SIX OF THE BEST RUNNING SHOE BRANDS FOR 2024

Made in collaboration with HAVEN, this pair of norda 003 trainers boasts a comfortable laceless slip-on build that complements the sleek, neutral color palette. Both stylish and engineered for performance, the norda 003 exemplifies the attitude that has made the brand such a hit with experts and amateurs alike. With a waterproof lining, Vibram® midsole, and outsole offering support and all-terrain traction, this pair is designed to weather all conditions on the trails. While it will offer a smooth road run, its firm midsole and heavier build will begin to drag over time. The norda 003 runs small, so take a half-size up.

In comparison to its 001 and 003 counterparts, the norda 002 takes a much more lightweight shape. Still cut with Dyneema® ripstop uppers and built on a Vibram® Litebase® and Megagrip® rubber outsole, it’s ready to take on seriously challenging conditions, though. While the above norda 003 weighs a surprisingly low 268 grams, the norda 002 clocks in at an even lighter 249 grams, thanks to the slimmer midsole.

The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 25 hit shelves in early 2023 to almost universal acclaim. Many running magazines voted it the most comfortable running shoe of the moment—an accolade that continues into 2024. What really separates the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 25, though, is its versatility. It’s comfortable over long distances and does well on a range of terrains. This shoe’s famous comfort comes from a combination of factors, most notably a PureGEL™ padded footbed and OrthoLite™ X-55 sockliner. Underneath this cushioning is an FF BLAST™ eco foam rubber midsole and treaded AHAR™ rubber outsole which, standing at 40-millimeter height, offer bounce as well as a robust shield against rocky ground.

Most ASICS running shoes pride themselves on versatility—neutral palettes and quiet detailing—but the ASICS NOOSA TRI 15 does no such thing. The unmissable blue and yellow visuals of this pair are matched by equally eye-catching tech, from the lightweight mesh and knit uppers to the FLYTEFOAM™ rubber midsole and treaded AHARPLUS™ rubber outsole. The product is a shoe that’s fit for race day.

While the primary reason for the rampant popularity of the adidas Ultraboost is its casual styling, it’s hard to overstate the impact that this silhouette has had in terms of technology. Acting as a vehicle for many of adidas’s best exports like Boost cushioning and PRIMEKNIT uppers, the Ultraboost normalized high-end performance engineering in an easy-to-style package. Subsequent iterations of the style, like the Ultraboost Light, have cemented this sneaker’s place in the running-shoe hall of fame.

adidas launched its TERREX sublabel in 2011, jumping on the gorpcore train several stations before the majority. Focusing on designs for harsh conditions, adidas TERREX is home to silhouettes like the Free Hiker 2, which consistently appears in lists of the best trail running shoes. An upper cut from breathable waterproof GORE-TEX ripstop and mesh sits atop a Boost EVA foam rubber midsole and treaded Continental™ rubber sole for equal cushioning and protection.

Burgeoning Korean fashion brand CAYL brings its utilitarian flavor to the New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail v3 with a beautiful earthy color palette. The collaboration changes nothing in the way of tech, with the silhouette’s fan-favorite sole unit remaining untouched. A sculptural Fresh Foam X rubber midsole and treaded Vibram® sole promise to eat up any terrain and offer some of the most effective energy-return seen in the trail running market.

New Balance’s FuelCell cushioning has grown quickly to become one of the brand’s most widely used features. Providing super-lightweight bounce, it forms the ideal basis for a race day shoe. The FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2 is a best-in-class road running shoe thanks to its Energy Arc technology, which uses the runner’s gait to amplify forward motion.

The Salomon XT-6 is the chosen one in terms of the fashion-performance crossover that has dominated sneaker culture for the past few years. But beyond the fashion week appearances, the XT-6 is a gritty trail runner designed to thrive in harsh conditions. Features like the molded OrthoLite® footbed, Agile Chassis System™ on the midsole, and treaded Contagrip® EVA rubber outsole provide support, comfort, and a protective shell while the famous Quicklace closure locks the foot in place and avoids any untied laces.

With the arrival of hard-wearing knit fabrics, the prevalence of sock sneakers has grown rapidly in recent years. Fitted with a Matryx® canvas and knit upper, the Salomon Pulsar Reflective Advanced Sneakers are easy to slip on but stay in place even on tough terrain. What’s more, the lightweight uppers provide protection well beyond their weight. While this pair won’t hold up to the elements like an XT-6, the lighter sole unit boasts a treaded Contagrip® rubber sole, promising a swifter run on kinder surfaces.

Launched at the end of 2023, the On Cloudeclipse is one of the newest running shoes on this list. Among max-cushioned running shoes, it’s up there with the most exciting. The paneled knit upper features perforation where needed to provide a lightweight, breathable layer that shines over long distances. While the sole unit stands at 37 millimeters with a drop of 6 millimeters to the forefoot, the shoe still only clocks in at 240 grams. The Helion™ foam rubber midsole and Speedboard® rubber outsole unsurprisingly offer a cloudlike running experience, returning energy at every step thanks to the collapsible gaps in the midsole. Make no mistakes, this sole unit is made for speed, so the Cloudeclipse doesn’t have the kind of durability that a daily runner should have, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable race day companion.

Perforated mesh and knit uppers meet a bonded mudguard, which covers the heel and drops at the midfoot. Design features like this minimize weight and maximize protection where it’s most needed. The real star of the show here—like with most On running shoes—is the sole. A cushioned Helion™ CloudTec Phase™️ foam rubber midsole coupled with a Speedboard® rubber outsole gives the On Cloudmonster its unmistakable visual character, as well as doing the heavy lifting in terms of comfort. The hexagonal structure is firmer than most On sole units, making the Cloudmonster a great all-rounder when it comes to distance and terrain.