5 Emerging Running Trends for 2026
Here is a quick look at five key running trends that will emerge in 2026 based on what we saw at The Running Event trade show.
We’ve searched the web for the best early Black Friday Deals on running shoes, watches, treadmills, and more.
Black Friday used to be a day when people camped out at stores on Thanksgiving night to get the best deals early the next morning. But now sales starts more than a week in advance, so you can just camp out in front of your laptop or with your phone in hand to get the best Black Friday Deals.
Was $6,999, Black Friday Deal $5,249
Undoubtedly the most advanced running treadmill ever built for consumers, the KICKR RUN is designed to deliver a natural and immersive indoor running experience. It features RunFree Mode, which uses advanced sensors to automatically adjust the belt speed to match your pace, eliminating the need for manual controls. With a responsive surface, grade simulation, and lateral tilt, it mimics outdoor running conditions, challenging stabilizer muscles while providing dynamic movement. The treadmill integrates seamlessly with apps like Zwift and TrainingPeaks, offering smart controls for speed, gradient, and advanced running metrics like cadence and vertical oscillation.
Was $140, Black Friday Deal $115
Could a new pillow — one that matches your comfort preferences, your sleeping position, and your physique—be a game-changer for you? Ryan Hurley, the founder of Lagoon Performance Pillows, sure thinks so, and elite runners Emma Bates, Kiera D’Amato, Grayson Murphy, and Dakotah Popehn are convinced there is a correlation between optimal sleep and optimal running performance.
After taking Lagoon’s online quiz (Lagoon calls the quiz its “ErgoFit Pillow Assessment”) that asked about my sleep habits, challenges, and goals, as well as inquiring about my typical sleep position and cushioning preferences, you can select a semi-custom memory foam pillow made to your specifications. (Read our review about the Lagoon Otter performance pillow.)
Was $350, Black Friday Deal $275
Ozlo Sleepbuds are tiny, comfortable, wireless in-ear headphones specifically designed for sleep that use a combination of passive noise blocking and active noise masking to help users fall and stay asleep. They are optimized for all-night wear, even for side sleepers, and include smart features like biometric sensing and a companion app.
The Sleepbuds employ advanced noise-masking technology using science-backed sounds (i.e., white noise, ocean waves) to cover up disruptive noises like snoring or street traffic. This is different from active noise cancellation and is considered more effective for bedroom environments. Created by three former Bose engineers, Ozlo Sleepbuds allow users to stream any audio like podcasts, music, or meditations via Bluetooth LE. Built-in biometric sensors detect when the user falls asleep and automatically switch from streaming to a chosen noise-masking sound. (Read our review about Ozlo Sleepbuds here.)
Ozlo also has a special promotion with Calm Sleep for $50 off. That will allow you to drift off with the Calm Sleep app, featuring soundscapes, meditations, and Sleep Stories designed to help you relax. Every pair of Sleepbuds comes with a free one-year membership.
Was $149, Black Friday Deal $99
VKTRY insoles are performance insoles for athletes and active individuals, made with a carbon fiber baseplate and a multi-layer foam construction to provide energy return, shock absorption, and support. They are designed to improve athletic performance like vertical jump and sprint speed, reduce fatigue, and help prevent common foot and leg injuries such as shin splints and plantar fasciitis. VKTRY offers different models and thicknesses, including a “Gold” model with pure aerospace-grade carbon fiber and “Silver” models with a carbon fiber composite, customized to different types of shoes and sports.
The core component is a 100 percent aerospace-grade or carbon fiber composite baseplate that stores and returns energy with every step, improving propulsion and stability. The insoles include a high-density closed-cell foam for durability and a low-density closed-cell foam for flexibility and comfort. (Read our review about VKTRY Insoles.)
Was $799; Black Friday Deal $599
Featuring a stunning black titanium case, Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the ultimate sports and adventure watch. It has all the connectivity, health, and safety features for the everyday. And it takes training further with the incredibly accurate GPS in a sports watch.
Was $200; Black Friday Deal $150
This easy-to-use running watch has a wrist-based heart rate monitor and uses GPS to track how far, how fast and where you’ve run with up to two full weeks of battery life.
Was $250; Black Friday Deal $200
Powerbeats Pro 2 is an advanced earphone system with secure-fit earhooks that stay locked in as you train. It includes the best-performing Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) technology and Heart Rate Monitoring sensors that pulse more than 100 times per second to measure your pulse in real time.
