Four Running Shoes on Our Radar: Which Ones Are Worth a Pick-Up

Introduction

Four shoes caught our attention recently: two we would happily pick up on release, and two we would leave on the shelf. Some are confirmed releases, some appear to be early renders or prototypes, so treat the details accordingly. Here is the breakdown, one shoe at a time.

1. Saucony Endorphin Elite

What a bizarre-looking shoe this is. It is clearly aimed at being Saucony’s answer to the Adizero Adios Pro-style extreme racers, with a high stack that looks even taller than it probably is. The midsole appears to wrap around the back of the heel, and there are lateral and medial straps that look like they lock the foot in with a wraparound fit, improving support.

The angular heel profile and highly perforated tongue make for a genuinely striking piece of footwear. Huge sections of the midsole on the underside appear carved out, almost like someone went at it with a pickaxe.

Best of all, there is a new outsole design. Switching up the outsole rubber has been the one thing we have wanted from Saucony releases for a long time, and it looks like that change has finally happened. No confirmed price, release date, or even certainty that the shoe is real yet. The images do look somewhat synthetic, possibly mock-ups or 3D renders. Still, after seeing how far extreme high-stack racers have come, this is a definite yes to test when it surfaces.

2. Nike ZoomX Zegama

A maximalist trail shoe with real ambition. There is not much to go on beyond a couple of images, but one detail stands out: a strange lacing arrangement at the front eyelets that we would love to see explained.

More interesting is what may be underfoot. This model appears to carry a full-length carbon plate embedded in a squishy ZoomX midsole, there for extra stability and to distribute foot-strike forces. Think of it as a hard-edged trail take on the Invincible Run philosophy, with an aggressive trail-ready attitude.

The name comes from Zegama, the starting town of a well-known trail and skyrunning race that has been running for around twenty years, combining a marathon-distance route with a vertical kilometer. That is fitting for a shoe clearly built for undulating, uneven terrain. With all that foam, we also expect some kind of heel cup structure to keep the foot planted when the ground gets rough.

Nike has been slow to take the trail market seriously, so this is an exciting offering. A definite yes for us, and we are surprised it took them this long to make something like it.

View more details for Nike ZoomX Zegama

3. Adidas 4D Forward Parley

Unlike the first two, this one is a confirmed release, and it seems to be selling well, with only a few sizes left on the Adidas site at the time of writing. The star of the show is the 4D-printed midsole, which looks like something out of a science fiction film. Despite the visual drama, the heel stack is only around 30 millimeters.

The likely problem is weight. Previous 4D-printed midsole shoes have been heavy affairs, and the open lattice structure looks like a magnet for grit, grime, and every bit of trail debris a typical run throws at it. The outsole in particular seems like it will collect dirt.

The midsole structure is striking next to the usual foam contenders, but we are not convinced this is the future of running shoes. It feels more like a lifestyle model, even though Adidas lists it in the running shoe category. Combine that with high pricing and the practical concerns, and this one is a pass for us.

To be fair to Adidas, the Parley concept is genuinely admirable. Turning waste plastic bottles washed up on shores into new materials is a worthy cause, and it is good to see the industry getting on board.

4. Nike Air Zoom Max Fly More Up Tempo

A new version of Nike’s short-distance racing spike, styled after the famous basketball shoe, built for track distances between 100 and 400 meters and hurdles. The setup is aggressive: seven spike protrusions and a full-length carbon plate.

Under the forefoot sit two thinner Air Zoom pockets for a propulsive ride, notably thinner than the units seen in the Alphafly and the Tempo Next%. The upper is a scaly fish-like Flyweave construction with the now-standard notched laces.

It is one of the more expensive spikes out there, listed at $167.95, an oddly specific figure. For most runners this is a very specialized tool, and anyone who already owns a pair of dragonfly-style spikes will find this pure overkill. That makes it a pass as a purchase, though the styling is absolutely killer. As a design tribute to the Air More Up Tempo, it is a clear win, even if we would never race in it.

Buying Advice

If you race on the road and want the most extreme shoe Saucony has hinted at, the Endorphin Elite is the one to watch, pending confirmation that it actually ships. Trail runners looking for a plush but stable maximal option should keep an eye on the ZoomX Zegama, especially if that carbon plate makes it to production. The Adidas 4D Forward Parley makes sense mainly as a lifestyle piece if you love the look and support the recycled-material mission, but we would not recommend it as a serious running shoe. Track athletes shopping for sprint spikes between 100 and 400 meters are the only realistic audience for the Air Zoom Max Fly More Up Tempo, and they will be paying a premium for the styling.

Conclusion

Two yeses and two noes made for a fun round of picks. The Saucony Endorphin Elite and Nike ZoomX Zegama both push their categories forward in ways worth testing, while the Adidas 4D Forward Parley and the Air Zoom Max Fly More Up Tempo are best appreciated as design statements rather than everyday running purchases. We will update this piece as release details and confirmed specs emerge.