Supwell Team's Top 5 Race Shoe Picks
Here is our list of the Supwell Team's top 5 race shoes. See why the Hoka Cielo X1 3.0, Runsifly Flare Elite, and the Puma Fast-R3 were favorites for most of us.
We’re breaking down the race shoes our team is reaching for right now. The Fast-R 3 is still a top pick, while the Cielo X1 3.0 and Runsifly Flare Elite bring some serious versatility to the lineup.
Yowana's Picks
1. Adidas Adios Pro Evo 3
Yowana wore the Adios Pro Evo 3 for his 2:29:08 Berlin Marathon this year. It offers a surprisingly stable platform and protective and responsive foam feeling all in a crazy lightweight package that allows you to turn your legs over easily during the final miles of the marathon.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
2. Puma Fast-R 3
Yowana has taken the Fast-R 3 for multiple marathons and wore it for his 2:29:04 PR in the 2026 Bayshore Marathon. While it is the fastest feeling shoe, the trade-off is the toll on your body (particularly your calves) and whether you can maintain good form when you start to get tired.
3. ASICS Metaspeed Ray
The first time Yowana used the Metaspeed Ray in a marathon was at this year's Chicago Marathon. He had many good workouts and long runs in the Ray and he wanted to test it out in the marathon. While light and fast, he did feel the softness of the foam and the instability compared to the Pro Evo 3 was a bit of a detriment for the last 10k.
ASICS Metaspeed Ray
4. Hoka Cielo X1 3.0
Hoka Cielo X1 3.0
5. Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite
The Feidian 6 Elite is one of the most fun and bouncy racers on the market even though it is not the lightest of these shoes. Yowana used it for the Wilmington Marathon and was able to get 2:30:13, just shy of his sub 2:30 goal.
Barrett's Picks
1. Puma Fast-R 3
With the upcoming release of the Fast-R 4, now is a great time to pick up the Fast-R 3 on discount. This is still our top demon time race shoe pick, offering a propulsive rocker geometry, aggressive plate configuration and a bouncy ATPU midsole.
2. Adidas Adios Pro Evo 2
While the Pro Evo 2 still uses the energy rods rather than the new Energy Rim of the Pro Evo 3 and a denser, less responsive feeling foam, it is still incredibly light and works well for people who like a firmer feel underfoot.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2
3. Hoka Cielo X1 3.0
The Cielo X1 3.0 made it onto 3 out of our 4 lists, making it one of the easiest to recommend to a variety of runners.
4. Runsifly Flare Elite
There’s so much to love about the Runsifly Flare Elite. It features one of the most aggressive toe springs on the market, but also has a substantial heel, making it accessible to all footstrikes. It rides like an OG Vaporfly modernized to meet runners’ expectations in 2026.
5. TYR Valkyrie Elite V2
We are looking forward to getting more miles in the Valkyrie Elite V2, but initial impressions are that it provides a lot of the aggressiveness of the Fast-R 3 in a more comfortable package.
TYR Valkyrie Elite V2
Grant's Picks
1. Puma Fast-R 3
Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3
2. ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
The Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Metaspeed Edge Tokyo have lost some of their initial hype with all the new releases, but they are both still some of the lightest shoes featuring an incredibly responsive foam in the FF Leap.
ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
3. Runsifly Flare Elite
At less than 180 grams in a US Men's 9, the Runsifly Flare Elite sits comfortably in the top-tier race shoe options with a more forgiving fit and smooth rocker geometry that allows you to land wherever is most comfortable.
4. ASICS Metaspeed Ray
5. Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite
Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite
Meredith's Picks
1. Runsifly Flare Elite
Meredith chose the Runsifly Flare Elite for her first marathon in Chicago this year. It was the perfect shoe for being out there for almost 4 hours and 30 minutes—no hot spots, rubbing, toes being jammed, or blisters. If you like slightly softer foams that are also still very responsive, you will love the Runsifly Flare Elite. It provides an elite combination of comfort and speed assistance unlike any other racer on this list.
Runsifly Flare Elite
2. TYR Valkyrie Elite V2
3. Puma Fast-R 3
Meredith would still pick the Fast-R 3 for the half marathon or below due to its incredible speed assistance. She has her adult 5k PR in this shoe and no other racer has yet to dethrone it as the fastest on the market.
4. Hoka Cielo X1 3.0
The Cielo X1 is our top recommendation for the majority of marathoners. Its tall midfoot stack and aggressive rocker deliver the perfect blend of speed assistance and cushion for the marathon distance.
5. Saucony Endorphin Elite 3
The Endorphin Elite 3 has to be one of the most fun race shoes on the market. The bounce is incredible, but sometimes it doesn't feel as direct as you'd like. It's a great long run shoe for marathon training, but maybe not the best choice for most people on race day as you are trying to navigate all the race-day obstacles and fatigue during the last 10k.
Saucony Endorphin Elite 3
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