Was $180; Black Friday Deal $125
The optimal running headphones, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 combine the clear highs of Bone Conduction Tech with the deep bass of Air Conduction Tech for 12 hours of powerful, 3D audio. SHOKZ’s signature open-ear design helps you power through your workouts.
Was $599; Black Friday Deal $449
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is a premium GPS running and triathlon smartwatch featuring a bright, full-color AMOLED touchscreen display, a lightweight titanium bezel, and built-in maps. It provides advanced training metrics like training readiness, daily suggested workouts, and a morning report with HRV status. The watch offers multi-band GPS, long battery life of up to 23 days in smartwatch mode, and both traditional button and touchscreen controls.
Was $140; Black Friday Deal $110
The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 is a support running shoe for daily use, featuring a nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 midsole for lightweight cushioning and Brooks’ GuideRails® holistic support system to keep excess motion in check. It has an engineered air mesh upper for breathability and a new outsole designed for smooth transitions.
Was $150; Black Friday Deal $100
The Brooks Ghost Max 2 is a neutral, max-cushion road running shoe designed for maximum comfort with a focus on smooth transitions and stability. It features a nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 midsole for plush landings and a rocker shape to assist with forward motion, a wide base for added stability, and an engineered mesh or leather upper for comfort.
Was $150, Black Friday Deal $120
The Brooks Catamount 4 is a lightweight, fast trail running shoe designed for speed and technical terrain. It features a DNA Flash v2 midsole for high energy return, a SkyVault Trail Plate for propulsion and protection, and a grippy TrailTack Green rubber outsole with 3.5mm lugs for all-terrain traction.
Was $90, Black Friday Deal $46
The Adidas Men’s Duramo Speed 2 is a lightweight and responsive running shoe designed as a versatile daily trainer for beginner to intermediate runners. It features a comfortable, breathable engineered mesh upper and full-length Lightstrike cushioning in the midsole.
Was $150; Black Friday Deal $116
The Saucony men’s Endorphin Shift 3 is a versatile daily trainer with high cushioning, designed for a comfortable and smooth ride. It features a new, softer PWRRUN foam, SPEEDROLL technology for forward propulsion, and a supportive PWRRUN+ sockliner. The shoe has a stable platform with structured cushioning, a lightweight and breathable mesh upper, and a 4mm drop, making it suitable for everyday runs, long runs, and recovery efforts.
Was $249; Black Friday Deal $159
The second-generation Apple Watch SE is an affordable, feature-rich smartwatch for iPhone users, offering essential health, fitness, and safety capabilities in an aluminum case. It is powered by the same fast S8 chip found in higher-end models like the Series 8 and allows the user to a text, take a call, listen to music and podcasts, use Siri, or call for help with Emergency SOS.
Was $49, Black Friday Deal $27
The original sports nutrition energy gel designed to help athletes perform their best, providing 100 calories and essential electrolytes and dual-source energy from maltodextrin and fructose that use non-competing pathways for efficient absorption and lasting energy whether running, biking, hiking, or skiing.
Was $38; Black Friday Deal $27
Thie next generation of sports nutrition has arrived. UCAN Edge puts you in the ideal performance state by helping keep energy levels stable, so you can work smarter and harder. The first and only on-the-go training fuel powered by SuperStarch, Edge Energy Gel puts you in the ideal performance state by keeping blood sugar stable.
Was $250; Black Friday Deal $130
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is a smartwatch with a round, Super AMOLED display and a durable design made from Armor Aluminum and sapphire crystal glass. It features an enhanced BioActive sensor for detailed heart rate monitoring, improved GPS, and a range of health and fitness tracking capabilities like an Energy Score and advanced sleep tracking.
Was $15; Black Friday Deal $11
Saucony Women’s Heel Tab Socks feature a padded heel tab to prevent chafing, stability and support with targeted arch compression, advanced moisture-wicking properties to help regulate temperature and prevent odors, and ultimate comfort during workouts or everyday wear.
Was $630; Black Friday Deal $370
The Vitamix Propel Series 750 is a high-performance blender with a powerful 2.2-horsepower motor, designed to handle a wide range of tasks from smoothies to hot soup. It features a low-profile 64-ounce container for family-sized batches, ten variable speeds, and a pulse function for manual control. The blender also includes four automated blending programs (smoothie, frozen dessert, hot soup, dip & spread) and a self-cleaning program.
