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Our favorite running shoes of 2025
By running in ’em for lots of miles, and weighing our individual choices into an overall decision
Everything from daily trainers to race day to recovery day, and all the shoes in between
If you haven’t noticed, we are living in the golden age of running shoes.
Just a few years ago, we still had shoes with EVA midsoles and boring designs that did little to get the juices flowing for those early morning runs. The technology was improving, but not for everyone. While brands like Asics and Saucony were moving things forward on the trainer side, Nike was slingshotting progress on the race side. Brooks was doing the boring stuff while New Balance was elevating in their own way, creating the first super trainer in the SC Trainer v1. Mizuno was nowhere to be found and Adidas was lagging behind while Puma was kickstarting a new beginning.
All that has changed. While certain brands are still playing catch up, almost everyone is a player now. The midsoles and plates and weight reductions and general arms race of running shoes has resulted in an avalanche of choices for the everyday runner.
Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Midsole foams that were the pinnacle of running technology just a short time ago have now made their way into low-priced daily trainers like the Adidas Evo SL. Yes, along with groceries and gas, prices for running shoes have gone up. But the overall quality has skyrocketed. That $150 you’re dropping on a new pair of shoes goes so much further than it did in 2023.
Long gone are the days when a daily trainer and a racing flat could get you through a marathon season. Brands have built niches into niches. We’ve convinced you that you need a shoe rotation or a quiver or a collection of footwear. There are shoes like the Streakfly 2, a carbon-plated road racer built on a track spike last. An almost singular tool that’s freakishly fun but comes with a price tag of $190. There are super trainers (Mizuno Neo Vista 2) and super duper trainers (Hoka Cielo X1 2.0) and gravel shoes and hybrid shoes (Mount to Coast H1) and 4-hour marathoner shoes (On Cloudboom Max) and 2-hour marathoner shoes (Adidas Adios Pro Evo 2) and recovery slides (Norda 008) and max cushion (New Balance More v6) and maxxx cushion (Nike Vomero Premium) shoes. There are $140 shoes that can do everything (Puma Velocity Nitro 4) and $225 shoes that can do everything just a bit better (Asics Megablast).
Hoka Cielo X1 2.0
It can be overwhelming for the average person. Hell, it’s overwhelming for us.
Which is why this list was hard to put together. For starters, it’s a list made by committee. Here at Believe in the Run, we put our favorites into a bucket, then debate the merits of each category and pick. We’ve run plenty of miles in all of these shoes and all of these opinions are ours and ours alone. Which means, it may be different for you, because we all have different tastes and preferences. But we’ve found that our overall picks generally align with most runners. At the very least, it’ll give you a look into what’s happening with each shoe and help you separate the various purposes, which can sometimes get confusing.
In the end, we had to settle for some choices and let go of others, even if these picks don’t all align with our personal preferences. There are some shoes that easily could’ve made the top spots (i.e. Puma Fast-R 3 and Mizuno Neo Zen), but for whatever reason, just didn’t hit us right as a collective when it came down to a final roster. We’ve put all those at the end of this list, and can assure you that they too are some of the best shoes of 2025.
Hopefully this guide gives you some direction in choosing the right running shoe for you. If you want to see our favorite shoes of the year in a more simplified manner, you can check out our Shoe Finder, which will give you a short version of the pros and cons of each model we’ve tested.
Whether you go with something on this list, or you go with your gut on something else, we hope you find a shoe to keep you running through this year and into the next.
Questions or comments? Leave them at the end and we’ll do out best to get back to you.
(This is the first list in our Best in Gear awards, stay tuned for the Best Trail Running Shoes of 2024.)
In choosing the best overall running shoe, we factor in performance, fit, ride, versatility, and especially price. So while there are some shoes in the $200 range that we may choose above this one if given the chance, the fact that this shoe can be had for $150, can be used for almost anything, looks and feels amazing, and is worn by half the people at your run club makes it the best overall running shoe of 2025.
Lightest shoe in Adidas training line, full Lightstrike Pro midsole, Continental rubber outsole
7.9 oz (224 g) for a US M9, 6.6 oz. (188 g) for a US W7.5
38 mm in heel, 32 mm in forefoot (6 mm drop)
This was a controversial call for the team. Not because it doesn’t deserve it, but because there’s an ongoing debate about whether or not this is a 2025 shoe. It was originally slated to come out in the spring of this year, but saw an early release in December 2024, after we had already compiled our best of list for that year. Either way, we’re declaring it a 2025 shoe, because that’s when the Evo SL became an icon.
