Compare Running Shoes

17 ranked products · Two to 4 at a time · Updated 13 Sept 2026

Pick any two to four of the 17 ranked running shoes and read them side by side. This page opens on the board's top 3, ASICS Novablast 5, Adidas Adizero EVO SL 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	ASICS ASICS Novablast 5	Adidas Adidas Adizero EVO SL	Brooks Brooks Ghost 18	Saucony Saucony Endorphin Speed 4	ASICS ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo	ASICS ASICS Gel-Kayano 33	Hoka Hoka Mach 6	Nike Nike Alphafly 3	Nike Nike Pegasus 41	ASICS ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27	Adidas Adidas Duramo Speed 2	Hoka Hoka Clifton 9	New Balance New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14	Nike Nike Pegasus Premium	adidas adidas Ultraboost 5	Adidas Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3	On On Cloud 6
Tier	S	S	A	B	B	B	B	C	C	C	D	D	D	F	F	F	F
Rank on this board	1 of 17	2 of 17	3 of 17	4 of 17	5 of 17	6 of 17	7 of 17	8 of 17	9 of 17	10 of 17	11 of 17	12 of 17	13 of 17	14 of 17	15 of 17	16 of 17	17 of 17
Ladder points	894 LP	867 LP	731 LP	603 LP	565 LP	527 LP	516 LP	490 LP	443 LP	426 LP	349 LP	292 LP	290 LP	155 LP	150 LP	102 LP	19 LP
Our verdict	The Novablast 5 is consistently ranked as the best neutral shoe for speed and comfort, offering high energy return and a great fit, as noted by Runner’s World and Wirecutter.	The Adizero EVO SL is a fast, lightweight shoe that feels natural and offers a responsive feel and good traction, as cited by Runner’s World and RTINGS.	The Ghost 18 is highlighted as the most balanced shoe for everyday mileage, combining durability and comfort, and is praised by Runner’s World and RTINGS for its smooth, supportive ride and excellent long-term durability.	The Endorphin Speed 4 is a solid tempo shoe that balances speed and comfort, recognized for its fast-moving feel and great traction.	Offers a similar high-speed platform with a slightly lighter feel than the Alphafly.	The Gel-Kayano 33 offers excellent stability for overpronators with good cushioning, as cited by Runner’s World and RTINGS.	The Mach 6 is highlighted as a top choice for marathon training, providing maximum cushioning and excellent shock absorption, as noted by Runner’s World and RTINGS.	The most advanced carbon-plate technology and energy return make it the top performer for elite racing.	The Pegasus 41 is a reliable, lightweight trainer that works well for most runners, praised for its balanced cushioning and lightweight feel by RTINGS and Runner’s World.	Plush cushioning makes it ideal for long distances, but it is the least responsive of the picks.	The Duramo Speed 2 is marketed as a budget trainer but is criticized for being too soft and lacking long-term durability.	The Clifton 9 is marketed as a budget option but is heavier and offers limited energy return compared to newer Hoka models.	The Fresh Foam X 1080v14 is praised for its soft, plush feel and great fit, making it a great everyday trainer for long runs.	The Pegasus Premium adds extra cushioning and improved durability to the Pegasus line, but is less efficient for speed runs.	Too plush for performance-oriented runners, placing it below the best picks.	The Adios Pro Evo 3 is the most advanced Adizero model, praised for its carbon-fiber plate and excellent energy return, but its premium price and need for a precise fit make it less everyday-ready.	Lacks the speed-enhancing features of newer race shoes, making it a step-down for serious runners.
What reviewers rate	High energy return Great fit Responsive feel for long runs Plush feel	Fast, lightweight Responsive feel Good traction Responsive midsole	Smooth, supportive ride Excellent durability for long-term use Great cushioning and stability Comfortable	Fast-moving feel Great traction Responsive ride for faster paces Race-day ready	Carbon-plate-powered stride Lightweight The other half of the super shoe duopoly The stride-runner's race shoe	Excellent stability Good cushioning Reliable for overpronators Support for over-pronators	Maximum cushioning Excellent shock absorption Comfortable for long runs Lightweight	Powerful carbon-plate-driven ride High energy return Fast stride A genuinely brilliant marathon racer	Balanced cushioning Lightweight feel Reliable everyday trainer Neutral fit	Plush cushioning Long-distance comfort Max-cushion cruiser with a thick, slow-wearing midsole One of the most padded, hard-wearing uppers in the business	Roughly half the price of the mid-tier leaders A legitimate, no-drama daily trainer RunRepeat's budget roundups rate the Duramo line as the best budget-class running option	Light and soft cushioning Frequently discounted as it cycles out Still a mainstream recommendation	Soft, plush feel Great fit Comfortable ride for long runs Plush premium daily trainer	Extra cushioning Improved durability Comfortable for everyday use Showcases Nike's full-length Air Zoom cushioning tech	Lifestyle icon Fine as a casual sneaker	Carbon-fiber plate Excellent energy return Top-tier performance Reviews brilliantly as a hyper-racer	Honestly a serviceable shoe Beats the racer traps below it on durability alone
Where it falls short	Nothing recorded	Nothing recorded	Loses the top spot only on ride excitement	Nothing recorded	Slightly less universal tester praise for non-elite paces	Held back by weight	Hoka road outsoles are a documented weak point that wears quickly	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	A step behind the leaders on ride quality The Pegasus 42 is the incoming generation, so the 41 is on its way out	Nothing recorded	Too soft for longer runs Lacks long-term durability Lower raw performance ceiling than the shoes ranked above it	Heavy weight Limited energy return Older generation now being replaced by a newer model	Less responsive than top neutral shoes The very soft Fresh Foam X midsole creases early Loses some pop past 300 miles	Premium price tag Heavy full-length Air Zoom unit Ride multiple testers called disconnected Appears in the 'worst' section of a widely watched best-and-worst-of-2025 roundup	Plush cushioning can feel too soft for serious runners Coasting on a decade-old running reputation Heavy, warm, and dull underfoot Every expert-tested running list passes it over	Weight and stiffness can be a drawback for everyday use A racing-shoe price tag Documented lifespan closer to a single race than a training block Fails in weeks of ownership despite brilliant reviews	Lacks speed-enhancing features 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
Evidence behind it	50 sources across 38 outlets	33 sources across 27 outlets	56 sources across 45 outlets	18 sources across 15 outlets	28 sources across 23 outlets	35 sources across 30 outlets	42 sources across 35 outlets	29 sources across 27 outlets	33 sources across 29 outlets	28 sources across 22 outlets	32 sources across 29 outlets	26 sources across 24 outlets	10 sources across 10 outlets	44 sources across 38 outlets	8 sources across 7 outlets	18 sources across 18 outlets	36 sources across 23 outlets
Flagged as one to avoid	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 6 research runs	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 2 research runs	2 of 6 research runs	1 of 8 research runs	3 of 4 research runs	3 of 6 research runs	3 of 6 research runs	4 of 7 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	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	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.