Gear Reviews & Guides

Top Shoes for New Trail Runners

New to trail running? Choosing your first pair of shoes can feel tricky. Here’s a guide to help you find a comfortable, reliable option for getting started.

Nike Vomero 18: 100km Review

After logging just over 120km in the Vomero 18, it's time to check in and see how Nikes latest daily trainer has faired.

Altra Olympus 275 Review: All the Tech, Less Weight, More Adventure

Altra went all-in on tech so you can go all-out on the trail with a Matryx upper, Vibram Megagrip outsole, and lighter max-cushion comfort built for big adventures.

On Cloudultra Pro Review: On Has Entered the Chat

The Cloudultra Pro is one of this year’s best trail shoes, showing On’s patience and focus with a balanced, comfortable, and high-performance design built for tough, long days.

Brooks Cascadia 19 Review: The Legend Levels Up

The trail classic gets a major refresh. Softer, smoother, and more comfortable—the Cascadia 19 brings new life to a trusted favourite.

Asics Gel-Kayano 32 Review: The Gold Standard Gets an Upgrade

The Asics Gel-Kayano series has long been the gold standard for stability running shoes, blending reliable support with plush, high-mileage cushioning.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 Review: Polishing the Experience

One of the most popular versatile shoes is back! While keeping true to it's DNA, Saucony have made a number of changers for version 5 of the Endorphin Speed.

Trail Running: Finding Your Grip

The outsole connects you to the terrain, influencing traction, grip, comfort and overall performance. In this guide, we'll break down the essentials: lug depth, distribution, and compound, helping you

New Balance Rebel v5 Review: Light FuelCell Fun

New Balance's lightweight unplated daily trainer is back. Updated with meaningful changes to improve the shoes versatility and underfoot feel.

Asics Trabuco 13 Review: Any Trail, Any Day

The Trabuco 13 carries forward the legacy of Asics' most accessible and well rounded trail running shoe. It continues to strike a strong balance between protection and agility.

Saucony Triumph 23: The Same You Loved, Just Better

Saucony's premium neutral cushioning shoe gets an update, featuring their most innovative compounds built for plush, luxurious comfort.

Mizuno Wave Sky 9 Review: Shooting for the Sky

The Wave Sky 9 is Mizuno’s most cushioned daily trainer yet. With a softer, bouncier midsole, rockered geometry for smooth transitions.

New Balance Hierro v9: A Plush Trail Companion

New Balance has streamlined its trail lineup—fewer models, bigger improvements. The Hierro v9 is the product of New Balance merging the More Trail and Hierro together.

Altra Experience Wild 2 Review: Tweaks to a Trail Favourite

Altra have made a few thoughtful refinements to improve durability, protection and fit, while keeping everything fans loved about the original intact.

Mizuno Wave Rider 29: Evolving Comfort, Same Reliable Ride

Mizuno update their iconic daily trainer to be more cushioned, lighter and versatile than before. This update might draw a new runner into the franchise without lossing its loyal fans.

RunDNA Team: How Do We Fuel?

We asked some of our team their take on race day fuelling and what works best for them!

Mizuno Neo Vista 2 Review: More Bounce, More Fun

The Neo Vista 2 is the latest addition into the super trainer space and it builds on what made the original such a fun shoe! Think of the Vista 2 as an evolution, not complete overhaul.

What Shoe Should I Race In?

There are so many options to choose from for race day. But do you need a carbon plated super shoe for your next race? It depends!

Team Picks: Our Favourite Running Shoes in Each Category

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. See what they picked for a daily trainer, super trainer & race shoe.

RunDNA: Midsoles Explained

The midsole is the engine room of your running shoes, impacting cushioning, support, and overall ride. This blog unpacks key elements that make up a midsole.

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 Review: The Fastest Cat?

The Fast-R 3 is Pumas latest super shoe to land on the market. A shoe that's promising big improvements in running economy. So what's new and different about this hyped release?

Nike Vaporfly 4 Review: The OG Super Shoe

The shoe that redefined marathon road racing has returned. While it's retained some of it's DNA, Nike have tailored this shoe to a more specific race distance

Brooks Ghost 17 Review: The Ghost You Know, Now Even Better

The Ghost series has always retained a level of consistency. Runners have come to depend on its familiar ride and the 17th version doesn’t stray too far from that trusty formula.

