Best Running Shoes Reviewed + Ranked by Experts

Editor’s note: we continuously monitor and update our rankings on this page when new running shoes are released – the list was last updated on 23rd February 2026.

Looking for the best running shoes reviewed by experts? We’ve tested hundreds of running shoes across every category — daily trainers, long-run cushioners, race-day super shoes, and trail runners — to bring you our definitive rankings.

A few years ago, you could get away with one or two pairs that kinda did everything. Now, thanks to leaps in shoe tech, your shoe rack should probably looks like a training plan – something for easy days, something for workouts, and then you probably want a dedicated pair of coveted race day carbon-plated supershoes.

And honestly, that’s a good thing. The tech in running shoes has exploded. Midsoles are lighter, foams are bouncier, and the variety means you can find something that fits your stride perfectly.

We’ve tested hundreds of pairs across every category – we’ve linked to our YouTube reviews below – and narrowed them down to the best of the best running shoes, the shoes that actually deliver on their promises. Whether you’re chasing a PR, jogging easy miles before sunrise, or hammering out intervals at the track, this guide has you covered.

Below, you’ll find our picks for the best daily trainers, the best super shoes, and the best workout shoes on the market right now. Each one has been road-tested, ranked, and reviewed with brutal honesty, because if a shoe isn’t fun to run in, what’s the point?

A quick clarifier: ‘workout shoes’ are sometimes called ‘super trainers’; they’re this relatively new category of shoe designed for your speed sessions, your threshold workouts, your long runs. They’re more aggressive than a daily trainer, but more forgiving than a race day shoe.

So without further ado, what follows is the cumulation of every running shoe review we’ve done in the past 12 months: here are the greatest running shoes money can buy right now, for any use case.

The 5 Top Daily Running Shoes On The Market Right Now:

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#5 Best for value: Puma Velocity Nitro 4

Score: 8.1

This isn’t Puma’s most cushioned easy running shoe. The Magnify Nitro 3 is probably better protection for your feet. But I find the Velocity Nitro 4 to be the best. A big reason for that is that the entire midsole is made out of Puma’s supercritical Nitro foam, which is an upgrade from previous versions of the Velocity.

This makes the shoe light and fast and fun to run in, but still supportive enough for an easy running shoe. And as a bonus, when brands switch to full supercritical foam, the price usually jumps, but this shoe stayed relatively cheap.

At first glance it feels flimsy because it’s quite flexible, and the stack height of 36 mm is small these days. But it has a tightly packed heel and the traction is really good. If you’re running in slippery areas, this is probably a good shoe for you.

We gave it an overall rating of 8.1. It gained a lot of points on value, given that it’s so affordable. It lost some points on comfort because the toe box is a little small.

The Velocity Nitro 4 is for you if you like to feel the ground under you, if traction matters, and if you like a bit of pop on easy days.

Stay away from it if you’ve gotten used to the big, chunky feel of today’s high-stack shoes—it feels smaller. And if durability is your main concern, this isn’t bad, but because it’s so flexible you’ll probably run through it faster than some of the bulkier shoes.

Here is my dedicated video review:

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#4 Best for durability: ASICS Nimbus 27

Score 8.5

The Nimbus is kind of a nightmare for these power rankings because it’s a bit of a boring shoe and I’ve mentioned it so many times already. But it’s also impossible to ignore. The Nimbus is ASICS’s perennial easy running shoe, and it’s been around almost as long as I have.

It’s heavy, it has no aspirations to be a workout shoe, but it does its one job very well: it takes you through many comfortable, easy miles. I’ve yet to meet a person who dislikes the Nimbus. When beginners ask me which shoe to buy, I usually point them to the Nimbus because it’s probably the safest shoe in the world.

The Nimbus 27 actually came with some key updates: a bit more supercritical foam in the midsole (lighter and bouncier), more traction on the outsole, and it’s the tallest Nimbus yet—while still lighter than the Nimbus 27.

We gave it an overall score of 8.5, with the value score being the highest. Not because it’s cheap, but because it lasts so long it’s worth the money.

Buy the Nimbus if you’re risk-averse about running shoes, if you like traditional-feeling trainers with some new tech updates, and if you value durability. Avoid it if you want something faster on easy days or if you want a marshmallow-soft feel like a Hoka Clifton. The Nimbus is comfortable, but the midsole is more firm than soft.

