The 5 Best Tie Dye Running Shoes

It feels like bright colors just make us run faster. Something about the zing of a crisp yellow or pop of a fiery magenta puts the extra pep in our step. And when you mix it all together, a little blue here, a little green there, it takes it all to the next level. When you look good, feel good. Feel good, run good. 

1. Asics Noosa Tri 15: Best Overall Tie-Dye Inspired Shoe

You can be the judge of whether the Asics Noosa Tri 15 officially qualifies as tie-dye, but we're definitely going to say it's inspired by the artist, a pretty darn close cover band if you will. The Noosa Tri line of shoes is designed for triathlon usage, and their claim to fame is the bold color ways paired with a design that's easy to slip on and off during triathlon races (sockless racing, anyone?). The Noosa Tri 15 features EVA-based FlyteFoam material in the midsole, a durable and cushioned compound that's reliable over the long term. The ride skews to the fast side of versatile, so is a great option for daily runs as well as faster workouts. 

2. Brooks Launch 9: Best Tie-Dye Shoe

Brooks is committed to the tie-dye game, offering multiple real-deal tie-dye colorways in their portfolio. Here, we see the beloved pattern applied to the Launch, a simple and effective entry-level daily trainer with a lightweight construction and responsive ride. It uses Brooks' BioGoDNA midsole, a durable and supportive EVA compound. The platform is relatively stable and doesn't have any excess technology like a carbon fiber plate or aggressive rocker so is a serviceable option for walking around town and hitting the gym.

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3. Brooks Revel 6: Best Certified Tie-Dye Shoe

Here we have another cut-and-dried tye-die option from Brooks. The Revel is another affordable daily trainer option from Brooks and shares DNA with the Launch. It uses the same EVA-based BioGoDNA foam with a slightly less-flexible but firmer and more responsive formulation. If you're looking for an affordable daily trainer that can also handle some uptempo work, this is another great option.

4. Asics Noosa Tri 14: Best Tie-Dye Inspired Daily Trainer

The Noosa Tri 14 is last year's version of the 15 listed up at the top this list. It has a fairly similar responsive and cushioned ride, with one major difference—you can find it for $30 to $40 cheaper than the latest version. If you're into the 90s aesthetic that skews skate park as much as it does tie-dye running shoe, you're in good feet here with the Noosa Tri. Plus, you can run in it sockless if you're into that sort of thing.

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5. Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 Sofia Edition: Best Tie-Dye Dupe for Uptempo Training

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is an excellent all-around training shoe that's beloved by everyone from hybrid athlete Nick Bare to the running shoes geeks on Reddit (seriously, that's their name—look up r/runningshoegeeks). The Speed 3 has a soft but bouncy midsole foam that lights up at those intermediate paces which are most fun to run. A winglet plate in the midsole adds stability for planted landings, and a aggressive rocker upfront aids in transitions through the gait cycle. If you can stomach a tie-dye dupe and not the real thing, this Sofia colorway, designed in collaboration with a girl from the Boston's Children's Hospital, is an excellent choice.

6. Craft CTM Ultra Carbon 2: Best Tie-Dye Dupe for Trail Running

If you want to look wild while going wild on the trails, the CTM Ultra Carbon 2 is your best for a tie-dye dupe. We scoured the deepest depths of the internet and this is the closest thing to dtie-dye you'll get on the trails, which isn't a demerit since this Ultra Carbon 2 provides comfort, speed and traction in an all-in-one package. The only negative is the weight is a bit on the high side, but that's to be expected for most trail shoes.

Final Thoughts 

Whether your tie-dye vibe is 90s skater or family vacation, there's a fun and colorful pattern waiting for you out there. While shoe brands have been lacking on the full-on tie-dye game, we've gotta shout out Brooks here, who we often critique for their drab colorways. Good job, Brooks. And good job, reader for wanting to get after it in a fun pair of shoes and not taking yourself too seriously. Here's to feeling fast and running fast.