Mark our words– this is a silhouette that will be remembered two decades from now. For us, it was lust at first sight and love at first run. The design is clean, bold, and timeless, with seemingly limitless color combinations that hit every time. The Lighstrike Pro midsole is the result of trickle down economics making its way from the Adios Pro into an everyday trainer. It comes in at an unbeatable price point of $150. We have logged bunches of miles in this shoe, and run crews around the globe have launched thousands more. It easily holds up to 400 miles of use and beyond without losing the magic in the midsole.
Is it perfect? Not quite. There seem to be some sizing issues and inconsistencies and the upper could use a little bit more support. But when it hits– which is most of the time– it really hits.
Shop The Shoe - Men Shop The Shoe - WomenThis was so close to being our favorite shoe (and for many, it was).
Full-length ZoomX midsole, breathable and comfortable upper
10.3 oz. (292 g) for a US M10 / 8.5 oz. (240 g) for a US W8
45 mm in heel, 35 mm in forefoot (10 mm drop)
The Vomero line was always the less talented sibling to the Pegasus, even if they were meant as the more cushioned shoe in the Nike stable. For years, they were kind of clunky, mostly boring, and one of our last choices when it came to Nike running. All of that has changed.
Nike restructured its offerings this year into three silos: Pegasus, Structure, and Vomero. The Vomero, hands down, is the best. The standard Vomero 18 was solid as a standard trainer, the Vomero Premium was bouncy and fun in a ridiculous trampoline trainer type way, but the Vomero Plus– that’s the shoe that hits the Goldilocks feels. It’s a remarkable shoe, one that we keep coming back to, week after week, mile after mile. It comes with a ridiculous stack height of ZoomX foam, and yet it’s somehow neither soft nor unstable. It has a tremendous amount of energy return, making it a surprisingly fast shoe. When it gets going, it just bounds through every stride. As you can imagine, it also works great as a long run shoe or daily trainer. In fact, it just works for everything, which is why you’ll see this shoe again within this roundup.
Shop The Shoe - Men Shop The Shoe - WomenWhen you’re trying to go your fastest and perform your bestest on race day, these are the shoes you’ll want to wear to the start line (and hopefully the finish line).
Full-length FlyteFoam Leap midsole, teardrop shaped carbon fiber plate in the forefoot
4.5 oz. (129 g) for a US M9
39.5 mm in heel, 34.5 mm in forefoot (5 mm drop)
When Adidas launched the $500 Pro Evo 1 in 2023, it sent shockwaves through the running shoe world. For its price, yes. But also because it weighed a scant 4.3 oz for a shoe that came equipped with 40 mm of foam and embedded carbon fiber rods. Nobody responded to that shoe– except for Asics. The Metaspeed Ray is the clapback to the Evo Pro 1, weighing almost the same amount (4.5 oz.), using a super bouncy midsole foam (Flytefoam Leap), and coming in at a significantly lower price point ($300). It also has a much better outsole than the ultra slippery compound found on the Pro Evo. We weren’t sure if it was the real deal, but Meg took this shoe past the 100-mile mark for speed workouts and races and found that it does everything it’s supposed to do. For those reasons alone, we’re giving it the gold.
Shop The Shoe - UnisexHONORABLE MENTION
$250
We’ll be honest, the SC Elite has never been at the top of the list for us, despite running marathons in every version of the shoe. This one though– it’s built different. The design alone is one of the best in years, with a simple yet aggressive upper design that makes you want to go fast on race day, which is where the updated PEBA-blended FuelCell and carbon fiber EnergyArc plate come into play. The result is a shoe that’s sleek and fast but without bottoming out on the pavement. Meaning it may not be the most aggressive and fastest shoe on this list, but it will give you enough comfort to last 26.2 miles.
The hottest category in running, these are the shoes that combine all the cutting edge components of shoe design into a package that is altogether exciting and fresh and fun.
