The Best Running Shoes for Men in 2024

It’s not often that a brand comes out of nowhere and wows us, but that’s precisely what Mount to Coast has done with the Mount to Coast R1 ($160). Just launched this year, the brand took aim at the untapped market of ultrarunning shoes designed for the road but ended up hitting the bullseye, dropping a shoe that excels at long-distance running but also crushes short runs, speed work, and race day. Not only that, but it’s one of the most affordable shoes we’ve tested — and easily the number one shoe when it comes to value. 

When we first heard of a new brand aimed at long-distance road running, our interest was immediately piqued, but we maintained a healthy amount of skepticism — could any shoe really jump into today’s (very congested) market and bring the heat with its very first offering?

Turns out, the answer is yes. From our very first run in the R1, we were impressed with its responsive, peppy foam and unique dual-zone fit that allowed for precise lacing across the top of the foot. 

The brand has decades of performance footwear experience on its design team, and it immediately shows. The innovative ZeroSag midsole is perfect right out of the box, but it’s also designed to go for 800 miles or more — meaning you get even more from one pair. Skeptical about that number? Us, too.

But Mount to Coast already has former Olympians-turned-ultrarunners on their side: Ben Blankenship, who ran the 1,500 m at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, has put over 1,000 miles on multiple pairs of R1s while training for a diabolical year of ultra racing. 

The last thing we’ll touch on here is the weight. You think of a shoe that can last 1,000 miles, and it must be pretty hardy and heavy, right? Wrong. At just 8.5 ounces for a men’s U.S. 9, these are some of the lightest shoes our tester has worn. The alchemy that Mount to Coast stirred up to develop the R1 is impressive and we can’t wait to see what the next iterations have in store. 

It’s no bargain-basement shoe, but the Asics Novablast 4 ($140) gives you a lot of bang for your buck. We found them to be suitable for everything from long runs to tempo runs, citing their FF Blast+ foam’s impressive energy return as the feature that stands out above the rest. While $140 may not initially seem like a bargain, these shoes are packed with features and come in at a more palatable price point than most of today’s running shoe offerings. 

Not only did they enjoy the plush, springy foam, but we also praised the breathable, sock-like upper for its secure fit through the midfoot and roominess around the toes — the only drawback they found was a slight lack of security and depth around the heel, though this improved when laced up with a heel lock. Most of our team resolved their qualms with the heel by wearing thinner socks, but folks who use their own insoles may find the rear of the shoe a bit shallow regardless of their sock choice. 

In spite of the heel size, the fit is great for varying foot shapes, though Asics recommends the shoe for those with high arches and underpronators. The gusseted tongue stays in place and has a thoughtful bit of cushioning near the top to protect the top of your foot if you prefer tighter laces. 

In the end, the Asics Novablast 4 isn’t the cheapest shoe you’ll find. But if you love Asics, are an underpronator, or have a high-volume foot, you’re going to think these are an absolute steal.

If we could only wear one shoe for every type of run, regardless of speed or distance, we’d pick the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v13 ($165). We have a lot of shoes in our offices, but if you took a peek at the soles of each pair, you’d notice that the Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is worn down quite a bit more than the rest. 

The shoe is incredibly lightweight and sleek for one with so much support underfoot — most of the squishy everyday runners we’ve encountered are considerably less graceful. As the shoe’s name suggests, we found that our legs stayed fresh through various workouts. The substantial 38mm stack provides plenty of cushioning and rebound without feeling sluggish, even when the pace increases. 

Our team also noted the smooth ride, subtle rock forward, and efficient toe-off, all of which were a huge help as they got further into a long run or dug in for their last few reps on the track. We also found that they held up well over time, even for those who found themselves rocking them most days of the week. 

The engineered mesh upper provides a nice balance of lateral support through the midfoot and stretchiness in the forefoot, resulting in a comfortable fit from heel to toe with plenty of room to splay the toes, which can make a huge difference over time. 

