Women's Health names 40+ sneakers

Women's Health added a new round of product picks to its annual fitness coverage this week, publishing its 2026 Sneaker Awards with more than 40 recommended shoes across running, walking, lifting, hiking and other workout categories. The article appeared on the magazine's website on May 19 and was republished by Yahoo Shopping on May 20 under the byline of associate editor Olivia Luppino. (shopping.yahoo.com) Women's Health said the list was based on a year of testing by its fitness and commerce staff. The guide is a consumer-service package rather than a single overall ranking. It groups shoes by use case and highlights newer models and updated versions of established lines, reflecting how footwear publishers and retailers increasingly sort sneaker recommendations by activity rather than by brand alone. (shopping.yahoo.com) Women's Health said every shoe on the list was either a new release or an updated classic. ### Which shoes did Women's Health put at the center of the list? Yahoo's version of the article identified several models in its overview section, including the Asics Superblast 3, Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25, Adidas Adizero EVO SL, New Balance Ellipse and Salomon Aero Glide 4. The article also said readers could "see 39 more," indicating the list runs beyond 40 pairs. (shopping.yahoo.com) Women's Health framed the package around multiple activities, saying "walking, lifting, tennis, and beyond" now demand more specialized footwear choices. That positioning matches the article's broader claim that sneaker design has expanded well past traditional running categories. (shopping.yahoo.com) ### How did the magazine say it chose the winners? Women's Health said its fitness team "evaluated hundreds of sneakers" during the past year while training for marathons, competing in Hyrox, lifting and moving through daily city use in New York. The publication named the staff involved as Olivia Luppino, Addison Aloian, Cori Ritchey, Jacqueline Andriakos, Shannen Zitz, Ryan Brower and Charles Thorpe. (shopping.yahoo.com) The same article said the testing focused on details such as cushioning, propulsion, grip, stability and hybrid performance. Women's Health wrote that newer designs now offer features ranging from maximum cushioning and carbon plates for runners to grippier soles for trail use and added support in lifestyle-oriented shoes. (shopping.yahoo.com) ### Why does the guide split shoes by running, lifting and hiking instead of naming one best sneaker? Women's Health said the current sneaker market is increasingly specialized. In its running section, the magazine pointed to "super shoes," carbon plates and maximum-cushion designs as examples of how performance footwear has changed. In other categories, it cited hybrid gym shoes, trail-focused grip and support features in everyday sneakers. (shopping.yahoo.com) That structure lets the outlet recommend different shoes for stability, cushioning and terrain rather than treating all sneakers as interchangeable. The article did not present a single winner across all categories. (shopping.yahoo.com) ### Who wrote the package and where was it published? Olivia Luppino was listed as the bylined author on the Yahoo Shopping version published on May 20, 2026, at 4:00 a.m. PDT. The underlying package was presented as the 2026 Women's Health Sneaker Awards and credited the Women's Health fitness team for the testing and selections. Women's Health said the full awards package is on its website, where readers can browse the complete set of 40-plus winners by category. (shopping.yahoo.com) Yahoo's syndication page surfaced only part of the package in the search-accessible version. ### What comes next for readers who want the full list? (shopping.yahoo.com) The May 19 Women's Health package remains the main source for the complete 2026 Sneaker Awards lineup, while Yahoo's May 20 repost provides a partial overview with named models and the testing description. The next step for readers is the full category-by-category list on Women's Health's site, where the publication says all 40-plus picks are available. (shopping.yahoo.com)