Must-Have Running Shoes 2025: Five New Models Worth Watching

Introduction

Every year brings a fresh wave of running shoe releases, but some launches feel genuinely worth planning around. This lineup brings together five of the most interesting models of the season: two road performance shoes, two trail shoes, and a first-ever running shoe from a brand better known for compression gear.

Some of these are evolutions of proven favourites, while others take a more experimental approach. Here is what makes each one worth a closer look.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 5

The latest version of Saucony’s performance trainer keeps the recipe that made the line popular: a PWRRUN PB midsole paired with a nylon plate and the established stack height setup. What changes is underfoot flexibility, thanks to new FlexGroove features in the outsole that should let the shoe flex more naturally through the stride. There is also added structure wrapping around the heel on both the medial and lateral sides for extra durability.

Then there is the look. The retro-inspired colorway is a genuine throwback, and it is hard not to hope the retro styling comes with some of the livelier energy return of the original. Expect it around June at roughly $170.

Brooks Hyperion Elite 5

Brooks has always made solid, dependable shoes, but rarely ones that get runners excited. The Hyperion Elite 5 could change that. It arrives with a brand new plated midsole built on DNA Gold PB foam, the lightest foam the brand has ever produced, promising a lightweight, comfortable, high energy returning ride.

There also appear to be interesting design features at the midfoot of the midsole, possibly some kind of cutout or spring system. The numbers back up the lightweight intent: a 40mm heel stack, 32mm under the forefoot for an 8mm heel offset, and a claimed 198g in a UK 8.5. The upper uses a lightweight, breathable and durable TPU yarn. As a plated super shoe it will not come cheap, with availability expected around June this year.

Saucony Exodus Ultra 4

The Exodus Ultra franchise has a loyal following, and the original version remains one of the all-time great trail shoes for many runners. The fourth iteration looks like the update that franchise has been waiting for. The midsole is reformulated with 8% more PWRRUN PB foam, which should add the pop and energy return that felt lacking in the previous version.

The stack sits at 36mm in the heel and 30mm under the forefoot, a 6mm heel offset, with a claimed weight of 10.4 oz in a men’s UK 8.5. The headline change, though, is underfoot: a Vibram MegaGrip rubber outsole with 4mm lugs. That is a significant move by Saucony, and it should put an end to the grip issues some runners experienced on wet trails with the older outsole. Expect it in late May or early June for around $160.

Nnormal K-Booster 01

This one is genuinely groundbreaking. Nnormal, the collaboration between trail running superstar Kilian Jornet and the Camper shoe brand, has built a trail shoe with three very different midsoles that can be swapped in and out at any time: the KB1 soft midsole for easy, comfortable, supported runs, the KB2 reactive midsole for fast, responsive, powerful runs, and the KB3 bounce midsole for well cushioned, high energy returning runs.

The upper is made from a Matrix Evo fabric that is super durable, lightweight and breathable, with 360-degree stitching around the midsole for longevity, staying true to the brand’s sustainability ethos. A Vibram MegaGrip outsole with 3.5mm lugs finishes it off. When buying, you choose two of the three midsoles, and the third set can be purchased separately for around £30. The shoe retails for around £200, and few releases this year are as innovative.

Seps Omnis Speed

Seps is better known for compression clothing, especially compression running socks, and this is the brand’s first ever running shoe. Unveiled at a running event in the US towards the end of last year, the Omnis Speed is another plated performance trainer, but Seps has gone about it differently: the new Bowe midsole technology incorporates a lightweight glass fibre reinforced plate designed for enhanced natural biomechanics and energy return.

The specs position it firmly in the super trainer market rather than as a race day shoe: a 37mm heel stack, 30mm under the forefoot for a 7mm heel offset, and a weight of 285g in a men’s UK 8.5, so it is not the lightest plated shoe out there. The shoes are still in development and should reach the public later in the year.

Buying Advice

If you mostly run on roads and want a versatile daily-to-workout shoe, the Endorphin Speed 5 is the most straightforward pick of this lineup. If race day performance is the priority and budget allows, the Hyperion Elite 5 brings the most aggressive specs to the table. Trail runners should weigh grip and comfort against versatility: the Exodus Ultra 4 is a proven formula made better with Vibram rubber, while the K-Booster 01 is the choice for anyone who values innovation and wants a shoe that adapts to different runs. The Omnis Speed suits runners curious about a new brand’s take on the plated super trainer.

Conclusion

This year’s lineup covers a lot of ground, from dependable evolutions like the Exodus Ultra 4 to the genuinely unusual swappable-midsole concept of the K-Booster 01. Whether you are chasing energy return on the road or grip and durability on the trails, there is something here worth keeping on your radar as these shoes hit the shelves.