meanwhile, is designed to help keep the shoe’s weight down and offer a sock-like fit.
Shop around and you can grab it for much less than RRP, making it a great buy that works even when you move from speedy 5ks to half and full marathons.
Hoka Mach 5
BUY IT NOW:
£125 / hoka.com
PROS:
- Versatile shoe
- Responsive ride
CONS:
- Not the most durable outsole
- Narrow fit
Speed: 4.5
Comfort: 4
OVERALL: 4
Like the excellent Mach 4, Hoka’s Mach 5 is designed for daily training runs with the capacity to speed things up. There’s a quite narrow jacquard mesh upper to keep feet securely locked in place and it’s been upgraded to Hoka’s latest ProFly+ midsole foam to deliver an overall enjoyable ride.
The outsole remains similar to the one used on the Mach 4 to offer good grip on roads. It’s a shoe that works for 5ks, but will easily manage longer outings, too.
Brooks Glycerin 20
BUY IT NOW:
£150 / brooksrunning.com
PROS:
- Comfortable
- Durable
CONS:
- There are quicker 5k options
- Better suited to training than racing
Speed: 3
Comfort: 5
OVERALL: 3.5
Brooks has a lot of great shoes that work well at this distance, but the Glycerin 20 is the comfiest of the lot. It features impressive new cushioning technology and offers a level of durability that means it can eat up a lot of running time.
You’ve got your pick of medium or wide-fit options, with an engineered mesh upper that offers ample snugness and an outsole that gives you a big landing base for pavement pounding. The Glycerin 20 also includes Brooks’ new, nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 foam, providing a soft cushioning to protect legs when you decide to take them beyond that 5k distance.
