Best Running Shoe Colorways Right Now: 7 Pairs Worth a Second Look

Introduction

Does a running shoe’s colorway really matter? For some runners it is the deciding factor, for others it barely registers. But with so many recent releases landing in genuinely interesting palettes, it feels like a good moment to sort the hits from the misses. Here are seven shoes worth a closer look, plus which colorway of each makes the most sense.

Puma Magnify Nitro 2

The Puma Magnify Nitro 2 is a shoe many runners keep meaning to pick up. It is a max-cushion cruiser, which can feel a bit bulky if that category is not your usual thing, but a new navy and blue jewel version changes the appeal somewhat. Darker uppers tend to hide the grit and grime that brighter launch colorways pick up on winter long runs, and this one stands out far more than the paler original versions. It is also one of the more interesting dark options for lifestyle use, avoiding the dullness of plain black or grey treatments.

If you have been holding off on a max-cushion daily trainer, this colorway might be the version that finally tips the balance.

New Balance 1080 V15

The New Balance 1080 V15 launched with a host of colorways, and they vary wildly in appeal. The yellowish-green version is pale and likely to look tired after a single run. The grey is competent but short on character, and the black, white and all-black options are safe to the point of boring. The standout is the purple version with pink accent lines on the tongue, a combination that feels genuinely considered rather than forced. For a premium daily trainer, that purple colorway is the one to hunt down.

Adidas Evo SL

The Adidas Evo SL seems almost built for good colorways, and one recent putty-toned version nails it. The midsole carries a soft putty-like color, while the tongue and laces pick up a wine-like tone that ties the whole shoe together. It is a refined combination that should also age well, taking on a nice patina through daily running or lifestyle wear. It is a much stronger choice than the highlighter-bright versions, which are fun but arguably better suited to indoor life than outdoor running.

Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite

The Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite keeps coming up in requests from runners curious about Chinese brand super shoes. The spec sheet is interesting: massive superlight foam and rain-ready outsole capabilities. At around the 200 pound mark in the UK it is not exactly a bargain, and buying through overseas marketplaces raises practical questions about returns and fault handling. As for colorways, the clean white and red version is easily the best of the bunch. The silver robotic version is too busy for a race shoe, and the high-vis option is a dirt magnet.

New Balance SC Elite V5

The New Balance SC Elite V5 has been around in an off-white colorway that ages into a rather dirty patina, and the fit may run a little narrow for some runners. Still, the shoe itself is light and nimble, and the new deep blue colorway is a genuine winner: a lovely flash of yellow, just the right amount, a lighter cyan detail, and a pink to purple hue on the medial side over a deep blue upper. Better still, the price has dropped by around 30 pounds in the UK to roughly 230, bringing it more in line with rival super shoes and making it noticeably more attractive.

Puma Velocity Nitro 4

The Puma Velocity Nitro 4 already has an enormous number of colorways, and few of them stand out. Puma has reverted to large printed text on the medial side of some versions, including a blue and pink HYROX edition that is simply the standard shoe with HYROX written on the side rather than any special outsole. The women’s green and red version with a more neutral main upper looks much better, though the side text still feels like an odd choice for a general purpose running and lifestyle shoe. If you like the platform, the women’s green and red colorway is the pick.

Adidas Adios Pro 2

Finishing with a classic: the Adidas Adios Pro 2 and its famous Berlin colorway, which still looks superb years on. It was an insanely good-looking shoe with a top-notch colorway, and it is easy to wish Adidas would bring that palette back on something like the Evo SL. The shoe carries some history, both good and bad, for the runner who reviewed it, but purely on looks it remains one of the best race shoe colorways ever released.

Buying Advice

If you want one dark, low-maintenance colorway, the navy Magnify Nitro 2 and the purple 1080 V15 are the strongest picks. For a super shoe, the reduced-price blue SC Elite V5 now competes on value as well as looks. The Feidian 6 Elite is worth watching if you are curious about Chinese brands, but factor in the buying and returns process. And if pure colorway heritage is what you are after, the Adios Pro 2 Berlin edition remains the benchmark.

Conclusion

Colorways will not make you faster, but the right one can make a shoe easier to live with day to day and far more enjoyable to lace up. These seven prove that the best options are rarely the loudest: deep blues, purples and clean whites consistently beat the high-vis experiments.