The Most Under-Rated Running Shoes From Five Brands - Part 2
These are the 5 most underrated running shoes from 5 different brands in Spring 2025. We'll take a look at the Adidas Takumi Sen 10, the Diadora Nucleo 2, the Saucony Endorphin Trainer, the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 GTX, and the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2, and tell you why we think they aren't getting the attention they deserve.
Welcome back to our Slept-On Running Shoes series, where we’re highlighting all of the hidden gems on the market. This week, we’re bringing you underrated bangers from Adidas, Diadora, Saucony, Nike and Mizuno. You’re more likely to see a pair of Alphaflys at Whole Foods than to see one of these shoes at your local 5k.
Adidas Takumi Sen 10
The Evo SL is the hot new kid on the block from Adidas, but the Takumi Sen line has been holding it down for speed days since Nam. The Sen 8 was one of the most legendary speed shoes, up there with the early New Balance Rebel and Saucony Endorphin Speed models for bouncy fun. The Sen 10 got more stable, wider and less bouncy, but is still a great option for fast workouts and short races. It has a sturdy, traditional feel that’s refreshing compared to squishy rockered platforms. If you liked the planted, slightly firmer feel of the Adios Pro 3, you’ll love the Takumi Sen 10.
Adidas Takumi Sen 10
Diadora Nucleo 2
This is the most underrated shoe from the most underrated running brand on the market. The Nucleo 2 is a max cushioned cruiser in the same vein as the New Balance 1080v13 and Asics-Gel-Nimbus 25. It’s soft and comfortable, and it looks great. Through our testing, we’ve enjoyed this for everything from short recovery runs to daily 10 milers to flexing our Dad Drip on date night. If you’re looking for a comfortable, soft shoe and want to try something different, we recommend giving the Nucleo 2 a shot. And let’s put some respect on the Gara Carbon while we’re at it.
Diadora Nucleo 2
Saucony Endorphin Trainer
The Saucony Endorphin Trainer—like its predecessor the Kinvara Pro—is a misunderstood shoe. Yes, it has a carbon plate and a race foam. And no, it’s not fast, but it’s not supposed to be. The Endorphin Trainer is a protective, stable, and comfortable long run shoe. It features a top layer of the soft and bouncy new IncrediRun foam, which is appropriately tamed here by the plate and PWRRUN. Think Puma MagMax or Hoka Skyward X. Not every shoe needs to be fast. For those days when you want to go long in supported comfort, there’s the Endorphin Trainer.
Saucony Endorphin Trainer
Nike Pegasus Trail 5 GTX
Everyone knows about the Pegasus, but meet its underrated fraternal twin, the Pegasus Trail 5 Gore-Tex. This is the Pegasus on a gap year, hiking the Appalachian Trail and letting loose. The ReactX in the midsole here is softer and bouncier, the upper is waterproof and the outsole is grippier without becoming overly clunky on the ground. This was our sleeper pick for best Nike daily trainer of 2024, and it’s a stalwart for daily miles on both the road and trail.
Nike Pegasus Trail 5 Gore-Tex
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2
The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 is the closest thing to a Nike Alphafly that doesn’t wear a swoosh. The rocker is aggressive, the upper is dialed-in and the foam is explosively bouncy when you crank up the pace. And surprisingly, the heel cutout isn’t terrible for more relaxed paces or for cruising as a heel striker (just prepare to have your calves worked more than normal). If you’re looking for a half-marathon shoe or something different for speed training, this is it. The kicker? You can get this on sale for $144.
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