New Running Shoes Yay or Nay: Four Recent Releases Weighed Up

Introduction

Four recent running shoe releases, four very different targets: a low-stack Puma speed option, a big-stack Mizuno daily trainer, a Nike trail shoe with Vibram grip, and the latest version of New Balance’s flagship cushioned trainer. Here is how each one stacks up on paper, and whether each earns a spot on the buy list.

Puma Propio Nitro

Puma has released the Propio Nitro with almost no fanfare at all. It is a distinctly low-stack option, arriving in an apple and deep plum colorway, and it weighs just 145g in the sample size. That low weight makes sense given the modest midsole stack, though there is still plenty of Puma grip on the outsole, with a large cutout running through the forefoot and plenty of exposed midsole material.

The numbers raise some questions. The shoe measures a 20mm heel and 16mm forefoot, yet Puma still lists it as a 6mm drop, which does not quite add up. Priced at £100, it sits only £10 below the much taller Velocity Nitro 4 at retail, and that shoe carries a full 100g more weight. The Propio Nitro really seems aimed at track work or shorter efforts, and probably not much beyond 5K. It has barely appeared on Puma’s own channels, is missing from the Puma UK website, and the Adidas Adios 9 offers a track-ready alternative below its retail price with more appealing colorways. Verdict: nay.

Mizuno Neozen 2

The Neozen 2 is an interesting looking shoe. It packs 40.5mm of heel stack and 34.5mm in the forefoot into a 250g sample size, which is a lot of cushioning for very little weight. The midsole uses a nitrogen-infused foam that is likely more ready to run straight out of the box, unlike foams that need a few breaking-in miles to hit their stride.

At £140 it comes in above Mizuno’s own Evo SL, though the upper here is more conventional than the knit material on the Neo Vista 2, which caused real fit problems on that shoe. The oversized heel pull tab gives it a slightly elflike look, but plenty of runners clearly rate the combination of soft foam and low weight. The main hesitation is the colorway: another white daily trainer is a tough sell heading into winter, when light uppers stop staying clean after a single kilometer. Verdict: a cautious yay, with a preference for a darker colorway.

Nike ACG Ultrafly

Nike has finally rebranded some of its trail lineup under the ACG name, and the Ultrafly brings a Vibram outsole, which is a genuine upgrade over the grip on the older Wildhorse and Terra Kiger models. ZoomX foam sits underfoot, presumably protected by a harder, more durable layer on top to keep that fragile foam from tearing in trail conditions.

The spec sheet reads 37mm in the heel and 28.5mm in the forefoot, an unusually high drop for a trail shoe, though Nike has long favored higher drops in its trail and marathon lineup. The shoe seems built like a tank for long distances at lower paces rather than nimble trail racing.

The sticking point is price and weight: £230 is a lot for a trail shoe, and 287g for a men’s US 10 is hefty, a sizing choice that arguably flatters the weight figures. It looks the part and carries the swoosh, but many established trail options from other brands undercut it significantly, and on trails a plate is usually there for stability rather than propulsion anyway. Verdict: a firm nay.

New Balance 1080 V15

The 1080 V15 is the most quietly promising of the four. It marks a clear weight decrease over the previous version, dropping to 261g in the sample size, thanks chiefly to New Balance’s new INfinify midsole foam. Earlier versions of the 1080 were very cushioned and soft but lacked energy return, so a livelier ride could make this a genuinely more versatile daily trainer for varied runs and sessions.

The shape and profile look strong too, particularly the heel area, which appears to allow a good range of motion for the ankle. It could make for a reliable daily model, especially in that rich purple colorway. The hesitation is the price: around £170 is a lot for a daily shoe, even a lighter one, and reader sentiment around this version has been lukewarm compared to some rival releases. Verdict: a nay for now, but one worth revisiting.

Which of These Is Worth Buying

If you want a fast shoe for track sessions and short races, the Propio Nitro is technically capable but hard to justify at its price against cheaper rivals. The Neozen 2 is the strongest case of the four: big cushioning, low weight, and a more forgiving out-of-the-box feel, as long as you can live with a white upper. The ACG Ultrafly suits runners who value maximum protection and Vibram grip on long trail days and are happy to pay a premium. The 1080 V15 is worth watching, since the new foam could make it a more complete daily trainer if the price settles.

Conclusion

Only the Mizuno Neozen 2 earns a yay this time around, driven by its impressive stack-to-weight ratio and nitrogen-infused midsole. The Puma Propio Nitro, Nike ACG Ultrafly and New Balance 1080 V15 all carry genuine strengths but are held back by pricing, weight, or fit-for-purpose questions. As always, the true test is how each shoe performs on foot over real miles.