Ranking Every Running Shoe Brand from Fastest to Slowest: Race Shoe Edition
Below we are ranking every running shoe brand from fastest to slowest based on their race shoe offerings. Find out how the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5, Puma Fast-R 3, ASICS Metaspeed Ray, New Balance SC Elite v5 and other race models helped inform our rankings.
We ranked every major running shoe brand based on their current race shoe performance, stacking them head to head purely on speed and execution. The top four are operating at the very peak of race-day innovation, the next three sit firmly in the chase pack with serious potential, and the final three are still solid options but clearly a step behind the curve right now. This isn’t about daily trainers or lifestyle appeal, just who shows up when it’s time to race.
The Brands at the Top of the Game
1. Puma
Puma is the clear leader in the race shoe game, offering the fastest pinnacle shoe on the market in the Fast-R 3, and one of the most versatile, crowd-pleasing options in the Deviate Nitro Elite 3.
Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3
2. ASICS
ASICS has a lightning quick race lineup, epitomized by the innovative & featherlight Metaspeed Ray and the slightly more approachable, yet light and fast Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Metaspeed Edge Tokyo.
ASICS Metaspeed Ray
ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo
ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
3. Nike
Puma and ASICS might be leading the pack, but Nike is still in close contention thanks to the iconic Alphafly 3 and ridiculously quick Streakfly 2. The Vaporfly 4, however, leaves something to be desired.
Nike Streakfly 2
.png)
Nike Vaporfly Next% 4
4. Mizuno
Taking a page from ASICS’ playbook, Mizuno recently dropped a trio—the Hyperwarp Pure, Hyperwarp Elite, and Hyperwarp Pro—of highly-competitive race day shoes, all of which serve the needs of different paces and mechanics.
Mizuno Hyperwarp Pure
.png)
Mizuno Hyperwarp Elite
.png)
Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro
.png)
The Chase Pack
5. Adidas
Adidas is on the podium of virtually every major marathon with the Pro Evo 2, but that’s partly because they have the marketing dollars to sponsor the top elite athletes. Their race shoes, especially the Adios Pro 4, are really good, but don’t have quite as much raw speed as the top tier brands.
Adidas Adios Pro 4
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2
6. New Balance
New Balance’s 2025 race lineup was less diversified than other brands, but the SC Elite v5 was a top 5 carbon-plated shoe of the year, offering race-ready speed assistance in a stable, comfortable package.
New Balance SC Elite v5
7. Saucony
Saucony’s shoes have some of the best rocker geometries in the game. Their foams, on the other hand, just aren’t as quick as those from other brands, as demonstrated in the Endorphin Elite 2. Incredirun, for example, is wildly bouncy and fun, but its a bit too soft and unstable to reliably race in.
Saucony Endorphin Elite 2
8. Brooks
Brooks only has one race shoe—the Hyperion Elite 5. This is a smooth, balanced & bouncy racer with a traditional feel akin to the Vaporfly 2.
Brooks Hyperion Elite 5
Solid, But Behind the Curve
9. On
On’s flagship shoe, the Cloudboom Strike, is a soft, bouncy racer than leans toward comfort. While competitive when it released in 2024, other brands have stolen the Cloodboom’s thunder, delivering better energy return at a lighter weight and On has only answered with the lightspray upper version of the same race shoe.
On Cloudboom Strike LS
10. Hoka
Neither of Hoka’s race shoes are particularly fast relative to the rest of the market. The Cielo X1 2.0 has an incredible rocker geometry, but its foam becomes mushy when you push it below 7:00 min/mile. The Rocket X3 is a great option for runners with stability needs or those seeking a no-nonsense ride, but it doesn’t deliver the bounce or excitement most expect from a carbon racer in 2026.
Hoka Cielo X1 2.0
%20(2).png)
Hoka Rocket X 3
.png)
Supwell Shoe Matcher
Whether you're looking for a reliable easy run shoe, pampering comfort on recovery days, a long-run cruiser, or a race day weapon, check out our Shoe Matcher tool to get matched. We've done the extensive testing, so you don't have to.
Find your next running shoe
Answer a few questions to find the best shoe based on your preferences and goals