Was $42; Black Friday Deal $30
The HydraPak UltraFlask Speed is a collapsible soft flask designed for runners and hikers that fits in hydration vest pockets. It features a compressible, flexible TPU body that shrinks as you drink, reducing water movement.
Was $120; Black Friday Deal $60
The USAPA-approved JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion pickleball paddle is designed for aggressive players and features a Carbon Friction Surface (CFS) for high spin, a Reactive Polymer Core for power and control, and a Hyperfoam Edge Wall for a large and stable sweet spot. Its elongated shape, reinforced by a durable carbon fiber frame, provides a longer reach, and the Sure Grip handle is comfortable and ideal for two-handed backhands.
Was $100; Black Friday Deal $70
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a slim, lightweight fitness tracker designed for health and wellness, offering features like 24/7 heart rate monitoring, activity and sleep tracking, and stress management tools. It has a long battery life of up to 10 days, is water-resistant up to 50 meters, and displays calls, texts, and app notifications on its color touchscreen.
Was $239; Black Friday Deal $199
The WHOOP 5.0/MG is a 24/7 activity and health tracker that monitors key physiological metrics like heart rate, sleep, strain, and recovery to provide personalized insights and coaching. It is designed to be worn continuously, features a long battery life of up to 14+ days with wireless charging, and provides in-depth analysis of habits that affect long-term health through its “Healthspan” feature.
Was $2,360; Black Friday Deal $1670
The Drone2 premium all-in-one machine offers everything you need in a home gym setup, comes with aluminum pulley set. This multi-functional home workout equipment integrates a power cage, cable crossover machine, pull-up station, cable station, and squat rack—allowing you to perform full-body workouts from the comfort of your home.
Was $110; Black Friday Deal $75
The ASICS Men’s Gel-Excite 11 is a versatile, neutral running shoe designed for everyday comfort during running, walking, and general fitness activities. It features an AMPLIFOAM PLUS midsole and PureGEL technology in the heel for enhanced cushioning and shock absorption, a breathable jacquard mesh upper, and a durable outsole with multi-terrain traction.
Was $165; Black Friday Deal $110
This comfortable everyday trainer features a Fresh Foam X midsole foam with approximately 3 percent bio-based content delivers our most cushioned Fresh Foam experience for incredible comfort. Bio-based content is made from renewable resources to help reduce our carbon footprint, enhancing these road running shoes.
Was $75; Black Friday Deal $50
The Saucony Cohesion 16 is a neutral running shoe designed for everyday use, offering a combination of cushioning, durability, and a comfortable fit. It features VERSARUN cushioning for impact absorption, a breathable mesh upper, and a durable rubber outsole.
Was $75; Black Friday Deal $56
The Nike Revolution 8 is a road running shoe designed for everyday comfort and versatility, featuring an updated, more breathable mesh upper and a foam midsole for a soft, cushioned ride. Key features include a rocker design for smooth transitions, an intuitive outsole with flex grooves for traction, and improved heel and tongue cushioning compared to the previous model.
Was $150; Black Friday Deal $100
The New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro V8 is a comfortable and accessible trail running shoe designed for moderate terrain with a focus on cushioning and stability. It features a soft and plush Fresh Foam X midsole, a Vibram Eco-Step Natural Outsole with 4mm lugs for traction, and a breathable, lightweight engineered mesh upper with protective toe cap technology.
Was $160; Black Friday Deal $110
The TheraGun Relief by Therabody is a lightweight, easy-to-use handheld percussion massager designed for everyday muscle aches and pain relief, featuring a gentler percussive therapy that is ideal for beginners or those who prefer a milder massage. It has three speed settings and a simple one-button control, a comfortable, ergonomic handle, and includes three attachments for different body areas.
Was $250; Black Friday Deal $180
The KOSPET Tank M4 Smart Watch is a rugged smartwatch featuring an Inox 360 stainless steel design, 10 ATM and IP69K water resistance for diving, dual-band GPS with offline maps, and comprehensive health monitoring. It is designed for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes who require durability and advanced tracking features.
Was $139; Black Friday Deal $95
The AXV Vibration Plate Fitness Platform is a compact, whole-body exercise machine that uses vibrations to enhance workouts, improve circulation, and build muscle tone. It features multiple speed levels, often up to 99, a remote control, and comes with resistance bands for a more comprehensive workout. The platform is designed for low-impact exercise, rehab, and general relief and suitable for a wide range of users including those recovering from injury, busy professionals, or seniors.
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