Best running shoes for men in 2021 – CNET [CNET]

Whether you’ve crossed several marathon finish lines or are just starting to run, choosing the right running shoes can make or break your performance. The wrong running shoes can strip your toes of their toenails, but the right shoe choice can make you feel fast, light on your feet and ready to take over the world — and that’s speaking from personal experience.

If you’re shopping for someone other than yourself, be aware that the best running shoes are different for each person. No matter how much your gift recipient loves you, they will not wear a pair of running shoes that gives them blisters, pinches their toes or feels lumpy or lopsided.

Don’t worry: CNET has you covered with this guide to the best running shoes for men. Selected from my own experience wearing men’s running shoes (I tend to like the styles and colors better), professional input from a running coach and thousands of online reviews, I present: the best running shoes for men in 2021. Oh, and if you or your gift recipient needs a mask for running, I have recommendations for that, too.

And yes, we also have a list of the best women’s running shoes. We update these lists periodically.

How I chose these running shoes

While I haven’t tried every item on this list (that would require a lot of running!), I know my way around running shoes pretty well. I’ve been running for about 10 years now and have worked my way through several pairs of running shoes, from cheap to luxurious. 

Personal experience: I called out which shoes I’ve tried in the past, and while my experiences informed my research, keep in mind that you probably won’t have the same experience with any given shoe that did or didn’t work for me. I simply offer my experiences for perspective.

Professional input: I asked certified running coach Mollie Millington of PT Mollie for her input on specific types of running shoes to guide my final selections.

Highly rated: Each pair of running shoes on this list was top-rated for factors like comfort, support, quality and durability — everything you should look for in a running shoe. I perused buyer reviews on Amazon, Google and brand websites to choose the running shoes on this list. 

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