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Test Bench 0.16  
Changelog

 2
By David Kroeker-MausUpdated Aug 17, 2026 at 10:27 pm

Our running shoe Test Bench 0.16 expands our coverage with new tests for breathability, water absorption, and drying time.

We've added a smoke breathability test to clearly show how easily air moves through each shoe. We also include images of the entire upper, along with close-up shots, to give you a better understanding of where that breathability (or lack of) comes from.

We've also introduced two tests focused on wet conditions: one measures how much water a shoe absorbs, while the other evaluates how long it takes to dry. Together, these tests should give you a better idea of how a shoe will perform on a wet run and whether it'll be ready to go again by the next one.

A photo of the smoke breathability test.

What's Changed?

Test Group Description
Design | Breathability
  • Smoke breathability video
  • Upper photo with backlight to see breathability
  • Microscope photo of the upper
Design | Time-To-Dry
  • Time-lapse of the shoe drying
  • Graph of the water evaporation rate
  • Time To 30% Dry
  • Time To 70% Dry
  • Time To Dry
Design | Time-To-Dry
  • Photo of the dry shoe on a scale
  • Photo of the fully wet shoe on the scale
  • Water absorbed relative to dry weight

Conclusion

Overall, these new tests give you a clearer picture of how a shoe handles heat, airflow, and wet conditions, helping you choose the right shoe for the conditions you're running in. Please let us know what you think in the comments or by emailing feedback@rtings.com.

5 Running Shoes Updated So Far

We are retesting popular models first. So far, the test results for the following models have been converted to the new testing methodology. However, the text might be inconsistent with the new results.

227 Running Shoes Planned To Be Updated

We are also planning to retest the following products over the course of the next few weeks:

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