Top 5 Running Shoes of 2024: Our Favorite Launches of the Year

Introduction

2024 was a crowded year for running shoe launches, and narrowing it down to five favorites was not easy. The picks below span the full range of what matters to runners: a lightweight tempo trainer, a max-cushion cruiser, a carbon race shoe that undercuts the competition, a true do-it-all trainer, and a race shoe that simply made every run more enjoyable. Each earned its place through months of real training and racing, not just a first-run impression.

5. New Balance Rebel v4: The Lightweight Tempo Trainer

The New Balance Rebel v4 launched in January in the US and went global a month later, and it has stayed in the rotation ever since. It carries hallmarks of the New Balance SC Elite v4, including the Phantom Fit upper, which makes it a natural training companion for that shoe and for other carbon racing shoes.

The headline feature is the weight. This is a genuinely lightweight daily trainer, with a thin, minimal upper that makes it easy to slip on and easy to want to run in. The FuelCell midsole has no plate at all, yet the shoe still encourages an up-tempo rhythm, making it ideal for faster training sessions and mid-distance runs. It is probably not the shoe for very high mileage weeks, but for pace work and moderate distances it excels, and durability appears solid for the price of around $140.

4. Hoka Skyward X: Max Cushion With a Fun Streak

Hoka had a strong year, and the Skyward X was a standout in the max-stack cushioning category. It is described as very comfortable, very protective, and above all fun to run in, which edged it out over the Hoka Hurricane 24 for a place here.

Yes, it is a heavy shoe, but it never feels cumbersome. It is also more roomy and accommodating than most Hoka shoes, a real departure for anyone who has found the brand’s fit too narrow. A plate sits in the midsole, and the result is a shoe that works brilliantly on tired legs, on long runs, and even at moderate paces during marathon training. It may not match the versatility of the Asics SuperBlast 2, but for easy recovery runs and steady moderate running, it delivers consistently.

3. Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3: A Carbon Racer Under $200

The Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is the shoe that finally puts Puma among the top tier of carbon racing shoes. Previous versions were good, but this one genuinely competes with the best, and it costs less than most of them, coming in below the $200 mark.

It ticks every box a carbon racer should: it is super light, slips on easily with no heel rub, and has just enough padding in the heel collar and upper wrap to feel like a traditional running shoe while keeping a racing fit. The updated midsole is the real elevation, delivering a lively, propulsive, aggressive ride that stays surprisingly stable and controlled. It performed well at shorter distances and felt fantastic at half marathon, tested during a half marathon race. If a marathon were on the calendar, this would be a serious consideration, and it is the pick for anyone who wants elite-level racing performance without paying over $200.

2. Asics SuperBlast 2: The Do-It-All Shoe

If the dream is one shoe that covers every run, the Asics SuperBlast 2 is the closest thing to it this year. It handles easy recovery runs, faster sessions, track work, and is comfortable enough to race in over half marathon and marathon distances.

For a well-stacked shoe, it is remarkably light, close to daily-trainer weight. What sets it apart is how smoothly it transitions between paces: from an easy run to a tempo effort, it feels the most natural of any shoe in this category. It has proven itself as a travel shoe that can handle anything from a quick parkrun to a long Sunday run without a second thought. It is expensive and notoriously difficult to find in stock, especially compared with other daily trainers, but for a single-shoe rotation it is worth the money.

View more details for Asics Superblast 2

1. Hoka Cielo X1: The Most Fun You Can Have in a Race Shoe

The Cielo X1 was one of the first carbon racing shoes to launch in 2024, and it represents a genuine leap in Hoka’s midsole technology. It is not perfect: the laces could be better, and an upgraded version is already on the way. Everything else, though, makes it a fantastic and enjoyable shoe to run in.

Used through marathon training, including some favorite 20-mile long runs, it proved bouncy, lively, and remarkably smooth-rolling, leaving legs feeling far less beaten up than expected. It also works for track sessions and up-tempo runs, and it would be a legitimate marathon race choice. Every time it comes out of the box, it promises a good run, and that fun factor is what earned it the top spot over the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris, itself a superb premium racer. It is an expensive shoe, as most carbon racers are, but it stood out from the very first run.

Buying Advice

If you can only buy one shoe, the Asics SuperBlast 2 is the most versatile pick, provided you can find it and accept the price. Runners building a rotation should look at the Rebel v4 for tempo work and the Skyward X for recovery days, then add the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 or Cielo X1 for race day. The Puma is the smarter value choice for racing; the Hoka is the more emotional one.

Conclusion

The common thread across these five shoes is that each one makes running genuinely enjoyable, whether through lightweight speed, plush protection, or a propulsive race-day ride. Match the shoe to the runs you actually do most often, and any of these 2024 launches will serve you well.