Here is my video review:

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#3 Best for cushioning: Brooks Glycerin 22

Score: 8.6

The Glycerin has been around for 22 years, and for the 22nd edition Brooks completely revamped the midsole. It’s now fully supercritical DNA foam, the same light, responsive foam Brooks uses in their workout shoes. It feels much more alive than the 21.

I loved running in it—much more than the 21. Comfort is excellent. But it slipped to number three for two reasons. First, another brand came out with a shoe I think is better. Second, one of its competitors aged better. I put in about 700 km in the Glycerin 22 and after that it started to feel flat. That’s still good durability, but when you’re talking about the very best you want more.

We gave it an 8.6.

Buy the Glycerin 22 if you want something as comfortable as anything on the market and with more pop than a standard EVA trainer. Avoid it if durability is the main thing you’re after.

And just to clear up a common question: the Glycerin Max is the more expensive, faster, more rockered version. If you only want it for easy running, just get the regular 22 and save the money.

Here is my dedicated video review:

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#2 Best for responsiveness: Nike Vomero 18

Score: 8.6

I had low expectations for the Vomero 18. At first it felt heavy, tall, and awkward. But as I ran more in it, it got better and better. The bounce stuck around at 300 km, 400 km. Over time I started reaching for the Vomero ahead of the Glycerin and Nimbus.

The difference is the big piece of ZoomX supercritical foam in the midsole. Despite the weight, it’s bouncy and responsive. It feels a little slow, but when you check your watch you’re actually running the same easy pace as in other shoes.

It’s very durable. That’s why we bumped its ranking up to 8.6, just ahead of the Glycerin.

Buy the Vomero 18 if you like highly cushioned shoes and you’re a midfoot or heel striker. Avoid it if you’re a forefoot striker, or if you want something light and low to the ground.

Here was my first look at the Nike Vomero 18:

#1 Best overall: ASICS MegaBlast

Score: 8.7

The MegaBlast is at the top of our rankings.

I didn’t like it on my first run. I was expecting Superblast, and it felt harder. The Superblast 2 was advertised as an everything shoe and it really was—it could do easy runs, workouts, races. When the MegaBlast came out as the next “Blast” shoe, I was skeptical.

But here’s what it is: the whole midsole is FF Turbo 2 foam, the same foam from ASICS’s fastest shoes, stacked super high. At first it feels firm, but it breaks in quickly and becomes very comfortable. It’s supportive, cushioned, but still light—7.5 oz, much lighter than anything else on this list.

It’s good for easy runs, but it can also pick up the pace. It feels comfortable for almost anything.

We gave it an 8.7. Comfort and performance were the highest scores. The only real negative is the price.

Buy it if you liked the Superblast 2 or want one shoe that can do everything. Avoid it if you’re looking for a budget trainer.

Here is my dedicated video review:

The Top Workout Shoes On The Market Right Now:

#5 Best Lightweight Shoe:
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5

Score: 7.6

To me, this version of the Endorphin Speed is the best running shoe for workouts that Saucony’s ever made. It’s light and agile, but it also packs a punch.

It’s made to be super lightweight. The upper doesn’t weigh much, next to nothing. The midsole is made of Saucony’s Powerrun PB foam, which is a super lightweight foam that still has good responsiveness. One interesting thing: it has a plate, but it’s not carbon, it’s a nylon plate, which is technically better for shock absorption, but not necessarily for speed.

My one knock on the shoe is that I think Saucony could have made it faster. They could have used carbon instead of nylon, and they could have used their fastest foam, the PWRRUN HG foam, which is in the Endorphin Elite 2. But instead, they went with something a bit safer, a little more cushioned. I respect that they’re trying to find a balance between cushioned and fast.

What you get is a very lightweight shoe that just feels really good. I think this shoe will be popular with runners who value lightness, quick pace changes, even taking turns quickly, because it’s close to the ground and feels nice and grippy underneath.

Meanwhile, runners who are used to big, bulky super shoes might want to avoid the Speed 5, it may feel underwhelming if you’re expecting something supercharged with carbon or high-stack foam. And I mean, 35mm of stack height is not that much compared to some of the bigger, more powerful shoes out there.

Think of the Endorphin Speed 5 as your companion for fartleks, intervals, or anything that requires quick cadence and rapid pace changes.

We gave the Speed 5 a Marathon Handbook rating of 7.6.

