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Here are six of the best running shoes of the year we wear-tested in 2025.
Every year, several hundred new models of running shoes hit running stores, and every one is slightly different. The good news is that, in this golden age of running shoes, almost every single pair is made with high-quality, modern materials: lightweight, responsive midsole foams that offer exceptional energy return, engineered uppers that offer breathability and a secure fit, and advanced outsoles for traction and durability. Finding the best shoe for you is no easy task, but starting at your local running shop and trying on several pairs is always a very good start.
Here are six of the best running shoes of the year we wear-tested in 2025. Are they your favorites, too? Do you have others that could have made the list? By early February, a whole new crop of shoes (including updates of these models) will fill the shoe walls at running stores, and the remaining sizes of these standouts will be closed out at a discount. And that means, if you liked these great shoes, keep an eye out for falling prices after the holidays.
Price: $225
Approximate Weights: 6.4 oz. (women’s size 8); 7.5 oz. (men’s size 9),
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 45mm (heel); 37mm (forefoot)
Why It’s Great: In a word, it’s versatile. But it’s also very lively. Its versatility is really about having exceptional pace variability without losing comfort or performance at any speed. I’ve loved this shoe for long runs and recovery runs, plus speedier tempo runs and fartlek intervals. It can be a high-mileage workhorse and a quick-cadence trainer for speed-day workouts, even though I wouldn’t choose to use it for intervals shorter than 800 meters.
In previous years, two of my favorite everyday trainers that offered exceptional versatility and truly did everything well were the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 and Hoka Mach 6 shoes, but those were not max cushioned trainers and lacked the long-haul comfort and protection that the Megablast delivers in spades. While it might not be as all-out fast as either of those examples, I ran a 5-mile tempo run in the Megablast shoes the first time I took them out, and then ran 16 miles in them the next day. In both cases, the shoes felt exquisite and resilient, making me feel fitter and faster than I probably am at the moment.
Why You’ll Love It: The Megablast is one of those shoes you put on and it almost feels effortless to run in at any pace. The midsole foam is infinitely responsive, and because the shoe is so light, it doesn’t feel bulky at all. In fact, if you didn’t know this was a maximally cushioned shoe when you laced it up and started running, you might think it is lower to the ground than it really is. It has above-average proprioceptive feel for the ground, which is rare for thickly cushioned shoes, and that allows it to feel as agile and energetic on slow recovery runs as it does for long runs and tempo runs.
Read our full review.
Price: $150
Approximate Weights: 6.7 oz. (women’s size 8), 7.9 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; 38.5mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
Why It’s Great: The Adidas Adizero Evo SL is a great shoe because it delivers elite-level performance in a lightweight, no-frills package. It’s ideal for runners who want a fast, light, and responsive shoe for workouts and long runs without dropping $200+ on a carbon-plated racer or even the slightly more expensive Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 ($175). But the beauty of this shoe is that runners of any ability level can enjoy and appreciate it. Plus, it has a sleek design with clean aesthetics and it’s available in a variety of bold colors.
What You’ll Love It: It’s extremely versatile. It’s cushy enough to be a long run shoe, light and bouncy enough to run fast, and flexible enough to accommodate just about any pace. While the stack heights are near-maximal, the shoe’s flexibility and lower forefoot offers really good feel for the ground, which is something I really appreciate for running faster paces.
Read our full review.
Price: $300
Approximate Weights: 5.0 oz. (women’s 8); 5.8 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 40mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
Why It’s Great: The Puma FAST-R Nitro Elite 3 is fast and propulsive from the very first step. It’s uncanny how quick, snappy and smooth it feels. The steep heel bevel catapulted my feet forward through the stride cycle to the midfoot to the toe-off phase, where a snappy burst of energy helped accelerate my foot off the ground. It’s also a shoe that only wants to go fast and really feels awkward at even medium paces. The first few steps of any run felt slightly cumbersome, but once I got into a faster rhythm and up to speed, these shoes felt like they were self-propelled and doing the work for me.
From there, every single run I have done in the FAST-R Nitro Elite 3 has been faster than I have anticipated. Or should I say FAST-R than I have anticipated?!
But don’t just take my word for it, take it from Coach Rebecca Trachsel, a competitive age-group marathoner, who says: “This shoe is so different it almost feels fake. It’s also a technical gem as there is so much going on with the design that it’s a bit mind blowing. The minute I hit the ground it was as if I was floating above it. Even through the busy streets of Boston. It doesn’t do the work but it sure as hell makes it easier.”
