Best Daily Trainers of 2024: Our Top Five Running Shoes

Introduction

Every year brings a wave of new daily trainers, but only a few manage to earn a permanent place in the rotation. This roundup looks back at the shoes that stood out most over the past year: trainers that balance comfort, versatility, and fun across everything from easy miles to workouts.

The list covers five shoes, from a budget-friendly two-foam trainer all the way up to aPEBA-blend all-rounder that can do nearly everything. There is also one honorable mention that arrived too late in the year to formally rank but is worth knowing about.

How We Picked These Shoes

The focus here is strictly on daily trainers: shoes light enough and versatile enough to handle the majority of a runner’s weekly mileage. Comfort matters, but so does the ability to pick up the pace when a run calls for it.

Fit, foam personality, and price all factored in, along with how each shoe performs for runs of roughly an hour or less versus longer efforts. No brand sponsored any inclusion on this list.

Number Five: Adidas Adizero SL 2

The Adizero SL 2 earned the five spot thanks to well-judged updates and a compelling price point. It uses a two-foam construction: a Lightstrike Pro core, which is Adidas’s racing foam, wrapped in a Lightstrike EVA carrier on the outside.

The upper fits well with not too much padding, and the whole package stays light. There is a bit more ground feel than some runners may want in a daily trainer, but for runs of about an hour or less it works very well.

This makes it an excellent pick for high school and college cross country runners, or anyone training for 5Ks, 10Ks, up to the half marathon. It also looks good enough to pull double duty as casual wear.

Number Four: Hoka Mach 6

The Hoka Mach 6 is a slightly underrated shoe that is lightweight, nimble, and simply fun to run in. The big change this year: Hoka dropped its two-foam ProFly construction in favor of a single foam throughout the midsole.

That foam compresses nicely underfoot but snaps back and decompresses quickly, which feels pleasant both at easy pace and when you push faster. The upper also fits well with minimal padding, and an Achilles flare at the heel keeps the back of the foot from getting bitten. It is a comfortable, fun, well-rounded package.

Number Three: Nike Pegasus Plus

The Pegasus Plus marks the return of a familiar shoe to the market. Longtime followers of Nike’s lineup will recognize it as the Pegasus Turbo, renamed as part of Nike’s broader rebranding of its franchises. Naming aside, it succeeds as a daily trainer.

The midsole uses a modified version of ZoomX: a Pebax-based foam that is not quite the same as what you get in the Alphafly or Vaporfly, but delivers plenty of comfort for daily training while staying light and capable of picking up the pace. The upper feels nice and reminds us of the Mach 6, though as a Nike shoe the fit runs a little more snug.

Number Two: ASICS Novablast 5

The Novablast has been a perennial fixture near the top of daily trainer lists, and the Novablast 5 keeps the streak alive. Released only recently, it has already delivered miles of enjoyment, largely thanks to a foam update from FF Blast ECO to FF Blast Max.

The new foam is lighter, spongier, and offers more energy return, making for a genuinely fun ride. The new jacquard mesh upper also feels great and offers a bit more room in the forefoot than previous versions. That combination earns it a strong number two.

Number One: New Balance Rebel v4

The Rebel v4 takes the top spot. Released early in the year, it won us over almost immediately. It is really lightweight and versatile enough to do just about everything, from workouts all the way down to easy long runs.

Much of that comes from the FuelCell midsole. This is not the same FuelCell used in New Balance’s racing shoes; instead it is a PEBA and EVA blend that hits a near-perfect balance for daily training. It squishes the right amount while staying resilient and comfortable even over very long runs. That wide versatility makes it the best daily trainer of the year.

Honorable Mention: Adidas Evo SL

One more shoe deserves attention: the Adidas Evo SL. It does not take an official spot on the list simply because its full global release does not happen until 2025, even though trickle drops have let many runners get pairs already.

Given how it has been received so far, expect it to be a serious contender in next year’s rankings. If you can find a pair through an early drop, it is worth a look.

Buying Advice

Choosing between these five comes down to your priorities. If price matters most and your runs top out around an hour, the Adizero SL 2 is a smart pick. If you want a fun, nimble ride, the Mach 6 delivers. The Pegasus Plus suits runners who want premium foam in a snugger performance fit.

The Novablast 5 is the bouncy, max-fun option, while the Rebel v4 is the most versatile of the group and our overall pick. And if you can wait or catch an early drop, the Evo SL is one to watch.

Conclusion

The best daily trainer is the one that fits your mileage, your pace, and your budget. This year’s lineup offered something for nearly everyone: budget-friendly versatility, playful lightweight rides, premium foam comfort, and one all-rounder that does it all. Whichever way you lean, any of these five shoes would be a confident choice for your rotation.