Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
If you were judging a shoe on looks alone, you’d be forgiven for assuming the Wave Rider 27 would feel a touch heavy or a little flat underfoot. But you’d be wrong, because this is a deceptively good and lightweight trainer you can use every day. The Pegasus 40 includes two Zoom Air units – at the forefoot and heel – which helps to give that responsive, energised feel. While it’s certainly not one of the new generation of maximalist cushioned shoes, when you step in to the Pegasus, you do immediately feel that comfort hugging your foot securely in place. It has a really plush feel, and fits true to size. While these are shoes that are gentle on tired legs and great for recovery miles, they also respond well to an increase in pace, making them a great everyday trainer. Finally, On have updated the outsole to include grippy rubber pads to improve stability and durability in all conditions. To reduce the colossal footprint of the global trainer industry, we support the idea of running every possible mile in the shoes you already own, revelling in every last run you can share.
If you're bored of the same old shoe designs, look no further. The Velociti 3’s flat-knit upper definitely has a unique look, which promises ‘dynamics tretch and compression’ as well as breathability. Does it deliver? Well, how dynamic you feel might differ day to day, but it offers a super-comfy fit. The weight of the cushioning does mean they aren’t the lightest shoe – but they are fantastically comfortable. Our testers noted no hotspots at all, and had no reservations about reaching for these on their longest runs. They fit true to size, with plenty of room in the forefoot, a plush tongue and a precise lacing system allowing for a tailored fit. It fits true to size, with a comfortable engineered mesh upper. The tongue and the heel are both lightly padded, and the lacing system adjustable – but without needing much. Finally the superior Pumagrip rubber on on the outsole means that this is a really robust and hard-wearing shoe that will see you through hundreds of training miles. With a shoe as popular as the Gel-Kayano, updating it is always a risk. But in this case, it’s one that pays off.
4. Best for Middle-Distance Sprints: Saucony Endorphin Cheetah
This is a shoe that is definitely meant solely for race day, and at race pace – the more you put in, the greater the energy return and sense of propulsion you get out. The firmness means that at easy paces, though, you simply don’t feel the benefits of the carbon plate. The fit is true-to-size, though perhaps a touch on the narrow size in the toebox area. They feel very comfortable from the get-go, with a nice bit of padding on the tongue and in the heel. Ironically enough, it might be fans of old-school racing flats who will really enjoy these carbon plate shoes. And if your form is strong, you’re certainly going to feel the real benefit of the Cloudboom Echo 3s on race day. Our team continually road-test the best new models as and when they're released. We assess shoes for their performance across every area runners need to consider: fit, feel, cushioning, responsiveness, comfort, grip, breathability and overall ride.
Carbon-plated training shoes may no longer be a novelty, but given they tend to come with maximal cushioning, the Magic Speed 3 feels like one nonetheless. It’s a lightweight shoe that looks – and even feels – more like an old-school racer. Over the years, Puma has taken their models to the next level. In 1991 Puma designed what is called a disc system. The Puma did not have any laces, but a adjustable fit. In 1996 Puma released the “Cell” which it is said to be the first foam free midsole. From then on, Puma has incorporated them into new models. That being said, the same running shoe won't suit every runner or every run. There are plenty of factors to consider when it comes to finding the right pair: your unique biomechanics, your weight, the surface(s) you run on, the shape of your feet and your preferred ‘feel’. Neutral: Runners with a normal range of pronation – the natural inward rolling of the foot when it hits the ground. Runners with this gait will prefer a neutral shoe. In the 1940s Adolph and Rudolf Dassler had a falling out, Rudolf went on to create Puma (while his brother Adolph went on to create Adidas). Even though Puma was a new company, Rudolf knew a lot about athletic sneakers. Before Rudolf and Adolph Dassler (brothers) went their own ways, they owned Gebruder-Dassler Schuhfabrik a footwear company.
