I run about 500 km a month and my marathon best is under 2:30, and I chose these with care. This is my conclusion as of Oct 21, 2026. If you read a women's shoe off the men's table, you misread both weight and width. So I lined up 6 pairs using only the women's official figures. No. 1 is the PUMA Velocity Nitro 5 (about 190g, JPY 16,500), No. 2 the Nike Pegasus 42 (243g, JPY 17,600) and No. 3 the HOKA Clifton 11 (236g, JPY 19,800).
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
For your first women's shoe, start with the women's Velocity Nitro 5. Its official women's weight is about 190g, the lightest of the six. The width is D-equivalent and the price JPY 16,500. PUMA even gives a guide distance of 800 km. At about JPY 21 per km, it's a shoe where you can state the reason to buy in numbers.
Key points
- The women's weights run from 190g to 252g. Because the sizes differ, converting to weight per cm of foot length puts the Velocity Nitro 5 lightest at about 8.1g
- The standard width differs by shoe. Brooks Ghost models use B as the women's standard, PUMA is D-equivalent, and the HOKA Clifton 11 has a Wide in all 11 women's colors
- Pick off the men's table and the same shoe can look 25g to 57g different in weight (the Pegasus 42 goes from 300g to 243g)
Women's shoes can't be chosen from the men's table
The same-named shoe differs between men's and women's in weight, width and size range. Read the men's table and think "this shoe is 300g," and the women's version is 243g.
This article lines up 6 pairs using only the women's official figures. The ranking comes from three things: weight, price and width.
How to choose women's running shoes: the criteria I used
| Criteria | Reason |
|---|---|
| 1. The women's official weight | Men's numbers can't be reused. The same shoe differs by 25g to 57g |
| 2. The official price | A trainer is something you'll replace, so settle the budget first |
| 3. Width and size range | The standard width differs by brand, and some shoes have no small sizes |
The 6 women's pairs compared (women's figures)
Scroll the table sideways →
| Shoe | Weight (size) | Drop | Width | Official price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUMA Velocity Nitro 5 | about 190g (23.5cm) | 8mm | D-equivalent | JPY 16,500 |
| Nike Pegasus 42 | about 243g (25cm) | 10mm | — | JPY 17,600 |
| HOKA Clifton 11 | 236g (24.5cm) | 8mm | Wide in all 11 colors | JPY 19,800 |
| Brooks Ghost AMP | 225g (24cm) | 6mm | B | JPY 19,800 |
| Saucony Triumph 24 | 216g | 10mm | — | JPY 25,300 |
| Saucony Guide 19 | 252g | 6mm | — | JPY 20,900 |
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
PUMA Velocity Nitro 5 (women's)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 14,800 (as of 10/21), ranging up to JPY 16,500 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaConverting weights measured at different sizes to per cm
You can't compare weights measured at different sizes. Divide by foot length per 1cm and you get a rough comparison.
Scroll the table sideways →
| Shoe | Weight | Sizes | Per cm | Price per gram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velocity Nitro 5 | 190g | 23.5cm | about 8.1g | About JPY 87 |
| Pegasus Plus 2 (for reference) | 215g | 25cm | about 8.6g | About JPY 102 |
| Ghost AMP | 225g | 24cm | about 9.4g | About JPY 88 |
| Clifton 11 | 236g | 24.5cm | about 9.6g | About JPY 84 |
| Pegasus 42 | 243g | 25cm | about 9.7g | About JPY 72 |
PUMA's official Japan site gives the Velocity Nitro 5 a guide distance of 800 km. Divide JPY 16,500 by 800 km and you get about JPY 20.6 per km (16,500 ÷ 800). The other shoes don't state a distance, so assuming 600 km, the Clifton 11 comes to JPY 33 (19,800 ÷ 600).
How many grams lighter than the men's table?
| Shoe | Men's | Women's | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velocity Nitro 5 | about 240g (27.0cm) | about 190g (23.5cm) | about 50g |
| Pegasus 42 | about 300g (28cm) | about 243g (25cm) | about 57g |
| Clifton 11 | 282g (28cm) | 236g (24.5cm) | 46g |
| Ghost AMP | 250g (27cm) | 225g (24cm) | 25g |
| Triumph 24 | 250g | 216g | 34g |
Because size is baked into the difference, you can't get the women's weight by subtracting from the men's number. Read the figure on the women's page as it is.
#1 PUMA Velocity Nitro 5: 190g in the women's version, with an 800 km guide
Why it wins: its official women's weight is about 190g, the lightest of the 6. It costs JPY 16,500 and the width is D-equivalent. It's a 2026/7 release with more forefoot cushioning than the last version.
The catch: the stack is 35mm heel / 27mm forefoot, the thin side among the six. If cushioning comes first, other shoes suit you better. I also covered the GORE-TEX version in the Velocity Nitro 5 review.
#2 Nike Pegasus 42: the JPY 17,600 classic
Why it wins: it costs JPY 17,600, and the women's sizes run a wide 22–27.5cm. The Pegasus with a 10mm drop got a wider forefoot than last year's.
