5 Upcoming Running Shoes Worth Watching: Cloudmonster 2, Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and More

Introduction

A fresh batch of upcoming running shoe designs has surfaced, covering everything from top-tier marathon racers to dependable daily trainers. Details are still limited, but the pictures alone tell a useful story about where each brand is heading. Here is everything worth knowing about five shoes to keep on your radar.

On Cloudmonster 2

The Cloudmonster line put On on the map with serious endurance runners, softening the firmer feel of the Cloudstratus and moving to bigger single-layer pods. The next version appears to keep that single-layer pod setup, though the holes look like they may be closed up a little more. A different, more aggressive outsole rubber layout suggests this is not just a colorway refresh, and it raises the possibility of a Cloudmonster trail variant, something the On trail line has not matched against competitors like the Speedgoat.

Either way, this should be a strong addition to the On stable. The Cloudmonster is a great daily trainer, capable of picking up the pace but best suited to relaxed everyday aerobic efforts. It also works well as a versatile gym and walking shoe.

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2

Mizuno’s top-tier marathon racer stands out from other super shoes because of its thick midfoot stack of midsole foam. To work around the 40 millimeter heel stack limit, Mizuno stuffs extra foam into the midfoot, creating a buoyant, bouncy and responsive sensation at faster paces. The sensation is often compared to the AlphaFly style of popping you along at marathon pace, achieved through rocker geometry and that midsole foam rather than any air unit.

The second version appears to keep the aggressive midfoot midsole with the heel stack still around 40 millimeters, while the design gets a bit more swoopy with additional cutouts and what looks like a cleaned-up upper. It should remain a genuinely competitive marathon option.

View more details for Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2

Adidas Takumi Sen 10

The outsole pattern confirms this is more than an upper refresh. A full-length rubber strip runs from toe to heel on the medial side, and the heel strip has been changed to a single layout with bisected rubber. The Takumi Sen line is widely loved as an all-out fast shoe, handling track days, tempo runs and even half marathon racing, largely thanks to its Lightstrike Pro midsole and glass rod setup.

The energy rods appear to be retained. The big hope is an improvement to the very snug, sausage-like upper, since most people use this shoe for training rather than the 5K racing it was designed for. A touch more padding around the rear while leaving the midsole untouched would make this an even better all-round fast day option.

Brooks Hyperion Elite

Brooks looks to be skipping a full PEBA compound in the next Hyperion Elite. The foam in the pictures has a shiny patina more consistent with the brand’s supercritical DNA Flash foam than a PEBA build, so a new formulation seems likely. That matters because the current DNA Flash is on the firmer side, and stacking more of it made the previous Elite extremely rigid, so a revised compound could fix the shoe’s main weakness.

Just as interesting is the design direction. Brooks has been cleaning up the look of its models, as with the new Ghost Max, and applying that sharper design language to its best sellers while adding a top-tier racer to the mix is exactly the kind of momentum that makes the brand one to watch.

Hoka Speedgoat 6

The Speedgoat 5 is one of the most popular trail running shoes around, versatile enough for both technical and non-technical trails. The Speedgoat 6 looks set to build on that formula, retaining the Vibram outsole that makes it such a strong option for wet weather trail running.

One open question is the two-tone foam in the sole: it could be a dual-foam midsole like the Mach family, or simply a design flourish on the same EVA setup. Either way, Hoka continues moving toward a swoopy, flowing design language, paired here with an almost digital camo upper pattern. If the fundamentals were not messed up, this should remain a top competitor in the trail racing market.

Which One Should You Wait For?

If you want a daily trainer with a plush, distinctive ride, the Cloudmonster 2 is the most intriguing, especially with hints of a trail version. Marathon racers should watch the Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and its midfoot foam trick. Fast training days and short races point to the Takumi Sen 10, while the Hyperion Elite is worth waiting on only if the new foam softens the ride. For trail runners, the Speedgoat 6 needs no justification: it inherits a proven formula and a Vibram outsole.

Conclusion

This lineup shows every major brand refining what already works: On doubling down on its pod design, Mizuno leaning into midfoot foam, Adidas fixing a known upper complaint, Brooks reformulating its race foam, and Hoka polishing a trail favorite. None of these are confirmed for release yet, so treat everything here as early impressions, and check back for hands-on details once real pairs arrive.