Team Picks: Our Favourite Running Shoes in Each Category 2026

By RunDNA

Updated Feb 10, 2026

7 min read

Chosen by the team

Welcome to our latest roundup of running shoes! We asked our staff to pick their favourites across four key categories and we’ve narrowed it down to their top two choices in each.

First up; daily trainers, your reliable companions for clocking most of your weekly mileage. Next are the super trainers, the versatile workhorses that excel on long runs and everything in between. For those fast days, we’ve got shoes designed for workouts and race days, built to help you push the pace.

Each pick comes straight from our team of passionate and dedicated runners, shoes they trust and rely on. Let’s check out the top contenders below!

Daily Trainer

For a deeper look at the latest generation of daily trainers, read our guide: What's New in Daily Trainers!

Nike Vomero 18

For us, the Vomero 18 is one of Nike’s best daily trainer updates in a while. It still holds its place as the brand’s premium neutral option, but now it feels more modern and refined. The combination of ZoomX and ReactX in the midsole gives it that soft, cushioned feel underfoot without feeling mush, great for easy days and long runs. The 10mm drop keeps things feeling familiar and stable, especially if you're used to a more traditional geometry. What really surprised us though, is the price, considering the comfort, materials, and overall ride, it’s one of the more affordable daily trainers out on the market. A solid update all round.

Georgia: “I'm currently loving the Nike Vomero 18 for my easy runs within the 30-45 minute window. This new update has a much thicker midsole with more ReactX foam so it absorbs shock better whilst also maintaining a very smooth and stable ride. The upper hugs my foot nicely, they come in a range of cool colours and I think it's a fantastic daily trainer option at an affordable price.”

Adam: “I picked the Vomero 18 because I enjoy the responsive and soft ride that the midsole provides; I think it’s a great mix of comfort and energy return.”

Saucony Triumph 23

The Triumph 23 is a true comfort-first daily trainer that shines on easy runs, long efforts, and recovery days. The softer PWRRUN PB midsole delivers a genuinely plush, cloud-like feel underfoot while still offering enough response to keep the ride smooth and controlled. We love how the updated upper and refined outsole make it feel lighter and more flexible than past Triumphs without losing that signature protection. If your priority is maximising comfort and making long kilometres feel easier, the Triumph 23 is one of the best cushioned daily trainers on the wall.

Jessie: “I gravitate towards the Saucony Triumph 23 because it’s the perfect shoe for a casual runner like myself, who wants something a bit more than just a ‘plod along’ shoe. It’s comfortable for long distances and still allows me to pick up the pace a bit if I want to.”

James: “The Saucony Triumph 23 is a dependable shoe that does exactly what a daily trainer should; it’s durable, stable and the cushioning is really well balanced. The broad platform, especially through the forefoot really enhances this!

Super Trainer

Asics Superblast 2

The Superblast 2 continues to be one of the most sought after super trainers on the market and for good reason! It hits that sweet spot between max stack comfort and uptempo versatility, making it one of the few shoes that can truly do it all. Whether it’s easy runs, long efforts, or picking up the pace mid-run, the Superblast 2 covers you well. What’s been really cool to see is how many first time marathoners are reaching for this shoe as it offers that light, fast feel without sacrificing the protection and stability you really start to appreciate in the late stages of the race. It’s one of those rare shoes that just about any runner can find a use for within their shoe rotation.

Tom: “I love the Superblast 2 because it’s a shoe that remains consistent underfoot for long runs up to and beyond 90 minutes, which is something not many shoes can offer.”

Lachie: “A shoe that you can wear for just about anything, whether that's easy runs, long runs or marathon pace workouts.”

New Balance SuperComp Trainer v3

The SuperComp Trainer v3 is one of those carbon plated shoes that doesn’t lock you into one type of run, it’s surprisingly versatile. While it still brings that snappy, efficient feel you'd expect from a plated shoe, it’s tuned in a way that makes it feel smooth and forgiving enough for daily use. We’ve found it really shines on longer runs, you get plenty of cushioning underfoot and it makes cruising at a steady pace feel effortless. It’s also easy to change gears mid run, whether you're settling into marathon pace or throwing in some surges, it responds without feeling overly aggressive. It’s a great option if you want plated performance without sacrificing comfort or range.

