Nike Structure 26

The Nike Structure 26 is the running shoe industry's best-kept secret. Favored by elites like Jakob Ingebrigtsten, Cole Hocker and Cooper Teare, it's a $145 daily trainer designed for stability and comfort. It competes with shoes like the New Balance 860v14 ($140), Brooks Ghost Max 3 ($160), and the Saucony Tempus 2 ($170). It has nice padding on the tongue and in the back and fits true-to-size. There is a very firm and structured underfoot feel upon step-in and it is a little narrow in the toebox. What makes the shoe so good is the dense, protective ReactX foam that delivers a very smooth ride experience. The key difference between it and the Ghost Max 3 is the lack of a rocker geometry and a higher drop. It’s a set-it and forget-it shoe, which is what the best of the best daily trainers let you do. It gives you the perfect amount of stability and guidance without the feeling of being clipped down in the heel. There is also not as much ground feel and flexibility in the forefoot as we experienced in the previous generation, which is perfect, but it retains the simplicity in the construction and the comfort. It’s perfect for accumulating miles safely in comfort.