Compare Running Shoes

15 ranked products · Two to 4 at a time · Updated 18 Aug 2026

Pick any two to four of the 15 ranked running shoes and read them side by side. This page opens on the board's top 3, adidas Adizero EVO SL, ASICS Novablast 5 and Brooks Ghost 18.

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Running Shoes compared side by side. Each column is one product, each row is one measure taken from the same research that built the board.
Measure	adidas adidas Adizero EVO SL	ASICS ASICS Novablast 5	Brooks Brooks Ghost 18	ASICS ASICS Gel-Kayano 33	Saucony Saucony Endorphin Speed 4	ASICS ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo	Hoka Hoka Mach 6	ASICS ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27	Nike Nike Pegasus 41	Hoka Hoka Clifton 9	New Balance New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14	Nike Nike Alphafly 3	adidas adidas Ultraboost 5	On On Cloud 6	adidas adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
Tier	S	A	A	B	B	C	C	C	C	C	C	D	D	F	F
Rank on this board	1 of 15	2 of 15	3 of 15	4 of 15	5 of 15	6 of 15	7 of 15	8 of 15	9 of 15	10 of 15	11 of 15	12 of 15	13 of 15	14 of 15	15 of 15
Ladder points	927 LP	843 LP	694 LP	610 LP	607 LP	493 LP	477 LP	474 LP	380 LP	374 LP	369 LP	328 LP	220 LP	61 LP	0 LP
Our verdict	Ranked 3rd: race-grade foam that outlasts most supercritical midsoles at a mid-range price; the best durability-per-dollar in the modern category.	Ranked 1st: the best intersection of fun, price, and proven multi-hundred-mile durability; OutdoorGearLab explicitly flags its durability, which is the whole case for it.	Ranked 2nd: the category's most dependable franchise with no failure modes, consistent builds, and dual best-overall endorsements; loses the top spot only on ride excitement.	Ranked 6th: built like a tank for stability runners; among the longest-lasting shoes here, held back by weight and price.	Ranked 5th: a plated trainer with a four-generation reliability record; the nylon plate adds speed without the fragility of carbon.	Essentially co-best super shoe with the Alphafly; placed a hair behind on slightly less universal tester praise for non-elite paces.	Ranked 10th: genuinely fun and well-priced, but Hoka's fast-wearing road outsoles are a documented ownership penalty.	Ranked 7th: slow-wearing max cushion with a bombproof upper; pure long-haul competence with zero drama.	Ranked 8th: a durable discounted workhorse now that the 42 is arriving; great value, a step behind the leaders on ride quality.	A still-excellent cushioned trainer whose ageing status now means frequent discounts, which is exactly what makes it a buy.	Ranked 9th: excellent build and comfort, but the ultra-soft midsole loses its bounce earlier than the foams above it.	Ranked 13th: a superb one-day racer and a terrible possession: fragile, unstable at easy paces, and gone in a few hundred miles at racing-shoe money.	Fine as a sneaker, outclassed as a runner at its price; the brand's own EVO SL beats it for less.	Ranked 11th: honestly a serviceable shoe that beats the racers below on durability alone, but it is overpriced, firm-riding, and outclassed by every pick above; buy the Novablast 5 instead.	Ranked 14th: the worst ownership proposition in the category: flagship racing money for a shoe engineered to survive about one marathon. Nothing below it because nothing can be below it.
What reviewers rate	Lightstrike Pro foam from the same compound family as adidas' racers in an unplated trainer Foam has proven far more mileage-resistant than most supercritical foams Excellent value per mile The Independent ranks it the number one running shoe overall in its women's testing	Consensus do-it-all daily trainer with genuine durability credentials, rare for a bouncy, fun shoe OutdoorGearLab praises its plush cushioning, durability, and all-around reliability Works as a one-shoe-quiver option Wirecutter treats the Novablast line as a core franchise	The safest recommendation in the category Long track record of consistent builds and few failure complaints Yahoo Health names it best overall for its supportive yet comfortable feel Runner's World names the Ghost line Best Overall for beginners, a slot held across generations	Stability flagship for overpronators, built heavy-duty on purpose Kayano outsoles and uppers are among the most durable in the category Decades of generation-over-generation consistency Among the longest-lasting shoes in the category	The nylon-plated trainer that has defined its niche for four generations Plate is flexible rather than fragile Owners routinely report 400-500 mile lifespans Adds speed without the fragility of carbon	The other half of the super shoe duopoly The stride-runner's race shoe Featured in expert-tested 2026 roundups such as 220 Triathlon's 15 favourites	The liveliest shoe in the category A genuine performance bargain Well-priced	Max-cushion cruiser with a thick, slow-wearing midsole One of the most padded, hard-wearing uppers in the business A shoe you buy once and forget about for a year	The definition of a durable daily workhorse ReactX foam improved both longevity and energy return over prior Pegasus foams Widely discounted while remaining a mainstream, fully supported buy Great value as the 42 arrives	Light and soft cushioning Frequently discounted as it cycles out Still a mainstream recommendation	Plush premium daily trainer Comfortable, well-padded upper that wears gracefully Strong build quality Fresh Foam X line remains in Wirecutter's active testing rotation	A genuinely brilliant marathon racer Superb one-day racing performance	Lifestyle icon Fine as a casual sneaker	Honestly a serviceable shoe Beats the racer traps below it on durability alone	Reviews brilliantly as a hyper-racer Engineered for elite marathon performance
Where it falls short	Nothing recorded	Nothing recorded	Loses the top spot only on ride excitement	Held back by weight Held back by price	Nothing recorded	Slightly less universal tester praise for non-elite paces	Hoka road outsoles are a documented weak point that wears quickly	Nothing recorded	A step behind the leaders on ride quality The Pegasus 42 is the incoming generation, so the 41 is on its way out	Older generation now being replaced by a newer model	The very soft Fresh Foam X midsole creases early Loses some pop past 300 miles	Its price is terrible long-term value Fragile ZoomX midsole and exposed Air pods Many runners retire it within 150-200 miles Unstable at slow paces, making it a poor everyday choice	Coasting on a decade-old running reputation Heavy, warm, and dull underfoot Every expert-tested running list passes it over Outclassed by adidas's own cheaper, faster Adizero EVO SL	Premium pricing makes it poor value over the life of the shoe Firm and dated ride compared to modern foams CloudTec outsole with exposed pods wears and traps debris Outclassed by every pick above; a Novablast 5 or Ghost 18 costs less	A racing-shoe price tag Documented lifespan closer to a single race than a training block Fails in weeks of ownership despite brilliant reviews Almost no buyer should own it; the ASICS Megablast delivers most of the sensation with actual durability
Evidence behind it	30 sources across 24 outlets	48 sources across 36 outlets	53 sources across 42 outlets	32 sources across 27 outlets	16 sources across 13 outlets	26 sources across 21 outlets	40 sources across 33 outlets	27 sources across 21 outlets	30 sources across 26 outlets	24 sources across 22 outlets	8 sources across 8 outlets	27 sources across 25 outlets	7 sources across 6 outlets	35 sources across 22 outlets	16 sources across 16 outlets
Flagged as one to avoid	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 5 research runs	Not flagged	1 of 5 research runs	2 of 5 research runs	3 of 6 research runs	2 of 4 research runs
Announced	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Where to buy	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it

Every column is the same research that built the board. Nothing here is a specification sheet copied from a maker. Read how we rank for what a tier and a ladder point mean.