2024 Runner’s World Shoe Picks

The 2024 Paris Olympics are set to feature some of the world’s best athletes as they compete for gold. After months of rigorous testing, a selection of shoes have been deemed gold medal-worthy. Out of nearly 100 models from 34 different brands, 29 shoes have emerged as the top performers. These shoes were evaluated by a team of 300 wear-testers and staff through on-foot assessments and mechanical analysis in a shoe lab.

The selected shoes have been put through their paces with at least 100 miles of testing to assess qualities like cushioning, stability, flexibility, and ride. Whether you are gearing up for your first run or pursuing Olympic glory, there is a shoe on this list that is bound to suit your needs. The award-winning training shoes include models like the On Cloudmonster 2, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4, and others.

For those looking for racing shoes, options such as the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 10, Nike Alphafly 3, and Hoka Cielo X1 have been recognized for their performance. Trail shoe enthusiasts can explore models like the Merrell Morphlite, Topo Athletic MT-5, Altra Timp 5, and more. Each shoe has been carefully tested and reviewed by experts like Amanda, a test editor at Runner’s World, and Jeff, the Runner-in-Chief known for his extensive experience in testing and reviewing shoes. Their insights guide the selection of award-winning shoes for runners of all levels.