The 33 shoes we can’t wait to run in next year

At the end of November, I traveled to Austin, Texas, to attend the annual trade show, The Running Event. I met with shoe brands for a sneak peek at next year’s best running shoes. With little time to spare, I speed walked from appointment to appointment, taking very amateur shoe photographs and scribbling down everything designers said about their new footwear. From what I parsed from my notes, here are some of the hottest racing shoes and daily trainers coming out in 2024.

Editor’s Note: Prices and dates are subject to change.

Velociti Elite 2

I’ve already been running in the Velociti Elite 2, testing it at a Turkey Trot and The Running Event’s Indie 5K. When I spoke with Under Armour after the first Velociti Elite dropped, I raved over its unconventional low stack height (36mm) compared to other racing models. The second iteration is bumped up to 39.5mm. Despite this increase in height, the Velociti Elite 2 still feels more accessible than the aggressive Nike Alphafly or Puma Fast-R—and just as fast. Sharon Lokedi wore a prototype of the shoe when she won the 2022 NYC Marathon.

Infinite Elite

The companion to the Velociti Elite 2 is the new Infinite Elite, which is your designated long run shoe or everyday trainer. There’s full-length Hovr+ foam in the midsole for max plushness. A beveled heel crash pad softens landings.

Infinite Pro

The budget-friendly Infinite Pro is a daily trainer built for longevity. Its support is two-part, with a top layer of Hovr+ (the same foam in the Infinite Elite) and a firmer bottom layer of TPU-beaded EVA foam. It has a soft, responsive ride and the upper wraps the foot in a woven jacquard mesh.

FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4

New Balance’s super shoe is set to release on February 1. It has a 100-percent Pebax midsole and the highest energy return the brand has to offer. The shoe is lighter than the previous version and has a 35.5mm stack height. A Fantom fit upper provides a strategic fit for marathon miles. RW has been putting the shoe through its paces already. You can read more here.

Fresh Foam X 880 v14 and 860 v14

The neutral 880 and supportive 860 return with softer and lighter Fresh Foam X midsoles.

Fresh Foam X Hierro v8

New Balance’s marquee trail shoe is more eco-friendly and sustainably-made. The Vibram Megagrip outsole is replaced with Vibram Ecostep, which is 30 percent recycled rubber. The upper also has more cutouts to limit as much waste as possible.

Lone Peak 8

'Why ruin a good thing?' is the mindset Altra had with the Lone Peak 8. The shoe has minimal changes to hone your favourite zero-drop trail shoe – so stop worrying! The eighth iteration has fewer overlays for a more streamlined upper, as well as more durable mesh.

Timp 5

Unlike the Lone Peak, the Timp has received a big update. The Altra team set out to make the trail shoe more 'runnable' instead of 'a trail running shoe used for hiking.' The upper is stripped down on the sides, and the shoe is more than an ounce lighter than its predecessor. It has Vibram rubber added on the outsole to make it better suited for technical trail.

Vanish Carbon 2

The first zero-drop super shoe is back. The Vanish Carbon 2 has an Ego Pro midsole, which is nitrogen-infused TPE foam. The midsole is 17 percent lighter than the previous model’s. Even though the second version weighs less, Altra has somehow managed to add 3mm to the Vanish Carbon 2’s stack height. The shoe is slightly stiffer with a full-length carbon fibre plate.

Mont Blanc Carbon

Joining the ranks of Hoka’s Tecton X and Saucony’s Endorphin Edge, Altra is releasing the first zero-drop carbon trail shoe. The Mont Blanc Carbon, inspired by the brand’s Mont Blanc model, has an Ego Max midsole with a bathtub cutout for the carbon fibre plate. The plate doubles as rock protection and stability on uneven surfaces. Above the Ego Max and plate is Ego Pro foam for added cushioning.

Experience Form

Altra’s first non-zero-drop trainer, the AltraFWD Experience, has been re-dubbed Experience Flow. The shoe is set to release in May along with its stability counterpart, the Experience Form, which has Altra’s guide rails system. It has the same subtle 4mm drop, with a slightly wider base for support and a stiffer medial side with rubber.

Experience Wild

Same price. Same offset. Enter the Experience Wild, Altra’s first non-zero-drop trail shoe with a MaxTrac outsole for reliable traction.

