At this year’s annual The Running Event (TRE) trade show, we saw the shoes that influencers are TikTok-ing about, pro runners are smashing world records in, retail buyers are vying to carry in their stores, and normal folks like us will be able to run and race in next year.
Here are the trends and some of the standout shoes we saw during our immersive (and overwhelming!) two-day visit to TRE.
Make no mistake: These are the shoes to watch for — and, if you’re lucky, demo or preorder — for 2024.
Super Shoes Continue; ‘Sub-Supers’ Emerge
We are several years into the “super shoe” era, marked by carbon fiber and gas-injected foams, daunting price tags, and blistering speeds. (See our story about the $500 shoe that Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa used to set a new women’s marathon record by over 2 minutes.) To toe the line at a pro road race without a super shoe is to literally sacrifice a PR.
But how about with trail racing? Would Jim Walmsey have won the UTMB this year without the carbon-forked prototype of Hoka’s Tecton X 3?
Trail racing can have more objective qualities that make pure speed measurement more variable, but this isn’t stopping trail shoe companies from fitting their midsoles with the same hyper-fast qualities as their road cousins.
Despite the wild innovations happening with carbon and “supercritical” foams, super shoes just aren’t for everyone. The industry is acknowledging this through more and more companies releasing what I dub “sub-super” shoes — more forgiving rocker profiles and mid- and heel-strike-oriented profiles.
These designs should still make you faster while making the tech more suitable for those of us with less than elite leg speed.
The Best Super Shoes Coming in 2024
Nike Alphafly 3
Although adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1s briefly stole the limelight from Nike’s Alphafly franchise, it was upended just a month later when Kevin Kiptim set a new men’s marathon world record, almost reaching the fabled sub-2-hour mark in a prototype Alphafly 3.
Nike says the new Alphafly 3 is the lightest and most tested Alphafly ever. Key changes include a new heel and forefoot connection that should help with varying foot-strike patterns and a smoother heel-to-toe transition regardless of the runner’s pace.
A wider full-length carbon fiber Flyplate delivers a propulsive, stable ride. The outsole is made of a new lightweight Fast Shot rubber.
Nike says that more women than ever before were involved in the testing process for Alphafly 3 and their collected insights have improved the comfort for all runners.
Specs:
- Launch date: January 2024
- Weight: 220 g (M10), 176 g (W8)
- Stack height or drop: 8 mm
- Price: $285
Hoka Tecton X 3
The mysterious blacked-out, high-collar shoe Walmsley wore to shred the UTMB course this year was on full display in Hoka’s TRE booth, though its bold colorway is unlike the prototype Walmsley wore.
This third version of Hoka’s Tecton platform has some very real differences from versions 1 and 2; first, there is that ankle collar, meant to keep out debris.
Like v2 over v1, the Tecton X 3 actually weighs more than its predecessor by 1/10 of an ounce but it now adds an incredibly durable Matryx upper, winglets to its carbon fiber plates for extra stability, and two layers of PEBA in the midsole and, finally, a redesigned lug shape and positioning on a Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole.
Specs:
- Launch date: August 2024
- Weight: 10 oz. (U.S. M9)
- Stack height or drop: 36mm/26mm (men); 33mm/24 (women)
- Price: $275
Brooks Hyperion Elite 4
Brooks showed its all-new Hyperion Elite collection, each wrapped in a Paris 2024 Olympic colorway. With four shoes — Hyperion Elite 4, Hyperion Max 2, Hyperion 2, and Hyperion Track Spikes — the most marathon-oriented super shoe is the Elite 4.
That’s not to say it’s only for 26.2; Brooks’ pro Josh Kerr (who I fanboyed over a bit in person at TRE) even won the 5th Avenue Mile in the Hyperion Elite 4.
The most unique quality of the Elite 4 is the variable length of the carbon plate depending on the shoe size. This tech is brought by the new Speedvault plate which is tuned for the size level of specific runners. (For example, a women’s size 6 Speedvault plate is a different length than a men’s size 11.)
