Best Running Shoes of 2024: Six Picks Worth Your Miles

Introduction

This year’s picks come from a season of testing everything from soft daily trainers to aggressive carbon racers. The six shoes below each earned a spot for a specific job: some are built to make easy miles as comfortable as possible, others are designed to hold a taxing pace for long stretches, and two are among the fastest race shoes released this year.

The common thread is versatility and comfort where it matters. If you train largely on easy runs and long efforts, at least three of these will fit directly into your rotation. If you are hunting for a race day shoe, the final group covers both an established favourite and an intriguing newer option.

New Balance More v5

The More v5 is the pick for cushioned easy days and recovery runs. About 100k in, it confirms what the More v4 and More v3 established: New Balance makes some of the most comfortable easy-day shoes around. This version is a meaningful update because it uses a tweaked midsole foam, related to the softer compound in the 10 v13. It is a bit softer than the More v4 and a little bouncier too.

That combination makes it one of the best shoes out there for simply ticking off miles. For an hour-and-a-half easy run, a recovery run, or a long run at a comfortable pace, this is the shoe to reach for. It is not built for intervals or fast sessions, and it does not pretend to be. It just makes every comfortable run more enjoyable, which matters when the bulk of your week is distance rather than speed.

If your training skews towards easy mileage and you want a shoe that never gets in the way, the More v5 is arguably the top cushioned pick of the year.

Mizuno Neo Vista

The Neo Vista is the fun one of the group. The midsole is seriously bouncy with a nice softness underneath it, so easy runs feel like the shoe is bouncing you along. The built-in plate adds a touch of propulsion as you run, and while it is not the fastest shoe in the world, it handles consistent sessions very well.

For kilometer reps or steady efforts at half marathon or marathon pace, it works beautifully. It would not be the choice for all-out intervals where you need to hit hard paces, but for everything else it is genuinely enjoyable. The bootie-style upper may not be to everyone’s taste, though it has never caused a real problem in testing.

If you had to pick one shoe to take on a month-long holiday with a mix of runs, this would be high on the list. Compared with more expensive versatile options, it is also very good value right now, which makes it easy to recommend as a comfortable, bouncy daily shoe.

View more details for Mizuno Neo Vista

Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris

The Metaspeed Sky Paris is the best carbon plate race shoe tested this year. It is very fast, very propulsive, and you can genuinely feel it bouncing you forward as you run. It feels lightweight, and the cushioning is excellent: comfortable and supportive while still giving a lot of bounce back.

The fairly aggressive carbon plate gives a strong sense of propulsion at toe-off, and when you are picking up the pace and trying to hold it, the shoe really helps you do that. The main downside is that it is a little thin, which makes it slightly unstable on uneven surfaces. If you are racing at fast paces you will likely be on flat, even roads anyway, so it is a minor concern.

For anyone choosing a race day shoe for a fast half or full marathon, this is a very strong candidate.

Hoka Cielo X1

The Cielo X1 is the newcomer with real potential. Only three runs in so far, including a race, an interval session, and a long run, but the early impressions are very positive. It feels like a shoe made for running fast in, and it is arguably even more aggressive than the Metaspeed Sky Paris, with a good level of cushioning underneath.

It brings to mind a more subtle, more welcoming version of the most aggressive super shoes: some of the same positioning and speed benefits, but a bit more comfortable, especially over longer efforts. That balance is exactly what makes it appealing. More testing is needed before calling it the outright best, but if it continues to perform, it could rival the Sky Paris as a race day option.

New Balance Balos

The Balos is designed for daily runs but comes with a lot of cushioning and bounce. It is a very soft shoe, yet the midsole does not suck away energy: it gives it back, which sets it apart from many cushioned daily trainers that feel dead underfoot.

It works fine as an easy-day shoe, though it is expensive for that role alone. Where it really shines is longer efforts during a marathon training block, when you need to hold marathon pace or slightly slower for an extended period in comfort while protecting your legs. It is not the pick for interval sessions, but for consistent, fairly taxing efforts over long distances it is a niche shoe that does the job brilliantly.

It has a similar soft, comfortable character to the More v5 but with more to it. You can definitely pick up the pace in this shoe and maintain it well.

Asics SuperBlast 2

The SuperBlast 2 is the fitting final pick. It is a nice progression of the original SuperBlast, with a little more in the midsole, a touch more responsiveness, and a slightly softer feel. The original was already fantastic, and the sequel refines rather than reinvents it.

Like the Balos, this shoe excels at maintaining a taxing pace for a long period. It is the shoe for long marathon training runs where 28k needs to include stretches at marathon pace, without being too aggressive or slowing you down. It sits in that sweet spot of 85 to 95 percent effort, where you are almost at race pace and need to hold it.

Two honest caveats: it is very expensive, so buying it purely for easy runs is hard to justify, and it is a very hard shoe to get hold of. It also lacks the propulsion and bounce wanted from a dedicated race shoe, so it is best treated as a premium training shoe for pace work. If you can find one, it is a superb upgrade.

View more details for Asics Superblast 2

Which One Should You Buy?

Build your rotation around what you actually do. If easy miles dominate, the More v5 is the comfort king and the Neo Vista adds bounce and versatility at a friendlier price. For steady, taxing efforts at near race pace, the Balos and SuperBlast 2 are purpose-built, with the SuperBlast 2 being the premium option if you can find stock. For race day, the Metaspeed Sky Paris is the proven pick, and the Cielo X1 is the aggressive alternative worth watching.

Conclusion

Six shoes, six clear jobs. The More v5 makes easy running effortless, the Neo Vista is the value all-rounder, the Metaspeed Sky Paris is the fastest race shoe of the year, the Cielo X1 is the promising newcomer, and the Balos and SuperBlast 2 are built for long, steady pace work. Match the shoe to the run and every pair in this list will earn its keep.