The 5 Most Fun Running Shoes We Have Ever Tested

Introduction

Some running shoes are about stats and split times. Others simply make running fun. This list is dedicated to the second kind: shoes that bounce, throw, or propel you forward and turn an ordinary run into pure enjoyment. These are the five most fun shoes we have ever tested, and each one earns its place for a different reason.

1. Hoka Cielo X1

The Hoka Cielo X1 has a festive look about it, and a certain charm to match. It uses a PEBA-based midsole with an equal-parts rocker design: a significant bevel back in the heel and a long, drawn-out curve in the forefoot. The result is a very propulsive and fun shoe that rolls you forward to a steady point of propulsion while staying compressive and forgiving thanks to its stack height.

It is hard not to feel good vibes channelling through your body as you stride forward. Hoka has left out a lasting board, so aside from the insole you are running directly on the PEBA foam, which feels quite magical. The laces look bizarre at first but work very well. The winged plate in the midsole is a real success, and the main hope is simply that Hoka refines it and makes it a little lighter without touching that midsole. It is a pricey shoe, but it brings a smile every run.

2. Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 2

The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 2 features a crazy decoupled heel and forefoot design that might not be for everybody, but it is an absolute banger. It uses the newer Puma Nitro Elite foam, an aliphatic TPU that is super soft and very springy, always returning to its original state. The rigid plate generates a really nice propulsive feel, and the shoe was especially fun on hills.

It is one of the most durable super shoes tried out, and it felt even better after a few miles of break-in. The thin, flexible upper is easy to lock down and super breathable, with a brilliant ability to not absorb water, making it great in winter. The foam sits entirely underfoot with nothing cupping up around the foot, so you get the maximum benefit. It even raced well, still bringing a smile on a difficult course. If you did not like the original Fast-R’s profoam heel, you will love this one.

3. Adidas Adizero SL2

Not every fun shoe is a mad expensive super shoe. The Adidas Adizero SL2 is a more value-focused option that puts a smile on your face partly by leaving your wallet relatively untouched. It can be picked up for under £100 if you know where to look, and it sings for daily work while still handling faster pace sections of your run.

It is a bit like a go-kart: the key elements you need to go fast without all the extra overlays and fabric on top. That simple outer section paired with a really good engine is why it feels so fun to run in. That engine is Lightstrike Pro foam embedded within a Lightstrike 2.0 frame, which is a big leap in putting top-tier foam inside one of Adidas’ most affordable Adizero shoes. It is versatile, reasonably low in weight, and just bouncy enough without being overblown. If you have been beating yourself up over PRs and Strava segments, this is the reminder that running should be about enjoyment.

4. Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung

The Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung is a joy to run in, at least over shorter distances, and it left legs feeling ready for the next run even after longer efforts. The stats are bold: 50mm in the heel with a huge stack height and a very narrow midsole in the heel. It takes some getting used to, but once accustomed, it is one of the most exciting shoes to lace up.

Easy pace or all-out pace, it did it all, aside from cornering. In a straight line there are very few shoes that feel as good. It has a lot of tech: energy rods, blades in the forefoot area, and that bizarre spider-web-looking Strung upper. There is a lot of bounce and very focused propulsion, and it feels like you are genuinely wearing a piece of the future rather than some over-the-top clog. The Prime X Strung 2 felt a little more clunky by comparison, which makes this original the one to seek out for pure fun.

5. Nike Tempo Next%

The Nike Tempo Next% is one of the most fun shoes tried out in recent years. Underfoot it combined ZoomX and React foam with Air Pods and a plasticky plate holding the whole thing together, wrapped in a Flyknit-style upper that felt unlike any other Flyknit. When it launched, many thought of it as a training version of the Alphafly, but it was very much its own thing.

It was a real banger, quite literally: one of the loudest shoes underfoot you will ever hear. It was fun, furious, fast, and forgiving, an aggressive model that made you want to run all out. It combined grip around the midfoot, a stable landing platform from the React heel section, and a flexible, conforming upper. It was also one of the most durable shoes around at the time, with almost no wear to the forefoot area. People bought multiple pairs, used them daily, and raced everything from 10Ks to full marathons in them. It represents one of Nike’s best all-around trainers of recent years, and sadly a true successor never seems to have materialised.

Buying Advice

The right pick depends on what kind of fun you are after. If you want maximum bouncy propulsion and do not mind the price, the Hoka Cielo X1 is the standout. For an aggressive super shoe that is also durable and hill-friendly, the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 2 is hard to beat. The Adizero SL2 proves fun does not have to be expensive and makes the best all-round daily trainer of the group. The Prime X Strung is the one to grab if high stack and straight-line speed excite you, and the Tempo Next% remains a legendary trainer if you can still find it. Choose the one that matches your budget and the runs you actually enjoy most.

Conclusion

Fun is an underrated quality in a running shoe. These five models, from the value-packed Adizero SL2 to the futuristic Prime X Strung and the loud, propulsive Tempo Next%, all share one thing in common: they make you want to get out the door and run. Pick the one that fits your needs and let the miles take care of themselves.