HOKA Clifton 10 Review: A Decade of Cushion

One of the most recognisable shoes in the shoe game is back in it's 10th iteration, but does it still feel like a Clifton?

How Long Should My Running Shoes Last?

Running shoes have become softer, lighter and more comfortable, but at the cost of durability. So how long should your shoes last?

Frequently Asked Questions Instore at RunDNA

We’ve put together answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we get instore at RunDNA.

New Balance 880v15 Review: Fresh Take on a Classic

The 880v15 continues to be a versatile, no-fuss option for everyday use. New Balance have modernised the shoe with key updates to the midsole, upper and outsole.

Asics Shoes, Made Simple

This blog aims to simplify the Asics road running shoe lineup, summarising what each model is all about and suggesting similar options from other brands.

Hoka Shoes, Made Simple

This blog aims to simplify the Hoka road running shoe lineup, summarising what each model is all about and suggesting similar options from other brands.

Brooks Shoes, Made Simple

This blog aims to simplify the Brooks road running shoe lineup, summarising what each model is all about and suggesting similar options from other brands.

RunDNA: Running Shoe Myths

There are plenty of myths and misconceptions about running shoes. In this blog, we’ll sort through and separate the facts from the fiction!

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Review: Softer is Faster?

The Endorphin Elite 2 has been injected with a brand new incrediRUN midsole foam for a seriously unique running experience. But does super soft mean super fast?

Nike Vomero 18 Review: Return to Form

The Vomero 18 represents Nike's push to get back and be a big player in the daily training market. So how does this icon shoe perform and what's new?

Saucony Peregrine 15 Review: Simplicity Done Right

Peregrine 15 stays true to its roots with a traditional feel. There’s always going to be a place for simplicity and that's exactly what makes this shoe shine.

Brooks Catamount 4 Review: Light, Fast and Ready to Climb

The Catamount 4 has been updated to address shortcomings of its predecessor, but remains a fast, nimble and responsive trail shoe.

Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 Review: Rocker Fuelled Ride

A top to bottom redesign of the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 make it one of the more aggressive riding super shoes on the market and the fastest Hoka to date.

The "Super Shoe" Explained

Race shoes, also known as "super shoes" are the most exciting footwear category on the market. But what makes a super shoe, super?

The "Daily Trainer" Explained

The most important shoe within your running shoe rotation. But what is a daily trainer and how can the experience they off runners differ?

Asics Trabuco Max 4 Review: The Max Cushion Monster

The Trabuco Max 4 is built to be a trail tank, but how does Asics make this high stacked cushioned trail shoe smooth and stable?

Salomon Ultra Glide 3 Review: A New Direction?

The Ultra Glide 3 is a surprising direction for the brand featuring a range of new technology and innovation making it a top choice for ultra trail runners.

Brooks Caldera 8 Review: A Thoughtful Update

The Brooks Caldera is back for its eighth iteration and while it’s not a complete overhaul, it’s a thoughtful refinement. At first glance, it might seem like just an upper update, but small details go

Asics Gel Nimbus 27 Review: The Comfy Cruiser

The Asics Nimbus 27 is here, but how does this max cushioned cruiser stack up, what's changed and where does this cushioned cruiser fit into your shoe rotation?

Nike Pegasus Premium Review: Triple Stacked

Nike are revamping their road running shoe line up into three distinct silos - Pegasus, Structure and Vomero. Nike have literally thrown the metaphorical kitchen sink at the Pegasus Premium by adding

Hoka Bondi 9 Review: Same, But Different

The Hoka Bondi 9, a big max stack cushioned cruiser that is all about comfort. Designed to absorb the road, this classic gets a redesign from top to bottom.

Brooks Glycerin 22 Review: Tuned with DNA

Now in its 22nd iteration, the Glycerin 22 gets a new midsole and upper. Read our first thoughts on this iconic Brooks neutral daily trainer.

The Best Adidas Shoes For Every Run: Super Shoes To Daily Trainers

Adidas Adizero Evo SL Review: New Kid on the Block

The Evo SL is a new model from Adidas, branching from their Adizero family of shoes. Read our first thoughts on this hyped up new release from Adidas!

Nike Zoom Fly 6 Review: Baby Alphafly?

The Zoom Fly is now in its sixth iteration. With Nike completely overhauling this shoe from top to bottom, have they created a baby Alphafly?