After testing, it’s clear that the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v13 offers and delivers the whole kit and caboodle, making them the ideal shoe for any runner who prefers sticking with the same silhouette across their training and racing. Don’t get us wrong, though. They’re great as an everyday/long-run shoe if you’ve already got your speed and race shoes dialed in.

Nike racing shoes really don’t need an introduction at this point. The first iteration of the Vaporfly was launched to much fanfare back in 2016 — largely in part to Nike’s Breaking2 project, where they attempted to break the elusive sub-two-hour marathon. Fast forward to 2024 and the latest Vaporfly, the Nike Vaporfly 3 ($260), is still one of the absolute best running shoes for men in the game and our favorite for marathons. 

We have been taking various racing shoes to task over the past few years; quite an undertaking given the unending super shoe release schedule. They’ve crushed races (and set PRs) in them, sprinted 200m repeats at Brooklyn’s McCarren Park with the Brooklyn Track Club, and covered miles and miles of speedwork on the streets of Boise. In the end, the Vaporfly 3 has been the standout choice for marathon racers, 1500m specialists, and everyone in between.

Nike’s Flyknit upper doesn’t look that much different than the mesh used by other brands, but after testing, our runners found Flyknit to be the superior material thanks to its comfort and support — notably its support in the arch. The split tongue provides good coverage and has just enough cushioning to protect the top of the foot, and a U-shaped foam insert around the heel keeps the foot secure and supported without sacrificing breathability or incurring a weight penalty. 

Speaking of weight, the Nike Vaporfly 3 is incredibly light. At just 7.1 ounces for a men’s size 10, they are as light as air, even after hours and hours of pacey efforts. In fact, to make the latest Vaporflys even lighter than their predecessors, Nike thinned the rubber outsole and added more of its unmatched ZoomX foam.

The shoe promotes (and rewards) forefoot strike, but the 38mm heel stack is soft and responsive when you slow down a bit. But don’t plan on slowing down: the full-length carbon plate makes the Vaporfly, well, fly. For anyone looking to take their speed to the next level, the Vaporfly is a solid option 

Don’t like Nike? The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 ($250) came in a very close second thanks to its comfy upper, ample cushioning, and extremely lightweight (7.8 ounces).

Hoka has been on the cutting edge of running shoe technology for some time now, but one place we have always wanted to see more from the brand is its speed and racing shoes. The Hoka Mach X 2 ($190) delivered from the very first time we laced them up. They’re light, racy, and, perhaps most of all, provide excellent stability for a shoe made explicitly for speed. 

Hoka dubbed them a daily trainer, and we agree — you can run and run and run in these, on or off the track, and you will get your money’s worth. The cool thing is they don’t feel like a daily trainer. An extra-resilient PEBA-topped midsole gives these shoes the response and take-off you’d expect from a super shoe without the expedited deterioration we see in race-ready kicks. They’re up for the task of taking you through an entire training block or two. 

The forefoot is another feature we were immediately taken with — the wide toebox is immediately noticeable, especially compared to other speed shoes. Your toes will not feel squished and can take up all the space they need to really make the most of every foot muscle. 

The only drawback we found was the upper’s break-in period — specifically, the heel. Once the race-inspired collar molds to your ankle, it will feel great, but this may take a few runs. Have a bandaid or some moleskin ready to go. But have no fear — we found that this break-in period never lasted more than 10-12 miles. 

The Mach X 2 is our favorite Hoka speed shoe yet, giving the brand a real foothold in a category that hasn’t always been considered its strong suit, especially when compared to what Nike, Adidas, and other big brands are doing in the space. If you’re a Hoka guy, you need to buy a pair of these ASAP. If you’re unsure about Hoka, we think these are worth a shot.

O Canada; the land of maple syrup, Tim Hortons, ice hockey, and, apparently, some seriously kick-ass trail running shoes. The Norda 001 ($285) is one of the most exciting, innovative trail running shoes for men to come out in recent memory — which is no surprise given the brand’s pedigree within both trail running and shoe design. The 001 stood out to us in a number of ways, but the most yapped-about feature is the shoe’s proprietary Dyneema upper. 

