Best Winter Running Shoes for Traction and Warmth: Other Hearst Subscriptions.
- Chris P., tester since 2020
- Health - Injuries
- Padded heel collar; comfy interior
Price: $100
Type: Road
Weight: 8.9 oz. (M), 7.9 oz. (W)
Drop: 12mm
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Testing out a new shoe like the Trace is equally thrilling and terrifying: You don’t know what you’re attaching to your body, how it will perform, and if it’ll make you soar. Brooks made a bold move etching a “1” into the tag on the tongue, indicating there are already plans for a sophomore release. And we can understand why. This rookie didn’t disappoint.
Pros
- Lightweight—but plush—BioMoGo DNA cushioning
- Best Running Shoes 2025
Cons
- We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article
For minimalists who want more cushioning or Ghost fans searching for a Brooks version of the Saucony Kinvara (soft and speedy), the Trace fulfills your needs. For our testers, it checked off all of the important running shoe boxes: adequate cushioning, some flex for toe-off, a responsive midsole, and all-around comfort. It also comes at an affordable price at $100, meaning it is the ideal shoe for penny-saving new runners who want to reap the benefits of a supportively cushioned trainer.
360 Comfort
Running Shoes - Gear spring guide, I had a hunch: We’d award the Trace Editors’ Choice. And as wear-tester feedback trickled in, I knew that I had bet on the right horse.
Testers reveled in the shoe’s surrounding comfort, underscoring the ample wiggle room in the toebox and that the padded heel collar prevents blistering. Said one, “I felt this shoe cradled my foot.”
They also praised the engineered-mesh upper for its ventilation. “My feet felt the perfect temperature; like there was breathability, yet protection from the cold,” said another tester.
A Shoe Built to Last
The Trace’s resilience quickly became apparent, with testers noting how it held up after strenuous workouts that mostly took place in tempestuous winter weather. It brought to mind fond memories of old Brooks PureProject models. Those shoes, which included the PureCadence and PureFlow, could withstand hard-won 26.2 efforts in New England downpours, despite their minimalist profiles.
Our only request is that Brooks drops a guide rails version for those runners who need a little more support. Overpronators noticed just a little more wear on the bottom of the heel.
We’ve no doubt the Trace is here to stay, and are keeping our fingers crossed for that stability follow-up.
More Wear-Tester Feedback
Races - Places
Arch: High | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Heel
“The Brooks Trace is an extremely good and reliable trainer. The first thing I noticed about the Trace is how light it is. That lightness, however, does not detract from the outstanding comfort and cushioning the shoe provides. I tested the shoe on roads and on the crushed rock path of the Lehigh Parkway, and on both surfaces, the shoe worked very well, whether just out for normal, everyday running or completing tempo or speed workouts. In fact, I feel that the Trace is both light and comfortable enough that someone who prefers such a shoe to run a longer race, like a half, would be just fine in the shoe. The Trace will definitely remain in the shoe rotation for a little longer.”
Arch: Medium | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot
Arch: Medium | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot
“A great all around shoe for those who aren’t super concerned with going as fast as possible. Comfort seems to be the name of the game with this one. Definitely not a fast-feeling shoe, but definitely one I could run in every day and not get beat up from. Tested on pavement only.”
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