All-new Flytefoam Turbo Squared top layer, FF Blast Max bottom layer, PEBAX Astroplate, AsicsGrip outsole
9.9 oz. (282 g) for a USM 10, 7.4 oz. (209 g) for a US W7.5
46 mm in heel, 38 mm in forefoot (8 mm drop)
For years, Asics tried to push the Magic Speed on us. It was an uptempo shoe that some of us enjoyed, but was largely dismissed by the overall running community. The build was pretty aggressive with a firmer feel and rocker geometry, making for a tough existence in the era of cush. That shoe is gone and in its place is the Sonicblast, featuring a dual-density midsole of Flytefoam Turbo Squared and Flytefoam Blast Max, Pebax plate and sticky AsicsGrip outsole.
On the run, it embodies the best aspects of the Saucony Endorphin Speed, with plenty of bounce and pep at faster paces, but enough cushion and stability to hold up over longer distances. It’s a shoe we found ourselves coming back to, again and again. The bad news? It may be hard to justify a Superblast or Megablast purchase when this one is batting cleanup in the starting lineup.
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$200
It was a tough call putting this as honorable mention because it’s such a great update from the first version (which was also pretty great). On this go-around, Mizuno eased up on the ultra marshmallowy feel of the midsole from last year. The result is less sinking in and more bounce, which pairs well with the glass-fiber nylon plate and rockered Smooth Speed Assist geometry. At the time, it was Meg’s favorite trainer, and it’s held up well over the rest of the year.
These are the shoes that go with you every day, providing comfort, durability, and just the right amount of performance to keep you coming back.
Reformulated NitroFoam midsole, generous layer of Pumagrip outsole, more breathable upper, lighter than v3
8.6 oz (245 g) US M9
36 mm in heel, 26 mm in forefoot (10 mm drop)
If you’re paying attention, you may have noticed that Puma has quietly become one of the most consistently great brands in the running shoe game. When we look back at 2025, almost every single model was a top contender for its category, from the super speedy Fast-R 3 to the ultra max stack Magmax Nitro 2 (coming in December).
But there’s one shoe that stands above them all– the Puma Velocity Nitro 4. Personally, this was my favorite daily trainer of the year (I had issues with the Evo SL sizing). It’s an incredibly fun and versatile trainer that can handle anything. The Nitrofoam midsole hits the sweet spot of bouncy without losing groundfeel, the upper fits like a glove, and the Pumagrip outsole is grippier than anything else out there. It can handle any distance and at 8.6 ounces, most paces. At $140, it’s an incredible value and proof that we’re living in the golden age of running shoes.
Drawbacks? The upper has a very narrow fit, so if you’re wide footed in any way, either go up to 2E sizing or just move on to the next one.
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$140
Our love for the Rebel goes back to v2, a pandemic shoe that achieved icon status for its simplicity and versatility. Things have been up and down since then, though mostly up with v4. That shoe felt a little firmer than we’d like and the upper needed some improvements. The Rebel v5 addresses all of that, with a higher stack of PEBA-blended FuelCell, a Fantomfit upper with a much-improved fit, and a nice balance between bounce and stability. The design cues are some of the best we’ve ever seen from New Balance and it comes in at a reasonable $140.
This shoe can handle anything you throw at it, from daily training to uptempo to race day in a pinch.
Full-length ZoomX midsole, breathable mesh upper, high abrasion rubber outsole
10.3 oz. (292 g) for a US M10, 8.5 oz. (240 g) for a US W8
45 mm in heel, 35 mm in forefoot (10 mm drop)
This is a shoe that could’ve topped several categories in this list. Yes, it achieved honorable mention for the coveted Shoe of The Year, but it deserves to be in the conversation for the top spot and is only held back by one glaring design flaw (more on that later). As we stated earlier, the Vomero has perennially been on the back burner of Nike Running. That is no longer the case.
The Vomero Plus builds on the already solid Vomero 18 by offering… a lower stack height? Seems contradictory, but hear me out. It’s over an ounce lighter than the standard version, so it moves just a little bit quicker. The full ZoomX midsole is just a big ol’ slab of bounce, almost trampoline-like but without the instability that came with past versions of the Invincible (this shoe’s predecessor). The upper is extremely well done in terms of fit and comfort. The outsole offers exceptional grip.
Originally, we thought this was just a max cushion, recovery type shoe. We were wrong. This shoe does everything, from 20-mile runs to everyday miles to interval workouts to quick strides. I hit the same paces in this shoe that I did in the Streakfly 2 and it felt just as easy. The bounce from the ZoomX is unlike anything else out there. It just feels so good for everything. At $180, it almost seems like a bargain, a price that we would pay a few times over.
