New Shoes for running and wearing all day—Fit for the Kingdom
The 7 Best Sneaker Releases Right Now
tHE HOTTEST new shoes for running and wearing all day.
CREDIT: CAITLIN GIDDINGS
Running shoe tech, fabrics, and silhouettes are inspiring casual footwear and street-wear design more than ever: Yeezys with Boost midsoles, Air Jordans with Flyknit uppers.
While we love the performance trainers that enable our daily runs, we also love these comfy, run-inspired street shoes we can wear the other 23 hours of the day. We’re not alone. These shoes often sell out days or even minutes after they’re released.
If you’re looking for purpose-built running trainers, we of course have you covered—
These are our picks for the best new shoes that came out this week.
NIKE Air Zoom Pegasus 37
Price: $120
Style: Road
Available: April 28
The new NIKE Air Zoom Pegasus 37 is almost upon us. Notable updates: The air unit, formerly the length of the midsole, is twice as thick and now only in the forefoot (for a springier toe-off). The bag has also been tuned so the men’s shoe is slightly firmer, running 20 psi to the 15 psi women’s model.
Cushion foam is gone, React is in—expect initially firm, but bottomless cushioning rather than initial plushness that packs out more quickly. And there’s a new mesh upper with a mid-width ban for support.
NIKE Infinity Run
Price: $160
Style: Road
Available: Now
The Nike Infinity Run is designed to protect you from injuries and stabilize your stride via lots of springy React foam and a distinct rocker shape. That all sounds pretty basic and practical, which is why we should emphasize how downright exciting we found the shoe to be. Our testers loved the React foam midsole for its rebound and support. The upper showcases Nike’s latest version of Flyknit, which feels denser and more secure without sacrificing breathability. We’re still skeptical of research that the shoe actually prevents injuries, but couldn’t argue with how fast, well-cushioned, and stable it feels while we’re running.
Alta Solstice Road Running Shoe
Price: $110
Style: Cross-training
Available: Now
Altra designed this shoe specifically for cross-training, with added support and flexibility where you need it for lunges, box jumps, burpees, or whatever else is in your home workout rotation. The shoe has a wide toe box with lots of midfoot support and foot lockdown for forward and lateral movement. A grippy rubber outsole has plenty of traction for gym floors or the treadmill, but not enough for trails or slick outdoor surfaces.
You’ll also get enough cushioning through the midsole for shorter runs but probably not enough for long distances.
Reebok Floatride Run Fast
Price: $140
Style: Road
Available: Now
The first Floatride Run Fast combined the stripped-down speed of a racing flat with enough lightweight, Pebax-based foam through the midsole for everything from speedwork to long runs.
The sequel is unfortunately a bit heavier with a more standard upper, but the shoe still boasts the same firm but smooth ride and high-level energy return. The Floatride Run Fast 2 also has the same high-traction rubber outsole we loved from the first round.
Brook’s Transcend
Price: $160
Style: Road
Available: Now
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While Brooks’s Glycerin will always top the brand’s podium for plush cushioning, the Brook’s Transcend stands next to it in second place.
The shoe’s cushioned ride and stability system, including guide rails to bumper the foot, make it the perfect daily trainer for when you need more forgiving support.
Although it has low energy return and a firm heel, according to data from our shoe lab, testers found that the midsole struck just the right not-too-hard, not-too-soft note with great push-off.
Reebok Men's Floatride Energy 2 Running
Price: $100
Style: Road
Available: Now
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We loved the first iteration of this shoe for its mix of high performance and lightweight feel at a budget-friendly price.
This time around, Reebok tweaked the engineered mesh upper to be more comfortable and stylish, using a two-tone color scheme and a softer, more flexible mesh.
The shoe might use a cheaper midsole foam than Reebok’s other Floatride shoes, but it feels a lot springier and livelier underfoot than most other $100 models.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080
Price: $160
Style: Road
Available: Now
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The already plush 1080 got even more Fresh Foam to make it one of the softest, bounciest shoes around. And yet it doesn’t feel overly stiff, thanks to the exaggerated curve of the midsole, particularly at the forefoot.
Our testers gave mixed reviews to the engineered knit upper, which has been streamlined to shave weight.
However, most agreed that the shoe felt fast and energetic—especially for a maximum-cushioning shoe—and capably handled everything from speedwork to long runs.