By Brian Metzler

It’s January and the year is ripe with possibilities, especially if you’re a runner. Never before have training methodology, fueling science, and running shoe innovation been at the zenith that they are right now. You’ll have to figure out the fueling and training aspects on your own, but here are a few running shoes you should be excited about in 2025. The good news for runners is that shoes are getting lighter, more comfortable, and even more responsive – for both roads and trails. That could mean they’re faster, too, but that part is mostly up to you – if you figure out your training and fueling.

These are just three of dozens of new shoes that will begin to hit running stores and online sites by late January and early February. Remember, the best shoe for you is one that fits the specific shape of your foot and also matches your gait style. My two cents is to visit your local running store and try on several pairs with a shoe-fitting expert.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2
Heel-toe offset: 8mm; 39.5mm (heel), 31.5mm (forefoot)
Weights: 5.9 oz. (women’s 8), 7.0 oz. (men’s 9)

While Nike, Adidas and Asics have dominated the carbon-plated super shoe marathon racing shoe category since its inception in 2016, Saucony has produced some really fast shoes that have never gotten the credit – or podium finishes – they deserve. Everyone has raved about the advanced midsole foams Saucony has developed, but its nylon-plated Endorphin Speed training shoes have gotten more shine than its carbon-plated Endorphin Pro and Endorphin Elite racing shoes. That could start to change this spring when the Endorphin Elite 2 ($275) debuts. Featuring Saucony’s new IncrediRun midsole material, it’s a lightweight and hyper-responsive racing shoe with a very soft and extremely bouncy ride. IncrediRun is a TPEE (Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer) foam that’s a lot more responsive than Saucony’s PWRRUN HG foam. I’ve run in the Endorphin Elite 2 a handful of times over the past two weeks – including an up-tempo 10-mile long run and a hilly fartlek workout on New Year’s Eve – and WOW, what a fun ride! I fully expect this shoe to emerge as one of the top road racing shoes in 2025.

La Sportiva Prodigio Pro
Heel-toe offset: 6mm; 34mm (heel), 28mm (forefoot)
Weights: 7.6 oz. (women’s 8), 8.9 oz. (men’s 9)

Last spring, La Sportiva finally unveiled a shoe with a responsive nitrogen-infused supercritical midsole foam in the Prodigio trail running shoe. The foam was great, but, in my opinion, there wasn’t enough of it. It felt and performed pretty good, but it was a bit underwhelming compared to some of the other shoes out there. Well, wait until the Prodigio Pro model ($195) launches in March. Built on a new, even bouncier XFlow Speed midsole – a new supercritical nitrogen-infused TPU foam – that provides outstanding cushioning while still maintaining the high level of protection and traction that La Sportiva has always been known for. The sticky rubber Frixion outsole features 5mm lugs, providing optimal traction on rugged terrain, while the upper is reinforced with something called Power Wire mesh that wraps your feet to ensure a secure fit on off-camber, technical terrain. After running about 50 miles in a pair on rocky terrain since November, I can vouch for the energetic sensation and reliable traction it provides. (Like most La Sportiva trail running shoes, the Prodigio Pro runs small compared to most other shoes, so be sure you try it on before you buy it.) The Prodigio Pro can hold its own on smooth dirt and gravel trails, but’s made for running on gnarly mountain terrain.

Speedland RX:FPY
Heel-toe offset: 7mm; 40mm (heel), 33mm (forefoot)
Weight: 6.9 oz. (women’s 8), 8.0 oz. (men’s 9)

Speedland is a small and somewhat disruptive shoe brand started by shoe industry veterans Kevin Fallon and Dave Dombrow, who left the corporate footwear world in pursuit of innovation without limitation. They’ve pushed the limits on what trail running shoes are all about – both in the materials they’ve used but also in thinking about performance in new ways – and they’ve earned a cult-like following that has helped sell out the stock of each of their initial small-batch production models. In 2025, Speedland will use that same ingenuity to boldly enter the road running world with the launch of the RX:FPY maximally cushioned super trainer ($299). Built on a responsive uncompressed super-critical foam midsole, the RX:FPY has a removable carbon-fiber plate and a BOA Li2 dual-directional dial closure system instead of traditional laces. It’s not a hyperlight road racing shoe for marathons, but instead a novel take on a fast and light max-cushioned training shoe. The BOA closure system allows for on-the-run adjustments to ensure optimal fit and comfort, while the cushy midsole system provides an exciting springiness to every stride and long-haul comfort for multi-hour training runs.