Drawbacks? There’s a major design flaw with the stitched-in corded eyelets. One of our team members had it snap out, and we’ve seen dozens of reports from other runners who experienced the same thing. Luckily, Nike will replace the shoe if it happens to you. But we’d rather just not have to deal with it at all.
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$225
In reality, this is the Superblast 3– a lighter and faster and snappier version of that shoe, which is all we wanted to see in its successor. The sawtooth laces give it that race day feel while the debut of Asics’ ATPU Turbo Squared midsole offers a glimpse into the future of foams. The ATPU compound is a formulation that more brands are migrating towards, as it offers PEBA-like bounciness with exceptional durability. Translation: you won’t lose that bounce, even after hundreds of miles. Yes, it’s priced at $225, but at only 8.1 ounces, you can throw this into the silo of marathon shoes for race day. Or daily trainers. Or super trainers. Or wherever you want.
It feels like every shoe these days falls into this category, but these are the ones that stand out when it comes to a combination of max comfort and max performance.
Full ZoomX foam midsole, dual Air Zoom units, waffle outsole
12.8 oz. (363 g) for a US M10.5/ 9.6 oz. (273 g) for a US W7.5
55 mm in heel, 45 mm in forefoot (10 mm drop)
Real talk: when we first saw the Vomero Premium, we had some doubts. For starters, it had strong design similarities to the Nike Pegasus Premium, a shoe that looked cool as hell but was unstable in the worst way. That shoe was also heavy, which made it kind of a mess when it came to actually using it for running.
The Vomero Premium doesn’t have a full Air Zoom unit like the Peg Premium, but it does have two smaller ones in the heel and forefoot. They’re both part of a shooey s’mores situation, nestled between a huge slab of ZoomX foam. The result is a 55 mm stack height (2.2 inches!)– by far the highest we’ve ever seen in a running shoe. All of this also added up to almost 13 ounces on the scale for Thomas’s size 10.5.
And yet, against all odds, this has become one of our favorite shoes of 2025. Meg has logged over 200 miles in her pair, while Thomas reaches for them again and again. It’s a surprisingly stable shoe for how high it stands. The bounciness is anti-gravity-like. Like, seriously ridiculous bounce, unlike anything we’ve ever tried. It bounds and rolls through the stride and has solid grip thanks to the waffle rubber outsole. It looks incredible, turning heads and garnering compliments wherever you go. It’s also the go-to training shoe for Conner Mantz, who ran through five prototypes of the shoe in his training towards the American marathon record at the 2025 Chicago Marathon. Who are we to argue with that?
Drawbacks? It objectively is one of the heaviest road running shoes we’ve ever reviewed. The unbelievable bounce negates most of that, but for some runners, it may be too much to overcome.
Shop The Shoe
HONORABLE MENTION
$200
This already landed as an honorable mention in the Super Trainer category, but it slots in nicely to the max cushion category as well. Again, the large stack of midsole foam is just soft enough to provide a generous amount of cushion, but not so soft that you’re sinking into it. The integrated plate helps stabilize the foam while the rocker geometry keeps you moving over any distance.
If you’re looking for a stripped down, shoot-to-thrill experience in a fast and light shoe, look no further than our favorite in the pure speed category.
Lower ZoomX midsole, carbon fiber Flyplate, built on a track spike last
5.1 oz. (145 g) for a US M10/US W11.5
27 mm heel, 23 mm forefoot (4 mm drop)
There are racing flats and tempo shoes and track spikes and carbon plated marathon shoes, but rarely, if ever, do all those things morph together. Nike went all-in on speed with the Streakfly 2, using a track spike last taken from the Dragonfly, combining it with the carbon-fiber Flyplate found in the Vaporfly 3. They trimmed the ZoomX midsole down to 27 mm and slapped on an ultralight mesh upper. The result is an absolute dagger for shorter road distances, weighing under 5 ounces for a standard US M9. I can personally attest to hitting the fastest paces I’ve hit in years in this shoe, as the aggressive geometry and lower stack keep you on your toes, catapulting through each stride with a lightning fast turnover.
Shop The Shoe - UnisexStability shoes have come a long way over the years, from overbuilt monstrosities to today’s simplified support. These are the best shoes for keeping you steady through the run.