Why You’ll Love It: If you want a fast super shoe for your next half marathon or marathon, this is definitely one to consider. This shoe is built for runners who thrive on aggressive propulsion, lightweight responsiveness, and cutting-edge tech. If you’re focused on performance and want a shoe that maximizes every stride, this could easily become your go-to race-day weapon.
Read our full review.
Price: $160
Approximate Weights: 7.9 oz. (women’s size 8); 8.5 oz. (men’s size 9),
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; 35mm (heel); 29mm (forefoot)
Why It’s Great: The Mount to Coast H1 is great because it’s light, energetic, and versatile. Just as there are a handful of everyday trainers built for the roads, this model is a multi-talented, jack-of-all-terrain shoe for just about any kind of running you do during the week. No, they’re not going to replace your favorite road trainers you use for long runs, but they might allow you to create new long run routes that include sections of pavement, gravel roads, and sections of mild to moderate dirt trails. And because they’re lighter, more responsive, and more dynamic than most trail running shoes, they could be a gateway shoe for exploring more trail runs.
Why You’ll Love It: The midsole is stunningly good. The CircleCELL midsole is the first high-performance midsole compound to be made from 100 percent renewable feedstock, including recycled organic waste. Created through a process of advanced supercritical foaming process, it delivers energy return on par with PEBA and has nearly double the lifespan of a typical PEBA midsole. It has felt soft, comfortable, and responsive in each stride—both at the beginning of a run and after more than 2 hours of a long, mult-surface run. It’s been energetic enough to run tempo runs and mile repeats, but smooth and accommodating enough to run longer distances on all types of terrain.
Read our full review.
Price: $325
Approximate Weights: 6.2 oz. (women’s size 8), 7.9 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 7mm; 28.5mm (heel), 21.5mm (forefoot)
The Norda 005 is great because it does everything exceptionally well on a wide variety of terrain surfaces. What does that mean? It means that I’d grade an A or A- for all of the things that matter most for a trail shoe – cushion, comfort, traction, propulsion, and protection – on both smooth dirt routes and rocky trails, as well as just about everything in between. If you’ve been trail running for a while or even if you’re just starting out, you know that wearing a shoe that can conquer every type of terrain with ease is very rare. It’s light and agile enough to run fast in short races, and it serves up great long-haul comfort for multi-hour adventure runs and ultra-distance races. Plus, it’s designed to put your feet a little lower to the ground than many contemporary max-cushioned shoes, so the proprioceptive feel for the trail surface is really good. That gave me confidence and control to run wild on technical surfaces.
Why You’ll Love It: The Arnitel midsole’s combination of softness, responsiveness, and stability is the best I’ve ever experienced in a trail running shoe. The foam has shown an 80 percent energy return rate in a laboratory setting, but it doesn’t wash out or bottom out on the trails like some Peba-based foams do in some trail running super shoes. The 005 puts a spring in your step, but not one that is bouncy and unmanageable on trails scattered with rocks and pebbles. Before I ran in it, I figured I might feel pointy rocks poking through the bottom of the midsole, but I found in my wear-testing that the outsole and midsole did a great job at keeping rocks and roots at bay.
Read our full review.
Price: $260
Approximate Weights: 9.1 oz (women’s 8); 10.5 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; 39mm (heel), 33mm (forefoot)
Why It’s Great: It’s great because it’s very runnable on most types of terrain, and I found it to be especially good on runs that combine dirt, rocks, grassy fields, and gravel, as well as paved roads and concrete bike paths. It’s not as fast and electric as a pair of road running supershoes, but that’s OK. The key is that it does offer a good amount of propulsion, but it doesn’t sacrifice speed or stability on any of those surfaces.
Why You’ll Love It: The On Cloudultra Pro has ample heel cushioning under the heel and arch, but it also provides a good amount of feel for the trail in the forefoot. It’s not a hyper-nimble shoe that I’d choose to take on extremely technical or craggy routes, but it is agile enough for running fast (or slow) on most types of terrain. I have run all sorts of trails and distances in it so far, and each time I enjoy it more.
Read our full review.
About the Author
Contributing editor Brian Metzler has wear-tested more than 2,000 running shoes and is the author of “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes” (2019) and “Trail Running Illustrated” (2021). He has raced just about every distance from 100 meters to 100 miles, but he’s most eager to share stories about his experiences pack burro racing in Colorado.
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