Most Anticipated Running Shoes of 2024: Four Models We Cannot Wait to Test

Introduction

Every new season brings a fresh wave of running shoe launches, but a handful of models stand out as the ones we genuinely want on foot. This year’s wishlist is built around big midsoles, premium foams, and a couple of headline racers. Here are the four shoes at the top of our 2024 testing list.

Puma MagMax Nitro

Spotted through early leaks and community discussion, the Puma MagMax Nitro looks set to be one of the most intriguing trainers of the year. The name suggests a nod to Mad Max, and the shoe appears to carry a genuinely huge stack of Puma’s Nitro foam, possibly with a full slab of Nitro Elite or a dual-layer setup combining Nitro Elite on top with standard Nitro underneath.

Either way, the expectation is an incredibly soft, forgiving ride. Puma’s Nitro foams rank among the best in the business, offering plush cushioning with real energy return, so a maxed-out stack could make this something like Puma’s answer to a super trainer. One giveaway points to trainer rather than racer status: the outsole tread at the heel looks significantly deeper than Puma’s usual race lineup, placing it more in a premium trainer category. The release appears to be coming this year.

Nike Pegasus Turbo 4

The Nike Pegasus Turbo 4 looks like a reimagining of the classic Pegasus Turbo line, a return fans have been asking for ever since the original React and ZoomX combination won people over. Interestingly, this new version may not use React at all. If it is a layered midsole shoe, it likely pairs ZoomX with a softer secondary foam similar to what Nike has used in models like the Zoom Fly 5.

If it delivers more stack than the Streakfly and proper ZoomX foam this time around, it could be exactly the shoe people wanted a few years ago. Pricing will be the deciding factor. A trainer-level price around the £140 mark would make it an easy recommendation, while anything higher puts it uncomfortably close to the chunky Invincible Run 3. The hope is a low-weight option, reasonably priced, sitting somewhere in the middle in terms of stack.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3

Images from the US Olympic Marathon Trials showed several top-tier athletes racing in what appears to be the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3, and athletes running sensational times in a shoe is about as strong an early endorsement as you can get. Puma’s athlete roster is in superb form right now, with runners finishing first and third in the women’s section at those trials wearing this model.

The Deviate Nitro Elite 3 appears to feature a maxed-out heel stack of Nitro Elite foam, putting it firmly in the same zone as the other top super shoes. That is only good news: more Nitro Elite foam is a plus, especially if it is the same compound used in the Fast-R Nitro Elite 2, which felt a touch softer than before with wild energy return. The upper looks very similar to the existing version, which is no letdown, as the Deviate Nitro Elite 2 offered one of the best-fitting uppers around. With no confirmed release date yet, it would be surprising if it did not arrive in time for the summer Olympics.

Nike Alphafly 3

The Nike Alphafly 3 has been out for a few weeks, though getting a pair has proven tricky. Having run in both previous versions, the expectations are mixed. The original Alphafly was fantastic and produced some of the fastest race results on record, while the Alphafly 2 felt disappointing and clunky, particularly in larger sizes where the scaling of materials can make the shoe feel heavier and less responsive.

Early impressions suggest the Alphafly 3 addresses many of the issues that made the second version underwhelming, moving closer to the feel of the original. Reports indicate it can lower perceived effort on a flat course, with runners noting impressive heart rate consistency at steady paces. Whether the larger sizes still carry a weight penalty that dulls the Air pods remains the key question for taller or heavier runners.

Buying Advice

Each of these shoes targets a different runner. The Puma MagMax Nitro is aimed at anyone chasing maximum daily cushioning, the Pegasus Turbo 4 should appeal to tempo runners who want speed at a trainer price, the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is a race-day contender for serious efforts, and the Alphafly 3 remains the flagship choice for marathon racing if it lives up to its early reputation. Matching the shoe to the run you actually do most often matters more than chasing the biggest stack or the loudest launch.

Conclusion

From an unconfirmed Puma super trainer to two headline racers and a long-awaited Nike revival, 2024 is shaping up to be a strong year for running shoes. These four models top our wishlist, and each brings a clear reason to be excited, whether that is softer foam, better value, or a shot at a personal best.