Never before have running shoes been so heavily in the news with Nike’s Vaporfly going as far as to being investigated for being too hi-tech. With running shoes, there are always new technologies and innovations across the board but in 2020 it felt like brands took it up a notch to keep the pace. Here are our top five...
Merrell Vapor Glove 4
The only barefoot model to feature on our list, these are designed closely to a normal shoe while still being ultra-lightweight and flexible on your feet. As well as providing unprecedented freedom to your pursuits whether on the road or on a trail, they are vegan, meaning their creation didn’t harm the planet in any way. Winner.
Price: £60
Asics GT-2000 9
The Japanese brand are experts having been in the business for more than 70 years and their latest stability shoe will essentially aid your run. Protecting the inside of the foot, these are ideal for anyone who overpronates when running as they stop your ankle from collapsing inward.
Thanks to Asics very own patented FlyFoam and Gel technology they are lightweight for a stability shoe and with one-piece mesh, it’s comfy, perfect if you are new to pounding the streets or just coming back from injury.
Price: £120
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro
A serious challenger for Nike’s record-breaking Vaporfly series, adidas, having seen their rivals shoe nearly banned, have produced the Adizero Adios Pro with a thick foam sole measuring 39.5mm, just short of the 40mm height limit set by the World Athletics Association during that furore back in January.
Carbon-infused EnergyRods form the centre of the shoe’s midsole and features two layers of LightstrikePRO, the German giants’ ‘lightest and most responsive foam’.
Price: £169.95
Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%
Launching in the summer, Nike’s new creation was heralded as the fastest running shoe in the universe. They boasted a stunning endorsement too with Eliud Kipchoge using the Alphafly as the Kenyan long-distance runner ran a sub-two hour marathon. Mind-blowing.
Sadly, the big debut was set for Tokyo 2020 which was of course halted due to the coronavirus pandemic but there is nothing stopping you showing them off during your lockdown exercise in the new, hopefully better, year.
Price: £200
Hoka One One Carbon X
Basically rockets for your feet, the super cushioning sucks your feet in on the down press and then catapults you forward with every next step. Produced using new Hoka One One technology, the carbon-fibre plate featured in the show helps you accelerate your toe-off.
The tongue prevents migration across your instep while the rubberised foam outsole offers responsive ground contact and these shoes will boost your need for speed.
Price: £169.99
