5 Different Applications of PEBA Foam in Running Shoes
The running shoe market is more saturated than ever, with each brand now offering its own take on different foam compounds. In this overview, we’ll focus on daily trainers, uptempo shoes, and race-day models that all incorporate PEBA foam—though the way it's used, and the resulting ride experience, varies significantly. Featured here are blended compounds like those in the New Balance Rebel V4, firmer formulations as seen in the ASICS Superblast 2, dual-layer constructions found in the On Cloudmonster Hyper, plated options such as the Hoka Mach X2, and less impressive executions like the Nike ZoomFly 6.
Welcome to PEBA Province: Where performance is priority and stability is optional. Plated Prairie’s got the pop, Firm Farmland’s got the roll, and the Peba Badlands? Pure chaos. Tread lightly—or don’t tread at all.
Blended Bayou
In the southeast corner of PEBA Province sits the Blended Bayou, home of shoes that synthesize PEBA with other compounds to create new foam formulations. Throughout 2024, we saw brands (looking at you, New Balance) dive headfirst into the swampy waters of the Blended Bayou, swapping out the much-loved supercritical TPU in nameplates such as the New Balance Rebel V4 and SC Trainer V3 in favor of a PEBA/EVA blend that just doesn’t quite hit the same. While the idea of combining the bounce and fun factor of PEBA with the durability of EVA is solid, we’ve found that the best applications of this concept is found in dual foam shoes. If you venture into the Blended Bayou, anticipate a muddy experience.
- New Balance Rebel V4
- New Balance SC Trainer V3
- Adidas Supernova Prima
- New Balance Balos
Adidas Supernova Prima
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New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos v1
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Firm Farmland
In the heart of PEBA Province is the Firm Farmland. We were conditioned in the early 2020s to think of PEBA as a soft and squishy compound, but brands have recently been showing us that PEBA comes in all shapes, sizes and firmness levels. The Superblast 2 is a firm and stable workhorse that works well for runners who drive a lot of force through the platform on daily runs. The Specter 2 is similar, plus it offers a wider toebox and low drop. Once you ignore the fact that the ZoomX in it feels nothing like the fluffy Vaporfly compound, the Pegasus Plus is a fantastic speed training shoe. And at $200, the Eliot Runner is a beautiful-looking, simple-riding daily trainer where the PEBA is just as much about pep as it is about everyday reliability.
- ASICS Superblast 2
- Topo Specter 2
- Tracksmith Eliot Runner
- Nike Pegasus Plus
Asics Superblast 2
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Topo Specter 2
Nike Pegasus Plus
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Dual Foam Ridge
Much like the stratified layers of rock that make up the geological landscape of Dual Foam Ridge, the shoes of this region feature distinct slabs of multiple foam compounds—typically softer, bouncy PEBA on top and more stable, durable EVA on the bottom. The HOKA Skyward X is the greatest example of what this category has to offer, taking the wild bounce of PEBA from its race shoe sibling and combining it with supercritical EVA for chewing through mileage. The Cloudmonster Hyper is another great implementation of this concept, suspending a forefoot slab of PEBA in an EVA carrier frame designed to compress and decompress. Saucony has most notably used this formula in their stability shoes, while Nike continues it in their workhorse daily trainer, the Vomero 18. With consistent winners coming out of Dual Foam Ridge, we anticipate more brands traveling here to take their performance running lineups to new heights.
- On Cloudmonster Hyper
- Hoka Skyward X
- Saucony Tempus 2
- Saucony Hurricane 24
- Nike Vomero 18
Saucony Hurricane 24
Nike Vomero 18
Plated Prairie
In the Plated Prairie are the shoes that kick started the trend of stuffing race foam into training shoes. The original race foams were so compliant and soft that they needed a plate for stability. These days, brands slap plates into things willy-nilly—but these shoes are four excellent examples of how to blend bouncy race foam with a rigid plate. The Mach X2 is a long run winner with a plastic plate and soft top layer of PEBA that’s as cushioned as it is fast. The Magic Speed 4 barely qualifies as a PEBA Province resident (the race foam puck in the forefoot is about as big as a Maurten gel), but the full-length plate and rocker are the perfect platform for high-end speed. The Cloudboom Zone is one of the bounciest shoes on the market, and the plastic mid-foot shank adds snap at faster paces. And the Wave Rebellion Flash 2’s unconventional aggressive geometry makes it perfect for track sessions.
- Hoka Mach X2
- Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2
- On Cloudboom Zone
- ASICS Magic Speed 4
Asics Magic Speed 4
Hoka Mach X2
On Cloudboom Zone
PEBA Badlands
Shoes that roam The PEBA Badlands tend to sport unsavory nicknames—in our testing, the Triumph 22 became the “Umph 22”, and the Zoom Fly 6 became the “Gloom Fly Bricks.” These are the shoes with PEBA midsoles that for one reason or another just didn’t work for us: the Zoom Fly 6 had a plate position that proved to be uncomfortable for high mileage training, the Triumph 22 was heavy and lifeless, and the Speed 4 was more awkward and clunky than its Supwell-certified predecessors. These shoes remind us of a troubling trend in the way that brands name and position their top tier foams—the PWRRUN PB felt fundamentally different than the compound in beloved shoes such as the Endorphin Pro 4 and Speed 3, and you can’t convince us that the Zoom Fly 6 formulation of ZoomX is the same as the legendary Alphafly 3.
- Nike Zoomfly 6
- Saucony Endorphin Speed 4
- Saucony Triumph 22
Nike Zoom Fly 6
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Barefoot Mafia Island
Off the coast of PEBA Province is a remote, isolated island home to a single shoe—the Topo Cyclone 2. While Barefoot Mafia members typically opt for Vibram Five Fingers over shoes with modern race foam for their 1 mile jogs around the suburb, the Cyclone 2 has several qualities they might resonate with—a low stack height, moderate drop, lack of plate/stiffening element, and a roomy toebox. Think of the Cyclone 2 as a siren on the rocks, tempting Barefoot Mafia loyalists to dip their toes into PEBA foam.
- Topo Cyclone 2
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