The catch: about 243g (25cm) is the second heaviest of the six. It's 8g lighter than the previous generation, the 41 (about 251g) (251 − 243).
#3 HOKA Clifton 11: Wide in every women's color
Why it wins: every one of the 11 women's colors has a Wide, and two black colors also have Extra Wide. It weighs 236g (24.5cm) and comes in 22.0–26.5cm.
The catch: JPY 19,800 is mid-range among these 6 pairs. The 8mm drop and 42mm heel stack aren't for people who like thin shoes.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
HOKA Clifton 11 (women's)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 17,820 (as of 10/21), ranging up to JPY 19,800 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten Ichiba#4 Brooks Ghost AMP: 225g for women, with a 6mm drop
Why it wins: it's a light trainer at 225g (24cm) for women, with a 6mm drop. It's a new release that went on sale in stages from late Aug 2026, priced at JPY 19,800.
The catch: the only width for women is B (regular). If you want to choose a width, the #3 Clifton 11 suits you better.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Brooks Ghost AMP (women's)
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 19,800 (as of 10/21). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten Ichiba#5 Saucony Triumph 24: a 216g max-cushion shoe for women
Why it wins: it has a 43mm heel / 33mm forefoot max-cushion sole and still comes to 216g for women. Sizes run 22–26cm, and it's 6mm thicker and 13g lighter than the 23.
The catch: JPY 25,300 is the highest price of the 6 pairs. At about JPY 117 per gram (25,300 ÷ 216), it costs more per gram than the others.
#6 Saucony Guide 19: available from 21.5cm
Why it wins: the women's version starts at 21.5cm, so it's easy to choose even with small feet. It weighs 252g with a 6mm drop. The official category is "Support: Max Cushioning."
The catch: at JPY 20,900, it weighs 62g more than the #1 pick (252 − 190). It doesn't suit people who put lightness first. For how to compare stability shoes, see the stability shoes guide.
Width and size range: narrow down with your own foot first
| Shoe | Women's sizes | Width options |
|---|---|---|
| Velocity Nitro 5 | — | D-equivalent |
| Pegasus 42 | 22–27.5cm | — |
| Clifton 11 | 22.0–26.5cm | Wide (all 11 colors), Extra Wide (2 black colors) |
| Ghost AMP | — | B (regular only) |
| Triumph 24 | 22–26cm | — |
| Guide 19 | From 21.5cm | — |
If your width doesn't fit, look at shoes that offer width options before going up in length. If you're choosing on width, the wide-fit running shoes guide lines up 6 pairs.
Quick Guide: Which of the 6 Pairs?
| If you are | Pick |
|---|---|
| Lightness and price first | PUMA Velocity Nitro 5 |
| A classic, in a wide range of sizes | Nike Pegasus 42 |
| You want to choose your width | HOKA Clifton 11 |
| Light, with a 6mm drop | Brooks Ghost AMP |
| Max cushioning, at 216g for women | Saucony Triumph 24 |
| You want to start from small sizes | Saucony Guide 19 |
Who is it for?
- Good fit: people who can't read weight off the men's table and want to choose on women's figures only. People looking for a light trainer for JPY 20,000 or less.
For a first pair, the beginner guide, which chooses on just price, weight and width, comes first.
Price and where to buy
| Model | Official price | Rakuten price range |
|---|---|---|
| Velocity Nitro 5 | JPY 16,500 | JPY 14,800–16,500 |
| Pegasus 42 | JPY 17,600 | — |
| Clifton 11 | JPY 19,800 | JPY 17,820–19,800 |
| Ghost AMP | JPY 19,800 | JPY 19,800 |
| Triumph 24 | JPY 25,300 | — |
| Guide 19 | JPY 20,900 | — |
When you search on Rakuten, look for the women's label in the product name, along with the generation number. If you mix up a men's pair, the size labeling changes.
FAQ
Are women's running shoes lighter than men's?
The women's version of the same shoe is listed lighter than the men's. The Pegasus 42 goes from 300g to about 243g, and the Clifton 11 from 282g to 236g. But part of that is the 3 to 4 cm size difference.
Do women's running shoes come in wide fits?
Yes. The HOKA Clifton 11 has a Wide in all 11 women's colors. The Brooks Ghost 18 has a standard B for women, and a slim option too.
How much do women's running shoes cost?
The 6 pairs here run from JPY 16,500 to JPY 25,300. The PUMA Velocity Nitro 5 is JPY 16,500 and the Nike Pegasus 42 is JPY 17,600; 4 pairs cost JPY 20,000 or less.
Which shoes come in small sizes (around 22cm)?
The Saucony Guide 19 starts at 21.5cm and the Triumph 24 at 22cm. The Clifton 11 and Pegasus 42 also start at 22cm.
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- PUMA Japan press release (Jul 2, 2026): VELOCITY NITRO 5
- PUMA Japan official: women's Velocity Nitro 5
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 42 (women's)
- Deckers Japan announcement (Jul 1, 2026) CLIFTON 11
- Achilles press release (Jun 9, 2026): Ghost 18
- Saucony Japan official: Triumph 24 (women's)
- Saucony Japan official site: Guide 19 (women's)
