In this product guide:
- 1. Versatile daily trainer with a narrow fit: Asics Novablast 4
- 2. Cushioned trainer with a narrow fit: Hoka Bondi 8
- 3. Cushioned trainer with a narrow fit: Asics Nimbus 26
- 4. Marathon racer with a narrow fit: adidas Adios Pro 3
- 5. 10K shoe/tempo trainer with a narrow fit: Hoka Mach 6
- 6. 5K racing flat with a narrow fit: adidas Takumi Sen 10
- 7. Trail running shoe with a narrow fit: Salomon Speedcross 6
- How we selected
The Asics Novablast 4 is one of the most popular and commercially successful running shoes in recent times.
The original Novablast was one of the first shoes to successfully combine a cushioned and responsive ride with a forward-propelling rocker midsole. The Novablast 4 has come a long way since and packs much more cushioning and bounce than the first version.
When we dissected the Novablast, we found the stack heights to be 43 mm (heel) and 35 mm (forefoot). This stack is made almost entirely of springy Flytefoam, thus making the Novablast 4 comfortable enough for everyday mileage and long-distance runs.
The aggressive rocker makes the highly cushioned midsole surprisingly nimble. The rocker midsole tips the foot forward at the end of the gait cycle, so the turnovers come quicker than many comparable trainers. For example, the Novablast feels a lot quicker than the Asics Nimbus 26 or Hoka Bondi 8.
The heel padding doesn’t curve inwards as the Novablast 3 (bottom) did. This creates a tighter toe box and forefoot fit.
The narrow fit hasn’t changed for the Novablast through the years. The Novablast 4 has an even tighter fit because of the redesigned heel collar that pushes the foot forward. While the toe box has decent room, the forefoot is narrow.
A tight fit is good for a tempo-friendly ride character, as it does a better job of transferring the power from the foot to the midsole.
Note: The Asics Superblast 2 is more spacious than the Superblast V1, so it’s excluded from this list.
If given a choice, we’d choose the Hoka Bondi 7 over the Bondi 8. The upper had more room, and the midsole design was more dialed in.
In contrast, the Hoka Bondi 8 has a narrower fit with a firm midsole edge under the arch.
The toe-box ceiling has a just-right height. Only the forefoot is narrow.
However, this buyer’s guide is about running shoes with a narrow fit, and that’s where the Bondi 8 makes a case for itself. The snug upper is a good fit for narrow-footed runners, while the max-cushion midsole delivers the familiar Hoka comfort.
Just know that the Bondi 8 uses a regular EVA foam midsole, so you won’t get the cushy softness of the Brooks Ghost Max 2 or Asics Nimbus 26. What the Bondi 8 delivers is a cushioned and supportive ride that doesn’t feel slow. While it’s not exactly a shoe for tempo runs, the Hoka won’t bog you down either.
The Nimbus 26 has similar stack heights as the Novablast 4, but has a completely different character. It lacks an aggressive rocker as well as the bounciness of the Novablast, so it’s best used for everyday runs at easy paces (lower than 5 min/km or 8 min/mile).
It’s slightly firmer than the Nimbus 25, but still very comfortable for distances of up to a half-marathon. The outsole rubber has been reformulated for improved grip, so that’s a plus in our eyes.
The Nimbus 26 is also a great pick as a cushioned marathon shoe.
The step-in cushioning is provided by the plush Ortholite footbed and foam lasting. The Flytefoam midsole is supportive and neutral, so the Nimbus feels stable during runs.
And why is the Nimbus 26 on this list? It has a narrow forefoot with an overall snug upper. The super plush heel collar keeps the foot locked in, and the stretchy tongue snaps flush over the midfoot.
- Asics’s marketing pitch: Add comfort to every step.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, inner gusset.
- Midsole: Flytefoam Blast+ foam, heel Gel unit. 8 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Hybrid Asicsgrip rubber.
- Weight: 305 gms/ 10.7 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 42 mm (heel), 34 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 2E (wide), 4E (extra-wide).
- Previous model: Asics Nimbus 26
- Country of origin: Indonesia.
- Recommended use: Daily trainer for easy runs, half-marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Median lifespan: 400 miles.
- Recommended paces: Slower than 5:00 min/km (8:00 min/mile).
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Ride comfort for easy efforts
- Supportive and neutral cushioning
- Smooth transitions
- Optional wide, extra-wide sizes
Cons
- Upper is not breathable
- Low versatility
- Low reflectivity
- Printed heel loop may irritate
- Outsole grip needs further improvement
It’s becoming harder to find plated racers with a narrow fit. Compared to just a few years ago, popular racers like the Nike Vaporfly and New Balance SC Elite have become a lot roomier.
But adidas does things its way. Not only does the Adios Pro 3 use a different midsole design, but it also features a tighter fit. The lacing reaches further into the forefoot than most racers, and the first two lacing rows are connected to side loops.
This unique design allows the runner to make the forefoot fit tighter – an option that is unavailable in other racers.
