Matt's Favorite Shoes of 2025
These are our team's top running choices that came out this year.
By: Matthew Klein
Matt's Favorite Shoes
- Best Daily Trainer: ASICS Gel Kayano 32
- Best Recovery Run Shoe: Nike Vomero Plus
- Best Performance Trainer: Salomon Aero Glide 3
- Best Long Run: Saucony Endorphin Trainer
- Best Racing Shoe (Short Distance): ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo
- Best Racing Shoe (Long Distance): New Balance SC Elite v5
- Bonus Shoe: Puma ForeverRun Nitro 2
My Top Daily Trainer: ASICS Gel-Kayano 32
Review | Shop
Hands down my favorite trainer of the year, the ASICS Gel-Kayano 32, finally hits it out of the park. After years of being a standard stability shoe with a clunky ride, version 32 lower the drop, worked the heel geometry out and made the smoothest shoe of 2025. I have almost 200 miles on my pair and have loved them since my first run. The stability comes from several methods, including internal geometry, a wide platform, sidewalls and the 4D system, which is a more responsive foam that bounces you in and out of pronation. This has been so comfortable and although present in prior versions, this is the first time everything really clicked together. The upper initially fits a tiny bit snug, but breaks in extremely well. Although not the lightest shoe (of course I'm going to complain about the light stability shoe category dying this year in this post) it makes up for it by being a fantastic daily, easy and long run shoe for those with a variety of medial stability needs.
My Top Recovery Run Shoe: Nike Vomero Plus
Review | Shop
After my disappointment with the Vomero 18 and the Pegasus Plus, the Nike Vomero Plus blew me away. It is what I was hoping for from those two shoes combined into one. A full-length bouncy ZoomX midsole tuned for training combined with a comfortable upper and a rockered geometry, the Vomero Plus leads the way in Nike's new focus on daily trainers. The higher drop helps offset the soft midsole, while the bouncy ZoomX makes the shoe run lighter than its listed weight. While not a stable shoe, the bounce of the midsole made this shoe excellent for both recovery and long runs. I even took this shoe for a few hill workouts, although it functions far better at easier efforts. Those wanting a truly premium but not heavy daily training experience should take a look at the Vomero Plus, which easily is my neutral daily trainer of the year.
My Top Performance Shoe: Salomon Aero Glide 3
Review | Shop
The biggest surprise favorite of the year was from Salomon. The Aero Glide series has sounded great in theory, but has been fairly boring. Version 3 debuted a completely new foam material while staying at fantastically lower weight. Although the upper needed a second to break in, this new shoe immediately became a durable, versatile favorite. From long runs to workouts (tempos and fartleks) to anything easier, the Aero Glide 3 finally lived up to its name. Although meant as a max-stack height trainer, it truly comes in as a lightweight performance trainer that should be on the list for anyone looking for a simple yet special shoe for a variety of paces.
My Top Long Run Shoe: Saucony Endorphin Trainer
Review | Shop
While this shoe seems to polarize people, I have loved the Saucony Endorphin Trainer since my first steps in it. One of the first shoes to debut a top layer of Saucony's new IncrediRun foam, the Endorphin Trainer has been my do it all and long run shoe. The slightly snug fit and clear performance edge makes it a contender for top performance shoe of the year, but its plated, highly stable and bouncy ride give it additional versatility over longer efforts. The wedge and sidewall designs provide clear guidance for those with medial stability needs, making this a shoe that keeps me on tract over long miles. The IncrediRun and plate make it easy to pick up the pace, with this shoe excelling at longer faster efforts. I think I have used this shoe for every type of workout from 30 sec sprints to tempo long runs with it always giving more than expected. With improved durability for rearfoot strikers (mine finally made it over 100 miles after early wear in the Kinvara Pros) this makes the Saucony Endorphin Trainer an excellent choice as a versatile shoe over both a variety of paces and distances.
My Top Racing Shoe (Short Distance): ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo
Review | Shop
After several years of loving the Metaspeed Edge series, the Tokyo and I got off to a rough start. Despite everyone loving the new partial LEAP midsole, I was not impressed. I still raced in this shoe (running a mid 17:20 5k pushing a stroller) and while it performed well, really didn't wow me during faster efforts. For some reason, I stuck with it. After 50 miles, it became a completely different shoe. As the more rolling ride of the Asics Metaspeed series, the midsole breaks in to create a well cushioned landing and explosive toe offs. This has made this shoe fantastic for sprints to tempo runs. I also have over 100 miles on this shoe and have not made a dent in the outsole. Meanwhile, the midsole keeps getting better. My only issue is the upper, which is a bit harsh (make sure you wear socks) and only provides enough lockdown for going in a straight line. However, at the far lower weight (5.6 oz men's size 9) compared to the prior version, it continues to be the lightest racing shoe of its category. This will continue to be my 5k to 10k shoe for the near future, as I need just a bit more stability for longer distances.
My Top Long Run Racing Shoe (Long Distance): New Balance SC Elite v5
Review | Shop
The New Balance SC Elite series has been a great recreational super shoe for many years given its more tame demeanor. While not stable, its softer ride has been great for those new to carbon-plated super shoes but it also hasn't felt that super. That has changed a great deal with the SC Elite v5, which is the most aggressive version of the SC Elite series thus far. With a far narrower platform and a far stiffer plate, I did not expect to like this shoe at all the first several miles. Yet when the plate broke in, this shoe has come around as the best long run and long distance racing shoe of the year. The best racing (and maybe overall) upper of the year sits up top with great security and ample toe box room for comfort over long distances. The new fully PEBA-based midsole makes the shoe FAR lighter than previous and more bouncy. It is not so bouncy that it feels like an aggressive super shoe, instead maintaining a comfortable bounce that makes long runs and uptempo/tempo efforts feel so smooth no matter what mile you are on. Weirdly, despite the visual geometry, there is a lateral bias that has made this shoe work well for someone like myself with medial stability issues. Add fantastic durability (over 100 miles and the midsole/outsole are holding up well) and you have the recipe for a fantastic long run and half to full marathon shoe. While New Balance still has far more potential in the racing game, the SC Elite v5 is a fantastic upgrade to the series that a variety of people should still consider as a now more aggressive but still approachable super shoe.
Bonus Shoe: Puma ForeverRun Nitro 2
Review | Shop
I was so excited for the original ForeverRun. It was light, guidance-based, but a poorly beveled heel and a rough upper kept it from work for me. The second edition, in line with Puma's aggressive forward progress, dramatically improved on the recipe with a better upper, bouncier foam and far better heel transition. The true definition of a guidance based trainer thanks to sidewalls and internal geometry keeping the foot centered, this is a shoe that will work for those medial and lateral stability needs. While a little heavier than the original version, this is made up for by a bouncier that makes this shoe fantastic for easy runs, long runs and some uptempo efforts. The upper breaks in well, holding the foot securely while a highly durable outsole. While the stability category lost its lightweight shoes in 2025, the trainers have dramatically improved with the ForeverRun Nitro 2 being an excellent example.
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