ReactX midsole foam, internal midfoot band, more comfortable upper
11.3 oz. (320 g) for a US M10 / 9.2 oz. (260 g) for a US W8
38 mm in the heel, 28 mm in the forefoot (10 mm drop)
The Structure has long been the stability option in the Nike line, and this year’s version combines just the right amount of support with just the right amount of cushion. The ReactX midsole is soft enough to handle longer miles, but firm enough to maintain some stability. Nike removed the forefoot Air Zoom bag and added a softer rubber segment for the outsole and increased the padding in the heel and tongue for optimal comfort. A midfoot support system on the medial side helps with over pronation but it’s not overdone. Whether you need stability or not, this is a solid daily training option, especially its price point of $145.
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$150
Again, Puma is at the top of their game in 2025, releasing some excellent models across the board. The stability-minded ForeverRun Nitro 2 is one of them. Billed as a stability shoe for everyday runners, this version sees an extra 2 mm of stack height from heel to toe, harnessing the power of a dual density midsole with a firmer rim of NitroFoam surrounding a softer core underfoot. Throw in a heel clip and a higher 10 mm drop and you get a stable but smooth transition. At $150, it’s one of the best options out there for stability runners or anyone, really.
These are some of the best shoes out there that don’t get enough noise. They should though, because they’re easily as good as most of the other shoes on this list.
Dual-density PEBA midsole (SupeFoam), Zonal Warp Mesh upper, Glide geometry, rubber pod-style outsole
8.8 oz. (249 g) for a US M9, 7.5 oz. (210 g) for a US W7.5
42 mm in heel, 34 mm in forefoot (8 mm drop)
Like Agent Mulder looking at the night sky, we want to believe in UFOs. This shoe confirms our belief, so consider us abducted. Let’s talk about the design– we finally got a refreshingly new running shoe design. Part max-cushion marshmallow, part throwback Allen Iverson basketball shoe, this thing screams to be seen and we’re here for the madness. None of that matters if the shoe sucks, and we can promise you that this shoe does not suck. In fact, it may be one of the best max cushion trainers of 2025, and easily could’ve made that list above. The shoe features a dual-density PEBA midsole, a zonal warp mesh upper, Glide geometry, and rubber pod-style outsole. It’s a comfort cruiser for sure, but can pick up the pace if necessary. Yes, the price point is a bit high at $200, but for a first foray into the running scene, the UFO is out of this world.
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$160
More people need to pay attention to the road side of Salomon, which has been quietly improving over the past several years. The Aero Glide 3 is the best example of that, a shoe that comes with a 41 mm stack height but remains surprisingly light at 8.6 oz. for a US M9. On the run, the EnergyFoam Evo midsole (supercritical TPU) can handle any distance, providing energy return and responsiveness through each stride. It’s a solid value at $160.
These are the shoes that shocked us because a) we had no idea they were coming, and b) they surpassed all our expectations.
All-new CircleCell midsole, Versagrip outsole, jacquard mesh and Kevlar upper, dual lace zones
8.5 oz. (242 g) for a USM9, 7.9 oz. (223 g) for a US W9
35 mm in heel, 29 mm in forefoot (6 mm drop)
Mount to Coast has come out of the gates swinging and have quickly become one of the most talked about brands in running. The H1– a hybrid shoe that switches seamlessly from road to trail and back again– is the pinnacle of their innovation and performance. The all-new, bio-based CircleCell midsole formula is one of the best feeling and most resilient on the market, quite similar in feel to the Lightstrike Pro formula found in the Adidas Evo SL. I can’t tell you how many of these I saw on the course at the JFK 50 Mile race and how many people were raving about it. The jacquard mesh/Kevlar upper also features a dual zone lacing system, with normal laces in the top portion and an adjustable quick-lace setup in the lower section. While we’ve enjoyed previous MTC models, this one is their best yet and the biggest surprise of 2025. Wear it as a road shoe, wear it as a trail shoe, it doesn’t matter. You’ll love it either way.
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$150
We’ve covered a few TYR shoes in the past, but nothing has felt quite as good at the Maverick Runner. This one comes with a FlightTime midsole foam that feels like a callback to the Adidas Adios Pro 3 or Boston 12– a touch firmer but feels great on the run. At under 8 ounces, it has great pick-up, but functions as a daily trainer as well. This is an especially intriguing shoe for those who like a more natural toe box that you may find in Altra or Topo Athletic but want something that feels more performance-oriented. The upper fit could use a little work (similar to those Adidas models we mentioned), but overall, TYR really knocked it out of the park, especially at a $150 price point.
