Top 5 New Race Shoes for Fall Marathons 2026

Fall marathon season is almost here, and there are some seriously exciting new racers hitting the roads. From the Cielo X1 3.0 to the SC Elite v6, these are the five new race shoes we’re most excited to toe the line in this fall.

#1 Hoka Cielo X1 3.0

Features:

• Aggressive rocker
• Tall stack of bouncy midfoot foam that is protective enough for long time on feet
• Goldilocks midsole that balances speed assistance and comfort

Best For:

• Sub 3 hour marathon attempts
• Runners who want to run an all-out PR attempt without sacrificing protection from the roads

Race Day

Hoka Cielo X1 3.0

Cushioned race shoe designed for speed and comfort

Price

$275

Plated?

Yes

Foam

PEBA

Weight (oz)

7.0

Drop (mm)

7

Support

Neutral

see details

#2 Topo Specter Elite

Features:

• An incredibly bouncy and responsive ATPU midsole foam
• Anatomical toebox
• A highly-rockered platform that’s reminscent of the OG Saucony Endorphin Elite, only softer

Best For:

• Runners seeking a wide, stable, yet fast race shoe
• A wide variety of runners—we see the Specter Elite working for marathoners ranging from sub 3 to 5 hours and beyond
• Runners who enjoyed the geometry of the OG Saucony Endorphin Elite

Race Day

Topo Specter Elite

All-new racer designed for comfort and speed

Price

$250

Plated?

Yes

Foam

ATPU

Weight (oz)

7.1

Drop (mm)

5

Support

Neutral

see details

#3 Brooks Hyperion Elite 6

Features:

• Soft, responsive PEBA midsole foam
• A more protective and marathon-ready ride compared to the Hyperion Elite 5
• Perfectly dialed upper and race-day fit

Best For:

• Those looking for a soft, reliable ride in their race shoe
• Runners who prefer a balanced geometry—not as aggressive as the Cielo, but less flat and traditional than the SC Elite v6

Race Day

Brooks Hyperion Elite 6

Marathon race shoe designed for speed and comfort

Price

$275

Plated?

Yes

Foam

PEBA

Weight (oz)

6.8

Drop (mm)

7

Support

Neutral

see details

#4 New Balance SC Elite v6

Features:

• New ATPU Foam
• Midfoot cutout for added compression and rebound
• Less protective, more direct underfoot feel compared to the rest of the market

Best For:‍

• Runners seeking a modern take on the old-school super shoe formula; the SC Elite v6 is lower to the ground, more streamlined and thinner in the forefoot than its competitors.

Race Day

New Balance SC Elite v6

Marathon race shoe designed for speed and comfort

Price

$275

Plated?

Yes

Foam

ATPU

Weight (oz)

6.5

Drop (mm)

8

Support

Neutral

see details

#5 Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

Features:

• Energetic IncrediRun foam
• Classic Saucony aggressive rocker geometry
• Wildly bouncy, fun ride that’s unlike anything else on the market

Best For:

• Runners who are willing to forego stability for wild energy return
• Long runs in marathon training and a fun option to race in

Race Day

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

Marathon racer with a soft and bouncy ride

Price

$290

Plated?

Yes

Foam

Supercritical TPEE

Weight (oz)

7.5

Drop (mm)

8

Support

Neutral

see details

Supwell Shoe Matcher

Whether you're looking for a reliable easy run shoe, pampering comfort on recovery days, a long-run cruiser, or a race day weapon, check out our Shoe Matcher tool to get matched. We've done the extensive testing, so you don't have to.