3. Best for Short Sprints: Puma evoSPEED Tokyo Future 4
The pronation control, provided by the Hollow Tech support frame, is excellent. It’s essentially a lighter and less intrusive version of a medial post. There’s also a sturdy heel counter to provide more stability. The shoe fits true to size with a roomy toebox. Though it’s certainly not a speeds hoe, it’s surprisingly lightweight, with reasonable firmness. Our testers commented that it felt light and nimble, with just as much comfort from the first mile to the last of even a long run. The updated Velociti features a cushioned Flow midsole that tends towards the firmer end of the scale– but this is a shoe that definitely gives a little as you wear it in. Overpronation: The most common pronation type among runners, overpronation refers to the excessive inward rolling of the foot as it hits the ground, transferring weight to the inner edge instead of the ball of the foot. Runner’s with this gait will suit stability running shoes best. There’s a new waffle outsole with improved traction, as well as a stretchy knit upper, which features a water-resistant liner to keep your toes dry.
Designed to provide ‘maximum performance on daily training runs’, the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer V2 is peppier and more propulsive than your average training shoe, but without the elite energy return – though also the price tag – of a top-end racer. There's a reason that the Pegasus is in its 40th iteration – the 'workhorse with wings' really does deliver. There's only been a couple of minor tweaks to the latest version of the neutral, daily trainer – after all, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? But tweaks do include a newly redesigned mid-foot band for a more secure fit, and a redesigned single-layer mesh upper to offer more breathability and help to improve airflow in sweaty conditions. The original Magnify was a neutral daily training shoe with a responsive, cushioned and super-comfy ride – and the second iteration offers more of the same. Where there are tweaks, these are all to the good, making this a great shoe for seasoned runners and beginners alike. Until On finally run out of Cloud-related puns, they’ll no doubt continue to make the best looking shoes around – and the CloudStratus are no exception. They also have the classic On immediate pull-on comfort – though if anything they are a little roomier than most On shoes, particularly in the forefoot. This is great for wider footed runners, but equally, the excellent lacing system means you can adjust for a good fit whatever your foot shape.
2. Best Overall Track Spike: New Balance FuelCell SuperComp SD-X
Further weight savings come from that new midsole and a redesigned mesh upper. This also, along with additional padding around the heel and collar, provides more structure, increasing comfort over those longer miles. The latest iteration features a new, lighter FuelCell midsole foam, along with the same carbon fibre plate and Energy Arc technology. The latter might sound like something from a Marvel film, but is essentially a ‘void’ through the centre of the midsole, which allows the carbon plate to flatten and rebound during take-off and landing, increasing energy return. The result is certainly a propulsive ride. The ride is smooth, stable and springy, with enough cushioning to keep you comfortable on easy runs and longer efforts. The latest update of an already popular shoe also has
On the run, the shoe feels supportive and nicely flexible. It hugs your foot without constricting and can handle changes in pace, too. Building a shoe rotation can help to mitigate this because if you’re running in the same pair of shoes every day, the midsole foam doesn’t have time to fully decompress before its next use. So giving your shoes time to recover between sessions allows the midsole to decompress, helping you to get more miles out of it. How do I know my foot type for running shoes? This shoe has a sculpted midsole, curving inwards on the lateral side to provide more compression, and convex sculpting on the medial side, which provides a greater volume of foam. The stability tech is subtle, but effective. This means that the Gel-Kayano 30 is not just for overpronators. This is a close-fitting shoe – there’s plenty of room in the toebox, but it’s designed to fit your foot snugly and there’s not a lot in the way of padding. The minimal shoe has a light upper, which gives it an incredibly breathable feel. But while it’s certainly neutral,
Tips to Find Your Perfect Sprinting Shoes
With none of the bells and whistles that supershoes now promise, what you get is a seamless ride with great grip and traction from the outsole on any surface. This is a good all-rounder for those who value simplicity – and want one shoe to do everything. With On’s signature CloudTec technology, a full-length carbon speedboard and new Helion HP hyperfoam, it’s undeniably a very good looking shoe. The upper consists of a single woven structure with On’s classic minimalist styling.
Great Deal 
New Comment