We’ve finally reached the point where nearly every brand is making an outstanding—and speedy—race day shoe. So, if there’s a brand or fit you love, you’re sure to have a great option that will get you a PR. But, after testing dozens of the newest, high-tech carbon-plated shoes, we found a few stood out. Lace up one of these winners and hold on tight—they’ll all get you across your next finish line fast.
Our staff and team of 300 local wear-testers ran in and evaluated more than 100 new models to determine the best running shoes so far this year. After each tester logged at least 100 miles in their pair, we analyzed the data collected in our shoe lab, and reviewed hundreds of feedback surveys from our test team to make our final selections.
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You’ve probably seen On’s new shoe on social media. The company set the running world abuzz when it displayed a robot that spun and twirled a shoe around while it sprayed a plastic material that would become the laceless upper. (Think of it as a highly precise hot-glue gun.) The process takes just three minutes, and when it’s over, you’re handed a shoe that’s still warm.
It’s a neat concept that makes for an exceptionally lightweight shoe. There’s a bit of a learning curve to getting your foot inside—you have to use your fingers to work the sides up around your foot, much differently than a normal shoe you slide into. Once on, we found the fit was secure, though you can’t adjust it if it doesn’t fit quite right. We did slightly Runner’s World+ Exclusive to reduce one irritation point.
Key Specs
| Weight | 6.2 oz (M), 5.2 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 4 mm |
| Features | Bouncy; Plated |
Underfoot, the Helion HF Hyper midsole, a Pebax-based foam, is relatively firm compared to the range of marathon racing shoes. There’s enough cushioning that I’d be confident taking it out for a half marathon, but I want something just a little softer for marathon-distance efforts. The foam and plate make the shoe super snappy and fast, which I appreciated during a session of 200-meter sprints.
If the laceless construction or the $330 price deters you, On makes a Cloudboom Strike that has a more traditional upper and laces. We’ve found that shoe provides a little more comfort for longer runs.—Jeff Dengate
Saucony Endorphin Elite 2
The Endorphin Elite 2 feels like running on pogo sticks. The original Elite, which came out in 2023, had Pwrrun HG foam, with HG referring to “highest grade.” But, alas, Saucony outdid itself with incrediRUN, a TPEE-based foam that’s incredibly soft and squishy. Delivering a ride that can only be described as “spongy propulsion” requires some grounding, which is why the brand updated the second version with a Pwrtrac outsole.
I raced in the Elite 2 at a very twisty 5K. I feared for my life at every corner—that’s how jaunty incrediRUN is, and that’s why you need sandpaper-like traction. Pwrtrac provided a tacky, stabilizing hold during descents and cornering. More self-possessed runners, like tester Eileen Cody, who trains at 7:00 pace, found the Elite 2’s stability more than satisfying. “The shoe finds the perfect balance of comfort, speed, and stability, which is the ideal for a racing shoe,” she said. “Its stable bottom allows for an even foot strike no matter whether it’s flat or a hilly terrain. This shoe combined the best aspects of the Pro 2 and the Elite 1, which makes for the ideal Saucony shoe.”
Key Specs
| Weight | 7 oz (unisex M9) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8 mm |
| Features | Bouncy; Plated |
But I am not crazy. “During cornering on road workouts, some instability was present with quick turns or 90-degree turns, as grip is also minimal as a weight-saving measure,” said tester Sean Phillips, who intends to race the Boston Marathon wearing the Elite 2 despite its lack of stability.—Amanda Furrer
Running Shoes & Gear
The Pro 4 has the original Elite’s cushioning, Pwrrun HG, which is fused with Pwrrun PB. This makes for a more stable ride compared to racing in the Elite 2—with plenty of snap. Consistent with all iterations before it, the Pro 4 has a rocker geometry that helped me better the previous year’s 13.1 time despite not being at the height of racing fitness.
Key Specs
| Weight | 7.5 oz |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8 mm |
| Features | Bouncy; Plated |
Key Specs
| Weight | 6.5 oz |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8 mm |
| Features | Bouncy; Plated |
“The Running Shoes & Gear is a great upgrade in the Endorphin Pro lineup,” said tester Greg Jaindl, who’s run in all previous Endorphin Pros. “Saucony has nailed the smooth transition with their Speedroll technology. The Pro 4 also has enough cushioning for protection over longer distances, but it’s not so squishy that you lose out on the energy return.”—A.F.
