The best men's running shoes for marathons, easy runs and everything in between

Pros: A more affordable plated shoe
Cons: Still quite expensive

• Best for: Racing
• Weight: 237g
• Drop: 4mm

Speed shoes are one of the priciest parts of trying to take your running to the next level, but thankfully Saucony’s Endorphin collection has a range of speed options, all at varying price points to help make it slightly easier to put a bit more pace in your step. Still more expensive than your everyday shoe, but definitely more accessible than the £200 plus options, the Endorphin Speed is one of our favourites in the range, designed with Speedroll technology to help propel you forwards, with the brand’s PWRRUN foam that gives you both cushioning and energy return.

Designed for use in both races and speed sessions, it’s a great, fast shoe to add to your roster that comes without the instability you might get from a more designated carbon shoe. £180. At saucony.com

Pros: Lightweight feel, can take a beating, breathable
Cons: Upper can rub to begin with, need breaking in

• Best for: Taking your daily road running up a few notches
• Weight: 255g
• Drop: 10mm

The Gel-Kayano 30’s PureGEL layer and FF Blast Plus Eco layers are as comfortable and bouncy as their names are excitable, helping us immediately spring longer than we had managed on our cold winter runs in months and providing a softer landing with each step. The shock absorption from the gel layer saps away much of the impact, while the foam boosts the bounceback from your steps, leading to less effort and a faster pace. The heel and wider sole are designed in such as way that you can feel your stride staying stable throughout the run, even if your form starts to wobble.

They’re not the grippiest pair of trainers you’ll have tried, making wetter runs less of a doddle: it’s no deal breaker, however, and the resulting extra comfort and lightweight feel are handy pay-offs. The Gel-Kayanos can also take a significant beating: no matter the weather, they came through the other side as fresh as ever, losing none of the bounce or fit. For an everyday, lightweight companion, the Gel-Kayano 30 enjoys the best of comfort, performance and looks, barely compromising on any aspect to provide a bouncy, fun and durable ride for seasoned pros in training and amateur resolution-proclaimers alike. It’s the shoe that will stay with you, from 5k to marathon. £180. At asics.com

Pros: Versatile running shoe | Same familiar ride | Comfortable upper
Cons: It’s not hugely different from the Pegasus 39

• Best for: Covering the key running bases
• Arch support: N/A
• Drop: 10mm

An icon in the Nike shoe family and one you can keep on after the running is done. The 40th edition of the Pegasus has added a supportive mid-foot band and improved airflow in its mesh upper. 

Minor tweakes aside, the Peg 40 is just as reliable as its predecessors, with a tongue and heel collar that’s built for supreme comfort over longer runs. Down below, there’s a rubber outsole that can handle some light, off-road routes, so if it’s a shoe you want that you can head out in to comfortably soak up those training miles, that’s where the Pegasus 40 is your best friend. £114.95. At nike.com

Read our full review here

Pros: One of the most cushioned running shoes we’ve ever tried
Cons: Quite hard to pick up speed on but great for long and easy runs

• Best for: Everyday running, easy run sessions
• Weight: 262g
• Drop: 6mm

New Balance’s Fresh Foams are a cult favourite, and it’s not hard to see why. Put them on and you’re instantly bouncier, more cushioned and feel like you’re walking on a cloud. This being said, that extra-soft feeling isn't for everyone, and we'd say it does feel a bit slower when you try and pick up the pace. It's not one we'd take to the track for intervals, but if you're just looking to glide around the park, or to get a bit of extra relief on your joints during a heavy marathon training block, we'd say these are right up your street. We also love the current colourways New Balance has going on, an added perk if you fancy getting a few compliments the next time you head to run club. £160. At newbalance.co.uk

Pros: Good for everyday running
Cons: Quite expensive for an everyday shoe if you aren’t looking to go above the £100 mark, but they’re well worth it

• Best for: Everyday, long runs and easy runs
• Weight: 282g

If you want shoes that can actually do it all, Saucony’s collection of everyday trainers are some of the best on the market. The Ride 17 is one of its best-sellers, designed with both support and cushioning to get you through pretty much anything you ask of it. We’ve taken this to the track for interval training, out on some pretty hefty long runs and even worn it out and about walking on a Sunday and have yet to find anything that’s put us off investing again. It does feel a bit heavier, at around 282g, but this just means you feel slightly more stable than in some other daily trainers. If you like a really soft and cushioned feel like the New Balance 1080s or the Asics Nimbus, we’d say Saucony might not be your best friend, but if you like a good bit of bounce and plenty of speed technology, you’ll be in with a winner. And that red, white and blue colourway? Divine. £135. At saucony.com

