Intro to the Best Running Shoes of 2024
It’s kind of unbelievable that another year has passed, and what a year it was for running. From the Olympic Trials to the actual Olympics to world records being smashed in the marathon to the rise of the running club and the explosion of run brands across all segments of footwear and apparel, it’s undeniable– running is having a moment like never before.
Here at Believe in the Run, we’re doing out best to surf this wave and bring you along for the ride. While we try to do that with our podcasts (The Drop and Fuel for the Sole), our twice yearly GRIT distance challenge, and our many activations around the globe each year where we get to meet you all, the fact of the matter is this: the cornerstone of our content is our running shoe reviews.
For the past 15 years, we’ve done our best to provide you with the most in-depth and honest running shoe reviews in the world. We’ve been here for the barefoot trend, the zero-drop trend, the beginnings of the lightweight, carbon-plated race day shoes, the rise of the super trainers, and now– the culmination of all those things.
Over the past year, we’ve accumulated thousands of miles across many models, trying almost every running shoe out there. One thing is evident– running shoes have gotten so good over the last few years, it’s hard to find a really bad one anymore. Performance that could only be found in the best race day shoes a short time ago is now trickling down to everything else. And while prices fluctuate, usually higher, on the high end of things, not much has changed. The Nike Vaporfly 4% was $250 nearly a decade ago, and almost every race day shoe remains in that same range.
All that to say, shoes are good. Like, really good. So it was hard to choose our favorites.
However, there are still trainers that stand out above the rest. We’ve tried every shoe on this list and a ton that aren’t on here, and there were some tough decisions we had to make. Like a parent with kids, it’s hard to pick a favorite when they’re all pretty amazing. The good news is that we can still give trophies based on their individual talents and participation ribbons for the runner-ups.
So that’s what we did here, breaking them up into their own individual categories. And while our subjective tastes may differ from yours, we’ve found that our recommendations work for most runners out there. We think you’ll find the same.
Here’s to a great year of running behind us, and an even better year ahead.
(This is the first list in our Best in Gear awards, stay tuned for the Best Trail Running Shoes of 2024.)
This shoe has almost everything we could want, featuring a PEBA top layer of foam, a Pebax plate, and a rocker geometry that keeps us rolling through the stride. It’s probably our favorite ride of any shoe on this list. BUT– and it’s a big but, we cannot lie– the heel collar is a downright Shakespearean tragedy. Multiple reviewers on our team had their Achilles torn to death from the thing, no matter the sock length. That’s enough to tank a shoe, but maybe it’ll work for you. Good news: next year’s model fixes it, so look forward to that.
After the mildly disappointing Alphafly 2, and a generally mediocre run of Nike shoes in 2023, we weren’t sure what we’d get for the third version of this landmark marathon shoe. Well, it’s on this list, so obviously it was pretty damn good. A return to the greatness of the original, the Alphafly 3 returned with a lighter weight, a more propulsive bounce, and all of the speed that made us fall in love in the first place. The only caveat — if you had issues with the aggressive arch in the original, then you may want to skip to the next shoe on this list.
HONORABLE MENTION
Asics Metaspeed Sky/Edge Paris
$250
The roles seem to have switched this time, making the Sky more aggressive and the Edge more comfortable. But whichever shoe you choose, know that you’re getting the lightest race-day shoe on the market (aside from the hard-to-find Adidas Pro Evo 1) with a dialed-in upper and a more comfortable midsole ride than past versions of the Metaspeed.
HONORABLE MENTION
Hoka Cielo X1
$275
This shoe may have taken the number one spot if not for its staggering price tag ($275). But it may be the most fun running shoe we’ve ever tried. Hoka calls the Cielo X1 a race-day shoe; we disagree, but we can agree on this — if you buy it, you won’t regret it. Just change the laces.
HONORABLE MENTION
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4
$140
The third version of this shoe tried to be too democratic, but we’re back in action with the Rebel v4. The FuelCell midsole is light and bouncy and feels exciting every time you take it out onto the pavement. From daily training to faster paces, this shoe works all the angles.
HONORABLE MENTION #1
Hoka Mach 6
$140
If we had to choose another shoe that’s simple and straightforward but provides everything we need for training, then the Hoka Mach 6 would fit the bill. It’s almost nothing like the Superblast — cheap and lower-stacked with a single layer of foam in the midsole, yet it’s bouncy and flexible enough for weekly runs around the harbor and speedier workouts alike.
HONORABLE MENTION #2
Saucony Endorphin Speed 4
$170
We had to make an exception to our “two shoes per category rule” for the Endorphin Speed 4. Every version of this shoe has been solid, and this one seems to balance out the aggressiveness of the first two with the safety of the third. Bouncy and propulsive thanks to the PWRRUN PB foam midsole and the nylon plate, but comfortable enough for any distance thanks to the higher stack, this shoe continues to be a winner.
Straight up, the Brooks uppers on the 2024 Hyperion line are the best uppers in the industry. Nothing harnesses that fit more than the Hyperion Max 2, a shoe that has only one speed: Tempo or faster. Meaning, this isn’t an everyday trainer or easy pace shoe, but when you hit that sweet spot of speed, at either short intervals or longer tempo runs, it’s really, really hard to find a more enjoyable experience in a shoe. The upper enhances that experience, locking the foot down perfectly over the midsole, allowing you to dig into all the shoe has to offer.
HONORABLE MENTION
Mount to Coast R1
$160
When someone tries to reinvent any part of a running shoe, it usually falls flat — which is what we thought would happen with the R1, a shoe that features a zonal lacing system, with regular laces in the top half and a bungee-style lacing on the bottom. The goal is to allow for adjustments over longer distances when the foot swells up. Turns out, it works, and it ends up providing one of the better fitting uppers with a really nice ride underfoot.
