The 14 Best Men's Athletic Sneakers for Supercharging Every Workout - The Manual (2024)

With more people finally stepping outside of their homes to enjoy the fresh air of this season’s warmer days and lush greenery, you might want to buy a couple of brand-new athletic sneakers from your favorite men’s clothing stores to enjoy your morning jogs and other errands. These are sneakers that can withstand environmental stresses, allowing you to go for a quick run on a rugged trail. Some highlight versatility (i.e. universal) while other pairs of men’s shoes are perfect for basketball or high-impact workouts. If you find it difficult choosing which kicks to purchase, look no further as we’ve gathered the best athletic sneakers— with selections befitting every type of workout from running to basketball. Check out our list of the best men’s athletic shoes.

Related Guides

• Best Running Shoes for Men
• Best CrossFit Shoes for Men

The Best Men’s Running Shoes

This category of athletics probably takes the most trying on. When it comes to running, speed, and other agility workouts, you have to look at the cadence and distance of your activity. If your goal is distance, it’s important to consider grip for stability and cushioning for comfort and better impact absorption.

If you have flat feet, seek out something that is supportive but not corrective. When you wear a shoe that doesn’t properly align with your body, the injury risk jumps. Take your time to find the appropriate running sneakers that match your activity level and foot.

Brooks Running Ghost 13

The latest from Brooks Running is the Ghost 13 sneakers. Best for road runners with medium to high arches, these offer more cushion than ever to promise a smoother transition between strides. They are a solid and dependable choice for your daily runs.

Hoka One One Clifton 6

Some might say Hoka One One’s Clifton 6 is an icon. It’s the style that put the brand on the runner’s map … or should we say road. It features the three things everyone looks for in a running sneaker: A balanced cloudlike footbed, neutral support, and extremely lightweight. The cult following is there for a reason.

On Running Cloudswift

We recommend these for both the treadmill and urban roads. They have a flexible CloudTec outsole to let your foot perform naturally. With a wider fit, these also support an arch but don’t force correction. In a world of bright colors and foamy bottoms, these running sneakers remain pretty low profile and high tech.

AsicsGel-Nimbus 22

When it comes to Asics, if you know, you know. Die-hard fans will never wear anything else and they probably count how many pairs they go through as a badge of honor. These babies sit on a midsole made of Gel and Flytefoam technology with a mesh upper, meaning they mold to your feet right out of the box with a “no break-in necessary” promise.

Best Men’s Basketball Shoes

For basketball shoes, you have to think of plyometrics and bounce. This isn’t a one-dimensional activity. Similar to boxing, you are pivoting, running backward, jumping, and side shuffling. Therefore, it requires sneakers that can handle it all. Keep an eye out for super bouncy cushioning to give you those big ups.

Nike Jordan React Elevation

If you’ve ever played basketball, you’ve probably owned a pair of Jordans. With new drops each year, the style continues to improve across style, fit, technology and comfort. The Jordan React Elevation focuses on what’s important: The fundamentals. They provide a balanced ride with a wide set footbed and just enough cushion allowing you to jump high and move fast.

Puma Clyde Hardwood Natural Basketball Shoes

The perfect blend of old-school leather and performance materials, these Pumas are the foundation of PUMA Hoops, the basketball technology under the brand. While many basketball sneakers are made for indoors only, these can also take you to the pavement. They don’t have many bells and whistles compared to other basketball styles, but that’s what we love about them. They’re a classic shoe with maximum comfort, grip, and support (if you’re looking for the best minimalist sneakers, we’ve got you covered).

Best Men’s Lifting Shoes

When you’re lifting at the gym, it’s important to stay away from anything with too much cushion. It will throw off your balance. You aren’t making a repetitive impact (like running) and the excessive foam might get in the way of your reps. You want to find something extremely supportive, yet low to the ground. There should also be a wider footbed, for proper weight distribution and hip alignment.

