Six Running Shoes We Keep Talking About: Where We Agree and Disagree

Introduction

Some running shoes divide opinion, and the six in this lineup do exactly that. We put the New Balance SC Trainer V1, Topo Athletic Cyclone 2, Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, Nike ZoomX Invincible 3, On Cloudsurfer, and On Cloudboom Echo 3 side by side to work out which ones deliver and where each falls short. The result is a useful guide for anyone narrowing down their next pair, whether you want a cruiser for long miles, a fun low-stack trainer, or a racer for marathon day.

New Balance SC Trainer V1

The SC Trainer V1 is a tall, heavily cushioned trainer with a carbon plate, and it splits opinion sharply. One view is that the rear stack should feel softer than it does, and that the carbon plate should make the ride more exciting up front, leaving the shoe feeling like it holds something back. The other view is far more positive: it rolled along nicely on long cruiser miles, felt surprisingly soft, and worked as a sort of slow race day shoe that fits into a standalone category of its own.

If you want a soft, high-stack daily trainer with a plate for long, steady miles, this one is easy to justify. If you expect a snappy, propulsive carbon plate experience, you may come away wanting more.

Topo Athletic Cyclone 2

The Cyclone 2 might be the most quietly likable shoe here. It uses a pure PEBA midsole in a lower stack with simple geometry and an uncluttered upper, and the result is a shoe that many runners describe as making running feel fun again. It has that loaded, close-to-the-ground sensation and a playful speed that makes it feel like a proper do-everything fast shoe, despite having no plate.

Without a plate it can feel a little floppy, but if you enjoy that unstructured, flexible ride, the Cyclone 2 rewards you. It remains an underrated option that deserves far more attention than it gets.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 3

The Endorphin Pro 3 is one of the easiest carbon plated shoes to recommend broadly. It suits first-time carbon shoe buyers and experienced marathoners alike, because it manages to be both squishy and peppy at the same time. The softer midsole is the kind that saves your legs in the later miles of a long race, which is exactly why many runners treat it as a true marathon shoe rather than a half marathon specialist.

The counterpoint is that it does not give the sharpest race day snap-off compared with firmer, lower-cushioned racers, and some runners prefer the firmer feel of the previous version. If you value a forgiving ride across a full marathon, this is the stronger pick. If you chase maximum propulsion, other racers may fit you better.

Nike ZoomX Invincible 3

The Invincible 3 is a strange one. For some runners it works best not as a recovery day shoe but for long runs with marathon-pace miles mixed in, where you can set the pace and let the shoe do the work. It has ZoomX foam and a plate, so there is a hint of race day feel, but the very wide base keeps it firmly in daily trainer territory.

Others find it clunky and a little slappy, and wish it leaned more aggressively toward the performance side. The honest takeaway: it is a max-cushion trainer with racing DNA, and it will click with runners who want big cushioning for longer efforts rather than those looking for a lightweight daily trainer.

On Cloudsurfer

The Cloudsurfer feels like the shoe On should have been making from the beginning. The traditional speedboard is gone, replaced by a mostly foam midsole with fewer of the chunky cloud-like cutouts, and the result is a genuinely well-rounded running shoe. It is the kind of shoe that runners keep coming back to even when they have a shelf full of other options.

It works especially well as a comfortable travel and do-everything shoe: soft underfoot, easy to live with, and versatile enough to handle whatever your day throws at it. If you want one shoe that covers easy miles, errands, and time on the road without fuss, this is a very safe choice.

On Cloudboom Echo 3

The Cloudboom Echo 3 is a genuinely exciting racer, but it has a clear target: the half marathon. It sits in the same camp as firmer, punchier half marathon shoes, which is exactly why fans of that style tend to love it.

Two things give longer-distance runners pause. It may not have quite enough underfoot comfort for a full marathon for many runners, and the shoe’s stated marathon lifespan raises questions about how long it will hold up at that distance. If your focus is racing hard over half marathon and shorter distances, it is a thrilling option. If you are planning a full marathon, look carefully at the more forgiving marathon trainers above.

Buying Advice

Picking the right shoe comes down to matching the ride to your runs. For long, steady miles on a soft, plated platform, the SC Trainer V1 fits. For playful, flexible speed without a plate, the Cyclone 2 stands out as the underrated pick. For a first carbon plated marathon shoe that is both squishy and peppy, the Endorphin Pro 3 is the easiest recommendation on this list. The Invincible 3 suits runners who want maximum cushioning with a hint of race day feel for long efforts. The Cloudsurfer is the versatile everyday and travel pick, and the Cloudboom Echo 3 is the half marathon specialist for runners chasing fast times over shorter races.

Conclusion

Agreeing on a single best shoe is difficult, and that is actually useful information. Each of these six shoes occupies its own niche, from the fun, plateless Cyclone 2 to the half marathon-focused Cloudboom Echo 3. Decide what kind of running you do most often, and the right choice among these becomes much clearer.