Rating All the New Running Shoes We Tested in April 2026
Below we are rating all the new performance running shoes we tested and reviewed in April of 2026. See what we thought about the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Ultra, Hoka Skyward X2, On Lightspray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, Adidas Prime X Evo, Hoka Mach 7, R.A.D Synth, and Diadora Gara Carbon 3.
From ultra-premium racers to everyday trainers, this latest batch of running shoes brought a little bit of everything to the table. We had clear standouts like the Adidas Prime X EVO, On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, Li-Ning Feidian 6 Ultra, and Hoka Skyward X2 that immediately earned banger status, while shoes like the Hoka Mach 7 still impressed as dependable daily options.
#1 Adidas Adizero Prime X Evo
The $500 Prime X Evo was built to help break the 100km world record and has now been released, in very limited fashion, to the public. With 50mm of Adidas’ uncompressed Lightstrike Pro Evo foam underfoot, modified to be slightly less dense than the same-named foam in the Adios Pro Evo 2, an all-new Energy Rim stiffening element, and an absurd rocker, this shoe is built to pull you forward for endless miles. We knocked out a 21-mile run in it and can confirm this is the best, if not one of the best, long-run tools on the market.
Adidas Adizero Prime X Evo
#2 On Lightspray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper
The LightSpray Cloudmonster Hyper 3 brings a surprisingly fun blend of cushion, response, and protection thanks to the PEBA foam, CloudTec platform, and supportive EVA frame.This update features On’s LightSpray upper, applied by a robot in just three minutes. With the new upper, this model drops about 50–55 grams compared to the traditional Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, while adding 4mm of stack and a $60 increase to the price tag.The weight drop compared to the standard version is noticeable underfoot, and the ride stays smooth, stable, and consistently enjoyable from start to finish. Whether the $280 price tag feels worth it will vary for each runner, but the performance is undeniably solid.
On Lightspray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper
#3 Li-Ning Feidian 6 Ultra
The Feidian 6 Ultra is Li-Ning’s premier racing shoe. We measured over 50mm of stack in the midfoot while still coming in legal at 38mm in the heel. With an asymmetric propulsive plate wrapped in Super Boom Capsule tech, a Boom Fiber Tech upper, and a surprisingly light overall build, this racer is here to compete with the best of the best. After the first run, this one left a strong first impression. The bounce feels great once we put some power down, especially dipping into the 5:30s on strides, and the ride is surprisingly enjoyable for how much is going on underfoot. It does take a little mustard to get moving since it’s bulkier and a touch heavier, but it doesn’t feel big or cumbersome compared to similarly weighted shoes. What stood out most is how this leans more Demon Time than expected—despite the soft Boom Capsule tech—while the Elite version stays more approachable for everyday runners
Li-Ning Feidian 6 Ultra
#4 Hoka Skyward X2
The Skyward X2 is a plated max stack super trainer designed for comfort and long run capability, but it might be the least aggressive carbon-plated shoe on the market, and that’s exactly why we’re loving it for big mileage days. Instead of feeling overly snappy or race-day focused, it rides more like a max-cushion cruiser with smooth geometry, tons of protection, and a comfortable underfoot feel that lets it completely disappear on foot. For long runs, recovery miles, and those days with beat-up legs, this is the kind of shoe that helps us keep stacking smooth, comfortable miles.
Hoka Skyward X 2
#5 R.A.D Synth
The Synth is R.A.D’s lightweight, versatile daily trainer built to compete with shoes like the Adidas Evo SL and Saucony Endorphin Azura. With 38mm of supercritical TPEE + 40% bio EVA underfoot, a well-planned outsole design, and an engineered mesh upper, this trainer is built to handle everything from daily miles to nimble hill sprints and Zone 3 runs. The Synth is an entry-level daily trainer with top-notch design and a streamlined, peppy underfoot feel.
R.A.D Synth
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#6 Hoka Mach 7
The Mach 7 is a no-frills, comfortable uptempo daily trainer with a pleasant supercritical EVA midsole. The Mach is Hoka’s classic daily trainer and this iteration keeps the same supercritical EVA from the Mach 6, now paired with a new creel jacquard upper and the same lightweight feel. With 37mm in the heel and an agreeable ride, this is a shoe for the masses.
Hoka Mach 7
#7 Diadora Gara Carbon 3
The Gara Carbon is Diadora’s top-tier racing shoe. With 36mm of a slightly denser version of Diadora’s Anima PBX superfoam in the heel, an even more aggressively scooped plate, and an updated Matryx mesh upper, this update drops weight and should deliver a more snappy and bouncy ride. But, on the run we found it to be an expensive and overly-soft racer that’s hard to recommend over cheaper and faster marathon shoes, like the Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 and Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4.
Diadora Gara Carbon 3
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