Our wide foot expert Jarrett gives you his favorite two running shoes for wide foot (2E) runners. For a full list of his favorite shoes, check out our Best Wide Foot Running Shoes roundup.
Full-length ZoomX midsole, breathable mesh upper, high abrasion rubber outsole
10.3 oz. (292 g) for a US M10 / 8.5 oz. (240 g) for a US W8
45 mm in heel, 35 mm in forefoot (10 mm drop)
Listen, y’all probably think I was abducted having Nike as my best wide shoe. I know. I’m pretty scared as I write this. However, the Vomero Plus is available in extra wide and I absolutely love it. Now let first say that I think the extra wide fits more like a 2E wide and fits me great. The full ZoomX is so fun to run in. I have legitimately looked forward to putting them back on my feet even after finishing my review. Nike, please promise me two things: First, you’ll make this in more colorways than just black. Second, this level of excellence is here to stay for the wide foot fam. Congrats!
Honorable Mention (Best Race Day)
$250
When it comes to race day, New Balance has had it locked down being the only company to offer a wide carbon plated shoe. The SC Elite v5 has been a favorite of mine for years, and I think it keeps getting better. It’s fast, fun, and (most importantly) comfortable! For the NYC Marathon, I rocked the special marathon colorway in wide and they felt great the whole time. Running 26.2 is a lot. You can’t fake squeezing into the tighter shoes for that long. If you need a wide shoe for race day, the SC Elite v5 is a no brainer.
We’re all-inclusive over here at Believe in the Run, which means we’re not just a bunch of walking toothpicks or Tim Burton characters. Some of us carry more weight, resulting in a totally different experience in the shoes when on the run. Clydesdale Chad breaks down his two favorites for the year; for more picks, check out his full list of Best Running Shoes for Bigger Runners.
10.3 oz. (292 g) for a US M10 / 8.5 oz. (240 g) for a US W8
10.3 oz. (292 g) for a US M10, 8.5 oz. (240 g) for a US W8
45 mm in heel, 35 mm in forefoot (10 mm drop)
I sort of had a hard time picking my best shoe of the year this year. Not because I didn’t run in a lot of great shoes this year; in fact, I ran in a great number of incredibly solid shoes in 2025. I also ran in a few duds (yeah, I’m looking at you On Cloudboom Max). But for me, it seems like nobody was leaps and bounds ahead of their competitors. (I’m also in the extreme minority who didn’t fall in love with the Adidas Adizero Evo SL.) However, from an overall performance, value, versatility, and aesthetics standpoint, I have to give my nod to the Nike Vomero Plus as my shoe of the year in 2025.
Full disclosure, Nike and I have never really gotten along. I ran in the Invincible 2 and it was way too unstable for me. I tried the Vaporfly 2 but the fit was awkward and it was way too aggressive for my calves and Achilles. But then I got my feet in the Vomero Plus and I was sort of blown away. The fit is absolutely dialed in and supremely comfortable, the bounce from the full ZoomX midsole is electric, and the miles just fly by when cruising in this shoe. It feels heavy in hand but on the foot it’s not– the bounce and rocker mitigate it. The biggest shock for me was just how stable the ride feels, even with full slab of ZoomX foam.
I used to always recommend the Asics Superblast 2 for people who want a do-it-all trainer; but I’m sort of changing my tune to recommend the Vomero Plus, especially when someone wants a softer/bouncier feel versus a firmer ride. Not to mention, the Vomero Plus comes in at $20 cheaper than a lot of other shoes out there designed to do everything (Superblast 2, Mizuno Neo Vista 2, etc.). Now that’s value.
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At the end of the day, I have to give this one to the Saucony Hurricane 25. Yep, you read that right; a stability trainer coming in hot in the shoe of the year conversation.The best thing about this version is that it’s a stability shoe that a) doesn’t look like a traditional stability shoe and b) doesn’t have the clunky ride of the stability shoes of yore. The weight is decent for a daily trainer and the shoe has great pop from the use of the PWRRUN PB midsole foam in the cradle of PWRRUN. I am as surprised as you are; but don’t we all need a little stability in our lives these days?!