Pros: A race shoe that feels sturdier, very lightweight
Cons: As with all race shoes, this is an expensive investment. It’s also quite challenging (if not impossible) to remove the insoles in these which can be an issue if you have your own

• Best for: Racing
• Weight: 204g
• Drop: 40mm

If you’re a Saucony lover, the Endorphin Elite might just be the best race shoe for you, literally by a mile. Feeling super lightweight and bouncy, it’s a great one to choose if you’re used to the style and shape of Saucony’s designs, especially if you run in the Triumphs or another shoe from the Endorphin collection regularly, graduating you to a carbon-plated race shoe, but without totally changing the way your shoe will feel on race day. And if you’re not used to Saucony shoes, don’t worry, this is easily one of the most comfortable race day shoes to transition to in general, feeling less jarring than those bright pink Alphaflys you see everywhere. In terms of how they perform? Well, so far we’ve managed to get a PB in every race we’ve worn them for, all without sustaining any injuries and feeling pretty good throughout. We'd say that speaks for itself. £280. At saucony.com

Pros: Fast, but also the most comfortable racing shoe we’ve tried
Cons: Expensive and shouldn’t be used for everyday training

• Best for: Racing
• Weight: 237g
• Drop: 4mm

If you want to run fast, and we mean fast, this is the shoe for you. As part of its attempt to make a super shoe that rivalled the Nike Alphafly and the Adidas Adios, the two brands that have pretty much ruled the elites for the past few years, New Balance has made some pretty huge tweaks to its Fuelcell SuperComp Elite, with the goal of making it the fastest shoe yet, as part of its determination to start breaking records with its athletes.

Recently launched at the start of February, the V4 now has 100 per cent PEBA foam, delivering more energy return as well as a new upper and an ultra-comfortable design to help you break those PBs. And it works. On the times we’ve trialled the shoe (as with any carbon shoe this should be saved for race day), we’ve actually smashed our previous times. Of course, plenty goes into that, but it’s by far the most comfortable racing shoe we’ve tried, and it held up well for both a half marathon and a 10k. It’s safe to say, this will be our marathon shoe for 2024. £260. At sportshoes.com

Pros: Breathable upper | Soft and bouncy ZoomX foam | Improved stability
Cons: Needs to be saved for those fast days

• Best for: Race day and speed training
• Weight: 184g
• Drop: 8mm

The Alphafly might be the pricier of Nike’s racers but it’s the Vaporfly that remains the poster child for the rise of the carbon plate-packing super shoe. You'll be pleased to hear that the changes apparent in the new Vaporfly 3 keep it ahead of the chasing pack. That starts with an upper that uses Nike’s FlyKnit yarns to create a more breathable Vaporfly than ever before and also boosts things on the support front. The midsole has been redesigned to make it a more stable shoe to run fast in, with a carbon fibre plate and more ZoomX foam for fuelling that bouncy and energetic feel. All of that and the third Vaporfly has been rounded off with a lighter outsole to keep the weight down, too. Still the heavyweight racer to beat. £234.95. At nike.com

Pros: Snug and hugging upper | Soft cushioning | Light design 
Cons: The outsole is a bit squeaky

• Best for: Comfortable, slow and uptempo runs
• Weight: 245g
• Drop: 10mm

The new Cloudsurfer sees On break from its cushioning technology norm, introducing a new CloudTec Phase midsole that’s certainly more forgiving on the feet. It’s also using its Helion super foam that’s plush enough to coast in for long, slow runs and offers a light, smooth ride that makes it work for some more up-tempo running time as well. On has added rubber pads to the outsole to beef things up in the traction department for dry and wet running conditions alike, and uses all recycled materials in the snug-fitting upper to give it some planet-friendly design cred as well. In true On fashion, this is a looker if you're seeking something you can keep on after the running is done. £150. At on-running.com

Pros: Eco design | Still built for comfort | Works for easy and up-tempo runs
Cons: Not for racing | Heavier than Triumph 21

• Best for: Comfortable and eco-conscious runs
• Weight: 295g
• Drop: 10mm

Saucony has taken the shoe you lace up when you want to slow things down…and sped things up on the sustainability front. Now the Triumph comes with an added dose of recycled materials while still giving you that same satisfying cushioned feel on easier running days. Saucony's cushioning technology is made from over 50 per cent corn, plus there’s a mesh upper constructed from cotton that uses plant-based dyes and an outsole that uses more natural rubber than the standard Triumph 21. While the materials to build it may have changed, the runs this more planet-friendly Triumph is made for hasn’t: it’s still one that will give you comfort from top to bottom with a level of cushioning and nicely rockered feel to make sure it can handle everything from light jogs up to a more peppy pace. £175. saucony.com

Pros: Good stability shoe, comfortable feel, works for a whole range of different runs
Cons: More of a rolling motion than previous Guides which can be offputting for some runners (we loved it, however)

• Best for: Everyday stability shoes
• Weight: 269g
• Drop: 6mm

If you’re in the market for stability shoes, you might have found it increasingly difficult to find a good pair that actually help you go fast too. Most have a tendency to feel heavier and clunkier, which serves a purpose, but with its latest iteration of its hero stability shoe, the Guides, Saucony is doing things a bit differently. Giving you plenty of cushioning and support, the new Guide construction has more of a rolling motion to it, helping you pick up the pace and get your speed going, without sacrificing any of the stability features that you need from your shoe.

