Using the term “tennis shoes” to encapsulate any old pair of sneakers is out of fashion—one person can’t do it all and neither can a single pair of kicks. Now, thankfully, women’s sneaker styles are plentiful and diverse: You have one pair to grab brunch with the girls, another to hit the gym, yet another to scale a mountain, and, of course, a pair for your run club.
This is all for good reason—sneakers are getting smarter every year, with new models tailored to any and every kind of activity (and for some of us, inactivity) you can imagine. But that can make picking the pair with the best utility, range, and aesthetic for your needs feel more daunting than the actual workout itself.
Fear not, because the SELF editors considered hundreds of shoes for the 2025 Sneaker Awards to find standouts for every fitness niche. Since your mom isn’t here to ask you to wiggle your toes, we’ll step in and help you find your perfect fit.
Your blistered, achy feet are begging you to take this quiz. Don’t do them wrong again—let’s find the right pair for you.
Photography by Myles Loftin.
