There is an anatomical difference between the feet of women and men. Women have a narrower heel and mid-foot, higher instep, longer arch, and unique metatarsal spacing. We chose these shoes because they’re designed specifically for women – with those aspects in mind. – By Ryan Scott

1. Asics fuzeX

Designed with younger runners in mind, the futuristic fuzeX is a versatile trainer with a streamlined appearance. A new Gel-based midsole works in concert with traditional foam, for better shock absorption in the heel – at a lighter weight, for young legs. It also delivers a responsive, propulsive feel during toe-off. The ribbed upper, with welded overlays, fit most testers; but some found that the shoe ran narrow.

PRICE: R1 600
WEIGHT: 267 Grams

2. ADIDAS ULTRA BOOST

The cooks at adidas have been busy creating a Boost foam with more cushioning, to improve the shoe’s signature bouncy ride. More cushioning will certainly cost you in terms of energy return – how quickly the sole recovers its form after each foot strike – but the Ultra Boost’s bounce-back quality is still higher than other shoes we’ve measured that have the same degree of softness. The updated sole consists of stretchy rubber in an open-grid pattern, which adapts to your foot’s movement and makes for a smoother transition from heel-strike to toe-off. The toe is angled up higher, which further helps the shoe to roll.

PRICE: R2 600
WEIGHT: 263 Grams

3. MIZUNO WAVE SAYONARA 4

Our testers’ favourite for daily training. The Sayonara has a traditional running shoe design, with a 10-milimetre heel-to-toe drop. The ride is well-cushioned and springy, due to an elastic, thermal-plastic wave that runs from the heel to the midfoot. The upper has had a makeover, but the upper forefoot is still breathable; and a large toecap has been added to prevent stubbed toes.

PRICE: R2 150
WEIGHT: 22 Grams

4. PUMA IGNITE DUAL

A brand new shoe, designed and created specifically for women. The shoe differs from Puma’s other offerings: it has a wider forefoot, narrower heel, and a contoured upper that cradles the female foot. Ignite foam offers efficient energy return and a soft, cushioned feel, right from the moment you step into the shoe until the end of your run. A flexible-outsole design has been created by deep grooves in the mid- and forefoot, which allows the foot to adapt to surfaces with a large degree of freedom; however, testers said the shoe also provided enough stability to instill confidence on the run.

PRICE: R1 700
WEIGHT: 210 Grams

5. OLYMPIC ECLIPSE

A simple, lightweight shoe, for the casual runner who rarely goes beyond 10 kilometres. The outsole, like that of many other shoes, is modelled on the Nike Free; but unlike the Free, the segments on the Eclipse are not as deep, so they function as lugs in the tread rather than individual cells that allow the outsole to adapt to movement. The upper is super-lightweight and well ventilated, but lacks a toecap and support in the upper.

PRICE: R600
WEIGHT: 210 Grams

6. ALTRA SUPERIOR 2.0

A previous winner of our Editor’s Choice award, the Superior 2 is low-profile, and moulds to your foot (above and below) like a moccasin; which allows you to glide lightly over the trail. Excellent cushioning saves your feet from feeling beaten up. Altra have added three millimetres of foam to the midsole. Testers loved the extended flap on the outsole, which helps you to brake on descents.

PRICE: R2000
WEIGHT: 190 Grams

READ MORE ON: adidas gear running-shoes