When those miles start adding up, it’s always nice to have another pair of shoes or slides for walking and recovering. These are our favorite slides and shoes for keeping things relaxed.
When it comes to paying attention to details, Norda is second to none. They’ve proven it with their trail shoes and they’ve done it again in the Norda 008 slide. I cannot tell you how much I wore this slide over the past summer. But I can tell you that it was literally every day. Most recovery slides come with a thick bed of foam and a foot strap made of the same material. Never an outsole, just exposed foam. They’re comfortable but tend to wear down quickly with little traction. The 008 solves all of that, utilizing a denser foam with arch support for the footbed and midsole, and a softer foot strap for added comfort. The custom Vibram ECOSTEP outsole is a game changer. After wearing it all summer, it shows virtually zero wear and gave me excellent traction at the pool or walking the dog. I even ran a mile with the kids in them from time to time. It’s one of my favorite pieces of footwear and I’d gladly pay $145 for a slide that looks amazing and will last me years. (Just make sure you go a half size up.)
HONORABLE MENTION
$160
This mule-style take on the standard Ora Primo slide is a wild one, but trust us on this one. We wore this after the JFK 50 Mile race and it’s perfect in terms of comfort, construction, and outsole traction. A dual-layer EVA midsole is paired with a premium suede upper that comes with a unique G-hook metal closure. It also keeps the foot surprisingly warm, but not too hot. I wore this climbing around on some rocks and crossing creeks with the kids and appreciated everything that it is.
With all the advances in foams and carbon fiber plates and upper materials and running technologies, it’s hard to find a bad shoe these days. But we managed to uncover a couple in our testing.
$160
What’s a best of list without the best of the worst? Unfortunately for everyone, the On Cloudsurfer 2 was the most disappointing shoe of the year. Released around a “Soft Wins” Super Bowl campaign featuring Elmo and Roger Federer, this shoe had all the hype, but felt like we took an L every time we hit the pavement for a run. The softness that we loved from v1 was pretty much gone, making for one of the most below-average rides of any shoe we tested this year. The upper seemed like a slapped-on afterthought and the $160 price point is laughable when you have the Vomero 18 as a same-priced cushioned option, or a slew of shoes at $150 that outcompete this one. On has made some big strides over the past couple years, especially in the Cloudboom category and the Lightspray technology. Let’s hope that some of that innovation trickles down, because it’s 2025 and everyone else has figured it out.
HONORABLE MENTION
$160 / $300
While Adidas dropped an absolute atom bomb with the Evo SL, they had a couple dud detonations with the Boston 13 and Adidas Prime X Strung 3. It’s not that they were terrible, it’s just that last year’s versions were better. For runners who like a firm shoe (hard to find these days), the Boston 13 may be a ray of sunshine. The Prime X Strung 3 is a bit more controversial– our resident Big Guy Runner Chad absolutely loved this shoe. Meg, however, found it to be a bit too bottom heavy with not much comfort in the upper. To her, it felt like more of a clunker than v2, even though it lost weight. Point being– we’re not mad, just disappointed.
United we stand, but when we’re divided, that’s when shoes fall into this final section. All of the shoes below are pretty special to some of us here at Believe in the Run, so we feel like they deserve a quick shout-out for keeping us company in 2025.
RACE DAY
$300
For many runners, the Fast-R 3 was an absolute lightning rod, the pinnacle of race day. Puma challenged what an elite racer could be, throwing in an extended carbon fiber plate, streamlining the upper, and testing it against the best race shoes out there. The result is a crazy fast race day shoe that keeps you moving faster than you’ve ever moved during a marathon.
RACE DAY
$290
As far as marathon shoes go, the Endorphin Elite 2 is the best Saucony shoe to date. We’ll forgive them for having the worst foam name (Incredirun) since it actually is incredible on the run. When it first came out, it was hard to compare it to anything else, especially since it’s a shoe that seems to fit the needs of both a 3-hour marathoner or 5-hour marathoner. That’s a lot of ground to cover, but the EE2 seems to do it well– even over 26.2 miles.
DAILY TRAINER
$150
If any shoe should’ve made it on the list but didn’t, it’s the Mizuno Neo Zen. This $150 trainer is exceptional in so many ways, but most of its wow factor comes from the thick stack of Enerzy NXT foam underfoot. It’s soft, but bouncy enough that you don’t sink in. Because of that, it’s a ton of fun on the run. The Assist geometry allows you to pick up the pace and helps it roll for mile after mile. If the knit upper fits you right, then you have a near perfect trainer at a great price point.
