The Best Running Shoes We've Ever Reviewed: 13 Standout Models

Introduction

After years of testing running shoes, a handful of models keep standing out long after newer versions arrive. This list gathers thirteen of the best ever reviewed: carbon-plated racers that changed the market, daily trainers that quietly outperformed their price, and a few underrated gems that never got the attention they deserved. Some are still available, many on discount, and all of them remain worth a look in 2026.

Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% Flyknit

Few running shoes have ever looked this good. The Zoom Vaporfly 4% Flyknit remains one of the most visually striking shoes in the collection, with colors you simply do not see on most racing shoes. It shares the same midsole and outsole unit as the standard Vaporfly 4% Flyknit, but the Flyknit upper moved the heel counter to the outside of the heel and stretched a little more in the toe box, giving a more accommodating fit and improved lockdown. It is not the shoe to reach for on a maximum race effort today, but it still works for training, and the fast 5Ks run in it back in 2019 speak for themselves. The hope is that this collaboration returns in some form, because few shoes have matched it for sheer presence.

Nike Pegasus Turbo 2

A shoe Nike has never truly replaced. The Pegasus Turbo 2 paired ZoomX and React in one midsole, and while some runners reported the two foams separating over time, many pairs logged hundreds of miles without a hint of trouble. The unusual lacing arrangement was a standout: the eyelet design latched the foot down and wrapped it onto the midsole exactly where you wanted it, and it is a shame Nike never brought it back. For most runners this was a shoe best kept to shorter distances, with the ZoomX starting to bottom out somewhere around the 10 mile mark. The later Next Nature version never recaptured the feel of this original, which is exactly why it is remembered so fondly.

Nike Alphafly Next%

The Alphafly Next% was a genuine game-changer, and one of the most unusual shoes ever to pass through testing. The huge air pods under the forefoot caused plenty of raised eyebrows when it launched, with some questioning the stack height, yet modern race shoes now comfortably exceed that geometry. The midsole has held up reasonably well over the years, though the softer foams may not age as gracefully. The darker colorway was refreshingly understated for a race shoe, and the light after-dinner-mint version was another highlight. As an original release, it absolutely earned its place among the greats.

Saucony Endorphin Speed

The original Endorphin Speed did something no shoe had quite done before: it brought premium PWRRUN PB midsole foam to the masses, complete with a nylon plate that was slightly less rigid than the Pro version. That made it comfortable enough for daily use and forgiving at slower paces, while the low weight and race-like feel kept it fully capable of faster work. It effectively created a new category of shoe that could serve both training and racing, and it was pitched at a price that made it extremely attractive. Its versatility was proven in the most demanding circumstances imaginable, when runners used it for some remarkable long-distance efforts. If you can find the original version, it is well worth the hunt.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro

The Adizero Adios Pro had a rough first impression: it initially felt too firm, not very forgiving and a bit clunky underfoot. But once the foam broke in and softened up, it transformed into one of the best super shoes tested, delivering a personal best in a half marathon time trial and a 10K PR along the way. The upper offered brilliant lockdown, and the energy rods in the midsole gave a genuinely propulsive drive with each toe-off. It was slightly heavier than some rivals and less flashy underfoot, but it was very stable and very forgiving once you got to know it. A slow burner that became a favorite.

Hoka Rocket X

The original Rocket X remains one of Hoka’s best shoes from that era, and one that never really grabbed the attention it deserved. Marketed as a half marathon and marathon shoe, it was nimble and propulsive in a way the carbon X simply was not, and the differences between the two were striking. It was later followed by the Rocket X2, a softer and more forgiving shoe that makes turning up the cadence easy, but the original Rocket X stands on its own merits. The good news is that plenty of pairs have been floating around at discount, so picking up a piece of this era is still very possible.

Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2

The Vaporfly Next% 2 worked even better than the first version, and it delivered a repeat of a 1:31 half marathon time, making it one of the best purchases of that year. It was the prototype version that accompanied a memorable race at the Bristol Half Marathon, just missing a sub-1:30 goal, with superb grip and outstanding midsole propulsion. The honest caveat: the propulsion tended to deaden off after roughly 150 miles, so it is a shoe to race in rather than save. As a fast 5K weapon and half marathon racer, few shoes have felt better.