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#4 Best Shoe That Packs A Powerful Punch:
Nike Pegasus Plus

Score 7.9

Nike came out with two versions of the Pegasus this year: the Pegasus Premium, which is big and bulky and powerful, but heavy, and the Pegasus Plus, which is a little less muscular but much lighter. And the Plus has quickly become one of my very favorite shoes to wear.

Like the Endorphin Speed 5, it’s light, fast, and close to the ground. It’s easy to get a nice quick turnover in this shoe. Even though it doesn’t have any hard structure, no carbon, no nylon, it gets away with just a big slab of ZoomX foam, Nike’s proprietary super foam used in their racing shoes.

So, no carbon plate, but still a whole lot of power in a super light package. This is kind of a made-up stat, but I can’t think of another shoe that weighs this little, has no plate, and still feels this powerful.

People who value lightness but also power will really enjoy the Pegasus Plus.

Now, classic Nike issue: it accommodates narrow feet.

This is just the D width, the regular width, and even with my narrow feet, after a few miles, the sides start to grate just a little. Not enough to make me dislike the shoe, but it’s noticeable. So if you have wider feet, this might not work well for you.

Otherwise, I call this shoe a secret weapon for fartleks or VO2 max workouts. It helps you travel quickly and still gives you cushion. After a tough 10 x 1K session, you can wake up the next day not feeling completely beat up.

We gave this shoe a rating of 7.9, mostly thanks to a strong 8.5 performance score.

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#3 Best Shoe for cushioning:
Brooks Hyperion Max 3

Score: 8.0

We just recorded a standalone review of this one. The Brooks Hyperion Max 3 fills a gap in Brooks’s super shoe lineup. They didn’t yet have a shoe with this kind of tall stack height and aggressive rock-forward profile.

It’s a bit heavy, but also incredibly powerful and just thrusts you onto your toes. Here’s how it’s made: two layers of foam. The first layer is DNA Gold: Brooks’s proprietary PEBAX foam used in their racing shoes. Underneath is another nitrogen-infused foam that’s a bit more conservative but still has some pop.

Between the two layers is the SpeedVault carbon plate, curved for extra bounce and pop. The midsole has rockered geometry, just like their racing shoes.

Basically, it’s kind of like the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5, but souped up: more cushion, a little heavier, maybe even more powerful.

This shoe will appeal to runners who like a lot of foam underfoot but also want to go fast. It’s quite versatile, great for most paces except maybe easy runs or tight track workouts, because you’re pretty tall wearing them.

If you like small, agile shoes like the Endorphin Speed 5, this might not be for you. And if you’re a toe striker, it might feel a bit awkward, it’s better for midfoot-to-toe transitions.

For everyone else, this shoe thrives at threshold and marathon paces. It’s an absolute beast.

We gave it an 8.0 overall.

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#2 Best Shoe for Stability:
Adidas Adizero Boston 13

Score: 8.3

Okay, I can’t believe I’m doing this—but it’s the Adidas Boston 13.

My colleague Michael Doyle and I have an ongoing feud about this shoe. Is it good or is it trash? Apparently, we’re not the only ones; it’s one of the most divisive shoes out there. For years, no one really knew what it was supposed to be…a workout shoe? An easy shoe?

It had a rockered profile but felt clunky and uncomfortable. I hated the Boston 10 so much I skipped the 11 and 12 entirely. But the Boston 13 is different: lighter, faster, and more aggressive. It’s a bonafide workout shoe now…and I actually love it.

The 13 feels small and low to the ground, like the Pegasus Plus or Speed 5, but with more power. And I actually feel more comfortable in it than either of those.

Construction-wise, it has a slab of Lightstrike Pro foam and carbon rods (lighter than a full plate) underneath. There’s also a more conservative foam in the heel for stability, which I wouldn’t be surprised to see Adidas phase out in the future.

It’s technically a marathon shoe, but I prefer it for 5K and 10K training. Great for hills, intervals, fartleks, and long runs. I thought a shoe this small would beat up my joints, but it didn’t.

That said, it’s a harder shoe. If you love lots of cushion, you might find it a bit slappy.

We gave it an 8.3, boosted by strong design and performance scores.

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#1 Best Shoe overall:
Nike Pegasus Premium

Score: 8.4

And now, the controversial pick: the Nike Pegasus Premium.

I was super skeptical about this one. We even did a standalone review right away to figure out how a shoe that weighs 11.5 oz could be this fast. Turns out, it has one of the most complicated but effective midsoles in running.

