5 Best Race Shoe & Training Shoe Combinations
If you are looking for a race day shoe that will have the qualities that you love in your training shoe, you are in the right place. We have compiled 5 running shoe combinations that will allow for training in a shoe that mimics the feel of your race day shoe so you can feel confident on race day. See below what race shoes we’ve paired with the Hoka Cielo X-1 2.0, Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 3, Adidas EVO SL, Brooks Hyperion Max 3, and the ASICS Megablast.
Here’s our 5 best race shoe and training shoe combos. These are our top 5 race shoe and training shoe pairings— designed to feel consistent across your week. Whether you’re chasing a PR in the Cielo X-1 2.0 or logging steady miles in the Wave Rebellion Flash 3, each combo shares geometry, foam feel, and ride style that make the transition seamless. Think of it as your rotation, simplified.
Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 & Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 3
The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 and Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 3 make a great pairing for race day and training. Both have an aggressive rocker geometry that puts you right up on your toes, so if you don't like having to be on your toes to really activate the foam in a shoe, move on to the next pairing. These shoes also have a soft, bouncy foam with a lot of cushioning in the forefoot.
Hoka Cielo X1 2.0
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Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 3
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ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo & Brooks Hyperion Max 3
The ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Brooks Hyperion Max 3 have a lot of similar characteristics, which make them a great combo from training, workouts, and race day. Their construction is very similar in that they use a dual foam that delivers a not too soft and not too firm midsole experience. They also have a very "normal" feeling geometry, which makes them accessible to a wide variety of runners no matter your pace or your footstrike.
ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
Brooks Hyperion Max 3
Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 & Adidas EVO SL
The Puma Fast-R 3 and the Adidas EVO SL are a dream pairing for forefoot strikers. They are both some of the lightest shoes in their respective categories, leaving you with all that you need and nothing that you don't, both in the upper, midsole, and heel. They also deliver a very aggressive toe-off experience. Additionally, they do require a forefoot strike to unlock the most bounce and speed-assistance.
Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3
Adidas Evo SL
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 Lo & Adidas Boston 13
The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 Lo and the Adidas Boston 13 work very well together and would provide an easy transition from training to race day. They both exhibit a flatter, more traditional and normal feeling rocker geometry that will suit a lot of different runners. They also have a firmer midsole foam and a reliable, work-man like ride that will feel stable and allow you to run with confidence on race day.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 Lo
Adidas Boston 13
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 & ASICS Megablast
The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 and the ASICS Megablast are an excellent combination that will be able to cover every type of run in your training plan from recovery miles, tempo runs, workouts, and race day. They both utilize an ATPU foam with explosive bounce and a peppy toe-off. They also have a very stable and normal feeling geometry that will work well for a variety of runners and footstrikes. In fact, the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is probably one of our favorite recommendations for bigger runners or for those who put a lot of force down into their stride. You also get a really nice bounce and speed assistance from the not too soft, not too firm foam in the heel of both shoes.
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3
ASICS Megablast
Here's Yowana's full video break-down of training and race day shoe pairings on the Supwell YouTube channel:
Check out our recommendations for Shoe Rotations for Every Foot Strike. And for more shoe rotation lists designed for specific runners, check out our Narrow Foot Friendly Shoe Rotation List or if you are part of the wide foot family, check out our Wide Foot Friendly Shoe Rotation List.
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