Best running shoes for outsole grip

Best for everyday runs

Puma Velocity Nitro 4

The dense colony of sticky Pumagrip rubber lugs delivers excellent grip on wet and dry roads.

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The word “velocity” in the shoe’s name is somewhat misleading. The Puma Velocity Nitro 4 is not a purpose-built speed shoe—not even close. While it can handle quicker miles, it wouldn’t be our first choice. The snug upper with its racer-like tongue is the only part that feels speed-inspired. The rest of the shoe is standard trainer fare; the dual-density midsole is fairly tall. The 10 mm drop comes from the 36 mm (heel) and 26 mm (forefoot) stack heights. The Velocity Nitro’s cushioned ride is ideal for daily runs rather than speed training. The Velocity Nitro 4 has been updated with a full-length Nitrofoam midsole, instead of stacking the softer foam over a firmer EVA base as in the Velocity Nitro 3. These changes make the shoe lighter and softer than its predecessor.

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Step aside, adidas Continental rubber – Pumagrip has become the gold standard for outsole traction in running shoes, thanks to its grippy compound and effective geometry. Thick Pumagrip rubber lugs provide durable traction for both heel and forefoot strikers. The $140 retail price also makes it excellent value for money.

Best for 10K, marathons

adidas adios Pro 4

The soft Lighttraxion rubber outsole makes the Adios Pro one of the grippiest racers.

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1. Read our detailed review of the adidas Adios Pro 4 here.

A refreshed outsole layout is among the many changes on the Adios Pro 4. Unlike the climbing shoe-like outsole of the Adios Pro 3, the new Adios uses Lighttraxion. The small lugs of this ultra-thin rubber grip exceptionally well – even on damp roads. Only a tiny forefoot patch has the thicker Continental rubber for abrasion resistance. The soft Lighttraxion outsole covers most of the contact area. It’s also soft enough to flex with the midsole, improving the traction in the process. A softer outsole spreads wider when loaded to create a larger contact area.

There’s a lot more to the Adios Pro 4 than its grippy outsole. The Lightstrike Pro foam and stiff Energy rods complement each other very well; the cushioning comfort is balanced with transition efficiency. As always, the Energy rods need a few runs to fully break in.

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Runners upgrading from the Adios Pro 3 will discover a brand-new ride quality. There’s a substantial increase in softness and bounciness due to the foam composition and midsole design. The Pro 4 no longer has a solid heel core; there’s a deep under-heel cavity. The rocker has been tweaked as well. The midsole feels more propulsive and improves its ability to roll off. The speed-friendly Adios Pro 4 is much more bouncier and fun to run in than any of the prior versions, resulting in an engaging ride experience. The heel stability has suffered greatly on the newest model, so we can no longer recommend this shoe for heavier runners or heel striking at slower speeds.

We love the new upper. It’s smooth, true-to-size, and has a tacked-on tongue to prevent slide. The heel may slip a little due to the soft heel midsole – the foot tends to sink deeper than the Pro 3 so the upper rides a bit.

Best for max-cushioning

Puma Magnify Nitro 3

The Magnify Nitro 3’s Pumagrip outsole delivers the best grip among all max-cushioned racers.

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The Magnify Nitro 3’s four-piece Pumagrip outsole provides reliable traction where it’s needed most. The heel area has a couple of lugs, including a rounded outer section for heel strikes. Densely packed lugs cover most of the contact surface.

Outsole grip isn’t the only reason the Magnify Nitro 3 is featured in this guide. The generously cushioned Nitro midsole makes it excellent for everyday runs and long-distance training. The soft and secure knit upper complements the midsole by supporting efficient power delivery. Given its stack heights (40 mm rear and 30 mm front), the Magnify isn’t ideal for high-speed runs. Heavy runners will appreciate the supportive ride of the Nitrofoam midsole, thanks to the resilient foam that resists excessive compression.

Best for 5K, tempo runs

adidas Boston 13

Outsole traction has always been the adizero Boston’s strong point, and that doesn’t change on the newest model.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Adizero Boston 13 here.

The adidas EVO SL is also an option, so what additonal value does the Boston 13 add? The adidas Boston 13 has a couple of features that the EVO SL lacks. The midsole has Energy Rods, a set of internal tubes that make the ride propulsive through a rocker effect. The added stiffness also makes the Boston 13’s transitions efficient as the foot is less likely to sink into the soft midsole.

The Boston 13’s dual-density midsole has a supportive base of Lightstrike EVA foam for better stability and ride efficiency. The 35 mm (heel) and 29 mm (forefoot) tall midsole adds comfort for races up to a half-marathon. Outsole traction is available in spades; the forefoot has a large ‘Lighttraxion’ piece with a Continental rubber patch under the large toe.

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Runners will appreciate the roomy, ventilated, and true-to-size upper that doesn’t compromise interior comfort. A midfoot gusset keeps the tongue in place, with the padded heel and tongue providing excellent lockdown.

Also consider: The adidas EVO SL.

Best for trail

Salomon Speedcross 6

The wide spacing of the Speedcross 6’s Contagrip outsole lugs delivers trail-worthy traction.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Salomon Speedcross 6 here.

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.

Best for running on ice

Nike Pegasus 41 GTX

The grippy Stormtread outsole will cruise through damp winter roads. Icy roads are a no-go, though.

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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 that debuted on the Pegasus Shield several years ago. 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. Along with the Vomero 18 GTX, the Pegasus 41 GTX is currently our top pick as a winter running shoe with high-performance traction.

Also consider: The Nike Vomero 18 GTX.

Winter running shoe for snow and ice grip

Salomon WinterCross Spike

If the roads are iced over, it’s time to pull out the Wintercross and its Carbide-tipped spikes.

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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.

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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 the upper isn’t as good as the Snowspike CSWP from a few years ago, 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.

Related read: The best running shoes for wintery conditions – including snow and ice.

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.