Reebok Legacy Lifter 2.0

Reebok collaborated with Olympic weightlifter CJ Cummings to design the best sneaker for optimal squats, deadlifts, and more. The low height here is crucial, combined with the rubber outsole and Velcro closure to keep you locked in and fully supported. These are best for men with medium to wide feet.

Adidas Powerlift 4 Shoes

These lifting sneakers from Adidas provide a narrower fit, with similar technology to the Reeboks above. They are also lighter in weight with a more flexible toe design allowing for more movement and breathability.

Best Men’s High Impact Shoes

Whether you’re into CrossFit, explosive sprints, or any kind of circuit training, your sneakers should match up. To protect your knees and back, you’ll want to look for a foam footbed that gives slight responsiveness combined with enough ankle support to keep you lunging and moving responsibly.

Nike AirZoom Super Rep

It wouldn’t be the best sneaker roundup if Nike didn’t appear more than once on this list. Don’t be scared by the multilevel foam bottoms here. The extra cushion gives you the responsiveness you need for box jumps, jump roping, and other explosive moves. With these, you’ll get an extra kick, noticing an improvement in your speed, agility, and energy.

APL Men’s TechLoom Tracer

Athletic Propulsion Labs are deemed the top sneaker for casual wearability. If you’ve ever been to an APL store you know just how cool the brand feels. They give you that Yeezy level status (without being Yeezy). The new TechLoom Tracer is APL’s entry into a training-specific shoe. It focuses more on performance than previous styles. With low-profile cushioning, there is just enough of a bed for a rebound, with non-stretch support for keeping your foot in place.

Best Trail Sneakers

When you look at gym shoes, versus trail shoes, it’s easy to go from athletic swag to grandpa real quick (and not in a cool way). With that said, the treads of training or running sneakers won’t suffice on the trail. That’s why we recommend these trail sneaker hybrids below. If you’re planning to embark on a rigorous hiking trip, you may read our guide on the best men’s trail sneakers to help you reach the summit.

Adidas Terrex Two Ultra Parley Trail Running Shoes

By the looks of these, you would never know they are made for the trail. The classic Adidas boost cushioning technology is combined with a continental grip to keep you on your feet. These also feature Parley Ocean Plastic, upcycled plastic waste from remote islands, beaches, and coastal communities to prevent it from polluting our oceans.

Altra Men’s Lone Peak 4.5

Straight out of Utah, Altra sneakers are made for the mountains and known for their “foot-shaped toe box.” When you compare a pair of Altras to a traditional sneaker, you’ll even notice the boxy appearance around the toes. This leaves room for your feet to swell (a natural occurrence with any high-level outdoor activity). You can kiss any thought of blisters goodbye.

Best Universal Sneakers

Universal athletic sneakers are for the low-profile guys that dip their toes into just about everything. These should be neutral in color and sleek enough to jump from the gym to a business casual meeting.

AllBirds Men’s Tree Dashers

We’ve written about AllBirds before, so you know we’re a fan. Other than the fact that they are environmentally friendly and can be worn sockless (yes, machine washable), they are probably the best pair on this list for running errands. For biking around town to grocery shopping and even some light training gym, these sneakers are universally functional and ooze comfort, breathability, and style.

Nobull Trainers

Another versatile option, these Nobull trainers have a near-perfect customer rating on over 3,500 reviews. For a smaller brand, that is pretty major. They cover just about every activity for any environment, giving you a little bit of everything on this list. Check out our guide on the best sneaker alternatives.

How to Choose Best Men’s Athletic Shoes

The human foot is made of 26 major bones and part of keeping your feet healthy is choosing the right shoes for your feet, especially if you’re regularly exercising. When it comes to shopping for new sneakers there are a few key things to consider. Mainly your footwear and your foot shape. Your footwear will depend on the sport and use such as lifting, trail running, or shooting hoops and your foot shape depends on whether you have wide feet, flat feet, rounded feet, etc. We suggest identifying your arch type and your foot shape before shopping for new shoes.

And make sure you learn how to clean your sneakers, so you can make a lasting impression on your peers, as well as strangers.

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