Standout Running Shoes of 2024 So Far: Six Pairs That Earned Their Place

Introduction

After a year of testing a big mix of road and trail running shoes from many different brands, a handful of models have clearly separated themselves from the pack. Some are surprise packages, some are all-rounders, and one or two are simply the most exciting things you can lace up on race day. Here are the standout running shoes of 2024 so far, and who each one is really for.

Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 Matrix: The Surprise Package

Merrell’s Agility Peak 5 has long been a reliably consistent trail shoe, but the more stripped-back MTL Skyfire 2 felt a little too minimal on underfoot comfort and protection. That made the MTL Long Sky 2 Matrix an unknown quantity, especially given how similar the two look. It turned out to be one of the surprise shoes of the year.

At just 261g it feels light and nimble on the trails, and despite a visually minimal midsole stack it delivers good comfort and underfoot protection. The Vibram Mega Grip outsole with its vibrant 5mm lug pattern gives great traction on all terrain and dependable grip in wet conditions. The Matrix upper is the durability pick here: the standard version is slightly more affordable, but there are reports of that upper breaking down quickly, so the tougher Matrix option looks like the safer buy.

It suits faster weekday sessions and nimble race-day duty, with enough comfort to happily carry you to marathon or 50k distance. You also get a roomier toe box than the Agility Peak 5, and the upper drains exceptionally well in wet conditions.

New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8: Built for Long Days

At the other end of the trail spectrum sits the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8, a shoe designed for steady long training runs and long hours on your feet in dry conditions. First impressions suggested it might be clunky and heavy, but that was never the case: it runs balanced and feels lighter than its 310g (UK 10) weight suggests, thanks to the relatively light Fresh Foam X compound.

The cushioning is generous without being overdone, and the shoe still feels nicely connected to the trail and stable on more technical ground. The upper gives a comfortable, secure midfoot lockdown with good heel hold, making this an easy shoe to forget you are wearing. It has already covered a 50k trail race and come through well.

The main limitation is traction: the 4mm lugs are small and shallow, so deep mud is a struggle. In the right environment, dry compacted trails and mixed trail-to-road running, the Vibram EcoStep rubber grips well and the Hierro v8 performs strongly.

Hoka Mach 6: The One-Shoe Solution

Switching from trail to road, the Hoka Mach 6 is a lightweight neutral daily trainer that immediately feels fast. At 237g in a UK 9.5 with a 5mm heel offset, it is a genuinely light shoe, and the super critical foam midsole feels comfortable, well balanced and springy whether you are cruising through a recovery run or pushing the tempo in a faster session.

Fit comes with caveats: the toe box is very narrow, so wider feet may struggle, though a wide version is offered. It also sizes slightly short, so going up half a size is worth considering for longer runs.

The real appeal is versatility. From long steady recoveries to tempo work, intervals, and race day from 5k to the marathon, the Mach 6 handles every part of a training week. If you want a one-stop shop for a single running shoe, this is a serious contender.

Inov-8 Trailfly: The Most Consistent Inov-8 Yet

Inov-8 has been through a lot of change, from rebranding to a reshaped lineup, and opinion on the new identity is divided. But the changes to the shoes themselves have largely been positive, and the new Trailfly is arguably the most consistent trail shoe the brand has produced.

Previous models had compromises: the Trailfly G 270’s thin tongue and ankle collar caused irritation on longer runs, and its zero-drop platform did not suit long miles, while the deeply cushioned G 300 Max was simply too heavy. The Trailfly avoids all of those issues. The new anatomical fit offers real wiggle room in the toe box with a secure midfoot lockdown and good heel hold, recalling the roomy feel of an Altra shoe, but on a 6mm offset rather than zero drop.

The Powerflow Pro foam paired with bouncy Boomerang footbeds balances comfort and connection on all surfaces, and the flexible midfoot and forefoot keep it nimble on technical trails. Inov-8’s new graphene grip rubber blend with a 4mm lug pattern performed brilliantly in the wet, feeling super sticky even on a soaking wet cliff scramble, though shallow lugs mean deep mud is not its territory. Drainage could also be quicker after a full soaking.

La Sportiva Prodigio: The Best All-Rounder From La Sportiva

An honorable mention that easily deserves its own spotlight: the La Sportiva Prodigio may be the best all-round trail shoe the brand has produced. Put to the ultimate test over 100 miles at the South Downs Way 100, it delivered an impressively comfortable upper and a Xflow foam midsole that held up over compacted, rocky trails.

The results speak for themselves: the shoes went on at the start and never came off, no sock change, no retying the laces, and at the finish there was only a very small blister on the outside edge of one heel. No other blisters, no black toenails. That is a strong result over 100 miles.

At £125 retail, and seen for as little as £112.50, it is also very reasonably priced for a well-rounded trail shoe.

Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 3: Fast, Light and Gorgeous

Quite possibly the best-looking running shoe of the year, the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 3 is more than just a pretty face. The bootie-style upper is genuinely difficult to get into, but once you have forced your way in, the fit is superb: foot-hugging, secure, and so light you can barely feel the shoe. At 215g in a UK 9.5, it is a super-light trail shoe.

The dual-compound Energy Foam midsole offers good comfort and energy return for such a minimal trail shoe, and the chunky 4.5mm lugs add confidence on trail. It is an exciting, responsive, nimble shoe built for faster training sessions and race days.

The trade-offs are real, though: it has to be among the narrowest trail shoes around, crazy narrow in the toe and midfoot, and it is expensive at £190. If you have a narrow foot and want a fast, fun race-day shoe, it is well worth a look.

Buying Advice: Which One Fits Your Running?

Match the shoe to the job. For quick trail sessions and race-day nimbleness with genuine wet-weather grip, the Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 Matrix and Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 3 lead the way, the latter only if your feet are narrow and your budget generous. For long, steady trail days in dry conditions, the New Balance Hierro v8 and Inov-8 Trailfly both deliver comfort and consistency, with the Trailfly adding more room in the toe box. On the road, the Hoka Mach 6 covers nearly everything a training week can throw at it, and the La Sportiva Prodigio is the value pick for all-round trail duty.

Conclusion

The common thread across these six shoes is that each one does its intended job exceptionally well, whether that is lightweight speed, long-run comfort, or all-round versatility. Pick the one that matches the running you actually do, and you are unlikely to be disappointed.