Ah, the “super trainer.” In the lives of running shoe nerds the world over, the term alone inspires an excitement that’s second only to that of the pinnacle “super (race day) shoe” itself.
But, um, what is a super trainer, exactly?
For one of the most enticing categories in performance running footwear, it can be bizarrely difficult to define. And that’s in large part because the types of shoes that kicked off the need for such a term (think 2020’s original Saucony Endorphin Speed) have become more ubiquitous in the intervening years – and so has the tech inside.
It can be hard to still be considered “super” when the foams and features that helped make you so have started to find their way into more and more models, including “average,” everyday shoes like standard daily trainers (think the PEBA-blended midsoles found in models like the New Balance Rebel v4).
For our part, we here at WearTesters think super trainers are born from mixing a few specific tech specs in unique combinations that ultimately make runners say, “Why is this the only shoe I want to run in anymore?” Is it a foolproof way to define a term? Nope. But we’ll leave the hard science to, well, the chemists, materials scientists, and other people who make the shoes.
While every shoe is different and may lean more heavily toward one of these features than another, here are the things that most super trainers seem to have in common:
- Tech: Super trainers often earn their status by containing tech that closely resembles – though might not exactly match – the higher-end foams and/or plates found in their race day counterparts (think, perhaps, of the carbon plate of a race day shoe vs the nylon/TPU/composite plate of a super trainer).
- Versatility: Is this shoe just as capable of easy and long runs as it is picking up the pace? And do those efforts feel easier and like they have less impact on the body than they would in most other shoes? Could this be my race day shoe if I wanted it to be?
- Durability: While many top-tier racing shoes are more durable and comfortable than they used to be, you’re sometimes trading a little bit of weight savings in favor of increased durability and comfort when it comes to super trainers. And even then, most super trainers still have a solid performance-to-weight ratio. Plus, they are generally less expensive than those race day counterparts.
- Stack Height: Super trainer midsoles tend to hover close to and even well above 40mm.
Like we said, the shoes on our list might not possess all of the above characteristics, or at least not in equal measure. But we feel they nevertheless represent that “One [Shoe] to rule them all” x-factor that earns them a spot. From there, it will be about what suits your own needs and preferences most.
So, here’s our current list of Best Super Trainers:
Best Super Trainers – Table of Contents Show
Best Super Trainers
Puma MagMax Nitro
The Puma MagMax Nitro is a fantastic running shoe and is ready to compete with all the other super trainers on the market. For us, it’s one of, if not our favorite long run shoe. It’s also getting worn when our legs need to be babied the day after a hard workout. It’s protective with plenty of cushion but also makes our stride feel fairly effortless with a nice bounce on toe off. The Puma MagMax Nitro is a powerhouse running shoe. Read the full review.
Fit: True to size, Drop: 8mm, Price $180
Asics Superblast 2
The Asics Superblast 2 is an all around improvement from last year’s cult classic. It’s versatile enough to handle anything a runner needs to do including easy runs, tempo runs, speed work, and race days. It’s wide foot friendly with an accommodating engineered woven mesh upper that molds to your feet. The traction, stability, durability, and breathability are all top notch. And the great upper sits on top of a soft yet bouncy FF Turbo+/FF Blast Plus Eco midsole that delivers a fantastic ride. The Superblast 2 doesn’t have any glaring negatives (a rare occurrence in the shoe reviewing business). It’s one of the best shoes on the market. See the full review.
Fit: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price: $200
Brooks Glycerin Max
The Brooks Glycerin Max is the company’s first entry into the truly max-cushioned, super trainer category, and it’s one heck of a debut. The nitrogen-infused, brand-new DNA Tuned midsole setup, with its softer central portion of cushioning surrounded by a denser outer cage, makes for plenty of comfort directly under the foot without sacrificing stability around corners. Brooks also uses dual-cell technology, which means there are larger cells of foam in the heel and smaller cells in the forefoot. That tech combines with the GlideRoll Rocker geometry to create ultra forgiving heel landings that quickly transition into satisfyingly bouncy toe-offs.
Grip and durability were impressive, though the outsole does have a tendency to pick up tiny, pebbly interlopers. And while the upper performs solidly and is wide-foot friendly, it doesn’t quite live up to Brooks’ own lofty standards. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the Glycerin Max for anything from recovery runs, to long runs, to long tempo sessions, making it an extremely worthy choice at the $200 price point. Read the full review.