Designed to be an everyday running shoe, it feels super comfortable underfoot including Saucony’s PWRRUN+ sockliner and PWRRUN midole to give you extra softness. It feels smooth when you run with high sidewalls to support you. Saucony bills it as its ‘max comfort’ shoe, and despite being the stability part of its range, its lighter weight than both the Ride and Triumph in the brand’s collection. And let’s not forget the blue colourways, one of our favourites we’ve seen in a good while. £135. At saucony.com

Pros: Comfortable | Can double up as casual trainers | Solid arch support
Cons: Not lightweight | Not one for speed sessions

• Best for: Short races
• Weight: 289.99g
• Drop: 7mm

“For too long, the performance industry told us that athletic footwear meant synthetic footwear,” said Allbirds cofounder Tim Brown of the brand's first-ever performance-led shoe. “By failing to make the most of what’s right in front of us – nature – we've missed some of the greatest performance materials in existence.”

Enter, the Dasher. Fundamentally constructed from the renewable natural trio of eucalyptus tree fibre, merino wool, and sugarcane, the use of Lyocell in its mesh upper makes this a supremely cooling and breathable shoe and, blended with antimicrobial merino wool in its lining to keep the foot cool for those warmer runs. A lighter design and a tweaked outsole gives you a couple more reasons to lace it up as well: these truly are running shoes with arch support. £125. allbirds.co.uk

Read our full review here

Pros: Super-thin upper | Great for running fast | Bouncy midsole
Cons: Can feel unstable | Only really suitable for speedy runners

• Best for: Racing
• Weight: 205g
• Drop: 5mm

File the Metaspeed Sky+ under Running Shoes to Rapidly Run in. Asics wraps its super shoe in a Jacquard mesh upper that keeps weight to a minimum and puts a super grippy rubber outsole on the bottom that keeps you nimble in both dry and rainy race conditions.

Asics has added in more of its FlyteFoam Blast Turbo foam to create big bounce and offer more cushioning to give it strong marathon racing credentials. The carbon plate positioning has been tweaked from the first Sky version, which combined with a more curved sole design, now dials up the energy return. It’s a shoe that’s built for speed — whether you can maintain that speed over 5k all the way up to marathon distance, is down to you. £225. asics.com

Read our full review here

Pros: Lightweight feel | Durable | Breathable 
Cons: Not the grippiest

• Best for: Taking your daily running up a notch
• Arch Support: N/A
• Drop: 8mm

Asics really hit upon something with the Novablast series and luckily, the third (and now fourth) instalments continue the trend. The Novablast’s FF Blast+ foam is as comfortable and bouncy as its name is excitable, helping us immediately spring longer than we had managed on our cold winter runs in months and providing a softer landing with each step. The trampoline-inspired outsole and higher midsole combine to boost the bounce back from your steps, too, leading to less effort and a faster pace, and the heel is designed in such as way that you can feel your stride staying stable throughout the run, even if your form starts to wobble.

They’re not the grippiest pair of trainers you’ll have tried, making wetter runs less of a doddle: it’s no deal breaker, however, and the resulting extra comfort and lightweight feel are handy pay-offs. The Novablasts can also take a significant beating: no matter the weather, they came through the other side as fresh as ever, losing none of the bounce or fit.

Of course, Asics has recently brought out the Novablast 4, which takes the foam and bounce to the nth degree in its quest for the ‘stepping-on-cloudsiest’ run available. However, for an everyday, lightweight companion, the Novablast 3 enjoys the best of comfort, performance and looks, barely compromising on any aspect to provide a bouncy, fun and durable ride for seasoned pros in training and amateur resolution-proclaimers alike. £135 £94 at asics.com

Pros: More supportive upper | Comfortable for long runs | Added foam brings added protection 
Cons: Not as wild as previous Invincible | Longer heel clip can be felt

