Some sports require lots of expensive equipment, but all you need for running is a good pair of shoes. Thanks to modern materials and sophisticated design, most of the running shoes we tested performed well.

To evaluate two dozen models of running shoes for men and for women, we bought 205 pairs of shoes, enlisted a panel of typical runners, and had them crank out a total of 1,240 miles.

The men's and women's versions of some brands often performed similarly. For example, the Nike Air Zoom Vomero+ 2 shoes topped our Ratings (available to subscribers) in both categories. The men's and women's Brooks were judged very good overall, but the men's version scored better than the women's, due to a better stability rating. Prices for the shoes we tested ranged from $28 to $120. We selected men's and women's versions of the same model, where available.

Champion, from Target, didn't offer matching models for the men's and women's running shoes we wanted, so we matched models that were as similar as possible.

But no matter the model, when selecting a shoe, the bottom line is fit. A wrong choice can cause discomfort and fatigue, or even painful foot and joint problems.