Three layers:

1. ZoomX foam on top.
2. A full-length Air Zoom pod (basically a hard, bouncy air unit that acts like a carbon plate).
3. A thin layer of ReactX foam on the bottom for shock absorption.

I think the genius of this shoe is that they kept the bottom foam layer thin, otherwise it’d be too heavy. It’s already heavy, but somehow it still flies.

I’ve had some of my best threshold workouts and long runs in this shoe. It doesn’t make sense on paper, but it works. It’s all business, north-south propulsion, no east-west play. It’s durable and doesn’t lose bounce.

It’s like the girl your mom tells you not to pursue, but you do anyway, because she’s the best. That’s what this shoe feels like. It looks like too much, but somehow, it just works.

Some people will hate it—it’s heavy, tall off the ground, and not great for tight turns. Also, it’s narrow like other Nike shoes, but I didn’t find it as bothersome as the Pegasus Plus. Still, wide-footed runners should try it in-store.

We gave the Pegasus Premium an 8.4, which narrowly edged out the Boston 13.

The Top Super Shoes On The Market Right Now:

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#5 Best for cushioning: Saucony Endorphin Elite 2

Score: 8.0

Since our last power ranking, this shoe slid from position three to five because a couple really cool shoes hit the market. But I was still very impressed by the Endorphin Elite 2.

Saucony hadn’t really been as big a player in the world of super shoes as I would’ve expected, especially given they were one of the first companies to develop a super shoe back in the 2017–2019 era.

The standout feature of this shoe is the midsole, which is incredibly bouncy. I’ve been calling this one of the best shoes in the world since early this year, even before it started getting much attention. Very few pros were wearing them at major marathons, very few pros are sponsored by Saucony. But that changed at the World Championships when Uruguay’s María Pía Fernández won a surprise bronze medal in the women’s marathon wearing the Endorphin Elite 2. Well deserved, because I do think these are some of the best shoes in the world.

We gave it an overall rating of 8. Its best score was in performance. I still struggle to find a shoe with as much propulsive force. It’s a really, really fun shoe to wear for workouts.

We docked some marks for comfort. The downside of a squishy foam is there’s not much stability for pronators. I’m a pronator, not enough to wear stability shoes, but enough that I noticed some soreness in odd places after workouts. My feet tend to drift inward in these, and the foam doesn’t do much to stop that. It wasn’t enough for me to ditch them, I still love using them, but it’s something to be aware of.

So, they’re totally worth buying if you don’t mind the squishiness and you want pure speed. But if stability is a concern, I’d look elsewhere. They’re also a bit weird around turns, so they do take some getting used to.

Here’s my video review and a round-up of the Endorphin series:

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#2 Best for durability: Adidas Adios Pro 4

Score: 8.4

This was my racing shoe for the first half of 2024. I alternated between the Endorphin Elite 2 and the Pro 4. They’re very similar in terms of power. What the Pro 4 has over the Endorphin Elite 2 is more stability and better ground connection. I always felt secure taking turns in the Pro 4, not quite the case with the Saucony.

It’s interesting because even though this is a super shoe, it’s Adidas’s more “conservative” racing model compared to their Pro Evo 1 and 2, which are lighter but less durable. Even though the Evo is technically their flagship, some Adidas pros still wear the Pro 4 instead, like Rosemary Wanjiru and Tadu Abate, who finished top two in Berlin wearing the Pro 4, not the Evo.

For everyday runners, this is kind of a loophole, it’s cheaper than the Evo and easier to find.

The foam is TPE, similar to Saucony’s, but firmer. You can’t press into it easily, but it’s responsive. And Adidas doesn’t use a carbon plate, they use carbon rods shaped like foot tendons to save weight while keeping snap.

When we ranked the Pro 4, we didn’t have many complaints. Performance was high. Comfort got dinged a bit because the insole moved around. Could’ve been a sizing issue, I’m a men’s 11 and usually fine, but something was off here. Annoying in workouts, but otherwise it’s comfy and quite durable. Mine’s got over 400 km so far and is still going strong.

Buy the Pro 4 if you value durability and performance. If you need the absolute fastest shoe possible, Adidas does make one, but we’ll get to that.

