Favorite Running Shoes of 2024: 12 Picks for Daily Miles, Long Runs, Trails and Racing

Introduction

This list is not a claim that these are the best shoes for everyone. It is a set of personal favorites built around a specific kind of running year: plenty of base miles, long runs, easy running and a handful of mild tempo efforts, with just two races on the calendar, a five miler and a 10K. That context matters, because after a significant foot ligament tear, this was a year of careful re-entry into consistent running, and these are the shoes that made that return work.

Best Daily Trainer: 361 Elios

A daily trainer has to be a workhorse: comfortable on easy runs, fine for middle-distance outings, durable enough to eat up a big chunk of miles, and affordable. The 361 Elios checked all of those boxes. Its new foam brings it to the level of compounds you feel across the market right now, with a slightly higher stack that still keeps flexibility in the forefoot so your own mechanics can work while you stay cushioned.

It sits on the softer end of the spectrum, but the foam seems to stiffen up in a way that makes it responsive when you put more into it. The fit offers a nice amount of toe box space with a little stretch, and at $145 it lands on the cheaper side of the high-foam daily trainer market, which is part of its appeal. Long runs of an hour and a half, easy recovery days and even a bit of tempo work all felt at home in it.

The runner-up here is the Asics Novablast 5. This version moves to FF Blast Max foam, which adds a bit more resiliency and bounce and makes the shoe feel slightly firmer but more versatile than the Elios, with a similar amount of foam underneath. The toe box stays roomy and the outsole showed essentially no wear, making it a proven workhorse for anyone who prefers a firmer daily ride.

Best Long Run Shoes: Saucony Triumph 22 and Asics Superblast 2

The Saucony Triumph 22 got the nod as the top long run pick, largely because of its non-plated design. The new PWRRUN PB blend feels super soft and almost mushy at standstill, then stiffens up just enough once you start running to give a bit of responsiveness. A slight rocker and plenty of foam add a hint of stiffness without ever feeling like a plated shoe, which hit a sweet spot for a year of deliberately avoiding plates.

It fits a little long with generous space, which was welcome for long runs, though smaller-footed runners may want to try a half size down. It is not versatile in the speed sense and was not enjoyable for workouts, so it earned its place as a dedicated cruiser, with smooth heel-to-forefoot transitions and a wide midfoot base that keeps the soft ride stable.

The Asics Superblast 2 needs little introduction. Where the Triumph is a pure cruiser, the Superblast 2 brings far more speed versatility: great for long runs but also happy to pick up the pace. Durability has been fantastic across both versions, and it keeps just enough flexibility to stay enjoyable when you are not chasing times.

Best Trail and Hiking Picks: Hoka Tecton X3 and Altra Lone Peak

The Hoka Tecton X3 is an unusual pick for someone who normally wants one shoe to cover both hiking and easy trail running. The revamped midsole uses a plate that spans the lateral and medial sides, adding structure to a softer foam compound while keeping just enough responsiveness to avoid feeling unstable. On rocky, root-heavy trails there were no ankle issues despite a history of chronic ankle laxity, and a five mile road run across the Golden Gate Bridge felt almost like wearing a road shoe, which opens the door to road-to-trail use.

The bootie construction fit like a glove, laced down securely and kept dust out, though it is worth noting that not every foot will get along with that fit. The Vibram outsole has shallower lugs around 4mm with good grip. It is admittedly hard to justify at full price without testing access, but it was simply that fun to run in.

The Altra Lone Peak is the truer pick for how trail time actually gets spent here: family hikes, easy time on the feet, and non-competitive days outside. It has long been a favorite for hiking, though it has never quite matched a true zero-drop running style, which is worth keeping in mind depending on your own mechanics.

Best Workout and Performance Trainers

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 ended up as the shoe with the most miles this year, thanks to its role in the early comeback period. Earlier versions caused soreness around the ankle because of a narrow platform and some heel instability, but from version three onward Saucony widened the plate and the midfoot, adding stability while streamlining the shoe for faster work. Any workout day or any run with a faster friend meant lacing this one up.

Although it is plated, it keeps a good amount of flexibility, more than the Superblast. The plate functions mainly as a lateral stabilizer with a little longitudinal stiffness to let you work off the rocker, and that combination is exactly what made it work so well here.

The Hoka Mach 6 sits on the opposite end of the workout spectrum. While many performance trainers chase high stacks, the Mach 6 keeps you connected to the ground while still offering responsiveness. A new rubber outsole adds grip for harder sessions, and the fit is dialed in to a snug, workout-like feel. It was not the choice for long workouts, but for short sessions where you want to feel yourself pushing through, it earned its place.

Plated Cruisers for Easy and Long Runs: Puma Deviate 3 and New Balance SC Trainer V3

The Puma Deviate 3 uses a dual-density midsole: softer foam on top, firmer foam below, with the plate sandwiched between. That combination delivers flexibility and rigidity in balance, plus a measure of stability and responsiveness. A half size up worked perfectly because the upper runs low volume, though it does stretch, and the extra length and width made the fit excellent. On an hour-and-a-half long run around rolling hills it was a superb cruiser, especially dipping down to half marathon pace efforts.

The New Balance SC Trainer V3 served very similar purposes. It feels more stacked than the Deviate, more like floating than feeling connected to the ground, and a half size up handled the volume well given the fit quirks common in New Balance shoes. Lockdown was solid through the heel and midfoot, and it settled into an easy rhythm on longer runs when a ground-hugging feel was not the goal.

Best Racing Shoes

The Adidas Adizero Metaspeed Edge Paris was the top race pick and the shoe used for the five miler. Its rocker starts a little earlier and more gradually than the Sky Paris, and next to each other the choice was a no-brainer: the Edge Paris felt like it was moving you forward, genuinely propulsive as pace climbed toward that sub-seven range. It is super lightweight with no wasted design, balanced front to back, and its new foam sits slightly firmer than most, which suits the narrower midfoot and delivers a responsive, bouncy ride. It would be an easy choice again for shorter races, and comfortably extend to the half marathon in better shape.

The On Cloudboom Strike was the 10K race shoe and earns an honorable mention. The foam and geometry are awesome: with thicker foam in the forefoot insert, you can really feel the propulsive push coming from the foam itself rather than the rocker. It proved so lively that a planned controlled 7:15-per-mile effort turned into a 6:30 first mile and an average around 6:38 to 6:44, including a mile of grassy cross country terrain without problems. The caveat is the midfoot: a divot where the heel connects to the midfoot creates a small gap in the transition, and when effort dropped or form got lazy, the shoe felt noticeably wobbly through the midfoot and heel. At full effort it is a blast; when tired, stability lags.

Buying Advice

If you can only add one shoe this year, a versatile daily trainer like the 361 Elios offers the best value, especially at $145. Runners who want one shoe to cover easy days and faster work should look at the Superblast 2 or Endorphin Speed 4, while racers with shorter goals will get the most out of the Metaspeed Edge Paris. Fit quirks matter as much as ride: consider a half size up for the Deviate 3 and SC Trainer V3, and possibly a half size down in the Triumph 22 if you run small.

Conclusion

A rebuilding year rewarded cushioned, forgiving shoes with just enough structure, and these twelve delivered. The common thread is balance: soft foam that firms up under load, plates used for stability rather than aggression, and fits that respect real feet. Whichever category you shop from, matching the shoe to the actual running you do is what turned each of these into a favorite.