5 Best Running Shoe Brands in October 2026 - Supwell Power Rankings
Below we are updating our Supwell Power Rankings top 5 best running shoe brands as of October 2026. See how we ranked Puma, Nike, ASICS, Mizuno, and Adidas, and which brand cracked the top 5 this time.
Welcome to the next edition of Supwell’s Running shoe brand Power Rankings. We launched this series as a way to keep a running list of the best shoes on the market updated each month. Here are our 5 favorite brands right now. Our Top 5 Running Shoe Brands in April 2026 Power Rankings list included: ASICS in first, followed by Puma, Li-Ning, Adidas, and then Niike. *Editor’s note: Our criteria for this list is enjoyment, mileage accumulation on the Supwell team, adoption in the hobby jogger community, US market availability and price/value.
#1 - ASICS
ASICS’ still has the best overall lineup in the performance running landscape. Their racer options are rock solid, they have two of the best super trainers in the Superblast 3 and Megablast, and new releases like the Sonicblast 2 and Slowcush have been excellent sleeper picks. That being said, Adidas is right on their heels.
ASICS Sonicblast 2
ASICS Gel-SlowCush
#2 - Adidas
Adidas now represents the pinnacle of running innovation, with the Pro EVO 3 slotting in as the clear #1 current marathon race shoe on the market. The newly-released Adios Pro 5 has further bolstered their lineup, offering one of the best mainstream race shoe rides on the market.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5
#3 - Nike
The Apex and Swooshfly represent an exciting new chapter for Nike’s performance running division, while the Alphafly 4 is sure to be one of the top-selling marathon racers of the year. On the training side, Nike has been fairly quiet in recent months, with the stellar Vomero Premium and Vomero Plus holding down the fort.
Nike Alphafly Next% 4
#4 - Puma
Puma falls two slots in our brand power rankings this month due to their lower output in 2026. The Fast-R3 remains the standard for aggressive race day shoes, but many of Puma’s other releases this year (Deviate Elite 4, Deviate Nitro 4) have been solid but uninspiring. With the Fast-R 4 and a Megablast competitor in the works, however, we anticipate that Puma won’t stay at #4 for long.
Puma Deviate Nitro 4
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Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4
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#5 - Mizuno
Mizuno frequently gets overlooked, but they remain one of the most innovative running shoe brands out there. From their trio of newly-announced mainstream race shoes, to the sub 100 gram Hyperwarp 96, to stellar max cushion offerings in the Sky Prime and Neo Vista 3, Mizuno is bringing the heat in 2026.
Mizuno Sky Prime
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Mizuno Neo Vista 3
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