Hear that sound? It's the sound of your pace per mile falling like the autumn leaves along your favorite running trail. Yep, fall is here, and those cooler temperatures mean faster times, longer mileage and—better yet—the perfect excuse for a new pair of running shoes.
We know the options are plentiful and your feet are unique, so we assigned a handful of accomplished runners the task of testing (and testing and testing) the newest sneakers on the block, all in an effort to help our readers make the most educated decision.
Page One: Adidas, Altra, Brooks
Page Two: HOKA ONE ONE, Merrell, Mizuno
Page Three: New Balance, Nike, On, Salomon, Skechers, Under Armour
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro
Adidas has its response to Nike’s Alphafly, and marathon runners everywhere should be intrigued. Maximum stack height for a running shoe as allowed by World Athletics is 40 mm, and the Adizero Adios Pro comes in right under at 39 mm, meaning it’s cushioned to the max. Thanks to the LightstrikePRO foam, which replaces Adidas’ Boost technology, the shoe is plush and responsive, and our tester was able to put in even more miles before feeling her typical long run aches and pains. The new Celermesh upper is the upper you didn’t know you needed but won’t know what to do without. It’s so lightweight that you barely notice it’s there. Plus, it’s incredibly durable, so you won’t have to worry about it breaking down on you as you put in the miles for your next 26.2. And for being so light, it’s surprisingly secure.
The carbon fiber element comes in the form of EnergyRods that line up with the metatarsal bones in your feet, with the intention of letting you keep up the pace for longer without putting in more effort. There’s also a carbon fiber plate in the heel to provide even more stability. However, perhaps the most surprising part of the shoe is the outsole, which is completely pattern-less yet still grippy.
The Bottom Line
- One Favorite Thing: “I won’t go as far as saying the carbon fiber EnergyRods are life changing, but I know I never want to go back.”
- One Area for Improvement: “The outsole doesn’t seem to be very durable. It’s pretty thin, and I can already see some wear after not that many miles.”
Nuts & Bolts
Style: Neutral Road (Cushioned)
Price: $200
Weight: 7.9 oz
Drop: 8.5 mm
Altra Olympus 4
The Altra Olympus 4 is a unique shoe, but will feel familiar to lovers of Altra’s “foot-shaped” wide toe box and signature zero drop. The Vibram MegaGrip outsole provides great traction, even as the big 33 mm stack height and extreme cushioning can make a runner feel quite disconnected from the trail surface.
The cushioning and toe box, combined with a supportive upper and don't-have-to-think-about-it heel, make the Olympus 4 an excellent trail runner, even for someone more accustomed to paved surfaces.
The Bottom Line
- One Favorite Thing: “I have slightly wide feet and some toes that overlap. The wide toe box gives my weird feet room to spread out, and helps me avoid hot spots and blistering.”
- One Area for Improvement: “While I appreciate the level of cushioning, I wish this pair was slightly shorter. They just felt clunky.”
Nuts & Bolts
Style: Neutral Trail (Cushion)
Price: $170
Weight: 9.6 oz (women); 11.6 oz (men)
Drop: 0 mm
Brooks Bedlam 3
While most stability shoes seem to feature a similar humdrum look and feel, Brooks is mixing things up with the stylish new Bedlam 3. First and foremost, Brooks updated the DNA AMP midsole to make it 20-percent lighter than the previous generation without sacrificing any of the excellent impact absorption. It's not springy, but it provides a supportive ride with plenty of energy return that has only gotten more supple as the shoe starts to break in.
The super breathable Fit Knit upper was one of the most comfortable we've tested in a stability shoe, but it was a bit tricky to dial in a secure fit due to how flexible and lightweight the fabric was. The GuideRails support system picks up some of the slack here, and helps keep the foot settled in and from moving from side to side too much. The full-coverage Arrow Point Outsole was some of the grippiest we've tested, and seems to be plenty durable after several training runs. Stability shoes are never the lightest or springiest shoes on the market, but the upgrades here make the Bedlam 3 a worthy option for high-mileage heel strikers looking for a reliable trainer.
The Bottom Line
- One Favorite Thing: “The lighter midsole has plenty of energy return without sacrificing stability.”
- One Area for Improvement: “The heavy sole paired with the lightweight upper feels a bit disproportional, although this feeling starts to be less of an issue as the shoe breaks in.”
