Most Exciting Running Shoes of 2024: Our Picks

Intro

Each year, we attend The Running Event in Austin, Texas, to get the lowdown of what’s coming in the running shoe world over the next twelve flips of the calendar. And each year, we get super excited for the advancements in shoe technology, the updated designs and colorways, and the emerging trends advancing the evolution of running. It’s an endless pursuit of performance, both for elites and everyday runners alike. We’re honored to be part of it and we do our best to bring you our in-depth thoughts, so you can get excited about it as well. Also, so you can set the line items in your monthly shoe budget.

If you haven’t, you should first check out our 2024 Running Shoe Preview, which details our overall experience at The Running Event and breaks down the trends for 2024, as well as what’s hot and what’s not for most of the brands on the show floor (we were bound to miss a few, since we only had 14 hours of time during the two days we were there).

But for this list, we singled out the shoes that stood out the most to us when we saw them in person. Shoes that we think you’ll be excited about as well. Of course, this list isn’t definitive, but it’s something to start with. There are also a handful of shoes that are still under wraps (and will be until their launch), that will likely be some real cherry bombs in the fireworks display of 2024. We can’t talk about them now, but trust us when we say we’ll be the first to let you know our thoughts.

Just a heads up, this is for road running shoes only, we’ll have a trail version coming out shortly.

Lastly, don’t forget to check out all our video previews on YouTube to get an even closer look at all of the models below. Enjoy those miles in the new year!

Okay, so this may not be our personal hottest pick of 2024, but we’re putting this on there because the OG version of this shoe is something that Altra super fans really love. And its never seen a proper production run… until now. It also bucks the trend of “everything bigger,” giving those old school fans something to get excited about.

So yes, the Escalante Racer 2 is a pure, zero-drop racing flat with a wide-open knit upper and a 22 mm stack height of Altra Ego midsole. That’s about it, which is sometimes all that you want.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a radio signal from the far reaches of the running space, and it’s showing signs of life. That’s right, Brooks is alive and coming back to earth. We probably could have put a few Brooks shoes on this list, but we’re going to stick to the two most exciting ones for us. 

The original Ghost Max was one of our favorite max cushion trainers of 2023 — while it had a high stack of foam, it was just enough to provide comfort without sacrificing performance. It also looked pretty great. But Brooks isn’t waiting around for y’all to catch up; they’re moving full steam ahead with the Ghost Max 2, which will feature an updated midsole made of nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3. That means more bounce and resiliency over the long run.

Craft is really honing in on the gravel segment of running, and the Xplor Hybrid is the epitome of that. Literally, the shoe was designed to be the run version of a gravel bike. The type of terrain determines the type of tire, and Craft went with an outsole rubber made in partnership with Vittoria, known for their excellence in touring and gravel tires. Comfort comes in the form of a STEAM TPE midsole and a dual-layer engineered mesh upper. A wider base provides an extra layer of stability, meaning you can roll with this thing for miles and miles on varied terrain. 

We’ll say this: While we’ve always loved the aesthetic and vibe around Diadora running, the performance side of things has been good but never great. Will that change in 2024? We can’t say for sure, but we’re super intrigued. Diadora is coming with a carbon-plated racer (the $200 Gara Carbon), but what piqued our interest the most was the Frequenza — a lightweight tempo shoe that looks like it was made to go fast on the roads. It’s super lightweight and features a nitrogen-infused DD Anima N2 midsole in a racer upper should make this an exciting one.

We’re never gonna not say no to more Peba, so we’re pretty excited that the Mach X 2 is getting even more of it in the forefoot in the newest version of this plated super trainer. Speaking of plates, the geometry of the bio-based Pebax plate in this shoe has been updated as well, featuring a lateral wing to keep the foot in place in order to harness all that energy on landing and takeoff. Coming in with an over-40 stack height, it will also provide a ton of comfort without sacrificing performance. This was a shoe that really grew on us in 2023, so we can’t wait to try the updated version of it.

By the time the Rincon 4 comes out, it’ll be three years since the previous version. Some of you reading this probably started your running journey in that time span. Since then, Hoka has expanded its horizons, moved into supercritical and Peba foams, and lowered the weights in many of its models. So do we really need a Rincon 4, a lightweight, budget, daily trainer? Of course we do. 

