With Spring upon us and summer right around the corner, it's time to refresh your footwear for the season ahead. Whether you're hitting the pavement, exploring trails, or upgrading from everyday style, the 2025 Spring Shoe Guide has you covered. This year brings a perfect blend of innovation, comfort, and style, with top brands rolling out shoes that cater to runners, casual walkers, and lifestyle enthusiasts alike. Expect cutting-edge materials, eco-conscious designs, and bold aesthetics that will keep you ahead of the game. Get ready to step confidently into the new season with shoes tailored to your needs and preferences.
We gathered testers from all over the country, including veteran runners at ACTIVE, to extensively test the shoes in this guide. Our testers put their shoes through at least 20 running miles (some way more than 20 miles) while paying attention to comfort, fit, weight, breathability, flexibility, and ride.
From updates of old favorites that had our feet singing to new releases that will ensure you'll find something to motivate your miles well into summer, you're guaranteed to find a shoe you'll love. We know money might be tight, but if you can, treat yourself! You deserve it.
Spring Shoe Guides
AHNU | Asics | Brooks | Craft | Diadora | HOKA | KURU | La Sportiva | Merrell | New Balance | Nike | The North Face | Reebok | Rossignol | Salomon | Saucony | Scarpa | Skechers | Speedland | Under Armour
Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts, including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools in order to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature products that are highly rated.
Hoka Cielo X1 2.0
Hoka Clifton 10
Hoka Cielo X1 2.0
About: Experience the perfect fusion of speed and comfort with the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0. Designed for runners seeking peak performance, this lightweight racing shoe enhances agility and responsiveness while maintaining the cushioning for which HOKA is celebrated. Whether you're aiming for a personal best or tackling a challenging track, the Cielo X1 2.0 offers an unparalleled running experience with its advanced foam technology and aerodynamic design.
These shoes are built for speed; the aggressive rocker shape makes it easy to pick up the pace from the first mile.
Things We Liked:
"The shoe's rocker design makes it easy to start dashing! The design of the shoe propels you forward."
"It's exciting to have an aggressive and competitive supershoe from HOKA finally."
Areas for Improvement:
"The cut out on the medial side of the shoe makes things feel a bit unstable, especially at slower paces. I'd love to see a cutout in the middle of the shoe only. "
"I'd urge HOKA to go back to the lab with wear testing prototypes to either dial in or consider varying models of the Cielo for toe box and metarocker options."
Final Thoughts
These shoes feature an aggressive rocker design that propels the runner forward, helping to pump up the pace right from the start. The CIELO X1 2's are a solid choice for speed workouts and road racing and have the perfect amount of cushioning to keep you comfortable, without weighing you down. Note: The shoes are slightly lighter than the previous iteration, but they're still a few ounces heavier than some of their carbon-plated peers.
The shoes don't differentiate between men's and women's styles, but they still fit true to size and have a nice step-in feel. The outsole is exceptionally grippy, which does well on wet pavement or near water stations during a race. You'll appreciate that grip because the shoe has a cutout on the medial side of the insole, which can feel a bit wobbly at times. If you're looking for a FAST shoe that's also fun, don't sleep on the Cielo X1 2. The shoe's shimmery frost/black color way is particularly snazzy; it'll put you in a racing state of mind.
Specs:
- Drop: 7 mm
- Weight: 8.1 oz
- Price: $275
- Category: Neutral
- Type: Running - Road
- Fit: True To Size
- Ideal for: Speed, Race
Buy:
Unisex
Hoka Clifton 10
About: Celebrate a decade of innovation with the HOKA Clifton 10. This milestone edition retains the trademark plush cushioning and smooth ride of its predecessors while introducing cutting-edge features for an even more comfortable run. Ideal for runners of all levels, the Clifton 10 provides the perfect balance of support and versatility, ensuring it’s as reliable on long-distance paths as it is on quick recovery jogs.
For the right runner, these are a very versatile (and durable) trail shoe that can go from daily runs to ultra races.
Things We Liked:
"Super light and responsive!"
"I loved the ease of putting these shoes on! With some shoes it's a struggle, but the construction of the upper and wide toe box made them almost as easy as slippers to put on."
Areas for Improvement:
"It’s a very uncomfortable shoe for my foot. "
"Unfortunately, for me, there was something about the stiffness of the ankle collar that made them difficult to get just right. They either felt too loose to feel stable, or so tight when laced down that it was painful and constricting."
Final Thoughts
The UA Infinite Elite 2 is like the comfy couch of running shoes — soft, stable, and built to soak up all your miles. It’s super cushy underfoot thanks to the HOVR+ foam, making it perfect for long runs, easy days, or when you want your legs to forgive you. The fit is true to size, with a roomy toe box that allows your toes to spread out and live their best lives, while the lacing system keeps everything nicely locked down. Durability is solid, and the breathable upper won’t turn your feet into sad little saunas. It’s not exactly a speed demon (think cruise control, not turbo mode), but overall, this shoe is here to treat your feet like royalty.
Specs:
- Drop: 6 mm
- Weight: 9.5 oz
- Price: $155
- Category: Cushion/Stability
- Type: Running - Trail
- Fit: 1/2 Size Up When Buying
- Ideal for: Long Distance, Race, Trail
Buy:
Women's | Men's