Dyneema, a superlight fiber that is by weight 15 times stronger than steel, is seldom used in the running world, but when Norda’s founders were seeking the ideal material for their shoe’s upper, they knew Dyneema was the golden ticket.

They enlisted some experts to help develop a Dyneema fabric specifically for Norda, and the result is the bio-based Dyneema used on the 001. Not only is it light, but it’s extremely resistant to tears and scuffs, making it the perfect antidote to one of the biggest conundrums in trail running: weight vs. durability. 

The upper is stellar, but we also love the midsole, which breaks in perfectly after a few runs and retains its shape and comfort longer than just about any of the other trail shoes we’ve tested (which is why we don’t fault them for the high price point). The Norda 001’s grippy Vibram Formation sole is exclusive to Norda — it features 5mm lugs that made going up or downhill a breeze during testing. 

If you’re going to buy some (and you should), make sure you size up a half size from your usual running shoe size. For example, one of our testers is a size 9 in Vans and a 9.5 in Nike running shoes, so size 10 was the perfect Norda size for him.

We can’t necessarily start to call ourselves zero-drop converts, but if any shoe could warm us up to zero-drop, it’s the Altra Olympus 6 ($175). A capable trail shoe built with sticky Vibram soles and plenty of cushioning, we were very surprised by how much they enjoyed running in it, especially considering some not-so-favorable past experiences with this type of shoe. 

The shoe is built with the brand’s signature roomy toebox, allowing for maximum splay and natural foot movement, which may take some getting used to aesthetically, but our feet took to them like a duck to water — it turns out many of our toes have been begging for more room. Altra is here to provide that space for our feet to break free. 

Aside from the comfortable footbed, the shoes feature a substantial 33 mm stack height that provides just enough cushioning while also allowing for a consistent, confidence-inspiring ground feel. In our experience, some pillowy trail shoes disconnect the runner from the surface beneath them, but Altra has toed the line with aplomb, providing a ride that is equal parts plush and grounding. 

The heel collar and upper are comfortable right out of the box, and we found that they’re also a great replacement for a bulky hiking boot. Overall, the Olympus 6 is a shoe we think will surprise many runners who don’t think highly of zero-drop shoes and will be a go-to for zero-drop enthusiasts for years to come (or at least until the Olympus 7 comes out).

When you first pick up the Nike Invincible 3 ($180), you may question how useful it could actually be on the road. It’s heavy, the sole is as wide as a pancake, and the ZoomX foam doesn’t look as marshmallow-soft as it does on Nike’s speed shoes. Not to mention the price tag — most people are alarmed at having to spend nigh on 200 bucks for a pair of trainers. OK, now forget all that. 

For one of our testers, no shoe makes him look forward to his long run more than the Invincible 3. A die-hard Invincible advocate since the silhouette’s first iteration, he basically told us that this list could not be published without it. We checked in with a few other runners on our team and decided that the Invincible 3 was a shoo-in. 

The Nike Invincible 3 is incredibly stable and well-built — in a world of lightweight shoes that feel like they’re not going to last, the Invincible seems, well, invincible. The ZoomX foam is equal parts soft and efficient, and the 9mm drop gives the runner a feeling of forward momentum with every stride. The upper is lightweight, and we really love the size of the toebox, which comes in handy after your feet have swollen throughout a long run. 

La Sportiva is known for its excellence in alpine pursuits, so it’s not a shock that they describe their footwear with the term “mountain running” instead of trail running. And they do, indeed, dominate in the mountains, taking on steep, loose, gravel trails with ease — both up and down. Its newest mountain running shoe, the Prodigio ($155), brings advanced cushioning and a less aggressive outsole to the trails, resulting in the ideal shoe for runs on mixed surfaces. 

We dug the comfort of the Prodigio. The break-in period was short, if there even was one at all. The gusseted tongue and sock-like liner is equally supportive and roomy, while the lacing system makes it simple to dial in the right fit. The upper is very light and breathable, a welcome departure from the thick uppers on most of the trail soles we tested. Don’t worry, though, our testers all reported that the Prodigio was resilient and didn’t take damage easily, even on rocky trails. 

