August 30, 2025

Ranking Running Shoe Brands for their 2025 Shoe Line-up: ASICS, Adidas, On, Hoka, and New Balance

Below we are looking at 5 different running shoe brands and the shoes that they’ve released so far in 2025 to see how they compare. This time we are looking at ASICS with the release of the Metaspeed Sky and Edge Tokyo and now the Megablast, On with some forgettable releases like the Cloudsurfer 2 and Cloudboom Max, Hoka with new versions of their Cielo X1 and Rocket X racing shoes, New Balance with some hits like the SC Elite v5, and Adidas with some solid releases like the Adios Pro 4 and Prime X 3 Strung.

Yowana Wamala

Ranking Running Shoe Brands for their 2025 Shoe Line-up: ASICS, Adidas, On, Hoka, and New Balance

Here we are grading every running shoe brand’s year so far in 2025. ASICS came out the gate with hit after hit, from daily trainers to race-day killers, and easily earned an A+. On the flip side, On dropped one of the weakest lineups we’ve tested in years, landing them a D-. New Balance, Hoka, and Adidas all sat somewhere in the middle with solid but not flawless releases. Part 2 will be coming soon with more brands getting their grade.

ASICS 2025 Releases: A+

In terms of both release volume and quality, ASICS is unmatched. ASICS has released a lot of shoes this year, but every model has a distinct role in the lineup. From the no-nonsense Cumulus 27 to the speedy Sky Tokyo and the versatile Megablast. Plus, with the Sonicblast and Metaspeed Ray about to drop, it’s clear that ASICS isn’t slowing down. Below are some of our favorites from 2025 so far.

Metaspeed Sky Tokyo - Marathon Race Shoe for runners that increase their cadence as they pick up the pace

Race Day

ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo

Marathon race shoe designed for speed and comfort

Price

$270

Plated?

Yes

Foam

PEBA, ATPU

Weight (oz)

5.9

Drop (mm)

Support

Neutral

see details

Metaspeed Edge Tokyo - Marathon Race Shoe for runners that increase their stride length as they pick up the pace

Race Day

ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo

Marathon race shoe designed for speed over long distances

Price

$270

Plated?

Yes

Foam

ATPU, PEBA

Weight (oz)

5.6

Drop (mm)

Support

Neutral

see details

Gel-Nimbus 27 - Max Cushion Cruiser for relaxed efforts and recovery runs

Max Cushion

Asics Gel-Nimbus 27

Cushioned everyday running shoe with a soft and smooth ride

Price

$165

Plated?

Foam

EVA Blend

Weight (oz)

10.4

Drop (mm)

Support

Neutral

see details

Megablast - Max Cushion, Lightweight Trainer with amazing bounce and speed capability

Daily Trainer

ASICS Megablast

Daily trainer designed for speed and versatility

Price

$225

Plated?

Foam

ATPU

Weight (oz)

8.1

Drop (mm)

Support

Neutral

see details

On 2025 Releases: D-

After releasing an uncharacteristically soft, bouncy, and fast marathon racer in the Cloudboom Strike last year, we thought On might be finally leaving brick-like midsoles in the past. Unfortunately, their 2025 releases have proven otherwise. The Cloudsurfer 2 was one of the most firm and lifeless shoes we’ve tested, and the Cloudboom Max was so bad it had us questioning our life choices. The competent, but overpriced, Cloudflow 5 is the only shoe saving On from an F grade. Some of the shoes released by On this year:

Cloudflow 5 - Dual Foam Speed Shoe

Speed Training

On Cloudflow 5

Training shoe designed for speed and versatility

Price

$180

Plated?

Yes

Foam

PEBA, EVA/OBC Blend

Weight (oz)

9.6

Drop (mm)

Support

Mild Stability

see details

Cloudboom Max - Max Cushion Cruiser

Race Day

On Cloudboom Max

Stability-oriented max cushioned shoe designed for long runs and four hour marathons

Price

$230

Plated?

