Best Road Racing Shoes: Spring 2024

Hi Nat,

Thank you for your comment. Regarding racing flats they are used on road only. Racing flats for cross-country don't exist. On cross country runs you can use two types of running shoes: either cross country spikes or fell shoes. Both of them feature a minimal level of cushioning – less than any road running shoe, as they are used on soft, muddy terrain so no additional cushioning is needed. Hope this helps. Good luck with your running.

Kind regards
Nandanti

Hi Allison, Thank you for your comment. It is difficult for me to say how you will feel running on the Endorphin racing shoes. Most of the supportive racing shoes have less support than the supportive road shoes anyway. The Endorphin racing shoes are very stable, which always helps. The best would be for you to try them on and see if they work for you. We are open now, is it convenient for you to come to one of our stores? We also offer a free return policy for those customers shopping online with us. Hope this helps. Good luck with your races. Kind Regards Nandanti

Hi Angela,

Thank you for your comment.

I picked three lightweight shoes for 5-10km runs for your daughter. All of them are much lighter and flexible than Nike Pegasus. Here are my suggestions:

Women's Saucony Fastwitch: Women's specific fit, supper lightweight, racing specific shoe:

Women's Saucony Kinvara: A bit more cushion then Fastwitch, but much lighter than Pegasus:

Women's On Cloud X: Trendy, flexible, lightweight shoe:

For cross-country it is best to use spikes as they are very muddy races. She would just slide all over in racing shoes.

Hope this helps.

Kind Regards
Nandanti

Hi Andy,

Thank you for your suggestion to clearly label the vegan shoes. I will pass your request to the brand representatives. If you would like more information regarding vegan shoes please read our blog post: Best Vegan Running Shoes.

Kind Regards

Nandanti

Hi Abhijeet,

Adidas Adios is a racing shoe but some athlete runners use it for a marathon. This shoe has enough cushioning to run a marathon. If you are worried that a racing shoe will not take you through the marathon comfortably and you need a more cushioned shoe, you can go for any of our road running shoes. The level of cushioning for a marathon depends on your preference. Most runners prefer to run a marathon in road running shoes but some prefer lightweight racing shoes.

Thank you,
Nandanti

• Abhijeet SonkuleJuly 22, 2019 at 11:17am

  Dear Nandanti,
  
  I was a little confused earlier, now you have cleared by doubt.
  
  Thanks & Regards
  Abhijeet Reply

  • Nandanti MartaskovaJuly 22, 2019 at 3:25pm

    Hi Abhijeet,

    I am happy to help. Best of luck with your marathon.

    Nandanti

    Reply

• Abhijeet SonkuleJuly 12, 2019 at 2:21pm

  Hi,
  
  I am looking for a neutral fast cushioned marathon running shoe. Please give 2 best options, one in budget category.
  
  Thanks & Regards
  Abhijeet Reply

  • Nandanti MartaskovaJuly 15, 2019 at 2:40pm

    Hi Abhijeet,
    
    You could try Adidas Adios as this is a fast, light and cushion racing shoe some elite runners use for marathons. The cheaper option is Brooks Asteria which has a bit of support for over-pronation.
    
    Best of luck with your marathon.
    
    Nandanti
     

    Reply

Hi Venetia,
Regarding the new pair of racing shoes for you it depends for what kind of distance you want to use them. If you want them for a marathon and shorter distances you could go for Adidas Adios (226g). Adidas Adios is a racing shoe but it can be used for a marathon as well as for shorter runs (5km, 10km, half marathon etc.). If you would like a very light weight pair for 5km or 10km runs you can chose in between super lightweight shoes like Brooks Hyperion (153g, narrow fit) or Saucony Type A (167g, wider fit).
Thank you,
Nandanti

Elspeth,

Your store visit pre-empts my reply! In the interest of others who read this thread though...

Lightest we have are the Brooks Hyperion – light and very flexible, great for short intervals, track sessions or tempo runs. The Hyperion is not really designed for consistent mileage. On Cloud has become popular with the tri scene.

Good luck to your son in his triathlons too.

Hi Hosein,
You could try Adios at a 10mm drop with lots of cushioning, or maybe DS Trainer, 10mm again but a bit more cushioning and stability. Best to come in to one of our stores if you can and try a few options. You may be better with a lightweight training shoe rather than a racer - you'd get a higher drop and a bit more cushioning.
Best of luck with your racing,
Bhashini

Hi John,

The Ghost 2E will certainly be wider but it won't give you the same support if you overpronate. The new Ravenna 9 is coming up a bit wider than the previous versions.

Otherwise you could try the GTS 2E, which is more supportive but a bit heavier and less springy than Ravenna.

