Experts Swear By These 8 Styles of Nike Trainers for HIIT, Racing, Cross Training, Hiking and More

On the hunt for a pair of the best gym trainers? Scrolling our edit of the best Nike trainers is a good place to start. Not only are they regarded as some of the best running shoes in the world, but they have some pretty well-loved lifestyle options, too.

Haven't read the book Shoe Dog by the founder of Nike, Phil Knight? Let us quickly fill you in. Founded in 1964 selling running trainers, Nike is now the world's largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, catering to sports including tennis, weight lifting, and dancing.

With brand ambassadors including Serena Williams and Dina Asher-Smith, you know that the quality is athlete-approved. In fact, Eliud Kipchoge's broke his first sub-two-hour marathon in Nike trainers. If they're good enough for one of the fastest marathoners that's ever lived, we bet they'll get you through your workouts.  

But Nike has so much kit for so many different types of sports, including the best weightlifting shoes and best cross training shoes, as well as different body and foot types and price points, so how do you know what the best Nike trainers are? 

Well, I'm here with recommendations. Not only from myself — Chloe Gray, a health and fitness writer who has tried my fair share of trainers — but also from my favourite fitness experts and athletes. The expert panel includes: 

• Ally Head, Senior Health and Sustainability Editor at Marie Claire UK
• Amelia Yeomans, Junior Shopping Editor at Marie Claire UK
• Lucy Campbell, CrossFit Games Athlete and Fittest Woman in the UK 2022
• Aimee Cringle, professional CrossFit Athlete
• Nancy Best, personal trainer and founder of Ladies Who Crunch
• Dottie Fildes, personal trainer and founder of True Escapes
• Elouise Millard, personal trainer and coach at Third Space
• Nicky Simbotin, personal trainer from Crazy Nutrition
• Harriet Le Seve, Online Coach at Harriet Le Seve PT

Best Nike trainers: Quick shopping links

• Best for weight training: £129.99 at Nike
• Best lifestyle: £99.99 at Nike
• Best for running: £99 at Amazon
• Best for racing: £99.99 at Sports Shoes
• Best for walking: £144.99 at Nike

What to look for when shopping for Nike trainers: 

• Your sport: the best shoes for weightlifters will be different than the best shoes for cross training, and so on. Choose your shoe according to sport first and foremost for safety and comfort.
• Your style: Nike has loads of different shoe styles, from chunky to light and statement to classic.
• Your shoe type: this is especially true when it comes to running, as your arches, pronation and foot strike will determine the shape of shoe you need.
• Your price point: Nike caters for a variety of budgets, from affordable essentials to technical trainers. Budgeting is really important, so set your price before you shop.

Best Nike shoes: 8 top picks

Best Nike trainers for weight training

"I spend a lot of time in these shoes as a CrossFit athlete," says Lucy Campbell. "I need trainers that support me to perform a lot of different movements and Metcons are a very versatile shoe. A big portion of my sport involves weightlifting and Nike Metcons are one of the most stable training shoes you can find that aren’t sport-specific shoes.

"Their heels are slightly elevated, which makes it easier to get into a squat by improving your ankle’s range of motion and allowing your knees to track further over your toes. They also have a rope guard on the inside of the shoe to protect them when performing rope climbs."

Nancy Best adds: "These are the best foundations of strength training. They are supportive for your ankles, without overly cushioning your arches and ensuring you can grip properly for compound movements like deadlifts. I also love how easy they are to shove into your gym bag - not too bulky and super light to carry."

Best Nike running shoes

"If I’m running a 5K or more, these trainers work well for me," says Campbell. "They provide the right amount of cushioning and support, but remember that everyone's feet are different and we need different things from our running shoes."

Head swears by them too. "I always look for a trainer that has a component which will lend to all weather conditions. This is why I love the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus. These road running shoes are sturdy enough to endure all weather conditions, with a water-repellent finish. I love a trainer that feels chic so I can wear it out to coffee afterwards," she says.

Best Nike racing shoes

"I wore these for the London Marathon in 2021 and the Chicago Marathon in 2022 - so I really trust these trainers. Light, springy, and cushioned, supportive and stable, they live up to their name of being a racing powerhouse. They're an investment, but are lightweight, propulsive and proper speed shoes, designed for personal bests," says Head.

Best Nike walking shoes

"If I’m walking or trail running, these are my go-to Nike trainers as they are so comfortable and provide good grip, perfect if you’re walking or running somewhere off-road," says Cringle. Fildes adds: "These are one of the GOATs for water resistant running, plus they're super comfy."

Best Nike trainers for HIIT

"I love how versatile these are for training mixed modalities," says Millard. "They give me the support I need when I’m lifting but are perfect for running intervals on the tread, plyometric exercises and agility work so you don't need to change shoes mid-session."

Best all-rounder Nike trainer

After wearing these every single day for at least two years — for HIIT sessions in the gym, walks around the park and 5K runs — it's safe to say they're a reliable and high-quality favourite of mine.

Best Nike trainers for short distances

"I've struggled to get on with previous Nike training shoes, but the Nike Vomero 18 has next-level cushioning, thanks to two different types of foam, not to mention seriously plush comfort for short, medium and long runs," says Head. "They're springy, supportive, and responsive, thanks to the ZoomX foam, are roomier than previous Nike iterations and seriously comfortable, too. The heel tab makes them easy to pull on, and the snug upper promises to be comfortable for both wide and narrow feet."

Best Nike lifestyle trainers

"I have had my P-6000s for several years now and they're still in perfect shape," says Yeomans. They're easily my comfiest trainers and I regularly turn to them for long walks or sessions in the gym. They're also stylish enough to wear casually or to the office when I need to feel good all day, and they've seen me through a festival where I did roughly 30k steps a day. If you want a cushioned pair of everyday trainers that you can slip on for hikes, the gym floor, or travelling to and from workout classes, these get my vote every time."