Fit: True to Size, Drop: 6mm, Price $200
Nike Pegasus Premium
The Pegasus Premium takes its place as the – you guessed it, Premium – model at the top of Nike’s Responsive Cushioning pillar. While Nike isn’t officially touting it as a max cushion model, it comes in at 45mm in the heel and 35mm in the forefoot. But the biggest buzz around this shoe isn’t its measurements. The Nike Pegasus Premium harkens back to shoes like the Nike LeBron 10 and the Nike Zoom All Out Flyknit and looks to give us what so many models couldn’t: a full-length, visible Zoom Air unit that doesn’t have our ankles working overtime to keep us stable. To achieve this, the Pegasus Premium showcases the first sculpted (or “scooped”) visible Air Zoom unit in Nike’s history, which also attempts to return more energy to the runner by mimicking the curve of a carbon plate.
The Zoom unit is paired with ReactX in the heel and fluffy ZoomX as a top layer. While there is still some mild instability at the heel, Nike has largely managed to address stability needs from a performance perspective. The forefoot bounce also exceeds any Zoom Air-packing running shoe to date, so the shaping of the Zoom bag seems to be working as Nike intended.
The downside of all that glorious midsole tech is that Zoom Air is generally heavy, and the Peg Premium outweighs the majority of road shoes on the market. For that reason, along with less than ideal traction, it could end up being best suited to casual wear for those sensitive to weighty trainers (though the minor heel instability could become magnified during extended casual wear). While we weren’t crazy about the poofy, top portion of the tongue, the upper is highly breathable with good lockdown, and we’d anticipate strong durability overall. While the Peg Premium is more wide-foot friendly than many Nike Models, we’d still recommend most wide footers try them on when available.
Overall, the level of cushion is what we’d expect for a super trainer at this (albeit “Premium”) price point, and the Pegasus Premium is definitely made with a performance-first mentality. But seeing as it still gets outperformed by lower-priced shoes like the Asics Superblast 2 ($200), Brooks Glycerin Max ($200), and Puma MagMax Nitro ($180), the $210 price tag might be a tough sell for many runners. But one thing is for sure: the fantastic aesthetics will make the Pegasus Premium a sought-after lifestyle option. See the full review.
Fit: True to size, Drop: 10mm, Price: $210
Saucony Endorphin Trainer
The Saucony Endorphin Trainer is rather undeniably a second attempt at the Kinvara Pro, albeit a rebranded one. The Kinvara Pro was met with mixed reviews, to say the least (even within our own team at WearTesters). But despite the Endorphin Trainer’s similar build concept, the changes it brings make it far better than its sort-of predecessor. T
he Saucony Endorphin Trainer’s lacing setup allows for more customization and reduces pressure on the top of the foot. But it does require a bit more effort to dial in initially and makes the shoe slightly harder to unlace and take off. That said, the lockdown is great. We’re bummed to say, however, that the shoe is still uncharacteristically narrow at the toes. We hope a wide version is coming, but definitely be aware if lack of forefoot width presents problems for your feet.
Now onto the larger improvements… Saucony’s new incrediRUN foam (which will also be featured in the highly anticipated Endorphin Elite 2) is very soft, very bouncy, and makes every footstep fun whether running recovery efforts or marathon paces over long distances. The ¾ length carbon plate is also improved in that it’s not as unyielding as the one found in the Kinvara Pro. Throw in the same PWRRUN+ sockliner, Saucony’s SPEEDROLL geometry, and the PWRRUN bottom layer of foam that also acts as much of the outsole, and the mix of new and old, yin and yang elements combine for a massively improved ride. Added rubber at the medial toe and lateral heel does its job if your form has you consistently pushing off your big toe. But for many of us, the exposed foam is still going to bear the brunt of our abuse, meaning outsole durability could be a weak point of the Endorphin Trainer. But, if the fit works for you, the super fun incrediRUN foam might just be a worthwhile trade-off for outsole durability.
Whereas we felt the Kinvara Pro didn’t warrant forking over $180, the Endorphin Trainer delivers the combo of high-tech, bouncy foam, a smooth ride, and the ability to go long and fast needed to justify the price point. Read the full review.