HONORABLE MENTION
Puma Magmax Nitro
$180
It was a close call, but only because the Magmax Nitro reminds us so much of the Glycerin Max. It very easily could have taken the top spot, and if you don’t like the aggressive toe-off of the Glycerin Max, then choose this one. Perhaps the best way to think of it is as a max-cushion version of the Deviate Nitro 3, complete with a thick slab of Nitro foam and excellent PumaGrip coverage along the outsole. Also, despite everything that the MagMax Nitro has going on underfoot, it feels surprisingly light while you rack up the miles.
HONORABLE MENTION
Brooks Hyperion 2
$140
As simple as it gets with a running shoe, the standard Hyperion (not to be confused with the aforementioned Hyperion Max) features the best upper in the game and pairs it with a lower stack, plateless DNA Flash v2 midsole. Straightforward speed for those who like their running shoes for running.
HONORABLE MENTION
Mount to Coast P1
$160
Late in the year, Sam received a shoe that almost changed his final verdict — the Mount to Coast P1. As mentioned above, we’ve been big fans of the way Mount to Coast has approached its debut, and its simple, straightforward approach works just as well for stability shoes as it does for long-distance racers. The P1 skips some of the more intense stability technologies we’ve seen, choosing to deploy a much simpler 3D Archrail that works remarkably well without drastically changing the ride underfoot.
HONORABLE MENTION
Mizuno Neo Vista
$180
It’s not every day that a shoe this good sneaks up on us, but what can we say? We should have known that Mizuno had something cooking when its Rebellion Pro 2 became a solid — if unorthodox — race day pick, and now the Neo Vista has slotted in as a really, really good option for long runs thanks to its smooth rocker and dual-layered midsole. By the way, our editor, Ryan, used it as his primary training shoe for the Amsterdam Marathon just a few months back.
HONORABLE MENTION
Hoka Skyward X
$225
Not long after we helped launch Hoka’s Cielo X1, we had a wild new trainer from the brand sneak across our Instagram feeds. Both Thomas and Meg were immediately chomping at the bit, waiting for their chance to get it on their feet, and the Skyward X delivered. It’s got everything — over 45 mm of foam in the heel, a carbon fiber plate in the middle (I mean, duh, with X in the name), and an incredibly comfortable flat knit upper. It ain’t cheap, but that’s the price of fun.
HONORABLE MENTION
Veja Condor 3
$200
The first two versions of this shoe were unrunnable, so we had zero expectations for this one. But we gotta say — for a brand that is squarely in the lifestyle realm, this shoe is surprisingly nice as a runner. Now, it’s not the lightest shoe on the market, but if you want something that looks great casually, is incredibly comfortable for walking, and can easily handle 3-5 miles, then this is our go-to pick. I’ve personally worn the hell out of this shoe all year long, and I’d do it again if given the chance.
Honorable Mention
On Cloudrunner 2
$150
I’m as shocked as you are to have On as the honorable mention for wide-foot running shoes, but here we are with the Cloudrunner 2. My low expectations caused complete surprise at how much I enjoyed this shoe. The upper fit great and felt luxurious. The midsole was good enough for daily miles. The white and green colorway is gorgeous for casual wear. It clearly checks all the boxes to come together as an incredibly solid shoe. Congrats, On!
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The original Superblast was my favorite shoe of all time, past tense, only because it has been replaced by its successor, the Superblast 2. This version improves on an already amazing base by making the upper more comfortable and tweaking the foam so it feels perfect right out of the box. Buyer beware, though — version two runs a bit shorter than version one did. My US M11.5 was tighter on the tootsies this time around. Everything else about the shoe, however, is unimpeachable.
Honorable Mention
Saucony Endorphin Speed 4
$170
There really hasn’t been a bad version of this shoe, but this one brings the team in for a big group hug. The Endorphin Speed 4 takes the fast and snappy elements from the Speed 2 and the stability and daily trainer elements from the Speed 3, and melds them together into a fantastic shoe that can handle anything– slower miles, tempo runs, or even a race day. Bigger runners rejoice, there’s a shoe designed for speed that can handle us!
Honorable Mention
New Balance SC Elite v4
$250
If there’s one shoe that’s going to provide all the comfort you need during the marathon, it’s the SC Elite v4. A big chunk of soft FuelCell foam with a carbon fiber plate to stabilize it makes this ideal for anyone dipping their toes into the marathon distance for the first time. Or, if you’re a four-hour marathoner looking for comfort in a lightweight performance package, this shoe will be perfect for you.
In my opinion, having a good gym shoe is just as important as having a good running shoe, especially when you’re lifting heavy. A good shoe can help provide stability to avoid major injuries that could sideline you from running. For me, I want something secure and stable while still being comfortable that provides a solid base for big compound movements like squats and deadlifts.
The TYR CXT-2 Trainer checks off everything I look for in a lifting shoe and is my favorite for 2024. The upper fit is comfortable and provides good volume while providing a secure lockdown, and the underfoot is sturdy and stable. Plus, my monochrome all-red colorway was pretty sweet, and the rest of the brand’s colorways are equally as solid.
HONORABLE MENTION
Rabbit Dream Chaser
$160
As much as we absolutely love Rabbit’s running apparel, the initial run of this shoe should’ve stayed buried in the burrow. We’ll say this: The overall ride of the Dream Chaser wasn’t terrible. Maybe nice, even. But the original design — which has since been amended — featured carbon fiber strips on the outsole that had no purpose but to grind against rocks. The design was just head-scratching, and the knit upper — while comfortable — definitely seemed more like a lifestyle shoe. However, the good news is that they made inline changes to fix both of those problems, which means the current version is actually pretty nice. That’s a sign of a great brand that listens to consumers. And a new trail shoe coming in 2025 looks even nicer.