Nuts & Bolts
Style: Stability Road
Price: $150
Weight: 9.5 oz (women); 10.8 oz (men)
Drop: 8 mm
Brooks Cascadia 15
The Brooks Cascadia is a best seller for the brand, and the new Cascadia 15 should be no exception—it has everything a trail runner is looking for. Though the outside of the shoe may appear sleeker and redefined, fans can rest assured that they will still find the perfect blend of comfortable cushioning and stability with its wider base. It's about as protective as a trail shoe gets, excelling on aggressive terrain with the help of the grippy versatile lugs on the outsole, the Ballistic Rock Shield and cushioned BioMoGo DNA midsole. It absorbs impacts nicely but isn’t the plushest ride on the market either.
Taking a few notes from its younger sibling, the Caldera, this version of the Cascadia has an entirely redesigned upper that includes monoloop mesh and 3D Fit Print, which is a fancy way to say the shoe now has a noticeably more comfortable fit that's both more breathable and drains faster when wet. It also includes thoughtful features for trail runners, like the elastic loop by the tongue to contain the laces and the posts in the forefoot and in the heel that help with stability. Overall, the Cascadia 15 is a featured-packed, balanced trail shoe for mile after mile of adaptive protection on the trail.
The Bottom Line
- One Favorite Thing: “The combination of the Cascadia 15's TrailTack technology and its multi-direction lug placement make this a winner for when you need to be extra confident in your shoe's grip over roots, rocks and loose footings.”
- One Area for Improvement: “The ride is on the firmer side, and while that's required for underfoot trail protection, it could be a bit more forgiving and plush.”
Nuts & Bolts
Style: Neutral Trail
Price: $130
Weight: 10.0 oz (women) 11.0 oz (men)
Drop: 8 mm
Brooks Ghost 13
The Brooks Ghost 13 has somehow improved on one of the company's best models and is the perfect shoe for a beginner or someone looking for a reliable shoe to do it all. Brooks has extended the Ghost's DNA LOFT cushioning through the forefoot, making the ride incredibly smooth.
Our tester noted that the shoe did start to show wear more quickly than expected, but did not experience any structural problems. She noted that the cushioning helped while running through minor ankle and knee pain. Overall, the Ghost 13 is another great iteration and exactly what owners of previous iterations expect from the line.
The Bottom Line
- One Favorite Thing: “I love the cushioning; it's perfectly soft without totally losing the feeling of your footfall.”
- One Area for Improvement: “I'd love it if the shoe were a little more durable; I should be able to put another 200 miles at least on my pair, and the upper and tread are already getting noticeably worn.”
Nuts & Bolts
Style: Neutral Road (Cushioned)
Price: $130
Weight: 8.8 oz (women); 10.1 oz (men)
Drop: 12 mm
Brooks Levitate 4
The Brooks Levitate 4 is a great daily training shoe with potential as a speedwork pair. While very experienced runners will look to other shoes for track days, many casual and intermediate runners will find that the DNA AMP technology and low drop makes for a springy and quick ride that helps pick up the pace.
The Levitate has a snug upper and sock-like heel construction that stays short of feeling hard or stiff. Our tester found that even when running strides, her heel did not slip in the shoe—leaving her to focus on her running, not her gear.
The Bottom Line
- One Favorite Thing: “The uppers are a Cinderella feature for me: perfectly snug without being hard or stiff.”
- One Area for Improvement: “Though this pair is lighter than the third iteration, I'd like to see it go even a touch further and drop a few more ounces.”
Nuts & Bolts
Style: Neutral Road
Price: $150
Weight: 9.2 oz (women); 10.3 oz (men)
Drop: 8 mm
Brooks Revel 4
The Brooks Revel 4 definitely delivers on its promise of being a stylish, basic running shoe at a lower price point. The design looks sleek, and it easily functions as a daily wear, does-a-bit-of-everything shoe. However, for our tester, the knit upper—while very nice to look at—always seemed to have gaps and bunches on the top and sides of the foot. The ride seemed average and not as "springy" or "energizing" as expected based on the specs. For that reason and depending on the runner, it might not be the best choice for long runs, but is still a versatile shoe for plenty of other activities or workouts.
The Bottom Line
- One Favorite Thing: “Out of the box you can tell this shoe has some spunk to it: It literally gives back what you put in and is very responsive.”
- One Area for Improvement: “The verdict is still out for me on the knit upper. I love that it frees the shoe from seams, but you do sacrifice some heat transfer.”
Nuts & Bolts
Style: Neutral Road
Price: $100
Weight: 7.9 oz (women); 8.9 oz (men)
Drop: 8 mm
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