Soft; Bouncy; Plated
When it seems that just about every shoe is getting a plate thrown into it, La Sportiva swings for the fences with this plateless racer. This shoe is every bit a “super shoe” as PEBA-based, carbon-plated competitors, but with the flexibility, durability, and traction to hold up on more technical terrain. The supercritical midsole features a blend of TPU and EVA, making it feel springy like a modern race shoe should, but it remains comfortable and durable for long, hard trail miles. And it excels on technical trails, where plated shoes often get tippy because the rigid plates snap in the direction of a rock or root when you step on them, rather than molding around those trail features.
The outsole grips to just about every surface, even on ice with a slight dusting of snow. And, like the Prodigio trainer that was released earlier, the Pro has a more accommodating fit than previous models from La Sportiva, especially in the forefoot. The sock-like liner and ankle collar still provide a secure lockdown, while your toes are able to spread out.
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.6 oz |
|---|---|
| Drop | 6 mm |
| Features | Bouncy |
Key Specs
| Weight | 7.9 oz |
|---|---|
| Drop | 6 mm |
| Features | Bouncy |
While everyone says not to try new things on race day, I can’t help but make my first run in a trail shoe a long one. I finished off 2024 by debuting the Prodigio Pro in a local 50K race, with a mix of pavement, double-track gravel, and rooty singletrack trails. The cushioning was welcome on frozen pavement and dirt paths, while the 4mm lugs provided enough grip on singletrack climbs to keep me bounding up the rolling hills to a sixth-place finish. But you might want to go up a half size due to the rigid toe cap, which is thin but surprisingly protective. I ended up with blisters on the front of the longest toe on each foot. I’ve since run multiple marathon-plus distance runs in a half size larger with no issue.—Pat Heine-Holmberg
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
The Adios Pro 4 is a rocket ship. Buckle up and hold on. The Pro lineup has been the brand’s top-performing racer on the roads, but this version took everything from before and dialed it up a notch. The most obvious improvement is the midsole foam—it’s incredibly soft and squishy-feeling, giving excellent comfort for long runs and marathon racing, but it somehow defies physics in that it’s also really fast. “I compare it most to the Nike Alphafly, not because of its weight or size but because of the very soft, marshmallowy feel of the cushioning underfoot,” said shoe tester Trevor Conde, who sports a 2:21 marathon PR.
It’s the shoe a number of us reached for on workouts when we came in fatigued from heavy training or when we wanted to come away not feeling beat up. The thick slab of foam let us run fast and recover quickly.
Key Specs
| Weight | 6.9 oz |
|---|---|
| Drop | 6 mm |
| Features | Soft; Bouncy; Plated |
Key Specs
| Weight | 5.8 oz |
|---|---|
| Drop | 6 mm |
| Features | Soft; Bouncy; Plated |
The upper, too, is racy—perhaps a little too much so for me. My first 85 miles of testing went swimmingly—I laced the Pro 4 up for 400-meter repeats, marathon-paced tempo runs, and even a 10K race that I ran at marathon pace during my buildup. But, on a fast-finish 23-miler, where I was hitting low-6:00 pace at the end of a 110-mile week, I could feel my left big toe take a beating. When I peeled off my sock, I discovered a black toenail—my second ever in 40 years of running. The length of the shoe was fine; I double-checked. But, I suspect the fairly snug toebox—another tester got small blisters—combined with the sturdy upper material and slightly thicker toe cap created just enough repetitive trauma over 2.5 hours to cause bruising. That said, the shoe’s performance outweighs the need for a toenail.—J.D.
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Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
Published: Jun 03, 2025 10:16 AM EDT Runner’s World and the director of product testing. He has tested and reviewed running shoes, GPS watches, headphones, apparel, and more for nearly two decades. He regularly tests more than 100 pairs of shoes each year, and once had a 257-day streak running in different models. Jeff can usually be found on the roads, racing anything from the mile to a marathon, but he also enjoys racing up mountains and on snowshoes. When he’s not running, you’ll probably find him hanging from a ladder making repairs and renovations to his house (he’s also director of product testing for Popular Mechanics).
