The 5 Best Half Marathon Training Shoes
We've put together a comprehensive five-shoe rotation for half-marathon training and racing. Below, we walk through the Asics Novablast 5, Adidas EVO SL, Brooks Ghost Max 2, Hoka Skyflow, and Nike Vaporfly 3, highlighting their transcendent qualities and how you might use each one in your rotation.
If you're looking to take on a half marathon, congratulations—you just chose the best race distance. Long enough to feel aspirational but short enough to avoid the complete and utter mental warfare of a marathon, the half is in the racing sweet spot; you can push yourself in training and on race day but still be in the driver's seat throughout the race. Here are the best shoes to ride shotgun with you through all of your training.
ASICS Novablast 5
Since its release, the ASICS Novablast 5 has been battling with the Salomon Aero GOAT 3 on our monthly daily trainer power rankings list. The Novablast 5 offers a softer ride than its forerunner, the Novablast 4. Paired with the energetic bounce of ASICS’ FF BLAST MAX foam, it feels like it’s tempting you to drift into faster everyday paces. Thanks to its mild stability and versatility, we feel comfortable recommending the Novablast 5 to just about any runner—regardless of training status or physical stature.
Asics Novablast 5
Brooks Ghost Max 2
The Brooks Ghost Max 2 is another Warren Buffett banger. In contrast to the ASICS Novablast 5, the DNA Loft v3 foam here is tuned to be significantly denser, with a lower-feeling heel-to-toe offset (6 mm). While it’s on the heavier side compared to other shoes on this list (309 grams in a men’s US size 9), it delivers the highest level of underfoot protection—and still retains more than a modicum of bounce. It remains our top pick for heavier runners looking for a durable, reliable daily trainer.
Brooks Ghost Max 2
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Hoka Skyflow
The Hoka Skyflow quietly slipped under the radar amid the crowded Summer ’24 lineup of releases from nearly every brand. But this sleeper pick stands out precisely because of everything it isn’t. At first glance, it looked like the lower-tier sibling of the popular Hoka Skyward X—seemingly a budget, less exciting option without a plate or PEBA-based racing foam. However, this cushioned daily trainer delivers a firm, smooth, and rockered ride that feels well-balanced for everyday miles.
Hoka Skyflow
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Adidas EVO SL
The Adidas EVO SL has been one of the most hyped-up shoes of 2025, and though it has some imperfections (mostly in the upper), at $150 and with a full slab of LightStrike Pro—who can really complain? The EVO SL would make for a perfect addition to a simple half-marathon shoe rotation due to its ability to handle gray zone (slightly faster than easy pace), marathon, and half-marathon paces. Though we don’t like to label any shoe a “beginner’s shoe,” the EVO SL would be a great race-day option for runners hesitant to go full Carbon County for their first few races.
Adidas Evo SL
Nike Vaporfly 3
The Nike Vaporfly—the original super shoe. While Nike’s elite marathoners mostly stuck with the Vaporfly 2, many recreational runners found the Vaporfly 3 to be a softer, more cushioned version that was less punishing at non-elite paces. The Vaporfly 3, currently discounted to $180, offers a reliable, no-frills, nimble, and streamlined race-day package.
The Vaporfly 3—and even the newly released Vaporfly 4—have somewhat faded from the spotlight with the rise of more hobby jogger–friendly models like the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, Hoka Cielo X1, and Adios Pro 3. Still, especially for the half-marathon distance, we think the lower stack, flexible, stripped-down nature of the Vaporfly series deserves respect—particularly when you’re trying to run fast.
We find that the Vaporfly 3 rewards a high-cadence, light-on-your-feet running style—the float-like-a-butterfly, sting-like-a-bee approach to chasing a half-marathon PR.
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