NB
Novablast 5
ASICS · $145
Overall9.0
Readers4.6
Trend+2
The most fun shoe in the test — bouncy FF Blast Max that makes an easy run accidentally turn into a tempo.
Best for: One-shoe runners who mix paces
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Panel testedFitnessUpdated Feb 16, 2026
The 30 Best Running Shoes
2,400 test miles across a nine-person panel, with midsole compression measured at 0, 200 and 400 miles.
By Camila Alvarez, edited by Daniel Reyes 17 min readPublished Jan 19, 2026Hours of testing0
Candidates screened0
Price range$100 – $285
Entities ranked30
Overview
Clifton 10 takes the top position with a 9.2 — but the interesting story is what happens between #4 and #12, where the price-to-performance curve bends.
We screened 88 candidates down to a field of 30, then put 1,320 hours of testing behind them. Every unit was purchased or booked at standard retail pricing — nothing in this ranking arrived free, and no brand saw a score before you did.
Scores decompose into the five published pillars, weighted identically to every other Top30 list. Where our editorial score diverges sharply from the Reader Score, we say so in the verdict rather than averaging the disagreement away.
2,400 panel miles Midsole compression measured Nine-tester wear panel
01Top three highlights
The podium
Three finishes separated by less than a point. Here is precisely what each one wins on.
C10
Clifton 10
Hoka · $155
Overall9.2
Readers4.7
Trend+1
The most universally recommendable daily trainer: 248 g, plush without mush, and it survived 400 test miles intact.
Best for: Daily easy mileage and long runs
G17
Ghost 17
Brooks · $140
Overall8.8
Readers4.5
Trend—
The safest recommendation for new runners — predictable, neutral, and available in every width imaginable.
Best for: New runners and high-mileage plodders
02The full Top30
Every position, scored and explained
Filter by what matters to you. Sorting never changes the published rank — it just reorders the view.
Filter6 of 6 detailed reviews
01
C10
Clifton 10
+1Hoka · $155
Daily trainerCushionedDurable
The most universally recommendable daily trainer: 248 g, plush without mush, and it survived 400 test miles intact.
Weight (M9)248 g
Stack / drop42 mm / 8 mm
MidsoleSupercritical EVA
Outsole wear @400mi18% measured
What we liked
- Cushioning that stays lively past mile 12
- Wide sizes across every colorway
- Outsole durability best in test
What we didn't
- Upper runs warm in summer heat
- Not a shoe for fast intervals
9.2
Reader score4.73,410 verified
Best for
Daily easy mileage and long runs
Verdict
If you buy one running shoe this year, buy this one. Our panel agreed unanimously.
02
NB
Novablast 5
+2ASICS · $145
VersatileBouncyValue
The most fun shoe in the test — bouncy FF Blast Max that makes an easy run accidentally turn into a tempo.
Weight (M9)241 g
Stack / drop41.5 mm / 8 mm
MidsoleFF Blast Max
Energy return72% measured
What we liked
- Highest measured energy return in the non-plated group
- Versatile from recovery pace to threshold
- Excellent value at $145
What we didn't
- Narrow midfoot for wide feet
- Outsole wears faster on pavement
9.0
Reader score4.62,280 verified
Best for
One-shoe runners who mix paces
Verdict
The best all-rounder here. Buy a half size up if you're between sizes.
03
G17
Ghost 17
—Brooks · $140
NeutralBeginnerWide sizes
The safest recommendation for new runners — predictable, neutral, and available in every width imaginable.
Weight (M9)269 g
Stack / drop36 mm / 10 mm
MidsoleDNA Loft v3
Widths2A to 4E
What we liked
- Widest size range in the ranking
- Zero break-in period across nine testers
- Consistent year over year
What we didn't
- Unexciting for experienced runners
- Heavier than key rivals
8.8
Reader score4.54,120 verified
Best for
New runners and high-mileage plodders
Verdict
Boring in the best possible way. This is the shoe we hand to first-time marathoners.
04
ES
Endorphin Speed 5
+1Saucony · $180
TempoPlatedRacing
A nylon-plated workout shoe that flatters your form without the harshness of a full carbon racer.
