Author
Katherine Englishman
When all else in your closet fails, an all-black outfit will always work. Black is effortlessly stylish, sleek, and yeah, I’ll say it, practical (fewer stains, less visible dirt marks, no worries). When it comes down to it, all-black apparel is a genius combination of style and function that can instantly make you look far more put together than you might actually be. (Check out our top picks for the best all white running shoes, too.)
For those among us working with an athletic aesthetic both in town and on the trail, the black running shoe is key. Few pieces of active apparel or outdoor gear can be as feature-rich as these and still be an excellent sartorial choice—although, we can make an exception for you, puffy jackets. Be it a nitrogen-infused midsole, seamless construction, and the ability to customize your fit with the turn of a dial, running sneakers can come fully-loaded with the latest tech, but an entirely black look elevates this hardwearing product to a level of timeless, understated cool.
The tricky part is finding the best black running shoes for your look and lifestyle. So, to save you the research, we rounded up a comprehensive list of the best men’s & women’s running shoes—in all-black—with exceptional design, high-performance features, and long-lasting active comfort to take you from town, trail, and beyond.
The 16 Best Black Running Shoes for Men & Women
Hoka TC 1.0
Unseating the reigning champ of all-black runners—the Hoka Bondi of course—is the all-new Hoka TC 1.0, a gender-neutral style for everyday wear. The purpose-built, blacked out sneaker is specifically designed for everyday wear—city and trail running, around town, at work, while traveling, wherever. Sustainable elements include a 100% recycled poly upper, a 30% sugarcane-based EVA insole, and a Vibram Ecostep Natural outsole made with 90% oil-free ingredients and 100% natural pigments.
That said, if it's long mileage runs AND everyday wear you're after. The Hoka Bondi 8 might still be your best bet—at least The American Pediatric Medical Association thinks so.
Price: $200
Arc’Teryx Norvan LD 3 GTX
Whether you’re on or off trail, these responsive athletic shoes are designed to give you the active comfort and grip necessary to tackle those big objectives in rugged environments when weather conditions don’t always cooperate. The Gore-Tex membrane keeps out wind and water without trapping moisture to help regulate your temperature. A low-profile metallic gold logo on the heel is an understatedly cool design detail on these all black running shoes.
Women’s Option: Yes
Price: $200
Norda 001 W
Dubbed the world’s lightest, toughest running shoe with a sustainable bent, these men’s running shoes are crafted from Bio-Dyneema, a blend of bio-based Dyneema and recycled Cordura nylon. Beneath that, there's a layer of G+ graphene for waterproofing and a little extra warmth without significant weight gain. Another notable innovation is the seamless construction that’s made to eliminate rubbing and enhance comfort. All that means that this high price delivers a high-quality running sneaker with a low carbon footprint.
Women’s Option: Yes
Price: $325 CAD
Salomon XT-6
This best-selling unisex black running shoe is a much-loved option for long distance runners who run in varied terrain, but also crave a stylish running sneaker that you can wear as your daily driver. A blend of lightweight yet durable mesh material won’t weigh you down and also stands up to wear and tear. An EVA cushioning provides total comfort and a streamlined one lace, lace up system means minimal fussing when you need to readjust the fit mid-run.
Unisex
Price: $200
Brooks Ghost 15
Though the Glycerin 20 neutral running shoe is a murdered out standout for Brooks, our pick for this wishlist is the similarly sleek Ghost 15. With an upper made of 57% recycled materials, the Ghost 15 has a nice sustainability story behind it, but most people will only mention how it's one of the beloved running brand's mainstays and best sellers. It's made with a little extra cushion to support comfort whether you're logging miles or just cruising around, and has a classic running shoe fit with neutral support. Also available in extra wide sizing.
Women’s Option: Yes
Price: $160
Norse Projects Lace-Up Runner
This lightweight low top runner from the Norwegian masters of understated style, Norse Project, draws inspiration from trail running to create an all-black running shoe fit for everyday wear. It features a unique cord and stopper lacing system (much like the Gorpcore god Salomon XT-6) with a stow-away pocket on the tongue. The diamond structured ripstop nylon upper is breathable yet backed with a Hydro Guard membrane that's wind and waterproof. TPU film detailing increases durability, the reinforced heel improves stability, while a lightweight Vibram outsole makes for maximum comfort and grip on a range of terrain. (Zip-up and all-white versions are available, too.)