Under the upper is a bouncy midsole made of Lightstrike Pro – adidas’s premier cushioning material. It’s worth noting that the Adios Pro doesn’t have a solid Carbon plate like how most super-shoes of its class do.
Adidas uses ‘Energy Rods’ inside the Lightstrike Pro midsole. These stiff tubes made of a Carbon-fused material make the transitions quicker while giving the runner greater control over the ride experience. A Continental rubber outsole adds grip and durability.
The Adios Pro 3 is one of the most versatile racers. Unlike niche marathon racers, its cushioning is easy to access regardless of speed or footstrike orientation.
If you’re a narrow-footed runner searching for a tempo trainer with a tight fit, you’re in luck. The Hoka Mach 6 receives a full makeover, and part of the update includes a narrow upper fit that is also shorter than the Mach 5.
In our review, we said that the Mach 6 has a ‘performance fit.’ The tight fit is great at driving power from the foot to the responsive midsole. It’s also good at keeping the foot locked in during speed runs and sharp turns.
The fit is narrow but the rest of the interior is very comfortable. The mesh is soft, and so are the tongue and heel collar. The ventilation is pretty good too.
What makes the Hoka Mach 6 special is its cushioned and fast ride. Unlike the Mach 5, the new single-density midsole has better cushioning depth and responsiveness. The narrow fit accentuates the midsole’s springy feel.
A deep channel cuts through the center of the rubber outsole to improve the straight-line tracking.
So what’s the best use case for the Hoka Mach 6? It’s an excellent shoe for tempo runs, mile repeats, and interval training. It’s a great 10K (and 5K) racer as well, as the midsole is comfortable and quick enough for that distance.
Low-profile racing flats with a narrow fit are a dying breed. The Nike Streakfly doesn’t have a narrow fit, nor does the Hoka Cielo Road and adidas Adios 8.
So we were happy to have reviewed the adidas Takumi Sen 10 earlier this year. It’s much more than a racing flat with a narrow fit. It uses a similar construction as the Adios Pro 3, but on a much smaller scale.
The bouncy Lightstrike Pro foam combines forces with the Energy rods inside the midsole. The low-profile midsole adds comfort during a quick 5K, whereas the stiff tubes add a speed-focused flavor to the ride. The traction from the Continental rubber outsole helps with quick push-offs
A shoe like the Takumi benefits from a tight fit. The upper pins the foot against the midsole for focused push-offs and power transfer. The toe-box is also pointy, somewhat reminiscent of vintage flats like the adidas Adios 2 and New Balance Hanzo.
Not only does the Salomon Speedcross 6 have a snug upper, but it’s also an excellent trail running shoe.
The tight and heavily reinforced upper is a result of the Speedcross’s unique upper and midsole construction. On most shoes, the upper stops at the midsole edge. That’s not the case here.
The Speedcross feels protective over gravel trails.
The double-lasted upper wraps over the midsole.
The upper is ‘double lasted’ – a production method in which the upper wraps over the midsole and connects directly to the outsole. This creates a slimmer profile as well as a narrower fit.
The fused layers reinforce the upper for trail use while also making the fit snugger. The bungee cord lacing system (Quicklace) makes it easy to dial in the upper fit. We recommend the waterproof Gore-Tex version for superior versatility.
The EVA frame increases the ride stability by cupping the heel.
Two other features make the Speedcross a versatile trail runner. The firmly cushioned midsole adds comfort and protection during trail runs; the heel is supported by an EVA frame.
The bi-directional rubber lugs on the Contagrip outsole are 5 mm tall and add dependable grip on off-road terrain.
How we selected: What to look for
Let’s define what ‘narrow’ means here.
A ‘D’ sizing (and B in women’s shoes) is also known as the standard width. It is the default fit for all running shoes.
A ‘B’ width is one size narrower than D. It is more common for brands to offer wide (2E) and extra-wide (4E) widths than a narrower B size. The exceptions are brands like New Balance and Brooks that offer B widths.
This buyer’s guide lists shoes in regular D widths with an inherently snug fit. This category includes partially stretchy uppers that can accommodate a variety of foot shapes. Regular mesh uppers with a conforming fit are also included.
We’ve included narrow-fitting shoes for different use cases, be it everyday runs (Asics Novablast, Hoka Bondi), speed runs (Hoka Mach 6, adidas Takumi 10), marathons (adidas Adios Pro) and trail running (Salomon Speedcross).
Here’s a hack if you happen to have small feet – say, a size US 7 or under. It is not a bad idea to get a boy’s model or even women’s running shoes in neutral colors. Buying a boy’s model will get you a narrower fit with 30-50% of price savings over the adult version.
Here are a few examples of boy’s running shoes that also sell in small adult sizes up to a 7Y:
A. The adidas Ultraboost in youth or teen sizes.
B. The Nike Pegasus 41 in kid’s and big kid’s sizes.
C. The New Balance 1080V13 in kids and big kids sizes.