Hyperion Elite 4

The shoe that was worn by Des Linden in Chicago and Josh Kerr at NYC’s Fifth Avenue Mile— with a winning time of 3:48 — is coming out two days before the Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, Florida. The Hyperion Elite 4 features new DNA Flash v2 foam and a new Speedvault+ carbon fibre plate with cutouts to reduce weight (the plate is partially exposed underneath the shoe).

Glycerin 21

The Glycerin 21 has both a classic version (engineered warp knit upper) and a Stealthfit edition (flat knit upper). Its stability counterpart, the Glycerin GTS 21, will also be released in February. The midsole is nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3, which was introduced in the Glycerin 20. The shoe is updated with a 2mm increase in stack height. More DNA Loft v3 foam = more plushness.

Ghost 16

Not to be dethroned by the Glycerin 21, the Ghost 16 will also have DNA Loft v3 foam. Its stack height will stay the same as the previous Ghost’s (35mm in the heel and 23mm in the forefoot), making for a lighter experience compared to running in the Glycerin 21. The new RoadTack rubber outsole is more durable and lightweight.

Catamount 3

We’re in for a treat with the Catamount 3. After a long wait between the Catamount and Catamount 2, we get a more streamlined third iteration with single-layer TPEE mesh for a more comfortable fit. The shoe has a Skyvault plate in its midsole for propulsion and uses responsive DNA Flash foam.

Mach 6

The Hoka team told me the Mach 6 has received a completely new update (gasp!) but my anxiety diminished as they explained what changes were made. Here’s what we know: With a supercritical foam compound midsole, the shoe is the lightest and most responsive Mach yet. It has a thin, dual-gusset tongue to prevent slippage. The outsole has added rubber for more durability and grip.

Can it live up to the Mach 5? Only time in them will tell.

Supernova Solution

I've been running in the Supernova Rise for the past couple of months and I’m looking forward to giving the stability version a spin.

The Supernova Solution mirrors the experience running in the Supernova Rise, but with a small tweak. Both shoes have Dreamstrike+ super foam, inspired by LightStrike Pro foam (featured in the Adizero Adios Pro racing series). Between Dreamstike+ and the outsole is the new Energy Rods system, which adds structure and helps with support. Compared to the Energy Rods in the Supernova Rise, the rods in the Supernova Solution are more splinted (closer together) to promote torsional rigidity. It’s a subtle feature to stabilise your run.

Fast-R 2 Nitro Elite

The Fast-R 2 already has a racing roster of Puma marathoners. Rose Harvey (Great Britain) and Sara Vaughn ran in the shoe and PR’ed in this year’s Chicago Marathon. Hendrik Pfeiffer (Germany) clocked a PB of 2:08:48 in Berlin.

According to Puma, the shoe offers 46 percent more energy return than the previous Fast-R, thanks to the new Nitro Elite compound midsole. The PwrPlate elongates past the toe (you can see it peeking out the tip of the shoe) and acts as a lever that guides pressure forward to promote propulsion.

Triumph 22

Staying true to the Triumph’s roots, Saucony wanted to emphasise the 22nd version is an everyday premium cushion shoe — not a lightweight, speedy trainer.

Its updates point to pure comfort. The Pwrrun+ midsole is replaced with Pwrrun PB (the same foam in the Endorphin Pro and Endorphin Speed 3) for a softer, more responsive ride. The platform is widened at the base for a more accommodating fit and the upper has foam around the collar. Your heel sits deeper inside the midsole, thanks to higher sidewalls, so it feels like your foot is nestled in an easy chair.

Hurricane 24

If the Triumph 22 translates to pure comfort, the Hurricane 24 stands for ultimate comfort and protection. It’s a reset from the last Hurricane, which was released in 2021. Like the Triumph 22, the midsole is Pwrrun PB with a thin layer of a Pwrrun EVA on the bottom. The shoe has a straighter profile; the midfoot has a broader base for balance. The sidewalls are even higher than the Triumph 22’s; if the Triumph feels like an easy chair for your foot, the Hurricane 24 is an enveloping hug. I briefly tried it on (that’s my jeans cuff) but have yet to see if it’s a runnable walking shoe or a running/walking hybrid.

Gel-Nimbus 26

Asics re-engineered the Gel-Nimbus’s knit upper for an improved, more locked-down fit. Unchanged: the bouncy FF Blast+ foam in the midsole. The shoe has more reliable traction with redesigned lugs on the new Hybrid AsicsGrip outsole. A patch of PureGel in the heel ensures shock absorption upon impact.

