5 Most Hyped Running Shoes of January 2026
We're kicking off 2026 with the debut of a new list: THE HYPE INDEX. This month, we see Instagram's favorite running shoe, the Evo SL retaining its Hype King title from 2025 with strengthened interest from the recent Woven update, Nike's two latest max cushion cruisers holding it down for the comfort segment, the Megablast showing out for super trainers and the Puma Fast-R 3 claiming the mantle of most hype racer with its near instantaneous sell-outs upon release.
A blend of subjective "hype" (buzz in the community) and objective interest (search data), this list represents the 5 shoes that are the hottest right now when it comes to interest and usage in the shoe enthusiast and hobby jogger community. Put simply, these are the 5 shoes that the community is loving most right now—not the 5 best sellers (that would be a list full of the most milquetoast daily trainers imaginable). Check out which 5 shoes made the list this month.
#1 - Adidas Evo SL Woven
The reign of the Adidas Evo SL needs to be studied. Despite having a late 2024 initial release date, Adidas’ $150 uptempo daily trainer remains on top of the world at the start of 2026. Amazingly, the release of the updated Evo SL Woven in December has sparked renewed interest in this iconic shoe.
Adidas Adizero Evo SL Woven
#2 - Nike Vomero Plus
The Vomero Plus has shown remarkable staying power in its first six months on the market. Many shoes that were hyped up in the Summer of 2025 (Prime X3 Strung, Hyperion Max 3, etc) have lost much of their popularity. Not the Vomero Plus, though: it’s only gained traction as time has gone on, becoming the most popular max cushion daily trainer on the market.
Nike Vomero Plus
#3 - ASICS Megablast
The Megablast saw an astronomical rise in hype upon release, with many reviewers (us included) crowning it the greatest training shoe of all time. Things have cooled off a bit, but the Megablast is still one of the most popular super trainers on the market.
ASICS Megablast
#4 - Nike Vomero Premium
The Vomero Premium only released in October, but whispers of hype surrounding the shoe started popping up in early 2025 when pictures were leaked. Only time will tell if the Vomero Premium will have the legs of the Vomero Plus, but for now, its one of the most sought-after max cushion shoes out there.
Nike Vomero Premium
#5 - Puma Fast-R 3
While popular models like the Alphafly 3 and Adios Pro 4 continue to out-sell the Fast-R 3, the hype surrounding Puma’s pinnacle racer in the enthusiast community is off the charts. Interest has remained strong since initial release, and new colorways are still selling out almost immediately whenever they drop.
Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3
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