We take a look at the best road running shoes for athletes looking to finish the year with a personal best
These reviews are independent and unbiased views based on running actual miles in these shoes. This section contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through these links.
New and updated November 2024
Diadora – Gara Carbon – £250.00
Returning to the running scene with a vengeance, Diadora has produced a premium racer that feels just as competitive as the other ‘big brand’ names.
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 on the shoe, it feels as good as any other super shoe on the market right now, and in some areas even better, as it feels stable and controlled as the miles and speed increase.
Diadora Gara Carbon
The Italian styling features a beautifully fitted upper that uses Matryx mesh, a material that uses carbon fibers for strength, added structure and durability. Of course, the gold accents give the shoe a classically appealing aesthetic. The shoe performs as well as it looks, and with a number of training models set to release soon to back it up, Diadora is sure to make an impressive comeback.
Cougar – Distract NITRO
Elite 3 – £195.00
When it’s time to pick up the pace a little, the Nitro Elite 3 is Puma’s ultimate race day option favored by sponsored athletes. Offering a super-smooth ride with a high-drive toe-off, the Nitro Elite 3 combines full-length NITROFOAM with a carbon plate for a fast and energetic feel.
A maximum height of 40mm (legal racing) provides enough cushioning even for marathon distance, and when the speed really picks up, the advantage of the full-length carbon fiber plate is very apparent.
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3
The shoe’s upper is a single-layer mesh that keeps weight down, yet provides a nice, gathered fit. The PUMAGRIP sole provides great traction in all conditions to get the most out of these fast-moving racers.
Shop the Puma Nitro Elite 3 here
Brooks – Hyperion Elite 4 – £220.00
Brooks would be the first to admit that their early-generation carbon-coated shoes were a little stiff for many runners. Here we see a lighter, softer and taller shoe with all-round improvements, making it a more capable competitor.
The DNA Flash V2 midsole is a nitrogen-infused foam similar to that found on their high-end casual trainers as well as some competing shoes. It’s softer, with an instantly ‘springier’ feel than the previous version and, combined with the new SpeedVault Race+ plate, has a more noticeable level of ‘energy return’.
Brooks Hyperion Elite 4
Although the Elite 4 is softer, it’s not as soft as many competitors and will still suit faster runners or those who prefer a more “planted” or controlled feel. The upper is a very open mesh construction, so it’s very breathable, but still manages to provide a snug and supportive fit. The Hyperion is definitely a fast shoe, but at the same time, it’s stable and durable with nitrogen-infused foam that can last many miles.
Shop the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 here
ASICS – Metaspeed Sky Paris / Metaspeed Edge Paris – £220.00
The Metaspeed Sky and Edge are designed for runners who are either increasing their stride length to go faster or increasing their stride to increase speed. Understandably, many runners were a little confused about which model to choose, and ultimately most runners would increase both speed and stride length as they got faster.
Both shoes weigh the same at around 185g or 6.5oz, making them some of the lightest racing shoe options on the market today. The new FF BLAST TURBO PLUS midsole used in both models is much softer than the previous model and has a springy feel that becomes more apparent once the shoes are worn.
The new upper, MOTION WRAP 2.0, is lighter and more breathable, its engineered mesh design allows plenty of air to circulate, but at the same time provides a comfortable and secure fit around the foot.
Metaspeed Edge (left) and Sky (right)
Where the two models differ is the shape of the full-length carbon plate. On the Metaspeed Edge, the carbon plate has a much more inflated rim with a more curved shape at the front. This more aggressively shaped plate is much more apparent when running in the shoes than on the Metaspeed Sky. In the Metaspeed Sky version of the shoe, the plate is a bit more “flat” and sits almost halfway between the two layers of foam.
Of course, which one you choose will be a personal choice, but our testers seemed to prefer the Metaspeed Edge for five and 10km runs and the Metaspeed Sky for longer distances.
Adidas – Adizero Adios Pro 4 – October 2025
Right out of the box, the Adios Pro 4 feels extremely light (200g) and super responsive. The brand’s new double layer of Lightstrike Pro foam is softer than the previous version, and with carbon-infused energy bars carried over from the Evo 1, the result is a more responsive and instantly faster shoe.
The bars now bend a little further back underfoot than in the previous version, which means the transition to the forefoot takeoff phase is a little quicker and more involved. A revised, single-layer mesh upper features a minimalist design to reduce weight, yet provides the shoe’s structure and secure fit. The Lighttraxion outsole grips with a small continental rubber insert at the forefoot for optimal traction during toe-off.
The Adizero Adios Pro 4 has already taken several wins and records on the roads, so it should be just as fast as it was when it hit the roads in January.
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