The 5 Best Treadmill Running Shoes

The running shoe store is an overwhelming place these days. What used to be a fairly clear delineation between categories (do you want road running shoes or trail running shoes?) has morphed into a dizzying array of hyper-specific footwear, from “gravel” running shoes to carbon-plated trail running super shoes.

This year, Reebok took it a step further with the FloatZig Tread, a running shoe built specifically for the treadmill. As someone who finds herself unwillingly trapped on a treadmill during the coldest winter months, I was actually thrilled by the idea of a shoe that could maybe make the treadmill less of a drag.

Sure enough, this “treadmill running shoe” feels secure and planted, with a lower stack height for added stability on a moving platform, and it’s become my go-to gym shoe.

But the obvious question remains: Do you need a treadmill-specific shoe? And if not, what kind of running shoe is best for repetitive movement on a moving platform and the built-in rebound of a treadmill belt? I asked running experts for their opinions and tested five recommended shoes for indoor runs.

Best Treadmill Running Shoes: At a Glance

What Makes a Good Treadmill Shoe?

Right off the bat, Jay Dicharry, a professor at Oregon State University’s physical therapy program and author of Running Rewired, does not believe you need a treadmill-specific shoe for running on the treadmill. But if you want to shop for a shoe that feels better for running indoors and can serve as a solid gym shoe, he has a few recommendations on what to look for.

Moderate Heel-to-Toe Drop

Since treadmills slightly increase ankle load, running in a lower-drop shoe (0–4mm) could theoretically increase strain on the calf and Achilles more on a treadmill than on the road. Dicharry recommends looking for a shoe with a higher drop, which doesn’t mean runners accustomed to zero-drop shoes should jump up to 12 mm. But shoes with a heel-to-toe drop in the 4-8 mm range can reduce the load on your lower leg if you’re used to a heel-toe drop already.

Not Too Much Cushion

The added cushion of the treadmill is another thing to consider. “Companies love to add cushioning to treadmill decks,” Dicharry says, which means runners likely don’t need the same level of cushion from their shoes when they transition inside.

“Runners who typically enjoy super soft, squishy shoes might prefer something firmer for the treadmill to counterbalance some of that softness,” Caroline Bermel, go-to-market manager at Fleet Feet, says.

This means looking for a shoe with firmer midsole foam like Altra’s EGO P35, or the denser SuperFloat foam in the FloatZig Tread. An added benefit of a denser midsole is added stability, helping to keep you upright on a moving platform.

Highly Breathable Upper

The air inside a gym can be… stale. The lack of natural breeze and recycled air adds up to more moisture buildup inside your shoes, and no one likes sweaty feet. Look for a lightweight mesh upper that encourages venting and breathability, and always pair your indoor running shoes with wicking socks.

Durable Outsole

Belt abrasion and the repetitive nature of how your foot lands on the treadmill can also wear out the rubber on road-running shoes, so look for a tougher outsole material or reinforcements in the footstrike zones.

Your Stride Can Change on a Treadmill

Finally, according to Bermel, we adjust our form slightly on the treadmill: “Most runners naturally shorten their stride because of the perceived lack of space in front of them,” she says, which can change footstrike. Thus, a shoe that complements your stride on the road may not feel right when you move inside.

What to Avoid in a Treadmill Shoe

The high-stack, max-cushioned running shoe era has not been kind to treadmill runners.

“The way road-running shoes have evolved has been counterproductive for treadmill workouts,” Chris Stone, running product director at Reebok, says. “[Shoe] needs are different for treadmill runners because they need stability. You’re landing on something which is moving, versus something which is static.” Stone also noted that a midsole with greater ground contact is better for treadmills than the rockered shape of many max-cushioned road-running shoes, particularly aggressively rockered builds.

Stability is perhaps the biggest factor, and while shoe choice is personal, Stone cautions against super high-stack shoes for treadmill workouts. “High-stack shoes rely on being a neutral runner who lands on their forefoot every single stride,” Stone says. “They can lean slightly unstable, especially if combined with training exercises.”

Don’t be afraid to try different models in person. Most specialty run stores have in-store treadmills or running belts, which can help dial in the fit and feel.

Our Top 5 Shoes for Running on the Treadmill

Overall, the ideal indoor running shoe will have a moderate stack height, a stable landing platform, slightly stiffer midsole foam, durable rubber, and a moderate heel-toe drop. Again, shoe choice is personal, and what works for us won’t work for everyone, but the five shoes we tested are versatile for working out inside (on and off the treadmill), stable for treadmill runs, and offer ample energy return to help the miles go by faster.

Reebok Floatzig Tread

$110 at Reebok – Women’s

$110 at Reebok – Men’s

Weight: 9.1 oz (men’s size 9)
Stack Height: 28–20 mm
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 8 mm

Pros and Cons

+ Excellent all-around shoe for diverse indoor workouts
+ Dense midsole foam with “stabilizer ring” provides a secure landing platform
+ Breathable for low air-flow environments
– Not as versatile for crossover running outdoors
– Heel tab can rub depending on sock choice

Before I tested this shoe, I didn’t know a “treadmill shoe” existed. Aside from one model from Adidas’s European line that I wasn’t able to test, it seems like it’s one of the only shoes specifically marketed for treadmill running. The FloatZig Tread has a few key components dedicated to treadmill runners, including a slightly denser midsole foam that helps offset the cushion and bounce of the treadmill and a stabilizer ring of springy EVA foam to maintain stride alignment. It also features a reinforced “Griptonite” outsole, designed for durability on abrasive belts. The upper is breathable, and the shoes feel stable and planted on the moving platform.