Unisex
Price: $325
On Running Cloudmonster
Built with the innovative Swiss company's most advanced cushioning tech to date, the all-new, ultra lightweight Cloudmonster is a road runner designed to adapt to the wearer's unique style and cadence. The ultra-cushioned sole provides soft landings and powerful takeoffs, while the breathable mesh upper made of 100% recycled poly with a no-sew, one piece design ensures a comfortable fit whether logging long miles or simply running errands around town.
Women’s Option: Yes
Price: $170
Nnormal Tormir Waterproof
For total protection in the wettest conditions, look no further than the unisex Tormir Waterproof running sneaker from Nnormal, a new trail running brand launched by World-renowned mountaineer and trail runner Kilian Jornet in partnership with Spanish footwear brand Camper. Better than water resistant, these performance-focused shoes have a robust wind and waterproof membrane that is lightweight and breathable with a durable ripstop upper to resist wear and tear. An ultra-grippy sole provides great traction so you can take these out on your most rugged, rainy adventures.
Unisex
Price: $175
La Sportiva Raptor
This burly black running sneaker is a unisex shoe designed with maximum grip and protection from the elements to take you to the summit and back. However, the aggressive lugged sole, and snug, supportive fit works great in any kind of terrain (hello, icy city sidewalks), so you don’t have to worry about transitioning from pavement to gravel when a post-work adventure calls.
Unisex
Price: $195
Asics Novablast 3 LE
Though the Gel-Nimbus is beloved by long distance runners and the stylish Gel-Kayano is an obvious choice for aesthetes, we’re diverging to feature the equally sleek, all-black Novablast—a real speed demon. That's thanks to its technical mesh upper and the FF Blast Plus foam in its midsole, which is super lightweight and has bouncy responsiveness for springing from one step to the next. If you want a black running shoe you can wear to breakfast without anyone knowing you just won a 10k in the park, this is it.
Women’s Option: Yes
Price: $150
Adidas Ultraboost Light
The Ultraboost are one Adidas' long-running training shoes, but you're just as likely to see them at the grocery store or downtown because they're so darn comfortable and nice to walk in. That's thanks to a big helping of the namesake Ultraboost foam, which gives it a bouncy, comfy, springy feel whether you're running or running errands.
Women's Option: Yes
Price: $190
New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v3
The More Trail v3 wants you to run as far as you please, and it's designed to help you do just so with a big stack of plush Fresh Foam X to minimize the effects you feel from hard surfaces as you go. The shoe is also plenty grippy with a Vibram outsole, and plenty comfy for all its trail-ready features. That means you can wear it on the streets too (which, based on its looks, we'd fully endorse).
Women's Option: YES
Price: $160
Nike Pegasus 40
The Air Zoom Pegasus is Nike's longstanding, crowd-pleasing, classic running shoe. It never loses its following because, year after year, it's able to please casual joggers and marathon runners alike with the right mix of bounce, responsiveness, support, and flyknit comfort. If tarmac isn’t your terrain of choice, try the Pegasus Trail version. Goldilocks would approve (if she wore all black).
Women's Option: Yes but not all-black
Price: $130
Saucony Xodus Ultra 2
If you don't mind a pop of color in an otherwise all-black shoe, the Saucony Xodus Ultra 2's flash of '80s neon on the heel might appease. The shoe is made for logging long miles on trails and it has the features to match, including PWRRUN PB foam in a maximum cushion build and lots of grip for the variety of ground you'll cover over, say, 50 miles.
Women's Option: Yes
Price: $150
Mammut Ducan BOA Low GTX
Mammut’s innovative BOA lacing system has a discreet dial mechanism on the outer edge of the trail running shoe that provides easy accessibility and allows the wearer to instantly tweak the fit so you can move swiftly through trails and town. A Vibram sole provides enough stability and comfort that it wears as easily as a slip-on shoe but with plenty of traction for surefootedness on loose or uneven surfaces. Rest assured that with a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane, your feet will stay dry in all conditions.
Men’s Option: No
Price: $195
Tracksmith Eliot Runner
Though not exactly all-black, the handsome Eliot Runner makes the list as a long-awaited new arrival from New England-based Tracksmith, which has made a name for itself in the running world by fusing heritage collegiate style with cutting edge materials to create premium apparel for clocking miles. The Eliot is no different—made for the variety of surfaces you might encounter in Maine or Massachusetts, the daily trainer has enough bounce and grip for any run. And the black top, white base, gum-rubber bottom is for sure a classic look.
Women's Option: Yes
Price: $198
Published 05-30-2023
