HOKA Skyward X 2 Review (2026)

HOKA Skyward X 2 Review
By Andrea Myers and Matt Klein

 

The name "Hoka" is synonymous with maximal shoes. As the company that started the max stack height movement, they have debuted tall shoes since their inception. However, the majority of the industry has caught up, with everyone having at least one if not an entire line of maximal shoes. The original Skyward X was meant to take stack heights to new levels, offering a super maximal super trainer with superfoam, a carbon plate and an incredibly tall platform. While a unique shoe, it suffered from being heavy, a bit too soft and a bit too tall. Hoka decided to correct this with version two, dropping the stack height slightly while lightening up the shoe. This results in a far more stable, balanced and responsive ride that maintains the ultramarathon type capacity of the series while still moving version two forward. Whether this will work for everyone is worth talking about. 

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 Review (2026)

 

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 Review
By Matthew Klein

 

The Saucony Endorphin Elite series has been unique since the first version debuted. At a time when softness was leading, the Endorphin Elite 1 was a firmer but incredibly responsive shoe that turned heads as one of the more stable racing shoes on the market. It was a favorite of many of our team, even if the outsole durability was not great. Version two went the exact opposite direction, featuring one of the softest midsoles any of us had experienced. Even with well-known guidance mechanisms, it was still a soft shoe that did better for those with stable mechanics across longer race distances but lost it higher speed capacity the first version was known for. 3rd time is the charm and Saucony has combined the best of both into the newest version. Featuring one of the softest and bounciest midsole on the market with a redone upper that combines flexibility with comfort, the Elite 3 blends most of the best of both of the previous versions into another unique super racing shoe. 

Buy or Sell: Data is Overrated? Banning Water Cups at Marathons? Super Trainers are Better? | DOR Podcast #290

 

 

Buy or Sell: Data is Overrated? Banning Water Cups at Marathons? Super Trainers are Better?
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 290

Matt and David are back with a new installment of Buy or Sell. They debate the merits of data versus hands-on testing in shoe reviews and make the case that the era of 35-39mm being considered max cushion is officially over. They also look ahead at where the industry is heading — from the coming wave of 50mm+ shoes to a future with three tiers of racing footwear and much more. Want your debate featured on the next Buy or Sell? Email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com

The Best Stable Neutral Running Shoes (2026)

When we put together our Guide to Stability, we also helped define a segment of running shoes that we felt existed, but wasn't amplified. We ended up coining the term "stable neutral" to help put a name to the trend. Stable neutral shoes have steadily become a growing part of the industry in recent years. Especially as maximal cushioning as gone from a corner of running to the norm, companies have been working to balance these tall stack heights with a variety of design features to create stable platforms. In this feature, we further define stable neutral shoes and offer our current favorites in the market today.

361 Flame 5 Review (2026): Most Stable Racing Shoe?

 

361 Flame 5 Review
By Matthew Klein

 

The Flame series was 361's first attempt at a super shoe. The original was stiff and firm, lacking the bounce that others had even at that time. The series has evolved so much from the time with the Flame 4 being a solid trainer/racer and one of the few stable neutral racers on the market. 361 has greatly evolved its racing line since that time, with aggressive distance options like the Furious Future 2.0 to the Miro Nude 2.0 being one of the lightest racing shoes on the market. The Flame 5 returns with updates that make the ride more durable, faster and more stable. Although not intended, in a world where racing shoes are becoming less stable, the Flame 5 may be the one true stable racing shoe on the market, with borderline-mild stability components.

Best Carbon Plated Running Shoes (2026)

 

Best Carbon Plated Running Shoes
By DOR Editorial Team

↓ Jump to Carbon Plated Shoes A-Z |  ↓ Jump to Best Plated Shoes for 5k to Marathon

The current trend in racing shoes has been toward super foams and carbon fiber plates. Although plates have been used in the past, their popularity has surged. A new age of fast shoes has come about and now a variety of companies have released their products (some in small batches). For the first time (almost ever) there is an interest from the general public (and not just the competitive runners) in finding the fastest shoe to get them across the finish line. We at Doctors of Running thought it would be helpful to have a guide to all the current models to help you choose if and which one may be right for you.

Mizuno Wave Horizon 9 Review (2026)

 

 

Mizuno Wave Horizon 9 Review
By Bach Pham and Matt Klein

 

The Horizon series is Mizuno's signature premium stability shoe. I have been a big fan of the series not necessarily for its running chops, but just general design that was well ahead of its time and overall comfort. It blended geometry and midsole design to create stability before it was cool, and did some unique things that have been integrated into other shoe brand's stability footwear today. So whenever a Horizon comes to my door, I'm always excited to see what changes the series has in store as far as innovations. 