• Best for: Long, slow runs
• Weight: 310g
• Drop: 9mm

The Invincible 3 does carry the same ZoomX foam packed into Nike’s super race shoes, but it’s all about slowing things down and letting that foam keep you comfortable and protected over longer distances. There’s more of that foam here than in previous editions, which is spread across a more spacious and supportive upper. That provides an enjoyable bouncy ride that’s noticeably more stable with a longer heel clip bringing some control to bouncier proceedings. Nike has packed in more of its FlyKnit in the upper to boost support and keep things breathable, while the tweaked outsole still holds strongest on drier roads and pavements. It’s still a good Invincible, but a different one and one that more people might just want to lace up. £174.99. nike.com

Pros: It looks great | Snug-fitting upper | Works for a mixture of runs
Cons: Heavier than other Mach shoes | Foam isn’t bouncy

• Best for: More uptempo time on your feet
• Weight: 266g
• Drop: 5mm

For its next trick, Hoka has taken its Mach shoe — one that already ticks plenty of running boxes — and packed it with new foam to create the X version. With a speed-focused plate from a design that’s made to be much kinder to the planet, this one is made up of several smart components: a recycled polyester jacquard upper holds you close in all of the right places while a ProFly X midsole (made up of a PEBA and EVA foams) gives the Mach X some pop for short and longer jaunts alike. Hoka has upgraded the outsole to a Duabrasion model, making it better equipped than previous Machs to cover longer time on your feet, giving the Mach X the profile of one to grab if you need something to coast in and pick things up in places when you’re feeling like you need that speed. £160. hoka.com

Pros: Now better suited to longer races, softer cushioning 
Cons: Not quite as super as other racing shoe rivals

• Best for: Race day and feeling that speed
• Weight: 190g
• Drop: 5mm

The clue is in the name. Just like the first Rocket, the X 2 is one to save for stepping on the start line — and it’s been reworked to make it better equipped when you decide to ramp things up in the speed department. Not only coming in at a lighter weight, this trainer rips out the mesh upper for a synthetic one that hugs the foot much more closely. There’s a new dual-density midsole, Hoka’s early stage Meta-Rocker and now a curvier carbon plate to handle running fast over longer distances. A ‘durabrasion’ outsole should also make sure it can handle longer and more regular running time. The result is a Rocket that can give you that speedy feeling even if you're not running elite times. £220. At hoka.com

Pros: Handles pavements and light trails | Keeps you stable | Extra toe protection 
Cons: It’s not a light shoe | Not build for speed work | Not one for technical trails

• Best for: Long runs on road and lighter trails
• Weight: 365g
• Drop: 5mm

The Stinson 7 is made for the days when running up and down the same roads isn’t filling you with excitement and you want to mix things up with some off-road time instead (but need to navigate pavements to get to the trails). Hoka's Stinson 7 facilitates just those kind of runs. Hoka’s packed its hybrid shoe with a bigger stack of the same foam used in the last Stinson to soak up longer runs and uses its H-Frame technology to keep things stable when you wander onto trails. The 4mm lugs underneath are the multi-directional kind to offer grip from all angles while an engineered mesh upper provides ample support with a toe cap to boost protection up front. One to soak up big miles at a leisurely pace in. £160. At hoka.com

Pros: Grippy outsole | Comfortable upper | Built for all types of runs
Cons: Not a super light shoe

• Best for: Staying speedy on short and long runs
• Weight: 210g
• Drop: 8mm

There might have been a time when stepping out with running shoes in different colours would raise eyebrows, but Puma is here to make it the norm with the Runphoria edition of its Devitate Nitro Elite 2. Built for speed, the red and blue racer features Puma’s nitrogen-infused Nitro foam and its PWRPLATE carbon fibre plate to make it one to lace up when you want to feel as fly as you look. It wraps you up in a mono mesh upper for a more comfortable feel than the first Elite and Puma’s trusty PumaGrip lies underneath to make sure you’re not slipping and sliding your way to the finish line or the end of your run in more treacherous running conditions. £180. At uk.puma.com

Pros: Soft cushioning | Sleek looks | Wide upper
Cons: A little bulky | On the pricey side compared to similar rivals

• Best for: Highly cushioned runs
• Weight: 306g
• Drop: 4mm

The Bondi 8 is a big cushioned shoe made for clocking up a leisurely paced running time as opposed to spending hours on your local track. Hoka includes an engineered mesh that boosts comfort at the ankle and drops in a new Ortholite hybrid sockliner to provide added comfort on those longer runouts.

A lighter, but firmer midsole foam offers improved protection at the heel compared to previous Bondi shoes to ensure a steady, stable ride for that relaxed jog around town.

There’s a highly durable rubber outsole to make it well suited to logging a lot of long running time in and with a heel pull tab to make it nice and easy to slip off when the running time is done. £150. At hoka.com & sportsshoes.com