The only issue I ran into was some rubbing on the heel tab when I wore certain socks, so I’ve made sure that my socks don’t move at all. I haven’t experienced this with other shoes, but it’s not a deal breaker. While I’m not convinced you need a treadmill-specific shoe, I’ve been loving the FloatZig Tread for lifting, HIIT workouts, treadmill runs, and other cardio. I’d still recommend serious lifters stick to trusted strength-training shoes, but the FloatZig Tread has been an all-around excellent gym shoe where I don’t feel like I’m compromising on the treadmill or in the weight room.

Altra Torin 8

$160 at REI – Women’s

$160 at REI – Men’s

Weight: 9.5 oz (men’s size 9)
Stack Height: 30–30 mm
Heel-to-Drop: 0 mm

Pros and Cons

+ Best treadmill shoe for runners accustomed to zero-drop
+ Wide, stable landing platform
+ Altra’s generous toe box provides room for wider feet and generous toe splay
– The zero-drop build can add load on the calf and Achilles
– Relatively unresponsive

While the experts I spoke with recommend a moderate-to-high drop treadmill shoe, people accustomed to zero-drop footwear will appreciate the stability and familiar feel of the Altra Torin 8. The midsole foam is on the firmer end of the spectrum, and they have Altra’s wide base for a stable landing platform. The Torin also has less rocker than some of their other road-running models, which can feel somewhat dead underfoot, but is ultimately a benefit for indoor workouts. Altra’s hallmark wide toe box allows your toes to splay naturally, helping with balance control.

This shoe can do it all for the general road runner and indoor runner. Its comfort, flexibility, medium cushion, and reasonable price make it a good choice for a daily driver, and it performs well on the road and indoors. The 30 mm stack height seems tall, but the zero-drop design and lightly bouncy midsole cushion help offset some of that height, resulting in a stable shoe that offers excellent out-of-the-box comfort and all-around performance.

On Cloudrunner 3

$160 at REI – Women’s

$160 at REI – Men’s

Weight: 11 oz. (men’s size 9)
Stack Height: 31–23 mm
Drop: 8 mm

Pros and Cons

+ 8 mm heel-to-toe drop balances comfort and propulsion
+ Unique midsole design conforms to individual foot strike
+ Highly breathable upper
– Rockered shape reduces landing zone contact
– On the tall end of midsole height, some might prefer the lower Cloud 6

I’ve worn a lot of On shoes for treadmill runs and gym workouts, and the recently updated Cloudrunner 3 offers even more propulsion via On’s CloudTec cushioning system, which feels like custom rebound through the underfoot “pods” rather than a single layer of foam. The shoe has a good amount of underfoot cushioning without being overly soft, and the 8 mm drop is an excellent middle ground to counter some of the additional lower-leg load of extended treadmill workouts.

This shoe has a moderately high heel stack, so it’s not my first choice for strength training. On days when I combine running and strength training, I opt for the lower-stack On Cloud 6. While not as cushioned or bouncy as the Cloudrunner, the standard Cloud 6 offers an excellent combination of stability and breathability in a tidy package that works well for wearing around town, gym workouts, and easy-to-moderate treadmill runs.

NoBull Drive 2

$150 $130 at NoBull – Women’s

$150 $130 at NoBull – Men’s

Weight: 8.1 oz (men’s 9)
Stack Height: 22–18 mm
Drop: 4 mm

Pros and Cons

+ Excellent combination of energy return and stability
+ Highly breathable mesh upper
+ Indoor-optimized outsole rubber and tread patterning
–  Not a true running-specific shoe

NoBull makes shoes and apparel optimized for indoor training, and its latest Drive 2 toes the line between strength training and cardio. With enough rebound and cushioning for treadmill workouts but a stable platform for workout classes and lifting, this shoe is similar to Reebok’s FloatZig tread in terms of indoor versatility, but angled more toward strength training than running.

That doesn’t mean I haven’t loved it for treadmill workouts. I normally run in Altra’s zero-drop design and felt little noticeable difference in my footstrike with the four-millimeter drop. I also appreciated the additional midsole rebound during moderately paced, zero-incline runs compared to my less cushioned running/lifting shoes. The shoes are lightweight and have some of the most breathable mesh uppers we’ve tested, and the outsole is a high-traction rubber built for stability and grip on indoor surfaces.

Hoka Mach 7

$145 at REI – Women’s

$145 at REI – Men’s

Weight: 8.5 oz (men’s 9)
Stack Height: 35.6–30.6 mm
Drop: 5 mm

Pros and Cons

+ Exceptional rebound through supercritical EVA midsole
+ Lightweight and breathable
+ Abrasion-resistant rubber outsole
– On the high end for cushioning on treadmills
– Less stable than other models

The Mach 7 is our pick for runners who don’t want to give up the plush cushion of today’s popular road running shoes. This recently updated model is quite tall, but it has a lower heel-toe drop and wider base than other Hoka shoes, with a base flare that helps keep the footstrike balanced. It’s still not the most stable shoe, but that’s the trade-off for more cushion than shoes with denser midsoles and a lower stack height.

The energy return is where you win here, with a springy push off that feels almost like floating. The shoes are comfortable for longer runs at a moderate pace, as well as tempo workouts and running uphill. The outsole rubber and patterning aren’t designed specifically for treadmills, but cross over nicely between road running and indoor running—as long as your gym employees don’t give you the stink eye.