The Science of Walking Shoes | DOR Podcast #289

 

 

The Science of Walking Shoes 
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 289

Matt, Nathan, and David lace up for a deep dive into the biomechanics of walking and what they mean for footwear. They break down how the foot moves through the gait cycle, what characteristics make a shoe well-suited for walking, and how details like heel bevel factor into the equation. The crew also rounds up their top brand picks for walking shoes and works through how to match common injuries with the right walking footwear.

Best Running Shoes for Walking (2026)

Beginner's Guide to Walking,
and the Best Running Shoes for Walking

By DOR Editorial Team

While this website is called "Doctors of Running," we spend a great time personally either walking in the shoes we test or clinically treating/working with people who are having issues walking. Running usually takes only an hour or two of our day. The rest of the time is spent standing, sitting and walking. Running shoes have become extremely popular for everyday use outside of running due to their comfort. With that in mind, we decided to pull together a guide for those coming here looking for great running shoes specifically for walking or standing. The following guide provides a general overview of walking along with some guidelines you should keep in mind. At the very end you can find a list of recommendations for specific shoes we have found excellent for walking and through personal experience using all-day through our clinical work. 

361 Furious Future 2.0: Quick Evaluation (2025)

  

361 Furious Future 2.0 Quick Review 
By Matthew Klein 

 

We at Doctors of Running have known 361 for a long time. They were one of the first companies to send us product for review, for which we are immensely thankful. They were earlier adopters of carbon-plated footwear, putting carbon plates in everything. However, for years, their foams lagged behind the industry. Even with the original Flame, although it was stable, it was stiff and not where a true super shoe should be. Quietly, 361 has been working hard to change that. Although kudos are often given to other companies, they have the lightest super racing shoe on the market with the 361 Miro. The Furious Future is their distance super shoe, one that has apparently been solid but still flown under the radar. The 361 Furious Future 2.0 no longer flies under the radar, with a hyper-performance focus and an aggressive ride that excels as an elite distance racing ride. 

DARIMATI BR-001: Quick Evaluation (2026)

DARIMATI BR-001: Quick Evaluation
By Bach Pham

 

The running shoe industry is not an easy place to enter, especially in 2026. There are so many shoes in the market today. We review over 140 new shoe releases a year just here at Doctors of Running, and that is still leaving a big void of shoes each year. Breaking into this industry is a tremendously hard thing to do, which is why it's always interesting to see a new brand come along. DARIMATI is a Seoul-based startup that has launched a kickstarter for their first model, the Bridge-001. In this quick evaluation, we'll talk about the brand, their goals, and my impression of this new model.

Xero XT Max: Quick Evaluation (2026)

Xero XT Max: Quick Evaluation 
By Andrea Myers

 

The Xero XT Max is a new weight training specific shoe from Xero. I have personally been using the Xero HFS II as my lifting shoe for the past year due to its zero drop, grippy outsole, and anatomical fit. When I heard that Xero had made a strength training specific shoe, I was excited to try it. The XT Max has been a significant upgrade from the HFS II, with one small exception.

Inov8 Trailfly Speed v2: Quick Evaluation (2026)

Inov8 Trailfly Speed v2: Quick Evaluation
By Matthew Klein

 

Inov8 has maintained a unique place as a company that makes a decent variety of shoes with exceptional durability, incredibly grip and the ability to handle tough terrain. The company was born out of the need to design natural shoes that could handle fell running, a British sport that involves racing over difficult terrain without marked paths. Although there is more recent competition from Altra and Topo, Inov8 remains one of the few that have held their natural roots even with the continued rise of stack heights. The Trailfly shoes are meant as long-distance trainers/racers meant to combine Inov8's fantastic grip with light weights that are able to move quickly over terrain. The Trailfly Speed v2 is the faster racing version, now featuring an even better outsole grip, an upgraded midsole and a reinforced upper, all while keeping a natural feel.

Mailbag! Best Stable Max Cushion? Shoes for Knee Pain? Training While Sick? | DOR Podcast #288

 

 

Mailbag! Best Stable Max Cushion? Shoes for Knee Pain? Training While Sick?
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 288

Nathan, David, and Matt dig into the mailbag to tackle your questions. They compare the On Cloudmonster Hyper 3 and Saucony Endorphin Azura and help a listener find a road shoe similar to the Puma Deviate Nitro Trail. They also get into the clinical side of things, offering shoe recommendations for ITB-related knee pain, upper-body strength training for runners, and how to navigate marathon training when illness gets in the way.