DAILY TRAINER
$150
A surprisingly solid daily trainer, the 880v15 stood out thanks to its updated upper and all-new outsole. The stack height is now at 41 mm, but the weight remains below 10 ounces, making for the right amount of comfort without feeling like a brick. It’s a bit firmer, but at $150, this isn’t just a budget friendly alternative to the 1080– it’s a solid competitor.
MAX CUSHION
$160
While this one may not have hit with the whole team, Meg thought it may have been her second-favorite max cushion shoe of the year behind the Pegasus Premium. The More has perennially been one of the most comfortable shoes on our list, and the v6 builds upon that, offering the most cushion and comfort it ever has.
RACE DAY
$280
Look, this isn’t the best marathon shoe you can buy, especially at $280. But for me (Robbe), the Eliot Racer was one of my favorite shoes of 2025 because it just felt like butter on the run. Maybe it falls more into the super trainer category with its drop-in PEBA midsole and embedded carbon fiber plate. It’s definitely a status symbol, but at least the fit and feel and performance all land where they should.
DAILY TRAINER
$150
We’ve never thought of the Wave Rider as a certified banger, but version 29 somehow put everything together in what is one of the best daily trainers of 2025. I personally wore this for a ton of miles this summer, as it’s a perfect balance of cushion and road feel and performance. It’s just really well done, something you want to wear when you head out the door every day.
RACE DAY
$275
Again, this was just a super fun shoe that improved on the first version. The Cielo X1 2.0 is definitely race day shoe now, and it still has that trampoline factor that makes it unique when compared against all other carbon plated shoes out there. The only downside is that $285 is a lot of coin to drop on something that’s simply fun. Consider it a luxury, because it is one.
DAILY TRAINER
$165
Again, another daily trainer that was rock solid and a huge improvement on the previous version. For this go-around, Brooks leaned into its new DNA Tuned midsole technology, with a softer zone in the heel and a firmer zone in the midfoot, to create a more cushioned landing before transitioning to a quicker toe-off. The result is a durable daily trainer with a bit of extra magic to it. So while it’s not the Glycerin Max, it is Glycerin goodness.
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As the founder of Believe in the Run, Thomas’s goal is to help runners pick the shoes and gear that will make their running experience the best that it can be.
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Robbe is the senior editor of Believe in the Run. He loves going on weird routes through Baltimore, finding trash on the ground, and running with the Faster Bastards. At home in the city, but country at heart. Loves his two boys more than anything. Has the weakest ankles in the game.
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Meaghan signed up for her first marathon three weeks before the race, because it was $10 more than the half she planned to run. She learned everything in running the hard way. Now a USATF & UESCA certified run coach, she loves encouraging friends to go for big goals as she continues to chase faster times. She enjoys a hot cup of coffee, a cold martini, and making bagels for friends and family.
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The description for the Glycerin 22 is actually the one for the Cielo. Good to see it on the list though but please say why?
Fixed, thank you!
My current line is the Superblast 2, Evo Sl, and Megablast. Love the first two, utterly vexed by the Megablast. The toebox bumper is oddly shaped. It does not cause pain, but it reminds you it is there.
Even though it is from 2024, I would still vote Superblast 2!
Always a fun read! Would’ve loved to have been a fly in the wall during race day discussions. BITR’s “Top Ranked Race Day Right Now” is the Puma Fast-R 3 and #2 is Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 but both were relegated to the sub-honorable mention grouping.
I think you mean NB Rebel *v5*, not v4, in the daily trainer honorable mention?
Fixed thank you!
Hey BITR, might want to address the specs for the Nike Structure if that’s really your stability shoe of the year – it’s all ASICS data. *cough*
Stack height and weight were structure, but thanks for the heads up on the key features. Fixed!
Thanks for those reviews.
The honorable mention New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4. Don’t you mean to say v5 in that heading?
– Bob
fixed it, thank you
What am I supposed to buy once my deckers x lab recovery boot things wear out? Where did they go?
Dude they’re done for, we’re just as sad as you are. Check on Poshmark and secondhand, sometimes they still pop up. Best recovery shoes ever, good luck finding more.
Love the Vomero Plus love! That and the Rebel 5 are the best!