Best Daily Trainers of 2021: Five Workhorse Running Shoes Worth Your Miles

Introduction

The daily trainer is the workhorse in any running shoe rotation. It is the shoe you should be able to reach for on any given day, for just about any kind of run. That is a demanding job description, and only a handful of shoes genuinely deliver on it.

This list covers five daily trainers that earned their place for exactly that reason. Some are lively and springy, some are quietly durable, and one is a bit of a wild card. Every shoe here has trade-offs worth knowing about before you buy, so read on to find which one matches your running.

1. Asics Novablast 2

The Novablast 2 takes the top spot, and it is easy to see why. The FF BLAST midsole is a spongy material that compresses nicely when your foot hits the ground, but also decompresses well, so the ride stays snappy rather than mushy. It is a shoe that can be recommended to just about anyone, no matter their skill level.

For 2021, Asics made only minor changes. The most common complaint about last year’s version was that it felt a bit too squishy and slightly squirrely underfoot, so the forefoot gained two millimeters of height and the foam shape was changed slightly while keeping the same formulation. The result feels less squirrely and keeps the springy, spongy comfort for easy runs while staying lively enough for faster days. The upper was also tightened up. Last year’s version felt a little loose, almost borderline sloppy, while the 2021 fit is more secure without being snug, and a lot of the extra material is gone. Turning a phenomenal first-year shoe into a better second-year shoe is a rare accomplishment in the running shoe industry.

2. Saucony Mach 4

Coming in close behind the top spot is the Saucony Mach 4, a shoe that lives up to the hype it arrived with. It has a nice squishy feeling underfoot but still feels like a speedy shoe, which is a difficult balance to strike.

It worked for short runs and long runs alike, and whenever there was a change of pace and it was time to pick things up, the Mach 4 was eager and willing to go faster. It has also been everywhere this year, on the feet of a lot of runners, and the appeal is easy to understand. For just about any kind of run, it is a shoe that simply delivers, which is why it earns the number two spot.

3. New Balance 880 v11

The 880 v11 is a bit of a sleeper. It looks unassuming and not flashy, and it essentially performs like a regular running shoe, which is exactly what you want from a daily trainer. It is a quiet, understated shoe that really delivers.

If you look for durability as a main trait in your daily trainer, this is the one on this list to prioritize. It has the most outsole rubber of any shoe here. At first that generous rubber coverage can feel like overkill, and a more judicious amount might have made for an even better shoe, but the intent becomes obvious quickly: this is a shoe built to be beaten up and run in, mile after mile after mile.

That extra rubber does take a little potential off the shoe overall, but it remains a fantastic option you can reach for on just about any day for any kind of run. It is a set-it-and-forget-it shoe: you put it on, you go for your run, and the shoe never crosses your mind because it is doing its job that well.

4. Hoka Clifton 8

The Clifton 8 is the best Clifton Hoka has ever made. There is a caveat: the original Clifton 1 has a genuine cult following, and runners who loved the original often feel ruined for every version that came after. Starting from the Clifton 5, though, the line has shown very subtle changes every year, all heading in a consistent direction: streamlining the shoe, removing what is not necessary, and distilling the Clifton into a signature Hoka experience.

What you get is a lot of comfort, plus that rocker sensation in the forefoot so the shoe rolls easily even at slower paces or when you are fatigued. And even though it looks like a larger shoe, it can still move, so you can pick up the pace when you need to.

It handled short runs and long runs equally well, combining ease on the body with the ability to go faster. That balance is what makes it the favorite Clifton to date and the number four pick here.

5. Nike Vomero 16

The wild card of the list. In previous years the Vomero fit in the max cushion category, but the 16 belongs in the daily trainer category, and the midsole is why. It uses the same new, larger Zoom Air pocket as the Pegasus 38, but instead of the React foam found in that shoe, the Vomero 16 combines ZoomX foam with SR-02. The SR-02 foam looks, compresses, and feels a lot like Cushlon, the foam from older generations of the Pegasus, and it works really well alongside the ZoomX and the bigger Zoom Air pocket.

The result is a genuine daily trainer ride: comfortable without feeling max-cushion comfortable, and something you can pick up the pace in without it feeling out of place.

It does still carry some max-cushion elements, namely a really puffy tongue and a heel collar that is nothing but memory-foam-like cushioning, and that puffiness does not personally equate to comfort. Think of the Vomero 16 as a plush version of the Pegasus: you have the Pegasus, the Pegasus Turbo, and the Pegasus Trail, and the Vomero is the grand touring version. In essence it is a daily trainer with a familiar, well-loved ride, which is why it takes the number five spot.

Overall Buying Advice

Choosing between these five comes down to what you value most in a daily trainer. If you want the best all-around blend of comfort and snap, the Novablast 2 is the safest bet. If you want a cushioned shoe that is always ready to go faster, the Mach 4 is a strong pick. Durability-first runners should look at the 880 v11, fans of a smooth rolling ride should try the Clifton 8, and anyone who loves the Pegasus line but wants more plushness should give the Vomero 16 a look.

Conclusion

A great daily trainer disappears on your feet and simply does its job, mile after mile. Any of these five fits that description, but each does it with a different personality. Match the shoe to your priorities, whether that is bounce, speed, durability, comfort, or familiarity, and you will have a workhorse you can reach for on any given day.