It’s important for kids to be live active, healthy lives, and running is a great way to accomplish that. Having high-quality running shoes is crucial for health and success. If you’re looking for the best running shoes for girls you might find the number of options overwhelming.
But shopping for running shoes doesn’t have to be stressful if you know what to look for. Most girls are going to need shoes that offer enough support for growing feet without hampering the running experience too much. If the shoe is too constricting or offers too much support you can start to develop bad running habits, but if the shoe is too loose or free it might be harmful to a child’s foot health. These five shoes strike that delicate balance between support and freedom and offer many additional benefits, as well.
This table offers a quick overview of the shoes we’ll be talking about. These five models offer excellent features for girls who love to run but who need a bit more support than your standard sneaker. Girls who are serious about running need to look for features like padding, breathability, and an outsole that won’t mark up easily. And that’s just for starters. I’ve given each shoe a star rating out of five. I’ll go into the product details a bit more after the chart.
List of Best Running Shoes For Girls
| Shoe | Padded? | Mesh? | Non-marking? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Balance KJ 990 Lace-up Running Shoe | Yes | Yes | No | Check Price |
| Sketchers Kids Sketch Air Ultra Athletic Shoe | Yes | No | Yes | Check Price |
| Asics GEL-Noosa Tri 9 GS Running Shoe | Yes | Yes | No | Check Price |
| New Balance KJ890 Grade Lace-up Running Shoe | Yes | Yes | No | Check Price |
| Asics GEL-Kayano 20 GS Running Shoe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check Price |
Running Shoes For Gilrs #1: New Balance KJ 990 Lace-up Running Shoe
I love that this shoe has great cushioning, especially the ABZORB technology in the heel cushion. Shock absorption is really important for young girls as they venture into running, and New Balance clearly took that into consideration. The reflective detailing makes this shoe great for night running, and the responsive ride is welcomed. However, I would like to see more durability and a lace guard since many people who have worn these shoes say that the laces come untied frequently. It’s a good entry-level shoe if you’re only going to put a few miles at a time in, and it’s a low-commitment model for girls who are trying to figure out whether or not they like running. However, for committed runners who already know they want a long-term shoe, this might not be the best option.
Running Shoes For Gilrs #2: Sketchers Kids Sketch Air Ultra Athletic Shoe
This is the only shoe on the list that doesn’t have mesh in the construction, and I wish it did because Sketchers did an amazing job with this shoe otherwise. This shoe has a solid sole, an athletic build, durability that’s quite impressive, and a memory foam insole. The non-marking outsole makes it great for girls who tend to mark up shoes quickly, and it’s extremely flexible without losing the necessary support a running shoe should have. Most girls who wear them say that they’re very comfortable and stylish. While they are breathable, the lack of mesh might make for some sweaty conditions if you run in hot weather. I think mesh is really important for runners, but it doesn’t disqualify this shoe as one of the best running shoes for girls on the market.
Running Shoes For Gilrs #3: Asics GEL-Noosa Tri 9 GS Running Shoe
I love the GEL-Noosa line, and this shoe is a perfect example of why. The rubber sole provides excellent support, and its triathlon-inspired design means it has excellent shock absorption, moisture wicking fabric, a reinforced stitched toe cap, and even glow in the dark print for night runs. It has a removable sockliner and breathable mesh, and given that it boasts Asics’ trademark seamless design you’ll experience almost no irritation to the skin. The only visible downside is that it tends to run large, but that’s a problem that’s very easy to fix by ordering a half size to a size smaller.
Running Shoes For Gilrs #4: New Balance KJ980 Grade Lace-up Running Shoe
This shoe is crafted from 75 percent synthetic material and 25 percent mesh. The lace-up closure means you’ll experience security while running, and the ABZORB technology in the heel cushion helps absorb shock to prevent injuries. I love that it comes in wide sizes, since so many young girls need that when they’re starting out, and I also love how breathable it is because that helps control odor. It’s extremely durable, and the only real downside is that is runs a bit big.
Running Shoes For Gilrs #5: Asics GEL-Kayano 20 GS Running Shoe
The girls’ version of this shoe is just as fantastic as the adult version. I love the lace-up style because it helps prevent loose laces during a race, and the engineered mesh is comfortable, supportive, and breathable. The rearfoot GEL cushioning system is an excellent shock absorber and helps to prevent injury, and the Solyte lightweight midsole cushioning system provides ideal support without compromising flexibility. Asics also included AHAR technology in this model, which is their high-abrasion outsole that helps prevent marks, wear, and tear.
And the Winner Is….
It’s hard to pick a winner out of all these options. These are all some of the best running shoes for girls on the market, but while I’m usually partial to the Asics GEL-Kayano line, I have to hand this one to the GEL-Noosa Tri 9. I love how versatile this shoe is, and it makes me happy to see how seriously Asics took the junior version of this shoe. Kids’ shoes can sometimes lack features that the adult version of the shoe has, but Asics pulled out all the stops here and made an amazing shoe that I would personally recommend to anyone. I’ve worn a pair of the GEL-Noosa Tri 9s myself – the adult version, obviously – and it’s an experience I think any runner would enjoy. I have to say, though, that if Sketchers had included breathable mesh in their design they may have squeezed through and won this round, but the Tri 9s take the cake this time.
