My Annual Daily Trainer Review, this year from Bryn Mawr Running Company
While I have supposedly entered my walking era, I don’t like to break tradition over here. And truthfully, I can’t really give up running altogether because I do love it, especially this time of year. So I am still delivering my annual running shoe try-on review in the spring, when my running (or this year, walking) outside kicks back up. The good news is that all the shoes in this post are great for running or walking any distance whether it be a mile, a 5K or a marathon. These shoes will all work wherever your fitness adventures take you. So that is why I am calling this post My Annual Daily Trainer Review because all of the featured shoes are great everyday trainers for your “whatever” activities.
I love me a running shoe wall. This one at Bryn Mawr Running Company is a real beauty.
I like to do this every year because each year all the brands give us improved and updated running shoes. Some brands may completely redesign a shoe. Others will stick with a shoe that did their brand well in the prior year with very little updates other than new colors. But I can tell you what all the brands did in 2023 or 2024 to their running shoes— they made them lighter, more durable, more streamlined and more cushiony.
I tackled this pile and then some!
This try-on session for me isn’t marked by any new brands or styles. It actually reconnected me with some of my old favorites that have been upgraded (x20 in some situations) since I last put them on. But, what is most noteworthy are the colors. I actually love the looks of every single shoe I had on. I didn’t have to ask once “does this come in any other colors”, which is rare for running shoes. Also equally notable are the cushions. I’ve always worn cushiony running shoes, but it used to be a request that I would give and get a few options. Not today. Almost all of the shoes in the store are loaded with cushions, even the race shoes. If I was actually in the market for a new running shoe, I would have had a very hard time deciding which one to get.
But, I was at Bryn Mawr Running Company for information only. Info to deliver to you all. And I am appreciative of the time Wesley at BMRC took to show me all of the latest and greatest running shoes. Bryn Mawr Running Company gets newly released shoes as soon as they are available. Some of the shoes in this post had only been on the market for a week when I tried them! BMRC has the largest collection of new running shoes in the area. Just look how beautiful that shoe wall above is. And with five locations in the area, if Bryn Mawr doesn’t have a color, style or size you want, they can likely easily locate it.
I put on eight of the most popular and well-rounded sneakers in the store. Since I wasn’t shopping for any race in particular, I wanted to try the shoes that most people would want to know about. I admired them. I walked around in them. I ran on the treadmill in each pair. And I asked Wesley for all the deets. So here goes.
Shop the Woman’s On Cloud 5 here.
The On Cloud is the original sneaker from On. I actually remember the first time I saw someone wearing these and had to know what was on their feet. On did something very different with the Cloud collection, and I recall thinking that this shoe looked like nothing I had seen before. I also loved the idea of the speed-lacing system because at the time, I had a baby and needed easy access to comfortable shoes.
Check out these laces. But the On Cloud also comes with regular shoe laces if you prefer to lace up when you move.
The latest version, number 5, is a great shoe that has been getting better with time (ten years to be exact). And better equals “more comfort, more support and more durability” for all your performance needs. And like most big brands, On is changing their manufacturing processes to make their signature shoe more sustainable. 44% of version 5 is now made from recycled materials. I’d wear these to all of those fitness classes I frequent. Like this is what I would grab if the footwear for class wasn’t specified and I wasn’t totally sure what we would be doing in class. And I’d be plenty supported in these.
I don’t recommend these for lots of running, or long distance running. If you want to run in a sneaker from On, go with the Cloudmonster 2, which is has a super high cushion sole and is way more comfortable, supportive and durable for running. I also found it to be super bouncy, which I love in a running shoe. The Cloudmonster is firmer than the shoes that I typical go with though.
Shop the Woman’s Cloudmonster 2 here.
The Shoe I am Going Back to: Brooks
Remember in the beginning of this post when I said I was going back to old favorites? Well, that old favorite is Brooks. And it’s no surprise. For the longest time, Brooke ran in Brooks and only Brooks. But then I felt like it was my duty to you all to switch it up for a few seasons, so I tried a bunch of other brands. However, when I put both the Ghosts and the Glycerins back on my feet, all of the reasons why I was so loyal to Brooks for so long came back to me. And that’s comfort: A cushiony sole. A soft footbed. Comfort all around. A shoe that could take me on a five mile run or a ten mile run or even a marathon, and I’d still feel comfortable no matter how many times my feet hit the pavement.
