The 11 Most Used Running Shoes of 2025, Ranked by Runners

Introduction

Every year we run a poll asking which shoes runners have actually been training and racing in, and 2025 drew roughly 520 votes after cleaning out the rogue entries. The rule is simple: a shoe does not have to have launched in 2025 to qualify, it just has to be the one you keep reaching for. The result is a genuinely useful snapshot of what is working for real runners, not just what launched loudest. Unsurprisingly, the final chart mixes daily trainers, do-everything hybrids, and proper super shoes.

Honorable Mention: Puma Velocity Nitro 4

The Puma Velocity Nitro 4 just missed the top 10 by a decimal place, which feels almost cruel for a shoe this good. It remains one of the best daily running shoes of 2025, with a soft, reasonable stack of Puma Nitro foam, a low weight, and a low drop. Expect it to chart again in 2026, especially with the discounts floating around in sale season.

10. ASICS Novablast 5

The ASICS Novablast 5 is a softer take on the classic Novablast formula, which has now been around for roughly five years. This version uses the more compressive FF Blast Max foam, a cushioning choice ASICS appears to be rolling out across more of its running lineup. Even with that change in feel, it remains a popular all-rounder and a solid daily trainer that earned its place in the top 10.

9. Puma Fast R3

The Puma Fast R3 is the hard-to-find racing shoe people buy on sight when they can actually locate a pair. Released in very small quantities, it has frustrated plenty of runners with cash in hand. This carbon-plated PTPU racer is extremely light, with an upper so thin it is almost transparent. Built for half and marathon pace, it is an aggressive shoe with an extreme heel bevel and a nearly decoupled arch area, and it runs narrow. Not for everyone, but very hard to beat for fun and excitement.

8. Nike Alphafly 3

The Nike Alphafly 3 sits at number eight, and the enthusiasm is easy to understand. It has proven comfortable and fun over a full marathon, delivering that top-tier super shoe experience. The main catch is cost, though sale-season discounts have brought the price down, which likely explains why so many pairs are finding new homes this winter. A genuinely top shoe that plenty of runners clearly agree on.

7. Nike Zoomfly 6

The Nike Zoomfly 6 is an absolute banger of a carbon-plated trainer-racer hybrid. The ride is comfortable and it excels on long runs with some pace thrown in, while durability is seriously on point for a shoe with ZoomX foam inside. The foam is not too exposed thanks to protective layers around it, the outsole rubber is decent, and it stays nimble in poor conditions. With frequent discounts bringing it under the 100 pound mark, plenty of colorways, and genuine dual training and racing ability, it is easy to see why it charts so highly.

6. Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3

The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 has become more readily available in 2025, and runners picking it up on discount have been enjoying that Nitro Elite foam underfoot. It is a narrower fit, but the outsole grip is fantastic and durability is on point. There is a real snap from the carbon plate, the weight is low, and the upper is excellent. Historically priced just under the 200 pound mark, it undercuts several rival super shoes, making it one of the best value propositions in the super shoe category.

5. ASICS Megablast

The ASICS Megablast lands at number five, and it might have placed higher if availability had not held it back so badly. Those who managed to buy a pair found very little to fault: a fun, versatile shoe with a bouncy midsole, excellent outsole durability, and low weight. The trade-off is the price, which is undeniably steep. For everyone who did get a pair, it has clearly been a keeper.

4. Nike Vomero Plus

The Nike Vomero Plus is a shoe that grows on you. It works as the proper follow-up to the Invincible Run series, with a full ZoomX midsole and generous rubber coverage on the outsole, making it a genuine daily-use option. The plush upper adds a little weight, and the price sits around the 150 pound mark, though discounts are currently easy to find. It suits daily easy and recovery paces rather than faster sessions, and makes a great slow long run shoe.

3. Adidas Adios Pro 4

The Adidas Adios Pro 4 grabbed roughly 6% of all votes, which is a strong showing for a dedicated racer. It retails around 220, but frequent discounts have convinced many runners to pick up cheap pairs for both training and racing. It is light, soft, and versatile enough to race any of the common distances. Grip from the Lightstrike outsole is top notch and the three-stripe aesthetic is one of the best looking in the game. The only recurring issue mentioned is the occasional broken energy rod. Otherwise, runners have genuinely loved their pairs.

2. ASICS Superblast 2

The ASICS Superblast 2 just pipped the Adios Pro 4 for second place. One of the best shoes of 2024, it stayed a favorite through 2025 thanks to an improved upper fit, excellent outsole grip, and all-round usability. Availability was brutal at launch, but ASICS rolled out more pairs in 2025 and more runners discovered how good it is. It takes a few miles to get the best out of the midsole, but owners report 400 to 500 miles of use with the ride feeling as great as day one. A brilliant shoe and a real fan favorite.

1. Adidas Evo SL

The Adidas Evo SL did not just win, it obliterated the field. It took roughly 15.2% of all votes in the entire poll, more than double the shoe in second place, and over a quarter of all top-10 votes. Adidas disrupted the running shoe world by putting its responsive Lightstrike Pro foam on top of a decent upper with great traction, then pricing it like a Nike Pegasus. With discounts as low as 80 and close to a million colorways available, it is a no-brainer to try even if it does not work for you. Some runners find it a little too soft, and there are minor gripes about the laces and tongue slide, but it needs some miles to truly unlock that light, nimble cushioned midsole. The most used shoe of 2025 by a huge margin.

Buying Advice

If you want one do-everything shoe, the Evo SL and Superblast 2 are the safest bets, with the Novablast 5 and Velocity Nitro 4 as more affordable daily options. For pure marathon racing, the Alphafly 3 and Adios Pro 4 lead the way, while the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 and Zoomfly 6 cover both training and racing at lower prices. The Vomero Plus is the pick for easy miles and slower long runs. Hunt for discounts before paying full price, because nearly every shoe on this list has been significantly cheaper in recent sales.

Conclusion

The story of 2025 is clear: runners gravitated toward versatile shoes they could log big miles in, with the Adidas Evo SL’s combination of premium foam and accessible pricing proving irresistible. Whether you chase a bouncy daily trainer or a podium-ready racer, this list shows exactly where real runners are spending their miles, and their money.