The shoe features a top-to-bottom update with a dual-layer EVA midsole/outsole with the bottom layer upgraded with an injection molded rubberized EVA for increased durability. It differentiates itself from the Mach 6 in that the Mach is meant for more speed and performance, while the Rincon is meant to give you that classic Hoka feel in a lightweight trainer.

If you thought last year’s version of the Rebellion Pro was aggressive, well, Mizuno sees your bet and raises it. We loved the feel of that shoe but thought it could use some improvements; Mizuno listened and implemented some key changes to the Rebellion Pro 2.

An even more aggressive cut-out in the midfoot to heel makes an even more obvious fulcrum on which to land and propel through the stride. Of course, this is also a way for Mizuno to circumvent the World Athletics stack height ruling — WA measures the stack height at about an inch in from the back of the shoe; if you lop that part off, you can take the stack as high as you want in the midfoot. Which is why the Rebellion Pro 2 has a midfoot stack of more than 52 mm (they’re not the only ones to get around the WA rules like this, by the way.)

The debut version of this shoe had a low ceiling and severe taper in the toe box, meaning our toes got wrecked during workouts. They fixed it in this version, offering a bit more space to accommodate the forefoot.

For all we know, this shoe (and its race-day counterpart in the R1) could be a total miss– but we tend to think it’ll be the opposite. Mainly because we tried them on at The Running Event and our first impressions are, yes– they’re the real deal. Maybe that’s because the brand pulled industry talent from Brooks, Nike, and New Balance to develop the shoes. Maybe it’s because they developed it using ergonomic research and data from ultramarathon runners. 

Who, by the way, are the target runners for Mount to Coast– long-distance road runners and road ultramarathoners. How does this shoe cater to that audience? It provides a natural fit, slight stability strikes in each step, and “just-when-you-need-it support” in the form of a polyurethane insert adapted from high-speed rail padding. The midsole itself is made of TunedCell, a supercritical foam with solid rebound and durability. 

We love the clean look and design as well (is Helvetica making a comeback?). The question is this: is a shoe for road ultramarathoning too niche? Or will it have crossover success? We’ll find out soon enough.

There have been a few major overhauls between early versions of New Balance shoes over the past few years. We’re thinking about the changes between Rebel v2 and v3, Propel v3 and v4, and now the Pacer v1 and v2. 

If you wore the Pacer v1, you know that was a flat in the truest sense of the word (in 2021 terms, anyway). It had a FuelCell midsole and carbon fiber plate, but it felt like you were just slapping concrete the whole time. Great, for those who loved the 1400 in the past; not so great if you were looking to move into the future.

New Balance knew it needed to see some improvements, so they worked directly with Emily Sisson to develop the v2, using data from her races to help inform their decisions during the development process. The end result is a shoe with a 100% Peba midsole, a lightweight carbon fiber plate, and a stack of 32.8 mm stack height (yes, for some reason we’re doing tenths of millimeters now). And it still stays plenty light. 

So is it a super trainer, tempo shoe, or race day? Maybe all of the above, but we’ll find out just in time for fall racing.

Despite many attempts to dethrone its supremacy, the original Alphafly stood the test of time as our favorite race day shoe ever. There was a certain magic and sweetness to the pop-and-go of the ZoomX midsole working perfectly with the carbon fiber plate and twin Air Zoom Units. Then there was the Alphafly v2, which was a bit clunky and lacked the magic of v1. We were sad. That is, until, a couple of weeks ago when we finally got our feet into the Alphafly 3, a shoe that returns to the greatness of the original and elevates it even more. The final result is the finest race day shoe in which we ever did try (which is exactly what Meg did at the California International Marathon in December).

The continuous ZoomX midsole provides a smooth transition, while the Air Zoom units have more space around them to compress and expand. So yes, the bounce we craved is back in spades. The Atomknit 3.0 upper is secure and ultra-breathable and provides a solid lockdown, while the upgraded Fast Shot rubber beneath the pods gives puncture protection and extra grip. 

The best part of all? This is the lightest Alphafly yet.

St. Alphafly, confirm me in the faith, strengthen me in virtue, defend me in the battle of life, for you are the patron saint of going fast and long. 

