In this product guide:
- 1. High-grip everyday trainer: Puma Velocity Nitro 3
- 2. Grippy winter running shoe: Nike Pegasus 41 Gore-Tex
- 3. Marathon shoe with forefoot grip: adidas Adios Pro 3
- 4. Grippy recovery run trainer: Puma Magnify Nitro 2
- 5. Tempo trainer with forefoot grip: adidas Boston 12
- 6. 5K racer with excellent grip: adidas Takumi Sen 10
- 7. Trail runner with wet/dry traction: Salomon Speedcross 6
- 8. Winter running shoe with snow and ice grip: Salomon Winter Cross Spike
- How we selected
The word ‘velocity’ in the shoe’s name is somewhat misleading. The Puma Velocity Nitro 3 is not a purpose-built speed shoe; far from it. While it is capable of quicker miles, it wouldn’t be our first choice.
The snug upper with its racer-like tongue is the only part that feels inspired by a speed shoe.
The rest of the shoe is standard trainer fare; the dual-density midsole is fairly tall. The 8 mm heel-to-toe drop is derived from the 34 mm (heel) and 26 mm (forefoot) tall midsole.
The Velocity Nitro’s cushioned ride and 9.5-ounce weight makes it a better everyday trainer than a speed shoe. There’s ample cushioning for everyday runs and high-mileage training.
The midsole stacks the softer Nitro foam (supercritical compound) over a firmer EVA foam base. This arrangement works better for the outsole grip than if it was the other way around.
By being closer to the outsole, the firmer foam applies pressure on the sticky Pumagrip rubber slab during the landing and loading cycle. This results in better traction.
Having the firmer base closer to the ground is useful at higher speeds, as it limits the ‘telescoping’ effect of the outsole. For example, if the softer Nitro foam was closer to the ground, the outsole would flex inwards and take some bite off the traction.
The dense colony of small rectangular lugs grips the road better than its peers.
This is the first Gore-Tex version of the Nike Pegasus. It’s not just a waterproof version of the regular Pegasus; this shoe is designed for winter runs.
Along with the GTX Invisible Fit membrane, there’s a wind-resistant upper, heathered heel mesh for insulation, and plenty of reflectivity. The midsole is the same as the regular Peg 41, so runners get the heel-biased cushioning and supportive firmness of the Zoom Air bags.
We assume that this model makes the Shield variants redundant, as most of the feature set carries over.
The outsole uses the same ‘Storm-Tread’ rubber compound from the Pegasus Shield. It’s a sticky rubber compound with excellent wet weather performance. It won’t cut it on ice or snow, but it’ll cruise through damp and slushy winters.
Unless we see newer alternatives, the Pegasus 41 GTX is currently our top pick as a winter running shoe with high-performance traction.
What do the adidas Adios Pro 3, Boston 12, and Takumi 10 have in common?
The Continental + Textile rubber outsole is the magic sauce behind the excellent outsole grip on all three models.
We’ll get to the other two shoes, but let’s focus on the kind of outsole the Adios Pro 3 has. The front has a thick Continental rubber slab for abrasion resistance. The rest of the outsole uses a thin Textile rubber sheet that flexes with the midsole to spread wear and tear.
The outsole lacks protruding lugs; the flat surface creates a larger contact patch for superior grip. Be it dry or wet roads, the Adios Pro 3 offers excellent traction during the landing, transition, and push-off phase.
There’s a lot more to the Adios Pro 3 than its grippy outsole. The Lightstrike Pro foam and stiff Energy complement each other very well; the cushioning comfort is balanced with transition efficiency.
The midsole design also makes the Adios Pro 3 a very ‘friendly’ super shoe. The rearfoot stability is better than comparable racers, and the Lightstrike Pro midsole works equally well for heel strikers and relaxed paces.
On the Magnify Nitro 2, the four-piece Pumagrip provides reliable traction where it’s needed the most. The heel area has a couple of lugs, including a rounded outer outsole for heel strikes. Densely-packed lugs cover most of the contact surface.
The outsole grip is not the only reason why the Magnify Nitro 2 is featured here. The Magnify’s highly cushioned Nitro midsole makes it excellent for everyday runs and long-distance training. The soft and secure knit upper complements the midsole by making the power delivery efficient.
Given its stack heights (39 mm rear and 29 mm front), the Magnify doesn’t fare well at higher speeds. But then, that’s what the Liberate and Velocity Nitro are for.
Also consider: The Brooks Ghost Max 2.
The adidas adizero Boston 12 is no longer the low-profile tempo trainer from the past. The midsole is now cushioned enough to be an everyday trainer, and even the upper fit has become much roomier.
Naturally, that changes the Boston’s character and place in the running shoe ecosystem; it’s now comfortable enough for tempo runs and 10K races.
The dual-density midsole places Lightstrike Pro foam under the forefoot to deliver responsiveness where it’s most useful. Also, the fork-like prongs of the ‘Energy Rods’ help guide the foot through push-offs without being overly controlling.