Here’s my dedicated video review:

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#3 Best for A Firm, Light Ride: Asics MetaSpeed Tokyo Edge & Sky

Score: 8.6

These are technically two different shoes, but we rank them together. The MetaSpeed Tokyo Edge and Sky are identical in stack height, heel-to-toe drop, and weight. The differences are subtle, the Sky is made for runners who increase stride length, and the Edge is for runners who increase cadence.

When these first came out in 2024, it took me a while to understand what Asics was going for. Just when I figured it out, they launched another curveball, the MetaSpeed Ray.

The Tokyo models have two foam layers, one is FF Turbo Plus (stable), the other is FF Leap (lighter, bouncier). The Ray only uses FF Leap and has a small carbon plate, likely for a touch of stability.

At first glance, I thought the Ray would be the pro-favorite. But Asics’s athletes are split. Ilhas Aouani wore the Ray to take bronze at Worlds. Hailemaryam Kiros won the Sydney Marathon wearing one of the Tokyos.

For the everyday runner, I think the Tokyo feels more stable, and that’ll appeal more to most people. Plus, the Ray is hard to get and hasn’t proven itself fully yet. So we’re sticking with the Tokyo for now.

We gave the Tokyo Edge and Sky a rating of 8.6, right up there with Saucony and Adidas. I’d give them a slight edge in speed and comfort. Durability is strong.

Buy the Tokyo if you like a firm, light super shoe. Avoid it if you want something squishy (the Saucony would be better) or if you have wide feet, it fits snug.

Here’s my dedicated video reveiw of both the Sky and the Edge:

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#2 Best Shoe For Your Next PR: Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3

Score: 8.6

I’ve become hard to impress with shoes, after a while, they all start to look the same. But this one was a jaw-dropper. It launched during Boston Marathon weekend and was the most exciting shoe of the year so far.

I can’t believe it’s not number one, but based on what’s happening at major marathons, it sits at number two.

The engineering is incredible. It has a 7-layer carbon plate that extends past the toe to help with toe-off. The midsole has deep cutouts, the geometry is specific, and everything about it feels pared down. It’s like a track bike, all muscle, no bulk.

I raced in it at the Canadian 10K Championships and set a PR. It became my racing shoe after that. It’s incredibly light, great for cornering, and just a blast to race in. But it’s not for everyone. It has minimal support, and you feel the ground. It’s not a shoe you want for next-day recovery or even hard workouts. This is your goal race shoe, the one for when you want a personal best and don’t care what happens the next day.

One caveat, it’s not durable. After one race, the outsole tread was gone. That doesn’t matter to me personally, but if it matters to you, be cautious.

Here is my dedicated video review:

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Honorable Mentions

Two shoes almost made this list but didn’t.

Nike Alphafly 3: Yes, it’s still on a lot of major podiums. But that’s because Nike sponsors the best athletes. The shoe is now nearly 18 months old, and while it was cutting edge at launch, the industry has moved on. Nike is surely working on the next version.

Adidas Adios Pro Evo 1: This was the best “pure speed” shoe for a while. But it had one job, go fast, once or twice. Mine lasted about 50 km. That’s not a typo. And at $500 a pair, it’s a hard sell. There’s now a shoe that does that job better.

So to the Alphafly 3 and the Evo 1, rest in peace, lest we remember.

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Training for a marathon? Check out our dedicated guide to the best marathon running shoes and learn how carbon fiber technology works in modern racing shoes.

#1 Best overall: Adidas Adios Pro Evo 2

This shoe has dominated fall racing season. Alphonse Simbu and Peres Jepchirchir both won World Championship marathons in them. Sebastian Sawe won a hot Berlin Marathon in them. The Evo 2 is everywhere.

I’ve worn the Evo 1, so I have context. The Evo 1 was amazing, but not durable. The Evo 2 reportedly fixes that. The forefoot now has more foam, helping with both drop (now just 3 mm) and longevity. The outsole has more traction. And somehow, it weighs just 4.86 oz.

We’ll be testing it ourselves soon, but based on everything we’ve seen, it’s earned its spot at the top of this list. Right now, it’s the best super shoe in the world.

Just getting started? Read our guide on how to start running.

Make sure to also work on your proper running form to prevent injuries.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Torn between Nike’s top two? See our detailed Nike Vomero vs Pegasus head-to-head comparison.

More Shoe Roundups From Marathon Handbook

• Best Running Shoes For Beginners
• Best Hoka Running Shoes
• Best Half Marathon Shoes
• Best Trail Running Shoes