We take a look at the latest shoes from a few manufacturers you may not be familiar with, and some exciting new models from more popular brands.
All reviews are independent and unbiased views and are based on actual miles driven in these shoes. This section contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through these links.
Mount To Coast – P1 – $160.00
Adding to their line of everyday trainers and race day shoes aimed at extreme distance athletes, Mount to Coast is now adding a supportive trainer, the P1.
The same PEBA and nitrogen mixed midsole provides a lightweight midsole that maintains a smooth and responsive feel along with added 3D-Archrail. This flexible structure runs from the midfoot to the ball of the foot and helps reduce overpronation. The result is a very smooth riding shoe that provides excellent support without feeling intrusive. The shoe retains other features that make it easy to just pull on and go; a circular knit upper for a seamless fit, an adjustable lace that hugs the midfoot and a dual zone sole for extra arch support and heel stability.
Soon to be available in the UK, Mount to Coast is one of the most exciting and innovative new brands out there right now.
Mountain to Coast P1
UYN – Synapsis – £179.00
This Italian brand is best known for its clothing created with a circular knitting process that reduces seams and improves fit and breathability. The upper of the shoe utilizes UYN’s innovative construction technique with a partial dual-layer sock design, with the mid and toe box being single-layer, while the toe, sides and heel are dual-layer. This provides a great fit, reduces the chance of blisters and optimizes breathability.
The cushioning comes from the Freebound heel design. construction type construction that compresses both horizontally and vertically to absorb impact and stay balanced. Additional stability and energy return are optimized with the brand’s HALO (Heel Active Ligament Outerframe), which essentially wraps around the heel and works with the full-length chassis to enhance energy return.
The shoe is packed with technology and is sure to showcase what the brand is capable of and potentially more exciting models in the coming months.
UYN Synapsis:
New Balance – Fresh Foam X Balos – £200.00
While the brand will be familiar, this premium training shoe is somewhat of a secret hero. At first glance, the shoe looks very similar to the best-selling 1080 model, but looks can be deceiving, and the Balos, while offering plenty of cushioning, are a much more responsive ride than its stablemate.
The cushioning is a PEBA-blend foam (think supershoe sprung here) and there’s plenty of it. It’s built into a high-swing design, and it creates a soft, smooth and pleasant ride that takes you along the road with comfort and ease. As you’d expect from a premium model, the upper is super-sleek, with neat coverage around the tongue, ankle collar and Achilles, making the fit as great as the feel.
The Balos is a fast-flowing everyday trainer that’s light enough to make it an option for tempo and interval sessions.
New Balance Balos
Diadora – Gara Carbon – £240.00
Remember the 1980s Diadora Titan shoe worn by a certain Seb Coe? Well, that brand is back and leading the way with their carbon-clad racer.
Gara Carbon has a full length plate and combines it with a proprietary foam, Anima PBX, PEBAS, made with a supercritical foam that increases energy return and reduces weight. From the first few steps in the shoe, it feels as good as any other super shoe on the market right now and even better in some areas, as it feels stable and controlled as the miles and speed increase.
The Italian-style shoe features a beautifully fitted upper that uses Matryx mesh, a material that uses carbon fibers for strength, extra structure and durability, and of course, gold accents give the shoe a classic appeal aesthetic. The shoe performs as well as it looks and with a range of models, Diadora is sure to make an impressive comeback.
Diadora Gara Carbon
Diadora – Mobile – £170.00
For everyday mileage, this Diadora model features a soft, 40mm padded midsole made with Anima foam for a more responsive yet lighter feel.
Although the shoe is a neutral model, the heel drops and feels stable, and the wide base also contributes to the shoe’s natural stable feel. The ride is soft and welcoming and the shoe feels like it just eats up the miles. It’s a 5mm drop to the forefoot and although it’s a bit lower than many everyday trainers, it feels very smooth from heel to toe.
The upper is a simple, uncomplicated design and very well put together. It wraps the foot perfectly and is one of the nicest fitting models I’ve tried recently, with no frills or creases and a nice level of coverage around the heel and Achilles. The Cellula is a workhorse shoe for everyday miles, but still provides luxurious space.