Yes

Foam

PEBA, TPEE

Weight (oz)

10.4

Drop (mm)

Support

Mild Stability

see details

New Balance 2025 Releases: B-

New Balance has been the most hit-and-miss brand in our testing this year: they elevated their place in the racing market with the SC Elite v5, which delivers an optimal blend of comfort and speed for distance running, but their training releases have lagged behind the competition. The More v6 was overly-soft and lifeless, the 880v15 was capable but mundane, and the Rebel v5 bottomed out easily in our testing. Here are some of the specifications on this year's New Balance running shoe line-up:

SC Elite v5 - Soft, Fast, and Comfortable Marathon Racer

Race Day

New Balance SC Elite v5

Marathon race shoe designed for speed and comfort

Price

$250

Plated?

Yes

Foam

PEBA

Weight (oz)

7.3

Drop (mm)

Support

Neutral

see details

Rebel v5 - Uptempo Daily Trainer

Daily Trainer

New Balance Rebel v5

An everyday running shoe designed to offer speed and comfort

Price

$140

Plated?

Foam

EVA/PEBA Blend

Weight (oz)

7.9

Drop (mm)

Support

Neutral

see details

880v15 - Workhorse Daily Trainer that is better as a walking/lifestyle shoe

Daily Trainer

New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v15

Firm and reliable daily trainer built for logging consistent miles

Price

$140

Plated?

Foam

EVA Blend

Weight (oz)

9.9

Drop (mm)

Support

Neutral

see details

Hoka 2025 Releases: C+

While shoes like the Mach X2, Skyward X, Skyflow, and Mach 6 are standouts in Hoka’s lineup, these shoes all released in 2024. With the exception of the Bondi 9, an excellent max cushion offering, Hoka has not delivered the same top tier quality in 2025. The Clifton 10 and Rocket X3 were solid, but uninspiring, and the Cielo X1 2.0’s aggressive geometry and soft foam made for a muddled ride experience. With the Mach 7 and Mach X3 due to release soon, we anticipate that Hoka’s end of year grade will be higher than a C+. Check out some of Hoka's 2025 releases here:

Bondi 9 - Max Cushion Cruiser

Max Cushion

Hoka Bondi 9

Comfortable everyday running shoe with smooth ride. Top pick of 2025

Price

$170

Plated?

Foam

Supercritical EVA

Weight (oz)

10.8

Drop (mm)

Support

Mild Stability

see details

Clifton 10 - Classic Daily Trainer that is better as a walking/lifestyle shoe

Daily Trainer

Hoka Clifton 10

Everyday entry-level running shoe designed for comfort and versatility

Price

$155

Plated?

Foam

EVA

Weight (oz)

9.1

Drop (mm)

Support

Mild Stability

see details

Rocket X3 - Stable Racer

Race Day

Hoka Rocket X 3

Race shoe designed for speed and stability

Price

$250

Plated?

Yes

Foam

PEBA

Weight (oz)

8.0

Drop (mm)

Support

Mild Stability

see details

Cielo X1 2.0 - Highly-Rockered Marathon Racer

Race Day

Hoka Cielo X1 2.0

Racing shoe designed to combine comfort, protection, and speed

Price

$275

Plated?

Yes

Foam

Supercritical PEBA

Weight (oz)

7.4

Drop (mm)

Support

Neutral

see details

Adidas 2025 Releases: A-

Adidas has been on a tear this year, releasing arguably the most popular marathon racer of 2025 in the Adios Pro 4, best-in-class shoes like the Boston 13 and Pro Evo 2, and specialized enthusiast offerings in the Adios 9 and Prime X3 Strung. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though: the Takumi Sen 11 was highly disappointing, and more broadly, the brand has been falling behind in the quality assurance department with issues in foam consistency, weight and sizing plaguing multiple models in their lineup. Some of the best shoes to be released by Adidas this year: