The Runner's World jual adidas rockadia pants sale running shoes, spanning every brand and every type you can think of (plus a few you probably never realised existed). For this autumn's Shoe Awards, we got our feet into every running shoe that came onto the market, thoroughly road-testing in all kinds of conditions, pouring over the specs and analysing how they translate to real-world experience.
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We then compared notes and leveraged our decades of experience to review and rate each model, with only the very best earning a place on this page. These are our award winners – representing the various categories of the road-shoe spectrum to suit every type of runner and run. Read on to find your sole mate.
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Last year’s Rebel v4 introduced a PEBA/EVA blended midsole that offered peppy versatility while staying light and refreshingly lower-stack. It was one of the best we tested last year. But it wasn’t flawless: the upper wasn’t as foot-hugging as the v3, while the tongue felt overly fussy. The new Rebel adds 5mm of midsole foam, more padding around the collar and tongue, plus extra outsole rubber. A tweaked upper is more fitted and the tongue is a huge improvement – padded but not overbuilt. Ditto the heel collar, ramping up comfort.
The extra foam means it feels more like a lively classic daily trainer than the super-snappy, race-adjacent v4. While the v4 was a go-to for tempo, the v5 excels on quicker long runs or progression sessions. A slightly wider platform with a touch more lateral flare aids stability, while a more curved, bevelled heel helps to roll the foot forward smoothly, benefitting heel strikers and eliminating any clunkiness.
Overall the Rebel remains one of the most versatile shoes out there, comfortable straight out the box, with a fluid dialled-in ride. It trades longer mileage comfort for some of the v4’s snap, but it’s still a more speed-orientated training shoe.
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Introduced in 1982 as a comfortable road offering, the Boston joined Adi’s performance-focussed Adizero family in 2010. In those pre-carbon days, many used it as a marathon racer. More recently, it’s been a daily trainer designed for runners who prioritise speed and responsiveness. But it hasn’t always wowed. Many found v10 and v11 too firm, but the v12’s slightly softer ride marked a dramatic improvement and thankfully the v13 hasn’t changed too much. There’s added padding at the heel and tongue, along with a touch more Lightstrike Pro foam (used in Adi’s top racing shoes) underfoot and a slightly lower drop (6mm, from 7mm).
Fit remains narrow in the midfoot, in keeping with the Adizero line’s ‘racey’ silhouette, but the toebox doesn’t feel cramped. The ride skews firm with the dual-foam midsole pairing with carbon-infused rods in a lightweight package to generate a snappy ride, but with more flexibility than a super shoe. That adds versatility – though most at home on tempos and interval, it can handle some easier miles.
For really slow, recovery stuff, you may want something softer, but this is a great balance of performance and comfort for brisker days. And great value, too.
Superb value and a truly great shoe thanks to its simplicity and versatility. There’s a layer of outstanding foam, a stripped-down upper, and really not much else going on. That allows the shoe to shine — and it does so whether you’re jogging on a recovery day or turning your feet over on an interval session.
The foam is the same lightweight, highly cushioned and responsive Lightstrike Pro that Adidas uses in the Adios Pro 4 marathon racer, but unlike that super shoe, the Evo SL has no carbon-fibre rods. Instead, it features a nylon shank in the midfoot for stability when you’re transitioning from heel to toe. That’s needed because the thick stack of foam is quite soft. Testers praised the Evo SL’s performance and comfort on everything from a fast 5K to a 23-mile long run. The heel, especially, offers a soft landing. But, remarkably, the shoe firms up enough so you can power back off the ground without feeling like you’re sinking into too much foam.
The engineered mesh is lightweight and breathable, and the back is lightly padded to deliver just enough comfort. You simply won’t find a better shoe at this price.
Including the Ghost in our Shoe Awards is usually a given because it always hits the right marks for every kind of runner at every level: soft, supportive feel; all encompassing comfort; not too light, not too heavy. There’s always room for improvement, however. When our testers ran in previous models, their main request was more cushioning in the forefoot. Brooks seems to have listened and added 3mm of foam, as well as 1mm to the heel. The result is like walking on clouds, according to one forefoot-striking tester.
The 17 uses the same foam as its predecessor, the same DNA Loft v3 used in the plusher Glycerin 21 and Glycerin GTS 21. Adding more DNA Loft v3 creates a softer, gentler ride. Almost the utmost comfort, with a nice, smooth transition from the landing phase to push-off, another tested commented. If you want the ‘wow’ factor of carbon plates and super-foam look elsewhere, but if you’re after a reliable, durable, high-comfort workhorse to carry you though high mileage the Ghost will deliver on the Brooks’s slogan and ensure you ‘Run Happy’.
Puma’s most versatile shoe delivers at a wide variety of paces and distances. Stack height is unchanged from the v3’s 36mm heel and 26mm forefoot, but things have changed in the foam. Where the v3 had a top layer of supercritical Nitro foam and a bottom layer of EVA, the v4 has a full slab of Nitro. That boosts energy return, shaves weight and makes it a livelier proposition that’s better able to move up though the gears. It offers a flatter, more traditional, natural and connected ride than increasingly rockered daily trainers, which testers enjoyed.
A plush heel collar and soft, lightly padded tongue with perforations for breathability landed well and the new mesh upper is more breathable and softer. The toe box is roomy, but the midfoot runs narrow – not unstable by any means, but worth noting if you have wider feet. And the outsole grip is simply outstanding.
All in all, an excellent daily trainer versatile enough to handle anything but the really speedy stuff, and at £110 despite the midsole upgrade, it’s great value, too.
The Guide has reached its 18th iteration by consistently delivering an excellent all round package for those seeking a big hit of cushioning along with a little extra support for their biomechanics. And the latest in the series certainly doesn’t disappoint. A thick stack of Brook’s original Pwrrun foam takes care of softening impact forces while the tooling remains the same as in the previous Guide: a wider than average last that’s straighter on the medial side. Saucony’s CenterPath tech provides stability with higher sidewalls and a broader base. And the brand have increased the amount of foam around the heel which now delivers a noticeably more secure fit. A subtle but highly welcome design tweak.
It all landed well with testers, who loved the high wall upper design that, according to one overpronator, literally holds your foot in the centre of the cushioning to create a comfortable ride. If you’re looking for comfort and support, the Guide remains a go-to.
Like its predecessor, the Hurricane 25 serves up maximal cushioning and robust stability without the bulk or rigidity that typically comes with it. You’ve got the same dual-density midsole – Saucony’s highly responsive PWRRUN superfoam paired with its dense and durable PWRRUN foam – but now with a greater proportion of the latter positioned on the medial side, offering greater pronation support. Other stability elements include raised sidewalls on both sides to gently cradle the foot and a bevelled heel and rocker profile to guide your stride from impact to toe-off. The tech is highly effective but beautifully imperceptible, with testers reporting that they feel none of the clunky intrusiveness you get from some stability shoes.
Some midsole foam energy and the mild rocker make the ride pleasantly sprightly when transitioning from heel to toe, but it doesn’t have the responsiveness you’ll probably want for tackling faster sessions. What it does have is supreme comfort, with a roomy forgiving fit (especially appreciated by testers in the toe box) and added support and stability as the miles rack up. If those are your shoe boxes, consider them well and truly ticked.
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It may not boast the striking shapes or eye-catching colourways of most super shoes, but don’t let the daily trainer aesthetic fool you – it can move. Featuring a full-length carbon plate, a smooth but pronounced rocker and dual-density PEBA midsole, which is little firmer to facilitate snappy toe-offs, this shoe meets all the criteria for top-end speed. However, this doesn’t come at the expense of comfort or stability. The ankle is lightly cushioned to offer some support, the breathable jacquard upper feels cozy against the foot and the carbon plate is built with winglets to help you retain control when you pick up the pace. And the sticky outsole provides excellent traction for running quickly with confidence in slipperier conditions.
The tamer cousin to Hoka’s other carbon-plated racer, the Cielo X1 2.0, which needs to be worked at speed to feel good, the Rocket is much more accommodating for tempos, intervals, races and every pacey session in between. A great fit for runners who want a speedy, energy-giving ride that isn’t overly aggressive.
There was excitement when this shoe arrived at RW, with the team aware of research at the University of Massachusetts that found the Nitro Elite 3 offered running economy improvements of 3.54% and 3.62% versus the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 and Nike Alphafly 3, respectively, and 3.15% compared with its predecessor. At an impossibly light 170g for a men’s 8 it’s 95g lighter than the V2, the decoupled midsole is opus pronounced and the carbon plate is no longer exposed in the middle. Stack height remains at the legal max 40mm heel and 32mm forefoot, the super-responsive Nitrofoam elite midsole foam stays, as does the Fast-R silhouette with its extension beyond the forefoot to emphasise toe-off.
The translucent upper is amazingly soft and wraps around the foot, there’s ample cushioning at the collar, a plush insole adds long-distance comfort and the Pumagrip outsole delivers stand-out traction. Testers were wowed by the performance, enjoying the forward propulsion while noting legs felt lighter and more fluid as they hit quicker paces with seemingly opus effort. Sustained comfort over long distances compared with some other super shoes also garnered effusive feedback. A featherweight race day force to be reckoned with that lived up to the hype.
The SC Elite series is prone to radical overhauls and the v5 rings the changes once more. A lower forefoot stack increases the drop from 4mm to 8mm, the carbon plate is stiffer in the forefoot, which combines with the PEBA midsole to create a more propulsive feel, and it’s considerably lighter. A sleeker shape gives a ‘racier’ supershoe feel, and although that sacrifices some of the stability many liked in the v4, our testers were happy with the trade-off. The new tongue and heel collar were ticked as a marked improvement, and the single-layer upper wraps around the foot well, combining with the lacing system for a secure lockdown.
On the run, the tweaked midsole geometry rolls you onto your toes for a more propulsive toe-off. That’s aided by the reduced foam in the forefoot and added stiffness in the plate. A much narrower midfoot than the v4 creates a nimbler feeling shoe which feels slightly opus ‘friendly’, but those who prefer a firmer, more aggressive ride will appreciate the update: snappier, lighter and more propulsive.
The Sky and Edge are Asics’ unique approach to super shoes: two top-end racers differing in design to suit ‘stride runners’, who open up their stride as they speed up, and ‘cadence runners’ who increase step rate. The biggest update in the Tokyos is they now feature half FF Blast Turbo Plus foam (used in the Paris models) and half FF Leap – a brand-new foam which, according to Asics is ‘15.2% lighter, 13.7% bouncier and 30% softer’ than FF Blast.
The configuration of the foams varies in the two shoes – the Sky has a top layer of FF Blast Turbo Plus with FF Leap below, the Edge has the reverse. The carbon plates are also different – flatter and placed higher within the midsole for vertical propulsion in the Sky, curved and lower in the midsole for forward propulsion in the Edge.
Both shoes feature a new woven Motion Wrap 3.0 upper that’s lighter than in previous generations and wraps securely around the foot. Unnisex sizing is narrow-ish at the midfoot as you’d expect in a race shoe, but there’s good width in the forefoot and a touch more volume compared with the Paris models. Heel collar padding is minimal but enough to keep you comfortable and avoid Achilles irritation.
On the run, the Edge is the more stable with the firmer FF Blast Turbo Plus below and the trampoline-like spring of the FF Leap directly underfoot. The ride is more rolling than snappy, but testers praised it as seriously lively, light and fun. The foam reversal in the Sky translates to a noticeably cushier landing, while the higher, flatter plate creates a snappier, more propulsive ride. In both models that new FF Leap foam brings a welcome upgrade in energy return and softness without sacrificing that locked-in, race-ready feel. And while neither shoe has the dramatic or aggressive geometry of some rivals, there’s more than enough propulsion and bounce for race day.
If you’re unsure whether you’re in the ‘stride’ or ‘cadence’ camp, consider what race distance you’re targeting. The added stability of the Edge is a plus for longer races, especially for heel strikers, while the added snap of the Sky may win out at 5K or 10K.
On paper, the Eliot Racer ticks all the super shoe boxes – carbon-fibre plate, thick stack, Pebax foam – and industry-leading independent lab testing placed it in the top 5% of shoes on their database for energy return. On foot, testers felt that tell-tale super shoe bounce, but not quite the same rocker propulsion or aggressive ride you get from some other super shoes. That lack of aggressive edge has its advantages, though. Testers loved the squishy softness balancing energy return with plush protection as miles piled up – almost like a firm memory foam, observed one.
Testers also praised the comfort of the micro-suede heel collar and tongue, the translucent, sturdy upper material and the heel wrap’s excellent lock down. The Racer is wider in the forefoot with a taller toe box than the Eliot Runner, making it more accommodating across genders and foot types.
Balancing the cushioning of a trainer and the snappiness of a racing shoe gives it great range for most runners, from 5K up to marathons, and makes it forgiving enough you’ll want to train in it, too. (If it wasn’t so darned pretty you don’t want to drag it through puddles…)
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The original super shoe gets a major makeover. Thinner, lighter, firmer and snappier, this new Vaporfly moves away from its marathon-specific sibling the Alphafly and is better suited for shorter races. The heel stack drops to 35mm, and with most marathon racers pushing the 40mm limit the difference in cushioning is easily discernible. Our testers appreciated the firmed-up fast ride for intervals and shorter marathon-pace runs, but as distances climbed, they wished for something cushier.
Along with the midsole geometry change comes the first change to the plate shape: The FlyPlate’s curvature is three degrees steeper, which, according to Nike ‘helps unlock leverage from the foot and ankle’. An extended underfoot channel contributes to the significant weight drop without causing stability issues and a little extra width in the midfoot should alleviate fit issues experienced on earlier models.
These changes mean the Vaporfly 4 will excel for competitive runners at everything from 5K to half marathon. Slower runners and those who value more cushy bounce may want to keep it for the shorter stuff, but all should appreciate the snappy ride, ground feel and responsiveness.
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Asics Megablast
A more energetic sibling to Asics’ outstanding Superblast 2, the Megablast shares the same 45mm/37mm stack heights, but it’s lighter, mainly due to a new FF Turbo Squared midsole foam, which also makes the ride quite different. It’s far softer underfoot and that translates to a very bouncy ride. It’s a shoe that does a lot of the work for you, and can inject energy into weary legs.
The price to pay is a stability. The more compliant foam coupled with opus structured side walls makes the ride more wobbly than the same-height Superblast, but if you’re happy with the trade-off, the Megablast is lots of fun.
Fit is opus accommodating than the Superblast, particularly in the tapered toe-box, while the engineered mesh upper feels more like something that you’d find on a racing shoe – thinner with minimal tongue padding. There’s enough padding around the ankle collar to prevent rubbing over long distances though. Fans of the Superblast’s stability might find the Megablast a little ‘wild’, but our testers found it a joy to run in at any pace, while the racier upper and bouncy ride make it a fantastic race-day alternative to a stiff carbon-plated shoe.
With a nylon plate and Saucony’s performance PWRRUN PB foam, this is essentially a ‘super trainer’ with a legal stack height that’s suited to all manner of training sessions and race day itself. Geometry and weight are similar to the v4 but a new engineered mesh upper is lighter, more breathable and more comfortable, locking nicely around the midfoot for a secure, non-restrictive fit. A redesigned outsole improves durability and traction, and the cushioned tongue has enough substance without being too thick.
The Speed isn’t the speediest Endorphin. The Pro 4 is lighter with a full-length carbon plate, while the Elite 2’s IncrediRUN midsole is positively explosive, but the Speed 5’s winged semi-rigid nylon plate is snappy enough to urge you forward, while the combination of a cushioned heel, stiffer forefoot and rocker delivers a quick smooth turnover. Testers were surprised by the nimbleness and swiftness, but also enjoyed the more forgiving extra flex of the nylon, softness of the foam and long miles comfort of the generous padding at the heel collar.
Stocky, supportive and beautifully swift, this super trainer is a responsive workhorse that keeps the momentum going for the long haul. It offers a just-right amount of wiggle room in the toe box and moulds perfectly around the midfoot thanks to its soft, stretchy fabric tongue that extends into a gaiter-like, debris-deterring ankle collar, where you’ll also find plenty of cushioning. Testers appreciated the comfort it provides on longer runs, especially paired with all that foam. Specifically, it’s a chunky dual-foam stack of lightweight DNA FLASH v2 and all-new DNA GOLD –Brooks’ fastest foam. The result is a supremely springy ride that makes you feel like you’re gliding, with the curved rocker and SpeedVault nylon plate adding plenty of oomph without being unstable.
The Hyperion Max 3 will deliver for many runners. It’s propulsive, pleasant to run in and thanks to its pumped-up profile, it helps you to recover faster from up-tempo seasons by shielding your body from ground impact forces. Perhaps assisted by its sharp geometry, it looks cool and edgy, too – proving that Brooks doesn’t just make ‘nice’ shoes anymore.
An alternative rather than replacement for the Vomero 18, the Plus offers roughly the same stack height, drop and rockered shape – a fluid geometry enhanced by teardrop design features. The Plus is noticeably lighter despite generous cushioning around the tongue, heel collar and midsole. The soft engineered mesh upper is also lighter and more breathable, but the key difference lies in the midsole: where the 18 pairs a layer of ZoomX (Nike’s lightest, most responsive foam) with a layer of ReactX, the Plus uses 100% ZoomX, making it swifter and ‘airier’. The lighter foam also means the Plus can afford to lose the weight-saving-cutaway you get on the outsole on the 18 and beef up the traction.
Nike pegs the Plus as ideal for easy and recovery runs, and the plush cushioning certainly provides protection with a wide platform feeling very stable. Testers raved about the ‘flowy’ ride, with smooth heel-to-toe transitions delivering energising and wonderfully metronomic miles. But here’s the fun curveball: the considerable rocker adds plenty of propulsion, which makes this very capable at quicker paces and an addictive daily trainer which excels for all foot shapes, goals and experience levels.