On Cloudsoma Review (2026)

On Cloudsoma Review
By Matthew Klein and David Salas

 

On has been one of the largest growing companies in the footwear space. They are normally spotted quickly by their Cloudtec midsoles. These foam midsoles have holes through the width of the shoe and are supposed to help with cushioning. On is going in a different direction with the On Cloudsoma. The On Cloudsoma will be using what they call Cloudtec Connect. This midsole is filled in and uses flex grooves for a grounded and natural ride. This is an all terrain training shoe that is supposed to deliver an intuitive ride across all footings. 

Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed 2: Quick Evaluation

Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed 2: Quick Evaluation
By David Salas

 

Adidas is one of the main companies that pushes the boundaries when it comes to performance footwear. In recent years we are seeing more and more companies place their advanced footwear technology in their trail models. The Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed 2 is designed to be a trail racing shoe for moderate distances (sub-ultra). The shoe runs very nimble and responsive. Being a racing shoe, it is geared for speed and may come with some inherent instabilities.  

On Cloudboom Volt Review (2026)

On Cloudboom Volt Review
By  Andrea Myers and Matt Klein

 

The On Cloudboom Volt is a new, lower priced racing option from On. It features a dual layer Helion HF (PEBA) midsole and a full length carbon Speedboard plate. At $200, it is the lowest price racing shoe option from On, compared to the $330 Lightspray Cloudboom Strike, $280 Cloudboom Strike, and the $230 Cloudboom Max. While all of these shoes feature Helion HF, we know that shoe companies use different versions of a foam, while giving them the same name. Will the Cloudboom Volt have the bouncy ride of one of Andrea's favorites, the Cloudboom Strike? 

Under Armour Velociti Elite 3 Review (2025 Release)

Under Armour Velociti Elite 3 Review
By Matthew Klein

 

Despite not being a legacy running brand, Under Armour has been gathering some significant running accolades. Sharon Lokedi, an elite UA athlete, has been hitting podiums at majors hard in UA shoes, including winning the NYC marathon and setting a Boston marathon course record. All of this has been done in versions of the Velociti Elite, the premier racing shoe in the UA lineup. Initial versions had the unique mix of a surprisingly good upper with odd choices for midsole design. Technically, with only half the sole being a superfoam (the other half being EVA), it is questionable whether the first two versions were truly super shoes or not. Version 3 finally corrects this, now with full-length and height HOVR+, a beaded foam that provides a far more responsive and quicker ride than previous. Providing a unique ride with one of the lowest drops among super shoes, the UA Velociti Elite 3 is starting to move up the pack. 

Super Shoe Research: Matching Up to Your Running, Known Effects on the Body, How to Adapt Appropriately | DOR Podcast #28

 

 

Super Shoe Research: Matching Up to Your Running, Known Effects on the Body, How to Adapt Appropriately
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 287

Matt is joined by Dr. Iain Hunter of Brigham Young University's Exercise Science department for an evidence-based deep dive into the science of super shoes. Drawing on his own research, Dr. Hunter explores the wide variability in how runners respond to plated footwear and tackles the practical questions runners are asking — whether super shoes are right for everyone, how to find the right fit, and how to integrate them wisely into training. They also dig into what the research says about tendon health, trail super shoes, and maintaining foot and calf strength.

Salomon Aero Glide 4 Review (2026) - GRVL Update

Salomon Aero Glide 4 Review
By David Salas

 

Although they are mostly known for their trail models, Salomon has been putting quite a bit of energy into their road models the last couple of years. We saw some big improvements in the foams, weights, and general versatility of their road models. The Salomon Aero Glide 3 was one of those shoes that made such improvements. The Aero Glide 4 expands upon the 3 with a new upper and OptiFOAM2 midsole. The goal is to be a maximum cushioned daily training shoe that is also lightweight. 

Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 Review (2026)

Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 Review
By Matthew Klein

 

While Salomon has been known as a performance brand on the trails for years, their establishment on the road has taken more time. After a lackluster first "road racing shoe," they released their first true super racer, the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, in 2023. Featuring a full-length PEBA midsole, a carbon plate and a slightly long fit, all the boxes were checked as a super shoe but it didn't differentiate itself much from other models on the market. A slightly long fit and wobbly ride may the higher price tag (for the time) difficult to justify, although it was still a decent racer. The latest of the series finally sees Salomon taking some risks to make a unique product. On the heels of some incredible training shoes like the Aero Glide 3 (and 4), the S/Lab Phantasm 3 brings a unique upper design and ride that clearly sets it apart from other on the market.