Running Shoe Standouts of 2021: 11 Models That Defined the Year

Introduction

After a full year of testing across road and trail, a handful of shoes clearly separated themselves from the pack. This roundup pulls together the standouts: the road trainer that drew near-universal praise, a trail lineup that never stumbled, a brand that delivered depth across every category, and a surprise from a brand that only sent one shoe all year. If you are shopping for your next pair and want options with a proven track record, these are the models worth a close look.

Hoka Mach 4: The Road Standout

The Hoka Mach 4 was the road shoe of the year. It simply threw down in testing, and very little negative feedback surfaced from runners who picked it up. Nearly everyone who tried it came away positive, which is rare for a daily trainer at this point in the market. If you want a single road shoe recommendation from the year’s testing, this is the one to start with.

Salomon’s Trail Lineup

Salomon had an exceptional year off-road, and three models carried the brand. The Sense Ride 4 landed at the bottom of the trio with a 7.6 average, which says more about the strength of the lineup than any weakness in the shoe. The Pulsar scored 7.83 and earned its place as the shoe of choice for a Pikes Peak Marathon effort. The Ultra Glide rounded out the group, and it feels like Salomon is genuinely onto something with that platform.

For trail runners, any of these three is a confident pick depending on whether you favor faster mountain efforts or longer, smoother trail days.

Asics: Company of the Year

Combining road and trail, Asics was the running shoe company of the year. The bench depth was remarkable: the Novablast 2 as a lively daily trainer, the Meta Speed Sky and Magic Speed in the speed and racing category, the Evoride 2 for efficient easier days, and the Dynablast 2 as another comfortable road option. On the trails, the Fuji Lite 2 was a genuine surprise and showed Asics could compete off-road too.

If you are unsure which brand to commit to for 2022, Asics made the strongest overall case.

Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind: The Sleeper

Under Armour sent a single shoe for the year, and it still made an impression. The Flow Velociti Wind was described as feeling almost like wearing a slipper, and it was an enjoyable shoe to run in. When a brand gets one shot and delivers a shoe this pleasant, it is worth paying attention to what comes next.

How the Year Was Judged

A quick note on method: road shoes were tested to 50 miles before earning a final score, while trail shoes use a 25-mile threshold since trail running is slower and covers less ground per session. Shoes that never reached those thresholds were scored with smaller sample sizes, so their averages carry less weight. Not every shoe from every brand could be tested, but the models featured here all came through the full process or delivered standout feedback worth sharing.

Buying Advice for 2022

Match the shoe to the run, not the hype. For daily road mileage, the Hoka Mach 4 and Asics Novablast 2 are the safest bets from this list. For tempo and race day, look at the Asics Meta Speed Sky and Magic Speed. Trail runners should shortlist the Salomon Pulsar for faster mountain running, the Ultra Glide for longer trail days, and the Sense Ride 4 as the versatile all-rounder of the three. If you mostly want comfort and simplicity, the Dynablast 2, Evoride 2, and Flow Velociti Wind all earn their place.

Remember that fit matters as much as the review scores. Your foot strike, arch, and stride all change how a midsole and outsole feel under you, so treat these picks as strong starting points rather than guarantees.

Conclusion

The Hoka Mach 4 owned the roads, Salomon owned the trails, and Asics did a bit of everything well enough to be the company of the year. Any shoe on this list is a defensible purchase, and the best one is simply the one that matches the running you actually do.