Fit: True to size, Drop: 8mm, Price $180
Mizuno Neo Vista
Perhaps one of the best under the radar shoes on the market, the Mizuno Neo Vista, sports a radical geometry (called Smooth Speed Assist) that pay dividends on long runs. The geometry makes you feel like you’re falling forward with every step and keeps your stride smooth as the miles drag on. The Mizuno Enerzy NXT foam and plant-based Wave Plate also provide good bounce. And though we were initially skeptical of the knit upper, it adapts well to most if not all foot shapes and can be considered wide foot friendly. The collar may hit too high on the ankle for some but it’s nothing a pair of crew socks can’t solve. The $180 price point feels high at first glance but you get everything you pay for with this ultra smooth, versatile, and fun shoe.
Fits: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price: $180
Best Super Trainers – Lite
Also great but don’t quite fit the mold of a traditional super trainer
adidas Evo SL
Between its high-but-not-max stack height and its unbelievably reasonable $150 price tag, adidas is set to rewrite the super trainer playbook with the Evo SL. Rather than proving its performance chops via a jacked up midsole and a jacked up price to match, the Evo SL takes the best from models like the Adios Pro Evo 1 and the Adios Pro 3 to make one of the most exciting, versatile, and value-packed trainers to date.
The Evo SL features a high-performing and durable Continental Rubber outsole, a simple, but very effective engineered mesh upper (whose only flaw was a slippy tongue), a small midfoot shank, and a lively, full-length Lightstrike Pro midsole. Much of the setup mirrors that of the Adios Pro 3 (minus that shoe’s carbon rods). But the Evo SL adopts its rocker geometry from the exceptional Pro Evo 1, placing the rocker point farther back. The result is a shoe that’s bouncy yet stable, great at daily running, and also makes going fast feel easy.
Despite its lack of a stiffening element like a plate or rods, the Evo SL has an elite toe-off that competes with shoes well above its price point, making it a perfectly viable (and affordable) option for those looking to go carbonless on race day.
We’d recommend going with your typical adidas size with regard to length (often a half size down from your size in other brands), and the forefoot room makes the Evo SL one of the more wide foot friendly adidas models. However, those who need more space at the rearfoot may need to try it on, as the Evo SL narrows at the heel. See the full review.
Fits: Typical adidas, Drop: 6.5mm, Price: $150
Nike Zoom Fly 6
Nike finally has a distance training partner worthy of the Alphafly’s legendary race day performance. The Zoom Fly 6 may also be Nike’s long-awaited competitor to supertrainers like the well-loved Asics Superblast 2 ($200). In fact, the Zoom Fly 6’s $170 price tag is only slightly higher than many “regular” daily trainers that often sit in the $160 range.
While the shoe’s length feels very short at first, our testers were ultimately happy going true-to-size. The fit is surprisingly accommodating at the forefoot (for a Nike shoe), but true wide footers may still need more room, particularly through the very snug-fitting midfoot. Other cons include laces that easily come untied if you don’t have enough length to double-knot them, as well as the fact that everyone will hear you coming as you hit the pavement. But our testers loved the run experience. The Zoom Fly 6 sports a dual-layer cushioning setup of ZoomX and SR-02, with a full-length, carbon fiber Flyplate sandwiched in between. The result is a protective and responsive ride with a firmer feel.
While we wouldn’t recommend it for anything other than road surfaces, the Zoom Fly 6 is more stable underfoot than expected given its midsole setup, and the well-performing, breathable upper especially shines in warm weather conditions. The Zoom Fly 6 is a versatile training option whose energy return keeps propelling you forward at any pace. It can take you through more relaxed daily runs as well as through uptempo and longer efforts without ever losing its fun factor. See the full review.
Fit: True to size, Drop: 8mm, Price: $170
Best Super Trainers – Honorable Mention
Saucony Endorphin Speed 4
The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 continues to be the best shoe in Saucony’s line despite a full aesthetic overhaul. There’s something about the way the TPU plate, Saucony’s Speedroll rocker, and the PWRRUN PB work together. It’s magic on speed days and really earns the Speed name. Despite a more narrow toebox, the Endorphin Speed 4 is one of the most versatile shoes on the market. And, if you don’t like carbon-plated shoes, the Speed 4 is a great option for race day. Read the full review.
Fit: True to size, Drop: 8mm, Price $170
Brooks Hyperion Max 2
The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 is a nimble shoe with a well-cushioned ride that transitions quickly without any mush or squish. It’s built well for long distances sporting an excellent comfortable upper (and a fantastic elasticized tongue) with a prominent rocker. It’s friendly to a lot of different foot strike patterns but it’s stiff, rockered forefoot may be off putting to some people and the aggressively cutaway heel won’t work for all heel strikers.