I feel like my foot is just made to wear Brooks. The Ghost 16 is one of the best selling shoes in the store so I am not alone here. The updated version has more responsive foam in the sole. This version just came out on May 1, and Bryn Mawr Running Company is already selling a lot of them.
Shop the Woman’s Ghosts 16 here.
And if you are like me and want even more cushion, then go with the Glycerin 21. This is the shoe that I ran in for many years. My love affair with these is because they are so soft while also supportive. I like the breathable and flexible shoe upper that has been part of the Ghosts and Glycerins for the past few versions. And I don’t ever remember the color selection being this good.
Shop the Woman’s Glycerins 21 here.
A Party on Your Feet: Hoka Mach 6
All of the Hokas along the shoe wall sure look like a party to me. The colors. The branding. The styles. And Hokas are currently trending and have been for a few years now. I only know this because I have a teenage daughter who started asking for Hokas even though she doesn’t run.
Shop the Women’s Mach 6 here.
Hoka has changed a lot since I last owned a pair of their running shoes (that I actually ended up giving away because they left my legs in pain). For one, they don’t look nearly as moon boot-ish. They still have the large cushiony bottom but they seem sleeker to me, even in my size 10 shoe. And they are lighter than I remember, which says a lot because they were already one of the lightest shoes available. The bottom of the shoe is now lined with blown rubber to make Hokas more durable without adding weight. People are even running marathons in Hokas now.
The Hoka soles do get bigger as you move up the wall at BMRC. The Mach 6’s level of cushion is on the lower end for Hoka. But it’s plenty for me. At the top end, the Skyward X has an obscene looking platform sole that is somehow ok for running. I don’t really get it. And the Bondi SR is made for “professional use” (not running) for people who are always on their feet. But like any good party, I feel somewhat unstable on my feet in these when I run, so I prefer Hokas for walking and everyday use.
This Ain’t Your Mama’s Shoe: Asics Gel Nimbus 26
I only named this category because the Gel Nimbus is what my mother ran in when I was growing up. So this is my mother’s shoe but the Gel Nimbus 26 is so completely different compared to the version I recall her in back then. There have since been twenty five shoe updates, so yeah, that seems about right!
Shop the Women’s Gel Nimbus 26 here.
This Gel Nimbus isn’t the clunky shoe I remember it being all twenty-five versions ago. It’s actually so cushiony and hugs the foot so comfortably that this shoe is a close second to my beloved Brooks. The coolest feature is the stretchy cloth tongue that makes this shoe’s upper look and feel like you are wearing a close fitting sock and not a shoe.
The Gel Nimbus 26 is light weight, but it’s not as light as shoes like the Hokas. And that could be because of the gel in the sole of the shoe (where this shoe gets its name from). More weight does add time to a race. But remember, I’m not shoe shopping for any race right now, so who cares! I love a pressure-free shopping experience.
If I Want To Go Fast: Saucony Endorphin Speed 4
I had a definite favorite until I put this sneaker on. I have run half marathons, and even a full marathon, in earlier versions of this shoe so I have a history with the Endorphin Speeds. But this 4th version is better and lasts longer!
Shop the Women’s Endorphin Speed 4 here.
Technically speaking, this is a race shoe. But the plate inside is a plastic plate which makes this racing shoe last just as long as your typical running shoe (which is 300-500 miles). Carbon plated race shoes only last for 100+ miles before they break down. And when you are spending upwards of $170 on a sneaker, that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to an amateur runner like myself.
I also love this version 4 because although it’s a race sneaker, it can be worn for every kind of running and forward moving activity. So like me, you don’t need to have any races in mind to rock these. They are super comfortable and light weight. I feel like I can blast off in them. And I am always drawn to the Saucony race shoes. If I am running a marathon, my shoes better be sparkly!
After about two hours at Bryn Mawr Running Company, I felt good about what I had put on my feet and honestly, would have been thrilled leaving the store with any of the sneakers I shared here. If you are in the market for running, walking or whatever shoes, I’d definitely head into Bryn Mawr Running Company. Mention me or this post and you’ll get 10% off your in-store purchase. All of these shoes can also be found on their website. And as per usual, I linked the sneakers in my LTK shop. (All size info is found there, too). You know the deal, if you purchase something through any of the clickable links in this post, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. As always, I only share my honest opinions here and that will never change!
Happy shopping, running, walking, or whatever your heart moves you to do this spring and summer.