Best Nike Running Shoes 2022: Daily Trainers, Cushion, Speed, Racing and Trail Picks

Introduction

Nike’s 2022 running range covers a lot of ground, and it helps to sort it by what you actually need a shoe to do. Below is a category-by-category tour of the standouts across daily trainers, cushioned shoes, fast training shoes, racing shoes and trail shoes, with the best overall pick in each group and notes on fit and older versions that can save you money.

Daily Trainers

This is the versatility category: comfort first, but with enough pace in reserve for faster days.

Nike Pegasus 39

The Pegasus 39 is a genuine improvement on the Pegasus 38 and 37. Nike reworked the midsole so it is no longer just React foam: it now adds two Air Zoom units, making the shoe lighter, slightly firmer and a bit more energetic while staying comfortable. Strengths include strong value, since it is often discounted, plus a really good outsole that is durable and grips well on both road and light trail. If you want a comfortable workhorse, older Pegasus versions remain excellent value, but the 39 is the better all-rounder for faster running.

Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature

The Turbo Next Nature revives the Turbo line as a lighter, speedier, more exciting Pegasus. It uses recycled ZoomX foam paired with an SR-02 carrier foam that stabilises the softer ZoomX, producing a bouncier, more energetic ride than the standard Pegasus 39. It leans more towards speed work, though its outsole is not as good and it is not quite as comfortable over very long runs. Some runners prefer the softer, bouncier original Turbo, and the firmer ride here softens up with use. Fit runs a bit long, so a half size down worked well for narrow feet.

Nike Zoom Fly 5

Despite its fast-looking design and ZoomX in the mix, the Zoom Fly 5 is really a daily trainer, leaning towards max cushion. It is comfortable with a reasonably smooth ride and handles long runs well, but it has little top-end performance, partly because recycled ZoomX and a thick midsole make it heavy. The outsole is good, adding weight but helping durability and grip. It fits true to size. It is not a budget stand-in for Nike’s carbon racing shoes, and the Zoom Fly 4 is not a major performance downgrade if you find a deal.

The overall daily trainer pick is the Pegasus 39: better value, a longer-lasting outsole and enough versatility for most runners, even if the Turbo Next Nature offers a more fun ride.

Cushioned Shoes

Nike Invincible 2

The Invincible 2 is one of the most distinctive shoes on the market, with a big, thick ZoomX midsole that creates a very soft and springy ride. Nike has widened the platform and added a heel clip to temper the soft foam’s instability. It is a bouncy, fun shoe for easy runs and retains a bit of spring at steady tempo paces. It is on the expensive side. The fit is true to size with a slightly roomy forefoot. If you can find the Invincible 1 on sale, it feels very similar and saves money.

Nike Infinity Run 3

The Infinity Run 3 is the firmer, more stable cushioned option: a stable neutral shoe with a React midsole and a rocker that gently rolls you forward. It is a durable workhorse for long and easy runs, handles steady and tempo paces without excelling there, and delivers a reliable, protective if somewhat dull ride. The line has changed little across generations, so the Infinity Run 2 is worth seeking out on sale. It fits true to size.

The cushioned pick is the Invincible 2 for its exciting ride, with the Infinity Run 3 as the clear alternative if you prefer firmer stability.

Fast Training Shoes

Nike Tempo Next%

The Tempo Next% is an odd shoe with a big mix of tech: React foam, a ZoomX frame at the front, Air Zoom pods and a composite plate running half the shoe length. It feels slightly unwieldy underfoot but is undeniably fast, holding its own against lighter fast trainers. It is overpriced in our view, and not enjoyable for easy runs, but it pairs well with the Alphafly for structured sessions. It fits true to size.

Nike Streakfly

The Streakfly is a stripped-back shoe well under 200 grams, with a soft, bouncy ZoomX midsole and only a small push-off shank rather than a full plate. The result is a flexible, natural-feeling ride with less propulsion and control than plated racers. For track sessions and fast training runs it is genuinely fun, decent value, and its durability held up better in testing than its looks suggest. It runs slightly long in the forefoot, so a half size down suits narrower feet.

Neither is a standout against the wider market here, where rivals offer stronger fast-training options, but the Streakfly earns its place as a fun speed-day shoe.

Racing Shoes

Nike Vaporfly Next% 2

The Vaporfly Next% 2 pairs a ZoomX midsole with a full-length carbon plate in a lightweight, stripped-back package. It is a proven racing shoe for virtually any distance, from 5K personal bests to the marathon, and it is frequently available below its RRP, which has crept up over time. It fits true to size.

Nike Alphafly Next% 2

The Alphafly Next% 2 adds forefoot Air Zoom pods to a big stack of ZoomX, pushing super-shoe technology to the limit. It is a heavier, chunkier shoe than the Vaporfly with an aggressive, tippy-forward and bouncier feel, yet it is very quick, with race results at 5-mile and 10K distances to back that up. Its price tag makes it hard to recommend outright, especially since the original Alphafly is still widely available for considerably less. It fits true to size.

Nike Alphafly 1

The original Alphafly is lighter than the 2, with a slightly narrower, pinched feel and a little less stability; some runners found the arch dug in. The 2 addresses those issues, though the arch pinch remains somewhat. The 1 has a lower 4mm drop versus 8mm, so if the original did not work for you, the newer version might. If you are eyeing the Alphafly Next% 2, hunting a deal on the Alphafly 1 can save a significant amount.

The safest racing pick is the Vaporfly Next% 2: reliable for many runners over many years, comfortable even over a full marathon and cheaper than the Alphafly 2.

Trail Shoes

Nike Pegasus Trail 4

The Pegasus Trail 4 is a road-to-trail shoe with the React midsole from its road sibling for a comfortable ride and an outsole that adds just enough grip for light trails. It will not handle very technical terrain or mud, but for the vast majority of trail running, especially in summer and on city-adjacent paths, it does the job well. It fits true to size, which is unusual for a Nike trail shoe, and its grip is better than the Pegasus Trail 3.

Nike ZoomX Zegama

The Zegama brings a big, high stack of ZoomX to the trail, combined with an SR-02 carrier foam to keep that foam stable on uneven ground. The ride is firmer and less lively than the name suggests, but reasonably smooth with a decent heel-to-toe transition, and it is a comfortable option for long trail runs. The outsole is more aggressive than the Pegasus Trail’s but lacks the sticky grip of leading trail brands, particularly on wet rock and roots. It runs big, so go half a size down.

View more details for Nike ZoomX Zegama

Nike Terra Kiger 8

The Terra Kiger 8 looks like a stripped-back, aggressive trail shoe but is actually quite heavy, with unimpressive grip and a firm ride. It is neither especially comfortable nor especially fast, which makes it hard to place in Nike’s trail lineup. Like the Zegama, it fits big, so a half size down is advisable.

The trail pick is the Pegasus Trail 4 for road-to-trail use, while ultra-distance runners may prefer the Zegama. Overall, grip outsoles remain Nike’s weak point on the trail.

Conclusion

Nike’s 2022 range is strongest at the top end: the Vaporfly Next% 2 and Alphafly line remain the benchmark in racing shoes, and the Invincible 2 is one of the most distinctive cushioned shoes available. The Pegasus 39 is a solid, good-value daily trainer, and the Pegasus Trail 4 handles easy trails well. In daily training, fast training and more technical trail running, other brands offer compelling alternatives, so match the shoe to the job and check older versions for savings where the updates are incremental.