Adidas Adizero Adios 6

Not every great shoe needs a huge stack. The Adizero Adios 6, released in mid-2021, was one of the best old-school style trainers around, with a firmer ride that rewards good form and a midfoot or forefoot landing where the Lightstrike Pro sits. At around £120 it landed in daily trainer territory, not far from something like the Pegasus, and it absolutely shone on steady tempo and faster pace runs. It proved just how good Lightstrike Pro could be when used in the right application, without any of the extravagant width the market was trending toward.

Nike Zoom Vomero 16

Two years after release, the Vomero 16 was still selling, which tells you everything about how well this shoe landed. It is arguably the best non-racing application of ZoomX foam so far, with the foam holding its structure rather than tearing up over time. The ride is nicely stable, and the Zoom Air unit in the forefoot adds a little snap underfoot. It remains one of the most underrated shoes the brand has produced and arguably the best daily trainer in its catalog. If the follow-up model has yet to appear, this one is still a worthy inclusion in any rotation.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite

The Deviate Nitro Elite is one of the most overlooked shoes on this list, missed by a huge number of runners. It has a midsole feel similar to the original Saucony Endorphin Speed, loaded with nitrogen-infused Pwrap foam, paired with classic Puma outsole grip and an impressively thin upper. It is wonderfully stable, genuinely usable at any pace, and it dries out quickly after wet runs. Between this original version and the Deviate Nitro Elite 2, Puma built two shoes that deserve far more attention than they received. If you can track one down, try it.

Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 9

The Takumi Sen 9 is super light, super grippy, and capable of anything from short intervals up to a half marathon. Adidas’ racing shoes have been strong enough to give serious competition to Nike, Asics and Puma options. The Sen 9 is essentially a simple upper change over its predecessor, so you are getting the same excellent midsole and outsole combination, and it remains very much its own shoe with a distinct fit and feel. At around £100 it was far more affordable than an Adios Pro, and there have been good deals floating around, so it is hard to find a reason to overlook it.

Asics Metaspeed Sky+

Roughly a year on from its review, the Metaspeed Sky+ remains just as relevant. It helped deliver some very fast 10K races, thanks to insane grip and awesome overall lightness, with Asics concentrating the weight into the midsole. The upper is about as simple as uppers get, with no bells and whistles, and it simply latches the foot down on top of the midsole where it belongs. It matches a certain running style particularly well across the 10K distance, and it remains one of the most pleasant surprises in the rotation. It can often be found at a discount too, which makes it even easier to recommend.

Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung

Reviewed back in late 2022, the Adizero Prime X Strung remains one of the most bouncy and energetic running shoes ever tested. There are more runners who have tried it and loved it than those who could not get along with it, and as a pure fun-to-run-in shoe very little comes close. Some might argue it makes running feel almost too easy, but that is exactly the appeal. With a successor arriving and plenty of discounts floating around on this version, it is a smart time to pick up a pair if max-cushioned, high-stack energy is what you are after.

View more details for Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung

Buying Advice

If you want a racer with proven pedigree, the Alphafly Next%, Vaporfly Next% 2 and Adios Pro are the headline acts, but check the market: several of these older super shoes are now available at meaningful discounts. If you want one shoe that can handle both training and racing, the Endorphin Speed and Deviate Nitro Elite are the most versatile picks here. For daily miles, the Vomero 16 and Adios 6 offer the best value-per-mile, and the Takumi Sen 9 and Metaspeed Sky+ cover fast days and 10K races brilliantly. Whatever you choose, matching the shoe to your actual weekly routine matters more than chasing the newest release.

Conclusion

Great running shoes do not stop being great just because a newer model has launched. These thirteen shoes earned their place through performance, durability, or simply being more enjoyable to run in than almost anything else on the shelf. Several are still findable at reduced prices, so if any of them fit your running, they are absolutely worth adding to the rotation.