Finally, the grip is excellent under the forefoot and heel. The Continental rubber outsole is wider than before, and provides dependable traction – be it on dry or wet surfaces.
We love the Takumi Sen 10. In our eyes, it’s currently the best short-distance racer in the market. Like, if you’re running a 5K, the Takumi should be the shoe to do it in.
There are many things we love about the Takumi. We like how the Lightstrike Pro midsole keeps the harshness away during high-speed races. We love the lockdown from the narrow and tight-fitting upper. We appreciate the quickness that the stiff Energy Rods add to the cushioned ride.
And lastly, we have a lot of praise for the dual-compound outsole. The Continental rubber slabs add abrasion resistance where needed, while the thin Textile rubber outsole delivers a great bite during fast-paced workouts.
The Speedcross 6’s sticky rubber compound offers excellent traction on dry and wet surfaces alike. But there’s more to the Speedcross than just its lug length.
The Salomon Speedcross 6 is excellent on technical trails.
The spaced-out outsole lugs offer dependable traction.
The double-lasted construction is unique to the Speedcross 6, and results in a compact design.
The slim outsole profile distributes the pressure over a smaller area – thus improving the bite on the trail. The midsole is also double-lasted, meaning that the upper wraps the midsole for a superior lock-down.
Lastly, the Quicklace upper secures the foot and keeps it closer to the ground for better power delivery.
The Salomon Wintercross Spike is the nuclear option for winter running when all other alternatives have failed.
Not only does the outsole have 5 mm rubber lugs for grip on slush, but it also has 11 Carbide spikes for the ultimate in winter-ready traction.
These spikes bite into frozen surfaces where ordinary rubber cannot, thus vastly improving safety when the pavement is either snow, ice, or both.
There’s also a waterproof upper and a comfortable midsole that goes on top of the spiked outsole, so this is a complete package. While it’s not as good as the Snowspike CSWP, it’s the best of the current lot.
Also, don’t confuse the Winter Cross with the Snowcross – the latter is a lifestyle sneaker with limited utility on icy surfaces.
HOW WE SELECTED
The outsole can make or break a running shoe. No amount of midsole cushioning or springy responsiveness can salvage a running shoe that grips poorly.
An outsole doesn’t stop at just providing traction; it adds value in other ways. A well-designed outsole works together with the midsole to improve the quality of cushioning and transitions.
Depending on the material and geometry, the outsole also acts as a defensive layer against the small rocks and debris on the road and trail. Some brands use a (more) durable compound to deliver more miles per dollar spent.
This guide is about shoes with excellent outsole traction, so what are we looking for here?
Looking back at over a decade of testing running shoes, a combination of two factors decides how good or bad the outsole grip will be.
THE OUTSOLE MATERIAL
An automobile tire is a classic example of how various rubber compounds take surface characteristics into account.
Firmer summer tires work on dry roads while a grippier and softer rubber is used for winter driving. Off-road motorcycles have knobby tires with aggressive lugs for grip over loose soil and gravel.
Running shoe outsoles work similarly. As a general rule, softer rubber lugs or sticky compounds deliver better grip than harder outsoles. That’s one of the reasons why Brooks models are a part of this guide – their softer outsoles offer plenty of road grip.
Brands also offer specific rubber compounds designed to grip better.
They go by different marketing names like adidas Continental, Pumagrip, Hybrid Asicsgrip, Brooks Trailtack, Nike Storm-Tread, Salomon Contagrip, or Altra MaxTrac. The Saucony PwrTrac is another tacky rubber material.
Pumagrip outsoles have built quite a reputation in a very short period, so this buyer’s guide has three different Puma running shoes.
So far, we’ve assumed that the outsoles are made of rubber. But what if the shoe lacks a separate outsole or has limited rubber coverage?
The ‘Storm-tread’ outsole on the Nike Pegasus Shield grips well on wet and slushy roads.
Foam outsoles deliver adequate grip on dry/wet roads and clean sidewalks. But throw in some slush, and the traction level decreases drastically. Likewise for smooth artificial floors that are dusty or freshly waxed.
EVA foam outsoles also stiffen in the cold, thus reducing their traction.
THE OUTSOLE GEOMETRY
The geometry also influences the level of traction – or the lack thereof. Smaller and deeper lugs generally grip better than flat slabs – even if they are made of the same compound.
However, using a high-tech rubber compound on a flat geometry works just as well. The adidas adios 8 and Boston 12 are good examples.
The outsole articulation or grooving also plays a role. A geometry that divides the outsole into separate sections lets them operate semi-independently. This way, targeted traction is available where and when necessary.
Trail outsoles aren’t built the same way as road shoes. While a higher count of longer lugs is preferred, these need to be spaced wider to minimize clogging.
Some geometries are also optimized for both downhill and uphill traction. For instance, the forefoot lugs could be angled forward and downwards whereas the rear does the opposite.
Also, trail running shoes need to perform equally well on wet and dry terrain. This means that the rubber compound needs to deliver reliable performance under ever-changing surface conditions.