This wasn’t going to make our list originally because we honestly had low expectations for it. But we just did our first run in the shoe, and we gotta say– it’s pretty freakin’ sweet. Not only did Reebok bring back some heritage branding in a clean and modern way, but they also brought the usually-yawn Zig tech into a running shoe and it’s… not bad. In fact, it actually feels pretty wonderful, which has always been the case with Floatride Energy foam. But this time there’s more of it in a wide platform, providing a soft-yet-stable ride.

The upper on the shoe is one of those that just fits exactly right, providing a perfectly snug and secure fit. Now, there have been some durability issues with Floatride Energy in the past, but the good news is that if it deadens out on the run, you can always rock it as a casual shoe in its afterlife. Trust us when we say there are many worse ways to spend $130.

When Salomon came out with the S/Lab Phantasm 2 last year, it was clear they were ready to be serious about road running. So serious, it turns out, that they doubled down on race day with the S/Lab Spectur, a shoe made for the rest of us. By that, I mean that it’s a shoe meant for those running 3:30 marathons and slower. 

With a top layer of EnergyFoam+ (Salomon’s bounciest Peba-based foam), a bottom layer of EnergySurge, and a carbon-infused EnergyBlade in between the two, the shoe is designed to give a propulsive-yet-stable ride. We’ve run in this shoe a lot the past month and all agree it’s the best Salomon road shoe yet. Something about the winged plate working with the Peba foam makes it a fast and fun shoe that we keep coming back to. 

The upper on the shoe is extremely comfortable as well, providing a great lockdown with plenty of comfort around the ankle.

Now, when push comes to shove, you’re going to have to trust Salomon’s lab research and marketing when they say this is the best shoe for you. After all, its $250 price tag puts it in the range of most premium race day shoes. Can you believe it?

As brands get bigger and expand their offerings, it’s easy for them to lose their way, often forgetting that sometimes simpler is better. That’s not the case with Topo Athletic, which has taken the slow and steady approach to gaining trust with its customers. Very intentional and methodical, providing the best without sacrificing the rest. 

The Specter 2 may be the best example of that to date. Following in the footsteps of last year’s sleeper hit in the Cyclone 2, the Specter 2 gets much of the same treatment, just more of it. That means a full Pebax midsole (the actual, brand-name Pebax, not a generic version of it) with a stack height sure to provide both cushion and bounce. It’s crazy lightweight for what it is, coming in at the same weight (7.6 ounces) as most premium race day shoes.

You’re getting a lot of that same feeling in a plateless shoe at $165. Plus, you have that natural toe box and a lower drop for those who want something less aggressive and something that balances the line between an Altra and a Mizuno in the drop department.

Things We’re Not Allowed to Review or Show But You Should Still Be Excited About

Of course, there are plenty of shoes that we’ve seen but we’re not allowed to talk about because they’re under embargo for some time to come. Some of the things may not even come out in 2024. They’re also typically the most exciting things. So that’s unfortunate. That said, Reddit is your friend, so if you really want to see what we’re talking about, well… you can probably figure it out. Also, some of the more exciting models will be unveiled at the Olympic Marathon Trials at the beginning of February, so keep your eyes peeled that weekend.

In any case, here’s our very veiled language about what we’re most excited about in 2024.

Adidas – Takumi Sen 10 and other Adizero line updates, new Ultraboost

Asics – Metaspeed Edge+ 2 and Sky+ 2, Superblast 2

New Balance – Rebel v4 (hoping it returns the excitement we found in the Rebel v2)

Nike – Pegasus Turbo 3 (finally, and please promise this will redeem the abomination that was the Pegasus Turbo Nature), Pegasus 41 (will we get some real updates this time?)

On – Cloudboom Echo 4, Cloudmonster 2, and another bigger max cushion shoe

Puma – Deviate Nitro Elite 3, Deviate Nitro 3, Velocity Nitro 3

Saucony – Endorphin Speed 4 (great shoe, dials back the Speed 3 and revives the soul of the Speed 2), Endorphin Pro 4 (great shoe, brings back that pure speed feeling on race day)

Veja – Can’t believe they’re on here, but the Condor 3 looks to be a legit running shoe