Best Running Shoes of 2024 (Mid-Year): Our Favorite Picks So Far

Introduction

Halfway through the year is a good moment to step back and look at the shoes that have actually earned their miles. This list is deliberately built around personal favorites rather than a spec-sheet ranking: shoes we kept reaching for on easy days, long runs, and workouts because they simply worked. The running shoe market has also been shifting underneath our feet, with super foams appearing in everyday trainers and the line between daily trainer and super trainer getting blurrier by the season. That makes practical, tried-and-tested picks more valuable than ever.

Daily Trainers

A good daily trainer quietly eats up most of your weekly mileage. The standout here is the Saucony Guide 17, a stability shoe that manages to feel light and unobtrusive while offering a nicely wide, stable base. It took a little time to figure out, but around the 150 mile mark it proved both comfortable and impressively durable for a shoe that rides like a borderline lightweight trainer.

The New Balance 880v14 is the favorite boring shoe of the year, and that is meant as a compliment. New Balance cut significant weight from this version, making it one of the lightest standard neutral daily trainers available. It is simple, cushioned enough for all-day wear, and a shoe you can put on without thinking about it.

Max Cushion Favorites

This category is where 2024 got interesting. The Saucony Triumph 22 moved to a full-length premium super foam, yet instead of sinking into it, the shoe feels responsive even at easy paces. A wide platform with a well-shaped heel bevel keeps it from feeling clunky despite the generous cushioning, which makes it an easy pick for most runs this year.

The Mizuno Neo Vista is the surprise of the bunch. Mizuno, traditionally known for firmer rides, delivered a very tall, very bouncy shoe here with great lockdown and a soft, resilient foam that works for long runs and can still handle uptempo work. Some of the initial wild bounce settles in after the first stretch of miles, but it remains one of the most fun max-stack shoes of the year.

Lightweight and Performance Picks

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 combines the best traits of earlier versions: the streamlined speed of the first edition and the widened stability elements introduced in the third. The result is a do-it-all performance trainer that handles easy runs, long runs, and hard workouts. The forefoot could be a touch wider for some runners, but it remains the best version yet.

The Hoka Mach 6 is, in our view, the best Mach Hoka has made. A new super critical foam brings real responsiveness, and the switch to a rubber outsole adds grip and durability for plenty of miles. The forefoot volume runs snug, so sensitive feet may need thinner socks or a short break-in, but once settled it is a fast, comfortable non-plated trainer.

Best Value Picks

Value still exists if you know where to look. The ASICS GT-2000 12, though a prior-year model, remains on the market and is a shoe many runners reach for instinctively on tired days. The foam is comfortable across long runs, faster runs, and easy efforts, and it works as a lighter, quicker spiritual successor to models with more traditional support.

The Merrell Morphlite is the biggest budget surprise. At around 100 dollars it packs a good foam, a well-tuned rocker, a hybrid road-trail outsole with modest lugs, and a subtly stable feel from a higher arch sidewall. It is not a stability shoe, but runners who want a little extra reassurance may find it hugs the foot nicely for the price.

Buying Advice

The clearest lesson from this year so far is to shop by feel rather than by foam chemistry. Super foams now appear at every price point, and some perform far better than others. If you need stability, the Guide 17 and GT-2000 12 are safe, comfortable choices. If you want maximum cushion with bounce, the Triumph 22 and Neo Vista deliver it in different flavors. For speed-focused runners, the Endorphin Speed 4 covers nearly everything, while the Mach 6 is the smarter value in that space. Budget shoppers should not overlook the Morphlite.

Conclusion

2024 has been a strong year for running shoes across every category, and these picks represent the pairs that kept earning their spot in the rotation. Match the shoe to your actual needs, and any of these should serve you well for the second half of the year.