Wave Rebellion Pro 2

The Wave Rebellion Pro 2 is not a gimmick. Geometry-wise, it may look like it’s engineered backwards, but that striking diagonal isn’t without reason. The shoe’s midsole is built up with Enerzy Lite, the same foam in the previous Wave Rebellion Pro. When I stepped into the Wave Rebellion Pro 2, I was shocked by its bounce and rocker (don’t lean back!). The midfoot squishes down and springs back. The purpose of the foam’s positioning is to lessen your foot’s roll by 'double-boosting' the midfoot.

Alphafly Next% 3

We've been testing the Alphafly 3 ahead of its release on January 4. You can read more about it here. What separates this version from previous Alphaflys is that it’s made to be a shoe that’s not just for elite runners. For improved stability, the adjusted last has a wider platform, and the carbon fibre plate is widened on the medial side of the midfoot. There’s more arch support, as well. It’s the lightest Alphafly ever. And, may I remind you, it’s the shoe Kelvin Kiptum wore when he broke the world record — finishing in 2:00:35 — at the Chicago Marathon.

Zegama 2

The Zegama 2 is for runners tackling long distances over gnarly terrain. The shoe has a wide footbed, which houses a bathtub construction in its midsole; a firm foam ring encircles and protects softer ZoomX foam in the middle. The Vibram Megagrip outsole has new multi-directional lugs inspired by the original Nike waffle design.

Pegasus Trail 5

Think of the Pegasus Trail as the shoe inviting runners in. Like its road shoe namesake, the Peg Trail is a daily workhorse for everyday runners and is an ideal trainer for beginners. The shoe is updated with ReactX midsole foam, which delivers 13 percent more energy return (it also cuts down Nike’s carbon footprint, reducing the energy in the manufacturing process by 43 percent).

Golden Gate 2 ATR

Scarpa’s most cushioned running shoe is a road-to-trail hybrid. Scarpa touts the Golden Gate 2 as its gravel shoe; it has a Presa outsole with Super Gum rubber for traction on and off the road. The midsole is a dual-density EVA Bounce Foam built for rebound and support. The transparent upper has 3D-print trusses in the midfoot area for structure.

MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx

The MTL Long Sky is updated with a new Matryx upper. Pinstriped with Kevlar threads, Matryx is a single-layer material that’s abrasion resistant (think of it as an almost-indestructible spiderweb hugging your foot — without the spiders). A half ounce lighter than its predecessor, the shoe has a FloatPro foam midsole, Vibram Megagrip outsole, and improved drainage.

MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx

The MTL Skyfire also receives the pinstripe treatment, making it more resistant to wear-and-tear with a Matryx upper. The MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx is a race day shoe made for climbing. The shoe has a FloatPro midsole and Vibram Megagrip outsole, as well as a Flexplate for rock protection.

Genesis

The high-cushioned Genesis is made for the toughest terrain. It has an Active Chassis, which runs along the sides of the shoe, acting as an interior and exterior guide rail for support. A two-part lug pattern provides traction. The shoe also has a breathable, resilient Matryx upper.

DRX Bliss 2

The DRX Bliss 2 has the same Active Chassis for support and has kept the responsive EnergyFoam used in the original. The biggest change is a new engineered mesh upper with fewer overlays and a wrapping fit system inspired by the S/Lab Ultra 3.

DRX Defy Grvl

The DRX Defy is being released with a gravel edition. Like the other Salomon shoes mentioned here, the DRX Defy Grvl has an Active Chassis and EnergyFoam. Similar to Scarpa’s Golden Gate 2 ATR, the shoe is a road-to-trail hybrid, meant for city dwellers who want to change up their runs on the pavement with some groomed park trails. The ContraGrip outsole has 2.5mm lugs for traction over uneven terrain.

S/Lab Spectur

During a race, the average runner spends much more time on their feet than athletes in the pro field. For that reason, comfort was top-of-mind when Salomon conceived the S/Lab Spectur. It’s the less-demanding, less-aggressive super shoe that’s made to be more efficient for every other runner who wants to run their best race or PR. The midsole is full-length EnergyFoam+ with a PEBA-based top layer. A full-length carbon EnergyPlate promotes propulsion. The shoe has a wider heel to provide support for non-elite runners who will be on a racecourse for more than two and a half hours. The Spectur has a softer upper, too.