Outside Online • 18th July 2025

We Put Thousands of Miles on 119 Running Shoes to Find the 14 Best for Your Training and Racing

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! Subscribe today. Finding the right pair of road running shoes can invigorate—or reinvigorate—anyone’s relationship with running. Shoe technology is constantly evolving. With lighter weight, springier midsole foams, comfort-enhancing upper materials, novel shapes that add stability, and embedded plates for increased effic...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 18th July 2025

The New Foam That Could Propel You to a Marathon PR

We are arguably living through the most pivotal period in the history of running shoes. Never before has picking a race-day shoe had as significant an impact on performance as it does today. A growing body of research confirms this: Studies show that modern super shoes can improve running economy by up to 4 percent, or more, translating to significant time savings in races. Over the past nine years, shoe technology has evolved at a lightning pace. High-rebound foams, new gas-infusing processes,...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 30th June 2025

Fastest Shoes From the 2025 Western States 100

The 2025 Western States 100 was everything we expected: fierce competition, scorching heat, and a spotlight on cutting-edge trail running shoes. On the men’s side, Caleb Olson, wore the yet-to-be-released Nike Ultrafly 2, while Abby Hall, won the women’s event in the now-available Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra. As one of Outside’s lead trail shoe testers, I can’t think of a better proving ground than 100 miles of altitude, searing temperatures, and punishing descents with a mixture of more t...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 23rd June 2025

Plus = Plush: Nike Vomero Plus First Run Review

Nike is in the middle of a major overhaul of its training shoe lineup. For several years, the brand has been pouring much of its innovation into carbon fiber racing shoes like the Alphafly 3 and Vaporfly 4, and competitors like Hoka, Asics, New Balance, and Brooks have surged ahead in the daily trainer category. Recognizing the growing demand for max-cushioned trainers, Nike has overhauled its everyday cushioned-shoe lineup and is creating three distinct versions of the classic, trusted Vomero....

RUN | Powered by Outside • 5th June 2025

The Best Running Shoes For Beginners (2025)

So you’ve decided to start running. Congrats! Whether your goal is to get fit, clear your mind, or train for your first race, lacing up a pair of running shoes is the first step toward success. But with hundreds of options on the market, buying running shoes can be as daunting as braving your first miles on your neighborhood streets. Running shoe jargon like midsole, rocker, and stability gets tossed around a lot, but odds are you’re not exactly sure what those terms mean, or which ones matter f...

Outside Online • 21st May 2025

The 9 Best Men's Running Shorts to Keep You Cool and Comfortable All Summer

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! Subscribe today. Summer running is difficult enough with the challenges of heat and humidity. The last thing you need is to be held back by running shorts that bunch, cling, chafe, or restrict your movement. The perfect running shorts should be so comfortable that you hardly notice them, while looking so good that others...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 14th May 2025

Do Plates Really Matter In Trail Running Shoes?

If you’ve been following the evolution of road running shoes over the past eight years, you’ve heard of super shoes. These highly cushioned racing shoes combine advanced foam with a carbon-fiber plate embedded in the midsole. The genre was born in 2017 with the launch of Nike’s Vaporfly 4%, a shoe that disrupted the sport with bold claims of improved running economy. A 2018 study proved the claim true, showing that 18 highly trained runners all experienced an average 4% reduction in the energy c...

Outside Online • 14th May 2025

These Field and Lab Tested Men's Running Shirts Will Keep You Cool, Dry, and Comfortable All Summer

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! Subscribe today. Running during the summer can be exhilarating (all that daylight!) and daunting (all that sweat!) at the same time. Whether you embrace the heat and humidity of summer running or long for a return to cold, dark winter days, the right running top can keep you cooler and drier while making you feel fast an...

Runner's World • 14th May 2025

Trying to Shave Seconds Off Your PR? These Carbon-Plated Running Shoes Help You Push Past Your Limit

Put a spring in your step and shave seconds off your PR with these cutting-edge racing shoes.3Most VersatileNew Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite 4$250 at Amazon$250 at Dick's Sporting Goods$250 at New BalanceProsIncredible underfoot comfort Form-fitting upper Very stable for a plated shoeConsThin laces can be annoying Relatively heavy From the moment you slip on the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite 4, there’s a welcoming, soft underfoot feel that feels just as good at mile one as it does at...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 14th May 2025

Do Plates Really Matter In Trail Running Shoes?

