The 9 Best Running Shoes to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions on Track
To keep the momentum going on Month Two of 2026, whether you’ve merely resolved to increase your step count for the new year or decided to train for a marathon, the situation is the same: you’re going to need some new running shoes.
Runners have come a long way since their earliest progenitors emerged in the late 19th century, in the form of spiked shoes developed by the English firm J.W. Foster & Sons. Shoes designed specifically for distance running gained traction with the public after Jesse Owens wore a pair to victory in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and the running shoe as we know it today arrived in 1974 with Nike’s famous waffle sole.
The industry has hardly remained static in the half-century since, as innovations in materials such as breathable mesh uppers, cushioning foam midsoles, and lightweight EVA outsoles have made running shoes better performing—and more comfortable—than ever. Whatever your intended mileage, we’ve assembled a team of ringers below to see it through.
Tracksmith Eliot Runner
Tracksmith’s Eliot Runner very much shares the classic aesthetic of the Boston-based brand, with its spare design and woven sash detail. Despite its nostalgic look, the technology is present tense, featuring a two-part Pebax system that gives it triple the thickness of a typical running shoe.
Available online at Tracksmith.
Satisfy Rocker
Satisfy’s Rocker is designed to follow the natural shape of the foot as closely as possible, which it does with an anatomical last that narrows at the heel and widens at the forefront, and with an asymmetrical lacing system that more closely follows the foot’s line. It also uses a breathable monomesh upper and a lugged outsole for all-terrain grip.
Asics Novablast 5
The Asics Novablast 5 is engineered for powerful shock absorption, which it does with the maker’s proprietary FF Blast Max cushioning. Its other advantages include a breathable jacquard mesh upper and a tongue wing construction that allows for a closer fit.
Hoka Clifton 10
The Hoka Clifton has been the built-up running brand’s flagship model for more than a decade. Its 10th iteration features an additional 3mm of heel-to-toe drop, and a double-lace lock that keeps the tongue in place.
Saucony Ride 18
Designed as a daily runner, Saucony’s Ride 18 benefits from foam cushioning redesigned to be lighter and softer than ever before. Its stretchy mesh upper keeps it breathable, and additional padding at the heel collar further enhances comfort.
Nike Vaporfly 4
Nike’s Vaporfly 4 was created specifically for road racing, a specialization it delivers on with a lowered heel-to-toe drop and the brand’s proprietary responsive foam cushioning. Design choices including an engineered mesh upper and a thinner rubber outsole help it to achieve the lowest possible weight.
APL Euphoria
The APL Euphoria is the next-closest thing to running barefoot, a sensation it mimics with its extremely breathable Naked Net mesh upper. Elsewhere, it retains the brand’s signature Heavenly Ride sculpted midsole, as well as zonal heel cushions and targeted midfoot stability straps.
On Cloudultra Pro
Amid their wide-scale adoption by fleece-vested finance bros, it’s easy to forget that On sneakers are designed for performance. The Swiss label’s Cloudultra Pro is no exception, and tackles trail running with a grippy lugged sole and a cushioning dual-layer midsole.
Salomon Index .03
Salomon’s Index .03 has a strikingly clean design, with an undyed fabric upper that sits above a cushioning foam footbed and a shock-absorbing outsole. But the minimalist look isn’t all about aesthetics—it allows the shoe to be easily recycled into ski boots once its mileage is complete.
This article originally appeared in Robb Report US.