Wide fitting supportive options outside Brooks include Asics GT-2000 and New Balance 860 2E.

Best of luck,
Bhashini

Hi Samantha,
What about the Brooks PureFlow? It's a 4mm drop, closer to the ground than the Kinvara although the stack height is probably a little bit higher than the Inov8 and Asics shoes you're used to.
Otherwise, as you say, the next step would be a racing shoe because there's not so much available in minimal lightweight shoes any more.
All the best
Bhashini

Hi Steve,

That sounds like a good idea. The Nike Zoom Elite at around 225g is a bit lighter than the Pegasus, which is around 300g. If you wanted an alternative you could consider the Saucony Kinvara, which is a similar weight with a slightly lower heel drop and good enough cushioning for long distance. We often find that runners who like Nike shoes also get on with Saucony.

Best of luck with it,
Bhashini

• MarkMarch 28, 2017 at 2:08pm

  Thanks Bhashini. That's really helpful. How do the Hyperion fit size wise? I'll order pair from your goodselves. They look fast! ;)
  
  Mark Reply

  • Bhashini NeveMarch 28, 2017 at 2:40pm

    Hi Mark,
    My colleagues on the shop floor say they're fairly standard sized but you may need a half size bigger than your usual running shoe size as like many racers, they're a bit on the narrow side.
    Happy racing :)
    Bhashini Reply

Hi Sandeep,

You could try the Nike Free RN Distance. It's a 4mm drop which is a bit lower than the Free RN (I think that one was an 8mm drop) with a bit more cushioning.

Or the Brooks PureFlow 6 has a similar kind of lightweight cushioned but minimal midsole with plenty of flexibility.

Best of luck with your running,
Bhashini

Hi Diana,
You could perhaps try the women's Mizuno Hitogami or the Nike Speed Rival.

But if all her friends are in spikes, maybe you could consider a distance spike which would give her a bit more cushioning underfoot than a sprint spike and when she's running outside, she'd be getting a bit more grip on a rainy day when the tartan is wet. Something like the Nike Zoom Rival D or the Adidas Distancestar.

Wishing your daughter all the best this season,
Bhashini

Hi Alan,

You could try the Brooks Hyperion or the Saucony Type A. They're both neutral and good for distances up to half marathon. Hopefully they'll be wide enough in the toe box although most racing flats come up fairly narrow.

Best of luck with your running,
Bhashini

Hi Sharon,

It's a bit tricky because they're all really designed for road racing rather than XC but if she's okay with the Omni 15 – which is also a road shoe – then maybe the Fastwitch would work. Its Powertrac outsole is made to be grippy in the wet. Or the DS Racer, which will give good cushioning and support, but the magic sole is perforated so she might get wet socks!

Best of luck,
Bhashini

Hi Jeremy,

I would guess that the Adios Boost would be a good bet but the Boost cushioning is a lot more springy than the EVA in the original Adios so you'd need to give yourself time to get used to it.

Otherwise the Mizuno Hitogami is a bit firmer underfoot like the old Adios. Or you could think about the Brooks Hyperion.

Hope you get the qualifying time.

Best of luck,
Bhashini

Hi Mariann,

Sorry to hear that. It's hard to find wider fitting racing shoes because they're designed to be close fitting to give a secure feeling with faster running. Of the racers we currently have in stock, the Hitogami 3 is the widest.

Bhashini

Hi Stephen,

What about the Brooks Hyperion or the Adidas Adios. They're both neutral and they'd give you a bit more bouncy cushioning in the forefoot.

Best of luck,
Bhashini

Hi Matt,

If you're looking for something supportive with a bit more cushioning for half marathon type distances, I'd maybe consider the Asics DS Racer or the Saucony Fastwitch.

They're similar in weight, the DS Racer will probably be a bit slimmer in fit but the Fastwitch is built on a 4mm drop which favours a midfoot/forefoot striker a little better.

Best of luck with it,
Bhashini

Hi Norah,
You could try the Brooks T7 Racer or the Mizuno women's Hitogami? They're both good for 10K type distances and quite soft around the heel collar.
Best of luck,
Bhashini

Hi Will,

I'd try the Saucony Type A – it's really light and flexible so perfect for the distances you're doing and a 4mm offset generally works well for a midfoot/forefoot striker.
Best of luck,
Bhashini

Hi Nicki,

I'd maybe consider the Saucony Fastwitch, Asics DS Racer or Brooks ST5. The ST5 is probably the most supportive but the other 2 have a bit more cushioning, which might be good over a marathon distance.

If you want something a bit more cushioned and substantial, you could think about the DS Trainer

Best of luck.
Bhashini