If you’ve been following the evolution of road running shoes over the past eight years, you’ve heard of super shoes. These highly cushioned racing shoes combine advanced foam with a carbon-fiber plate embedded in the midsole. The genre was born in 2017 with the launch of Nike’s Vaporfly 4%, a shoe that disrupted the sport with bold claims of improved running economy. A 2018 study proved the claim true, showing that 18 highly trained runners all experienced an average 4% reduction in the energy c...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 13th May 2025

Nimble, Durable, Comfortable Trail Tackler: Mount to Coast T1 First Run Review

Boutique running shoe brands are having a moment. Thanks to advancements in materials (particularly foams) and a flurry of innovative shoe design, smaller companies are now producing footwear that rivals—and in some cases, surpasses—the offerings of traditional big brands. One emerging brand quickly gaining recognition as a serious contender is Mount to Coast. Founded in April 2024, the Hong Kong-based company’s mission is to design a shoe capable of withstanding the rigors of ultra-distance run...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 2nd May 2025

The Lightest Super Shoe Ever Made: Asics Metaspeed Ray Review

While runners work to optimize lungs, legs, and heart (physical and metaphysical) to leave it all on the race course, shoe companies are locked in their own race, battling each other to build the ultimate race-day super shoe. Looking back, there have been two major turning points in the evolution of racing shoes. The first came in 2017 when Nike unleashed the Vaporfly 4%, the shoe that changed everything by enhancing running economy. The second was in 2023 when Adidas introduced the Adizero Adio...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 30th April 2025

I’m a Running Coach—Here’s How I Trained for the Boston Marathon in Just 8 Weeks

On February 20, just eight weeks out from the Boston Marathon, I got the chance to run this year’s race—and said yes. I had been running regularly, but I was nowhere near marathon shape. My longest run in the previous two months was six miles. I hadn’t gone beyond 12 miles in years. And my last marathon? That was 12 years ago in New York. As a coach for recreational and competitive age-group runners since 2014, I often get asked by prospective clients if they can get ready for a marathon in just...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 25th February 2025

The Nike Vaporfly 4 Is a Drastic Departure from the Vaporfly 3. Is That a Good Thing?

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Nike Vaporfly 4% was one of the most groundbreaking running shoes ever created. When it debuted commercially in 2017, it stood apart from every other racing shoe on the market, making claims that it could increase running economy by 4% (which, lab results showed, turned out to be true). From its futuristic thick-soled design to the loud, almost obnoxious slapping sound it made with each stride, the Vaporfly 4% sent shockwaves through the running shoe industry...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 21st February 2025

Nike Vomero 18 First Run Review: Bigger, Plusher, Smoother

Whether you like it or not, today’s running shoes are getting thicker and more cushioned. Thanks to lighter, bouncier, and more resilient foams, brands can now stack more foam underfoot without sacrificing performance. The previous stack ceiling used to look more like 30-40 mm, but as the new 46 mm Nike Vomero 18 proves, 30-40 mm is more like a jumping-off point, but why? Historically speaking, adding more foam meant creating a less stable platform, but modern engineering has tackled that issue...

Runner's World • 31st December 2024

These Are the Essentials You Need to Start a New Running Routine in 2025

So you’ve made the decision to start running? Let us be the first ones to welcome you to the club. No matter how fast or far you go, or whether you use the run/walk method, you’re a runner from here on out.As we explain in our new video training guide, How to Start Running, that first step is most important. Once you’ve laced up and stepped out the door, you’re already ahead of the curve. That said, starting on the right foot can make all the difference in how enjoyable—and sustainable—your runn...

Outside Online • 20th December 2024

Ease Your Tired Feet with These 9 Best Recovery Shoes, Slides, and Sandals

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! Subscribe today. If you’re a runner, walker, yogi, rock climber, or participant in nearly any active pastime, your feet endure a tremendous load, making your choice of footwear critical. While most people spend hours researching the perfect workout shoes, they give far less attention to their recovery shoes—what they wea...

RUN | Powered by Outside • 6th November 2024

More Super, Less Stable: Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 First-Run Review

Changes are not taken lightly whenever a brand updates a running shoe, especially with a flagship shoe like the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro, and Adidas took its time. While most shoes see updates every 12 to 18 months, it’s been over two years since Adidas updated its most popular racing shoe. In an industry where running shoe technology is constantly advancing, two years feels like a long time between updates. Adidas made substantial strides in the super shoe space during that period, most notably...

Runner's World • 28th October 2024

The Best Massage Guns, According to an Expert Running Coach

As runners, our muscles take a beating. With each stride, our legs will absorb an impact equivalent to 1.5-2.5 times our body weight. The constant pounding, mile after mile, can lead to wear and tear on our muscles and joints. Recovery tools like massage guns and foam rollers offer a targeted way to reduce pain, enhance blood flow, and keep muscles feeling fresh for the next run.A 2023 systematic review of studies published in The International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy found that repea...

Runner's World • 25th October 2024

The Best Affordable Running Shoes Under $100, According to Our Testing

Running is not the simple and inexpensive sport it once was. Previously, all you needed was a pair of decently priced running shoes and some clothing, and off you go. Today, running has become a more expensive, gear-centric pursuit—high-tech running shoes, GPS watches, and expensive moisture-wicking apparel are all part of a runner's daily wardrobe, not to mention all the post-run recovery gear. Luckily, plenty of well-made, affordable options are still available, especially when it comes to run...