I’ve run over 1,000 miles in 2025 and these are my top three women's running trainers

Winter training demands a different kind of shoe rotation. Shorter days, colder temperatures, slick pavements, and muddy trails all put new stress on your legs and your footwear. Staying consistent through the winter often matters more than chasing peak performances, especially if you want to arrive at spring races healthy and confident.

After setting a new PB at the Royal Parks Half Marathon in March, I rolled straight into winter training mode. Conditions changed almost overnight: leaf-covered pavements, churned-up trails, and track sessions in single-digit temperatures. To keep structure in my training (and avoid niggles), I needed shoes that could handle everything from steady road miles to short, sharp intervals and slippery off-road descents.

I’ve tested a wide range of women's running shoes this year, but three models stood out for very different reasons. Each filled a specific gap in my winter rotation: a stable everyday road shoe, a fast option for harder efforts, and a trail shoe with enough grip to stop me from skating across soggy leaves.

The aim was simple: stay consistent, stay injury-free, and give myself the best possible platform heading into the next race season. A PB never comes from shoes alone, but the right pair at the right time can make staying on track a whole lot easier.

Best for speed work

Brooks Hyperion Elite 5

Brooks has never dominated the carbon-plate market like Nike Vaporfly 4 or Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 - until now. After putting significant miles into the Hyperion Elite 5, from interval sessions to cold-weather track sessions, I have to admit the comfort, bounce, and energy response of this shoe blew me away.

I usually log my long miles in the Adrenaline GTS 25, and as a heel striker, the jump from a stability trainer to a carbon racer could have felt twitchy - but it didn’t. The woven open-mesh upper was surprisingly accommodating for my wider feet, and the bobbled laces kept my feet secure and locked in.

The energy return comes from Brooks’ DNA Flash v2 supercritical nitrogen-infused foam. Unlike the ultra-soft, trampoline-like feel of PEBA foams (think ZoomX in the Nike Vomero Premium or PEBA-based PWRRUN HG in the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5), the Hyperion Elite 5 delivers a firmer, more stable ride while still returning noticeable energy when you push the pace.

During speed sessions, the shoe rolled forward with ease, thanks to the SpeedVault Race+ full-length carbon plate - Brooks’ stiffest racing plate to date. Longer tempo runs felt stable enough to maintain form without fatiguing my ankles or re-injuring my old metatarsal injury, something I couldn’t say for every carbon model I’ve tested.

The pink-and-blue colourway gave me that “look, I’m a runner” edge, and the high-visibility finish was extremely welcome during dark winter runs.

Overall, they're not as explosive as Nike’s top racers, nor as soft as Saucony’s, but far more stable than most carbon options and competitively fast. For runners who want race-day speed without sacrificing control, the Hyperion Elite 5 most definitely puts Brooks on the map in the super-shoe world - and a shoe I’m excited to race in. These trainers scream, 'I’m a serious runner.' They make me excited to race.

Best off road

Salomon S/LAB PULSAR 4

If you love winter trail running and genuinely enjoy mud, puddles, and technical terrain, your shoes have to match the chaos. I wore the Salomon S/LAB PULSAR 4 in torrential British rain, ankle-deep mud, and over mossy, rocky climbs, and they felt built for purpose: pure off-road performance.

The standout is the MATRYX upper. It’s not standard mesh - it’s a woven blend reinforced with Kevlar-like fibres, giving a durable, foot-hugging feel without overheating.

Underfoot, Salomon’s All Terrain Contagrip outsole with 3.5mm lugs delivered reliable traction on wet rock, greasy mud and rooty woodland trails. The lugs aren’t as aggressive as some trail shoes, like the Hoka Speedgoat 6, which uses 5mm lugs, or the Ronhill Reverence, which goes up to 7mm - but I actually prefer this balance. There’s enough bite for winter trails without the shoe feeling clunky on firmer sections.

Despite the rugged build, the shoe is impressively light and nimble. The dual-foam midsole felt soft and responsive, especially through the forefoot, and noticeably more flexible than other off-road shoes I’ve tested, like the ASICS GEL-TRABUCO 10. I could comfortably run road sections to and from trails without feeling like I was dragging my feet - something many pure trail shoes struggle with, especially with my flat-footed, low arch ways.

Waterproofing held up perfectly in the downpour, and the fully gusseted tongue kept out annoying debris. The quicklace system stayed secure without creating pressure points, and the fit feels slightly wider than previous S/LAB models - ideal for longer, muddier miles and thicker winter socks.

If you want a winter trail shoe that’s fast, protective, and reliably grippy, this is the one to beat. Bonus: the salmon colourway looked pretty - and super appealing – though they didn’t stay that way for long!

Best daily trainer

ASICS GEL-Nimbus 28

The mission of the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 28 is simple: deliver a smooth, comfortable ride - and on that front, it delivers. Comfort is led by the lightweight, super-cushioned FF BLAST PLUS foam, which provides a soft, protective feel underfoot while still offering a touch of bounce to keep things from feeling sluggish, combined with ASICS’ PureGEL technology under the heel, where any impact felt is well and truly absorbed, particularly when running on the road.

I tested the Nimbus 28 over several weeks of long, Zone 2 runs and found them consistently comfortable from the first step to the final mile. At just 5ft 2, I also appreciated that ASICS has retained the shoe’s signature high stack height, making me look that little bit taller (it all helps), whilst firmly placing the Nimbus in the “cloud-like comfort” category thanks to the extra cushioning which gives them a squishy, comfortable and relaxed feel.

Despite being a neutral shoe, there’s also a reassuring sense of stability here. The wide outsole, particularly through the heel, creates a confident and stable landing, which was welcome on my longer runs and the updated Hybrid ASICSGRIP outsole also performed well on icy winter pavements and unavoidable muddy pathways, offering reliable traction across mixed road surfaces.

The engineered knit upper enhances breathability and delivers a premium, seamless fit, while the knit tongue adds to the overall comfort. Fit-wise, I found the Nimbus 28 true to size in my usual UK 5, with a slightly lower Achilles collar than previous versions - a small but welcome update.

Compared to the new Saucony Endorphin Azura, I did find the Nimbus 28 a little heavier underfoot, but that aside, it’s a comfortable, high-mileage road shoe, ideal for longer endurance runs - and even walking recovery days when comfort is the priority.

Verdict

Running shoes come in all shapes and styles, each designed for different conditions and running goals. If you’re not sure where to start, a neutral, well-cushioned road shoe with dependable grip like the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 28 is a safe and sensible place to begin. They’re plush, forgiving on the joints and ideal for building mileage comfortably.

Once you start branching out into faster sessions or off-road running, that’s where more specialist shoes come into play. Trail shoes, for example, completely change the experience of running on mud and uneven ground.

I was late to the trail-running party, but now I can’t imagine tackling off-road terrain without a pair of grippy trail shoes, like the Salomon S/LAB PULSAR 4 - the added traction and robust materials brings confidence, control and, unexpectedly, a lot more fun in the mud than I ever imagined - I now run through sludge rather than tip-toe around it, making those Winter miles even more fun.

At the other end of the spectrum, carbon-plated shoes are unbeatable for speed work and racing. Slipping into my Brooks Carbon Hyperion Elite 5 genuinely makes me feel faster, more efficient and ready to push the pace. They’ve become my go-to for my weekly speed sessions and will be firmly reserved for race day at my next half-marathon in the spring.

The takeaway? Having the right trainer for each type of run – miles that tick boxes, trails that test your balance or speed that test your VO2 Max – doesn’t just improve performance, it makes running more enjoyable. And when running feels fun, you’re far more likely to keep lacing up.