What is the best running shoe model of all time?

Marathon world records and everyday training bests have been chased in shoes from this list — classics that revolutionized the sport alongside modern carbon-plate rockets. Which sole earns your vote?

Nike Vaporfly 4%

The shoe that revolutionized marathon racing, the original Vaporfly 4% used a carbon-fiber plate and ZoomX foam to improve running economy by up to 4%, breaking the sub-2-hour marathon barrier.

1/15

Nike Alphafly

Nike's flagship marathon racing shoe, the Alphafly combines a massive ZoomX foam stack with a carbon plate and air pods to produce the most propulsive running experience ever engineered, powering multiple world records.

2/15

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro

Adidas's answer to the super-shoe revolution, the Adios Pro features multiple carbon rods in a Lightstrike Pro foam base and has been worn to numerous world marathon major victories.

3/15

ASICS Gel-Kayano

One of the most beloved stability shoes of all time, the Gel-Kayano has been continuously refined since 1993 and remains the gold standard for overpronating runners seeking plush daily-mileage support.

4/15

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080

A perennial favorite daily trainer, the Fresh Foam 1080 is celebrated for its deeply cushioned, smooth ride that makes high-mileage training genuinely enjoyable.

5/15

Brooks Ghost

One of the best-selling running shoes of all time, the Brooks Ghost is revered for its versatile, balanced cushioning and reliable comfort that suits the widest possible range of runners.

6/15

Hoka Clifton

The shoe that made maximalist cushioning mainstream, the Hoka Clifton introduced a plush, pillowy ride to the running world and launched an entirely new category of everyday training shoes.

7/15

Saucony Endorphin Speed

A popular carbon-alternative racer featuring a nylon speedroll plate and PWRRUN PB foam, the Endorphin Speed delivers a fast, propulsive ride at a fraction of the price of full carbon competitors.

8/15

Nike Pegasus

Nike's most enduring running shoe line, the Pegasus has been a trusted everyday trainer since 1983 and has sold more pairs than virtually any other running model in history.

9/15

ASICS Novablast

A lively and energetic daily trainer from ASICS, the Novablast is celebrated for its exceptionally bouncy FF Blast foam midsole that makes easy runs feel genuinely fun.

10/15

On Cloudstratus

A premium double-layer CloudTec cushioning shoe from Swiss brand On Running, the Cloudstratus delivers a distinctive cloud-soft underfoot feel that has earned a devoted following worldwide.

11/15

Mizuno Wave Rider

A long-running classic from Mizuno, the Wave Rider is praised for its signature Wave plate stability system that provides a firm yet responsive ride beloved by dedicated long-distance runners.

12/15

New Balance 880

A highly regarded all-around daily trainer praised for exceptional durability, comfortable Fresh Foam cushioning, and consistent performance across decades of updates.

13/15

Saucony Kinvara

A lightweight low-drop daily trainer that helped pioneer the natural running movement, the Kinvara was widely credited with shifting the entire industry toward lighter, more flexible shoes.

14/15

Nike Air Zoom Structure

A staple stability trainer in Nike's lineup for over two decades, the Air Zoom Structure is trusted by millions of mild overpronators for its dependable support and smooth cushioned ride.

15/15