Your Closet Isn’t Ready (But Your Feet Are) For Our 2022 Sneaker Awards Winners
If you’ve ever felt like your sneaker game wasn’t quite as impressive as your deadlift PR, marathon training goal, or dance cardio moves, the Women’s Health 2022 Sneaker Awards is here to change all that.
Advancements in footwear technology are allowing brands to consider factors that may have been previously glossed over or overlooked entirely, like the fact that women’s feet roll differently when striking the ground than men’s, or how women’s breasts impact foot strike and torso motion. An example: “We did a lot of research and design on breast movement during activity and how we could manage that with a shoe by adjusting the heel crash pad—it’s slightly off-center compared to a traditional men’s model—and building landing zones in the midsole to soften the impact,” says Heather Pieraldi, Lululemon senior developer of footwear, who was a part of the brand’s first-ever shoe launch, for a running shoe called the Blissfeel.
Ultimately, having footwear designed for *you* is a game changer for optimizing your workouts and helping you train smarter and harder for, well, life. Now, let us introduce you to your new sole mates.
How We Chose Our 2022 Winners
With the help of seven certified fitness trainers of different specialties and a foot-health expert who lives life on the move, the team at WH tested more than 100 sneakers over the past several months. We also pored over customer reviews to better understand which specific aspects of the shoes recommended here are the most important to women who already own and love ’em.
So, when narrowing down this year’s winners, we zeroed in on...
The most innovative, women-centric sneaker drops in the past year
The tried-and-true favorite pairs that WH editors always come back to
The most highly rated sneakers for women in each category based on detailed customer reviews
Whether you’re in the market for a training sneak to ground you beneath the barbell, a cushiony base to save your shins during plyometric workouts, or a compliment-collecting pair to take you to and from it all, the seven categories ahead cover all workout styles and include anywhere from 5 to 12 specific recommendations to meet your needs. Your dream sneaker awaits.
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Cross-Training
Plyo And Power
Running
Weightlifting
Outdoor And Trail
Specialty
Active Life
Cross-Training
Hitting the weights one day and planning on high-intensity interval training the next? The picks in this category are for anyone who needs do-it-all sneakers that allow you to seamlessly transition from one sweat style to another.
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Cross-Training • Plyo And Power • Running • Weightlifting • Outdoor And Trail • Specialty • Active Life • Back To Top
Plyo And Power
Calling all dancing queens, kickboxers, and jump rope lovers: The sneaks ahead are superior for lower-body protection when you're bouncing on your feet for extended periods.
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Cross-Training • Plyo And Power • Running • Weightlifting • Outdoor And Trail • Specialty • Active Life • Back To Top
Running
The perfect match depends on your running goal. Whether you’re gearing up to go faster or farther or master a tough terrain, we’ve got ya covered.
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Cross-Training • Plyo And Power • Running • Weightlifting • Outdoor And Trail • Specialty • Active Life • Back To Top
Weightlifting
When training with a barbell or other heavy loads, you generally want a shoe that keeps your feet nice and flat against the floor to help you remain stable and balanced. Meet your match....
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Cross-Training • Plyo And Power • Running • Weightlifting • Outdoor And Trail • Specialty • Active Life • Back To Top
Outdoor And Trail
Still rocking any old sneaker in the closet on hikes and trail runs? Time to invest in a shoe designed to keep your feet toasty or ventilated and ankles stable in any climate and on any terrain.
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Cross-Training • Plyo And Power • Running • Weightlifting • Outdoor And Trail • Specialty • Active Life • Back To Top
Specialty Shoes
Time to shop tennis, cycling, recovery, and other footwear designed to respond to the specific demands of the activity.
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Cross-Training • Plyo And Power • Running • Weightlifting • Outdoor And Trail • Specialty • Active Life • Back To Top
Active Life
Stroll to and from your workouts, enjoy long walks, run errands, and just live your life in these functional-yet-fashionable styles.
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Cross-Training • Plyo And Power • Running • Weightlifting • Outdoor And Trail • Specialty • Active Life • Back To Top
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