Where the La Sportiva Prodigio stands out against its La Sportiva counterparts and other trail shoes we tested is the overall look and feel — take away the lugs on the sole, and it could be a really good road running shoe.

It feels fast, the energy response from the XFlow nitrogen-infused supercritical foam is there every step of the way, and the lightweight rock plate on the bottom adds virtually no weight. It has everything an excellent road shoe has but dials up the protection and trail-focused details to thrive on all surfaces. 

Finally, La Sportiva shoes run small, so if you’re usually a U.S. 9.5, for example, you’ll probably need a U.S. 10.

If there was a running industry award for “Most Improved Player,” it would have to go to ON Running. When the brand first hit the scene, its shoes made waves in Silicon Valley and with Upper East Side dads but left something to be desired for those trying to log serious miles.

In the past few seasons, though, something has changed: On’s running shoes drastically improved, most notably its new ON Cloudmonster Hyper ($220). A maximum cushioned runner, the Cloudmonster Hyper actually resembles its namesake — it’s bouncy, plush, and, yes, feels like you’re running on a cloud. 

The shoe keeps you rolling forward, pairing the immense cushioning with just enough forward motion to feel like you can keep some speed going, even after the 10-mile mark. Where many max cushion shoes start to feel hard after a while, sending a jolt up the leg with each footfall, we found that the Cloudmonster Hyper’s energy-returning foam really was keeping our legs fresh and comfortable over long distances.

Some of our team were split, however, on the volume of the shoe. Runners with high arches and insteps appreciated the deep fit and the lacing system, while others said they’d prefer a sleeker upper to go with the beefy midsole. 

It’s an expensive shoe, but we think On really has something good on their hands with the ON Cloudmonster Hyper. Oh, and the aesthetics are pretty sick, which is always a bonus in a gear category that doesn’t historically make the best-looking kicks. Wear these on your off days, and nobody will wonder why you stole your dad’s Costco shoes.

The latest innovation from Hoka, a brand that’s no stranger to pushing the limit, is the Hoka Skyward X ($225), a carbon-plated training shoe with a whopping 48mm stack that’ll turn the heads of even the most dedicated high-stack enthusiasts. Yes, you read that right: 48mm stack height.

When our team got their first hands-on look at the Skyward X, they couldn’t help but return to the “moon boot” moniker attributed to many of Hoka’s kicks over the years. If we’ve learned anything about Hoka, we know that a tongue-in-cheek epithet becomes a badge of honor. 

It only took a few runs to realize that the Skyward X was a very good shoe that defied our expectations, rendering any initial skepticism moot. They reported that the ride is just as plush, energetic, and responsive as advertised, from tempo efforts to weekend long runs.

While most highly cushioned shoes fail at the first sign of speed, the Skyward X uses a carbon fiber plate and innovative foam blend, what Hoka calls a “suspension system,” to provide a boost when shorter splits are required.

Sure, your feet are a long way from the surface beneath them, but if you’re out running on the road, sidewalk, or riverside path, the non-existent ground feel shouldn’t make too big of a difference — especially considering most folks running in shoes like these aren’t concerned with ground feel anyway. 

It’s not all about the bounce, though. The upper is made from a flat-knit engineered mesh that provides a secure fit without feeling restrictive, while the back of the shoe employs Hoka’s Deep Active Foot Frame to cradle the heel. 

The only thing we don’t like about the Hoka Skyward X at this point is the colors and the price. Our tester had the Blanc De Blanc / Virtual Blue, which reminds us of a Fourth of July ice pop, and the only other color available right now is a double yellow number that isn’t the best to look at. As for the cost, $225 is a huge dent to the wallet, regardless of the tech involved. 

In the end, though, we recommend these for anyone who loves top-of-the-line cushioning and all-day energy response. They’re comfortable, bouncy, and spirited, providing the runner with a weightless feeling that lasts for miles on end. Maybe Moon Boots is an apt nickname, after all.