Diadora Cellula
One Mix – Pace Beam – approx £87.00
These carbon coated shoes offer great value for money. For under £100, they can often be found on sale on the brand’s website.
Weighing in at around 235g, they’re probably a little heavier than some race day models, but they’re loaded with the latest technology. The midsole is a supercritical foam with a hollowed-out arch that highlights the carbon plate. This hollow shows how the flexibility of the foot and the carbon plate combine to give a high level of energy return and a springy feel.
The carbon plate is wider in the heel of the shoe and this creates excellent stability, a feature many carbon racers forgo. The midsole also wraps around the side of the foot to create extra stability, keeping the foot centered and focused for good traction. These shoes have no shortage of innovation and are a great entry into carbon racing at this price point.
OneMix Pace Beam
Qiaodan – Feiying PB 4.0 – approx £115.00
Weighing in at just under 100g, these shoes are lighter than the box they came in.
They feature ultra-lightweight super foam and a full-length carbon plate with an upper that disappears around the feet. Available through the AliExpress website, navigating to find the shoes can be tricky, but they’re certainly worth looking for. With a truly minimalist design, these may be the lightest carbon shoes on the market.
The brand has a range of running shoes with special race day models that are the lightest of them all. Over 5k I found them amazing and probably over marathon distance they would work too but they are certainly not everyday models so don’t expect long term durability. The sole is rubbery slippery but has enough traction for me on a dry day. The shoe is exceptionally responsive and the toe-off footbed offers a track spike-like experience, so save them for your best efforts.
Qiaodan Kungfu Pro:
Qiaodan –Q-Kungfu Pro – approx £123.00
A little more substantial than the ultralight Kungfu Pro, this model can certainly handle the demands of a marathon.
Bearing a bit more resemblance to one of the original supershoes, the PB4 features a dual-density PEBA-based midsole with the brand’s unique Q-Arc Plate, a carbon plate on the side as well as running the length of the shoe. . This plate gives back a lot of positive energy and really packs a punch when you run. Again, it’s best at race pace, but the softer layer of foam on top of the plate makes the shoe easier to work with at different paces.
Weighing in at just 220g, the shoe is in the same ballpark as many other racers, but competes very well on the value front, where it’s as good as many mainstream options at around half the price. If you want to order from overseas, the PB 4.0 shows again that there are great shoes out there.
Qiaodan PB4
HOKA – Mach X 2 – £170.00
While HOKA is as popular as any of the popular brands right now, this model may have slipped under the radar purely due to the sheer number of new styles they’ve released in recent months. The Mach X 2 is a new lightweight race/training model that offers the responsive and driving feel of a race day model, but with the added cushioning of an everyday training shoe.
The Pebax (plastic) rather than carbon plate is placed in a highly flexible PEBA foam mid-layer and provides a high level of energy return without stiffening the shoe the way a carbon plate does. This makes the shoe much more versatile and suitable for everyday use. Essentially, you can feel “spring” on race day any day of the week. This type of midsole also provides more overall stability and makes the shoe a viable choice for a wider range of runners.
The fit and upper are more like a racing model, but overall it’s a shoe that’s more than capable of logging daily miles at any speed.
Hoka Mach X2
Brooks – Ghost Max 2 – £145.00
Another “quiet” update that may have slipped under your radar is Ghost Max 2. Updated with nitrogen-infused foam, the Ghost Max 2 updates in the realm of maximum comfort for the everyday trainer. With a 39mm pile height in the heel, there’s certainly no shortage of cushioning, and the combination of the deep pile and the soft, springy foam makes for a very bouncy ride.
With such a deep pile, this isn’t a performance shoe, but it feels very responsive for a model like this. The overall feel is a welcoming and smooth ride that provides a little spring in your step when needed. The brand’s GlideRoll geometry creates heel-to-forefoot swing and aids the gait cycle, and a wider base toward the midfoot and slightly raised sidewalls on the rear foot make it a very stable neutral model. The upper features an engineered mesh design and the usual high-quality fit and feel of a Brooks shoe.
Brooks Ghost Max 2
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