The Best Running Shoe Uppers: Four Standout Fits Worth Knowing About

Introduction

A great running shoe upper does more than hold your foot in place. It can turn a promising shoe into a genuine favourite, delivering lockdown where you need it and comfort everywhere else. This roundup looks at four of the best uppers tested over recent months, judged purely on function and fit rather than looks. From a plush daily trainer to an ultra-minimal race-day option, each one earns its place for a different reason.

Nike Zoom Vomero 16

The Vomero 16 offers something rare from Nike: a wider fit. Wider Nike shoes are genuinely uncommon, and the less prominent arch here should help the shoe suit a broader range of feet. The toe box is lovely and flexible with an excellent height-to-comfort ratio.

Where this upper really shines is in the padding. The side lace loops and the marshmallow-like, luxuriously padded tongue give it a comfort-first feel, and the laces come at an appropriate length, which is more of a rarity than it should be. Heel padding is similarly well judged. The styling will not win an art gallery slot, and some will say the shoe looks plain, but it does the job wonderfully. It is one of the best uppers for comfort and fit in recent memory, and it works for pretty much any type of run.

New Balance RC Elite 2

The RC Elite 2 is a magic mixture of fit and appearance. The upper is soft as a kitten and comfortable as a well-loved sofa, with a craftsmanship that has genuine haberdashery-store vibes. Some of the material even recalls the base covering of a snooker table in the best possible way.

It is ideal for longer-range exploits and higher pace sessions alike, essentially doing it all. There is no rubbing and no lockdown issues, even with the reduced number of eyelets New Balance chose here, and the fit is almost sock-like. If there is anything to change, it would be trimming down the large overlays, which some may find garish, though they suit the shoe. It is a costly option, but one of the best uppers tested in recent months from a materials, comfort, and foot-hug perspective, and it grows on you with every mile.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2

The Adios Pro 2 features a flexible Celamesh upper that fits the foot shape remarkably well, to the point where it feels almost custom-measured. Sizing up a half size down from the usual works spot-on here, and the lacing system hits the mark.

Heel lockdown is superb, wrapping the heel securely, and the toe box structure deserves mention too, thanks to a pattern of inner reinforcement pieces that keeps it focused. Adidas simplified almost every section of the upper, with padding on the tongue only where it is truly needed, producing glue-like lockdown across the top of the foot. Add the strong styling and you get a form-fitting, functional feel. This is a high-quality upper that sits near the top of the tree, outperformed by only one other shoe this year.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite SP

The Deviate Nitro Elite SP proves that less is more. Puma went with a wafer-thin upper material that hugs the foot in a barely-there way, paired with a minimal-size tongue. Everything here is stripped back, and the result is a wonderful visual burst that complements the excellent midsole and outsole combination, complete with a stabilizing carbon plate.

The lacing system works really well, allowing a great lock around the foot so the midsole can do its thing. It takes everything good about the Liberate Nitro, another high point for Puma in 2021, and pairs it down even further. The shoe looks more like a traditional race flat than many of the odder designs of recent years, with no offset lacing or outlandish shades required. The only shame is that not all runners can get hold of it right now. For many, it is the best running shoe of the year.

Buying Advice

If plush everyday comfort is the priority, the Vomero 16 is hard to beat, especially for wider feet. The RC Elite 2 suits runners who want one shoe to cover long runs and faster sessions in genuine comfort. The Adios Pro 2 is the pick for racers who want a secure, adaptive fit at speed, while the Deviate Nitro Elite SP is the standout for those who can find it and want the most pared-down, performance-focused upper of the bunch.

Conclusion

Four very different approaches to upper design, all excellent in their own way: generous padding from Nike, refined softness from New Balance, adaptive lockdown from Adidas, and brilliant minimalism from Puma. Match the shoe to the running you actually do, and any of these should serve you well.