Weight (M9)221 g
Stack / drop38 mm / 8 mm
PlateNylon winged
MidsolePWRRUN PB
What we liked
- Ideal tempo and interval shoe
- Far more durable than carbon racers
- Comfortable enough for long runs
What we didn't
- Plate feels stiff at recovery pace
- Tongue slips on narrow ankles
8.7
Reader score4.61,640 verified
Best for
Workout days and half marathons
Verdict
The best value in plated shoes. Buy it before you spend $260 on a super shoe.
Positions 7–30
The rest of the field
Every entry below was tested against the same protocol. Full write-ups publish as each is re-tested.
7Alphafly 3NikeStill the fastest marathon shoe made. $285.8.2
8Adizero Adios Pro 4AdidasLightest super shoe; rods suit efficient forefoot strikers.8.1
9Metaspeed Sky TokyoASICSFor stride-length runners; feather-light at 170 g.8.0
10Vaporfly 4NikeThe 10K-to-half racer of choice.7.9
11Superblast 2ASICSCult favorite; do everything, wear it forever.7.8
12Mach 6HokaLight, snappy, and the best-value uptempo trainer.7.7
13Rebel v5New BalancePlayful FuelCell ride at a fair $140.7.6
14Ride 18SauconyNeutral daily workhorse, freshly softened.7.5
15Cloudmonster 2OnMaximal CloudTec with a firmer landing than expected.7.4
16Gel-Kayano 32ASICSThe stability standard, now genuinely comfortable.7.3
17Adrenaline GTS 24BrooksGuideRails support without a rigid post.7.2
18Bondi 9HokaMaximum cushioning for recovery and standing shifts.7.1
19Deviate Nitro 3PumaUnderrated plated trainer at $160.7.0
20Speedgoat 6HokaThe default American ultra trail shoe.6.9
21Peregrine 15SauconyGrippy, low-stack trail racer.6.8
22Terra Kiger 10NikeFast trail shoe with a fussy fit.6.7
23Cloudsurfer NextOnSmooth daily trainer, premium price.6.6
24ProdigioNnormalKilian's minimalist trail shoe. Not for beginners.6.5
25Torin 8AltraZero drop, wide toe box, patient transition required.6.4
26Wave Rider 29MizunoFirm, precise, and unfashionably good.6.3
27Divide 5BrooksBest budget trail option at $100.6.1
28Fresh Foam More v5New BalanceEnormous stack, surprisingly stable.6.0
29Velocity Nitro 3PumaSolid daily miles, unremarkable everywhere else.5.9
30NovaflyUnder ArmourImproving, still a step behind the field.5.6
03Comparison table
Top six, side by side
The numbers that actually separate them, without the marketing adjectives.
04Editorial insights
What the data told us
Patterns that only show up once you've scored the whole field.
01
Stack heights have peaked
Average stack in our top ten fell 2 mm year over year, the first decline since 2019. Runners reported better stability with no loss in comfort.
02
Durability is the new differentiator
Outsole wear at 400 miles ranged from 18% to 61%. At $155 a pair, that spread is worth more than a tenth of a point in energy return.
03
Wide sizes decide purchases
Availability in 2E or wider was the single strongest predictor of reader purchase among our over-40 cohort. Brooks and New Balance keep winning here.
What we look for
- Published durability data
- Wide sizes across colorways
- Uppers that need no break-in
- Outsole wear under 25% at 400 miles
What to watch for
- Yearly redesigns that change the fit
- Carbon plates on daily trainers
- Stack heights above 42 mm
- Colorway-only 'updates'
The short version
Skip super shoes entirely until you're running under 8:00 per mile at threshold.
Reviewed by Camila Alvarez · 1,320 test hours · re-audited every 90 days.
05FAQs
Questions readers actually ask
Something missing? Our editors answer reader questions every Friday, and the best ones end up here.
Ask the fitness deskNine runners between 5'1" and 6'4", 118 to 235 lb, ranging from 20 to 70 miles a week. Every shoe in the top ten is worn by at least four of them.
06Related rankings
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