Asher: “I picked SuperComp Trainer v3 due to its ability to facilitate so many kinds of training sessions. From a cruisy Sunday long run, to picking up the pace or even a hard interval session, the FuelCell foam and carbon plate is able to handle all distances and paces with ease.”

Session Shoe

New Balance SuperComp Elite v5

The SuperComp Elite v5 is a surprisingly enhanced update as New Balance’s lighter and faster super shoe. This isn’t a polite racer anymore. It’s sharp, confident, and tuned for speed. From the first stride, it feels stripped back and purposeful, trading excess for intent and speed. Still stable like the v4, this update urges you forward, the turnover is quick, transitions are clean, and the ride rewards runners who commit to the pace. Taking the learnings from the SuperComp Elite v4 and refining them into something leaner and more aggressive, the v5 feels like the fastest shoe New Balance has ever engineered. It’s equally at home being pushed hard over 5km as it is locking into rhythm over the marathon, delivering a race-day feel that scales with your ambition.

Ed: “The Supercomp Elite v5 is a softer, more aggressive and streamlined update from New Balance. It's not only fast for racing longer distance, but I find that it performs really well as a more nimble and responsive long run shoe. I think it's important to feel confident in the shoe, particularly when fatigue begins to set in on in those longer reps”.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4

The Adios Pro 4 is hands down one of the best updates to a race shoe this year. Adidas took what worked in previous versions and made it softer, bouncier and more runnable across the board. The new Lightstrike Pro midsole is a big improvement, it’s got more softness underfoot and a more responsive feel, especially over longer distances. Instead of a traditional carbon plate, the Adios Pro 4 sticks with the carbon-infused EnergyRods, which gives the shoe a propulsive and rolling sensation. It’s a smoother, more comfortable ride that still delivers when you want to push the pace. For anyone looking for a top tier speed shoe and racer, this update nails it.

Nathan: “Adidas have improved everything in this new update compared to the version 3. The new upper has a better lockdown and is more comfortable, while the midsole has more softness underfoot which I really appreciate on longer sessions.”

Race Shoe

Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo

The Metaspeed Edge Tokyo is one of the lightest and most responsive super shoes on the market, and ASICS has truly refined the formula here. It builds on what runners loved in the previous version; bouncy, energetic foam and smooth transitions, but is now even more dialled in for pure race-day performance.

ASICS offers both the Edge and Sky versions in the Metaspeed lineup, with the key differences coming down to plate design and FF LEAP placement. In the Edge, the plate drops lower in the forefoot for a more aggressive toe-off, with FF LEAP foam sitting above the plate to create a snappier, more forward-driven ride. In the Sky, the plate stays flatter with the FF LEAP foam positioned below it, resulting in a slightly firmer feel with a more upward, bounding sensation.

Both are seriously fast options, but we’ve found the Edge Paris to be the more popular choice in-store.

Edward: "After loving the Metaspeed Edge Paris, I knew the Toyko would be just as good if not better. It's super lightweight and snappy, as even more responsive with the new FF Leap midsole. I’ve used it for races this year and found them great for triathlon events as well as a variety of road races where the pace is a lot quicker.”

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3

The Deviate Nitro Elite 3 has been a real surprise package in the racing scene this year. It might fly under the radar compared to some of the bigger names, but once you lace it up, it delivers in a big way. The ride is super snappy and responsive, there’s a real sense of pop with each stride that makes it fun to push the pace in. Add in the PUMA GRIP outsole, which is hands down one of the best out there, and you've got a race day shoe that grips everything from slick roads to tight corners without hesitation. It's lightweight, efficient and definitely deserves more attention from anyone looking for a fast, confident racer.

Harry: “I love the Deviate Nitro Elite for a fast, aggressive feel underfoot. I’ve picked this for all my 5km and 10km races this year and I reckon it would be my shoe for the half marathon too.”