The Hyperion Max 2 is built for runner training long distances but that want to still feel like they have some connection with the ground despite the high stack height. Read the full review.
Fit: True to Size, Drop: 6mm, Price: $180
Best Super Trainers for the Trail
Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide
The Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide is an ultra-distance, mixed-terrain, non-plated super shoe with a dual-foam setup.
Its greatest Pros include: a bouncy energyFOAM+ (PEBA) core that makes it perfect for long distances, an EVA chassis for top-tier protection and side-to-side support, a neoprene-like tongue and ¾-bootie that are well-padded and protective, with a comfortable upper that’s stretchy in all the right places. Cons involve: inconsistent traction on technical terrain from eye-catching but risky relieveSPHERE outsole, the bottom of the tongue that bunches and folds together, it’s one of the heavier high-end trail shoes, and it will be hit-and-miss for wide-footers with regard to fit.
As long as your planned use of the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide aligns with its strengths – primarily comfort and plenty of leg-saving pep over long hours on well-groomed trails (whether for long training miles or race days) – it could warrant the $250 price point. But you’ll likely need to avoid taking it to super technical environments. For more details, read the full review.
Fit: True to size, Drop: 6mm, Price $250
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro
La Sportiva nailed it from top to bottom when it comes to the Prodigio Pro. A non-plated super shoe built for the mountains, the Prodigio Pro has an XFlow Speed midsole comprised of a TPU+NITRO Inner Core and an EVA+NITRO Outer Cage, making for a responsive and peppy ride that also doesn’t sacrifice stability and longevity.
The sock-like upper, which utilizes “Power Wire” for its skeleton, is incredibly comfortable and effective at keeping you centered and secured onto the footbed. The knit tongue and heel collar fall right below the ankle, and the pockets of padding on the tongue allow for confident lockdown while avoiding lace bite. The fit around the ankle also helps keep out debris. The FriXion rubber outsole is super sticky, durable, and holds up in pretty much any condition – from dirt, to mud, to snow. Yet it also stays out of the way on smooth and easy trails and even roads. The rubber near the metatarsals wraps up and into the midsole, providing some cage-like structure that comes into play beautifully on windy or off-kilter trails where your feet may end up off-plane or pitched onto the sidewall of a path.
As for cons, they are mostly minor when it comes to the Prodigio Pro: the thick upper could feel warm in the summer, and the responsiveness of the midsole might be a bit much for a more inexperienced runner. Fit is the other area that could be prohibitive for some. While the Prodigio Pro is on the wider side by La Sportiva standards (and certainly wider than its predecessor, the Prodigio), it’s still fairly average or even on the slightly narrow side as far as the rest of the running shoe industry goes.
We’d recommend a half size up for most people due to the generally snug fit, and wide-footers will definitely want to try it on before committing. But other than that, the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro resoundingly earns its $195 price point. It’s an impressively versatile, technically sound shoe that succeeds at its intended fast paces and race-day efforts on any terrain. Yet it’s also a do-it-all trail runner that’s just as at home during long, slow efforts or technical climbs/descents as it is when speeding over rolling trails. Read the full review.
Fit: True to size, Drop: 6mm, Price: $195
Can I Run a Marathon in Super Trainers?
Yes, you can. For many people, that’s a better option than buying $250+ marathon running shoes. The extra comfort and support super trainers can provide may be a better fit for your marathon goals (and your wallet will thank you).
It’s best to run a marathon in a shoe you’ve worn regularly during training and feel comfortable in. This limits potential issues (like blisters or bruised toenails) on race day because your chosen shoe already handled the long grueling runs in your marathon training block.
For example, many of the options on our Best Long Distance Running Shoes list can go the marathon distance when needed.
Be sure to mix the super trainer you choose into your training and occasionally use it for both speed work and long runs. The idea is to break the shoe in enough that it molds to your feet, avoid any painful rubbing during the race, but still save the midsole so it’s still super bouncy and plush on race day.
You may even decide to buy two of the same super trainer, one that you can beat up for the majority of your training runs, and the other to break in and use on race day. The newer feeling foam will provide that extra oomph that makes you feel faster on race day.
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Thinking of a shoe we should add to the best marathon running shoes list? Comment below or message us on Instagram or Twitter.