Kerr says he doesn’t train in the Elite 4 preferring a shoe from the more everyman Glicerin collection and reserving the Elite 4 only for races.
Besides the Speedvault plate, the biggest change in the Elite 4 is the midsole with its new DNA Flash nitrogen-infused foam, which Brooks says’ offers 10% more energy return than in the Elite 3.
Specs:
- Launch date: February 2024
- Weight: 7.8 oz. (221 g)
- Stack height or drop: 8 mm
- Price: $250
adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
If UTMB is the crown jewel of 100-milers in Europe, the Western States 100 is the top prize stateside. Adidas claims it made the Agravic Speed Ultra specifically to win Western States, and it came good this year with Tom Evans’ victory.
Borrowing tech from its road super shoe, the Adios Pro, the Agravic Speed Ultra uses PEBA energy rods but unlike in its road running shoes, there are only 4 prongs, and they are spaced closer to the lateral and medial sides to increase stability.
The midsole is composed of a dual-layer Lightstrike Pro material. Though stability is addressed, the Agravic Speed Ultra probably won’t ever be the pro’s choice on technical race courses, and with its aggressive dual rocker shape, the shoe is most efficient running downhill and uphill in mostly a straight line or over smooth surfaces.
Specs:
- Launch date: April 2024
- Weight: 8 oz. (men’s 9)
- Stack height: 36/26mm (men); 33/24mm (women)
- Price: $220
New Balance Super Comp Elite v4
The first thing you’ll notice about the SC Elite v4 is the curvy, almost aerodynamic new midsole shape. The SC Elite v3 was a very successful and well-liked shoe but it was admittedly a tad bloated.
By tweaking the shape and cutting out certain facets, New Balance designers shaved about 10% off the previous version’s weight.
The other notable change is an all-PEBA midsole, replacing the previous Fuel Cell tech with this nonproprietary, industry-standard fast material. Within the midsole is a two-layer system with a now-thinner Energy Arc carbon fiber plate, which New Balance says has maintained the stiffness while removing some of the material. Finally, there is a bit more PEBA foam distributed to the forefoot to help the shoe pop off on toe strike
Specs:
- Launch date: February 2024
- Weight: 8.1 oz / 230g (U.S. M9.5)
- Stack height: 40mm/36mm
- Price: $220
Altra Vanish Carbon 2
OK, OK — in all the hullabaloo, I didn’t get to the Altra booth. But I spoke with the brand and got all the details on its big reveal from the show. Altra learned some things since the introduction of its first carbon-plated shoe, the Vanish Carbon, particularly about how to better use carbon fiber for a faster experience for the runner.
This means the formerly three-quarter-length carbon plate is now the full length of the midsole in the Vanish Carbon 2.
Altra makes no bones about this being its highest-performance super shoe and it increased the stack from 33mm midsole in the first version to 36mm in version 2.
The other main update comes via the EgoPro midsole compound which is now 17% lighter weight with better efficiency and responsiveness. There are flex grooves in the toe area of the outsole which will help propel the runner on toe-off and while it is technically still a zero drop shoe, there is more vamp which provides a more rockered shape and perception of stack.
Specs:
- Launch date: March 2024
- Weight: 7.1 oz. (229 g)
- Stack height: 36mm
- Price: $260
Sub-Super Shoes We Can’t Wait to Try
Just like with bike components when last year’s Shimano Dura Ace becomes this year’s Ultegra, the same trickle-down effect is happening more and more with running shoe tech.
Just because your foot strike isn’t as springy and toe-emphasized or your body type isn’t as lithe as the pros doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from the same free speed they’re getting thanks to carbon fiber and supercritical or nitrogen-infused foams.
Runners of all types are now getting more cost-effective and biomechanically generous shoes than what can be reasonably expected from a traditional super shoe. This “sub” super category is burgeoning and we saw plenty of options from some surprising players.
Salomon S/Lab Spectur
Salomon is a brand that used to be synonymous solely with mountain running. But over the last few years, it has put as much, if not more, energy into its road line. While it has yet to find its footing with the broader road running consumer it’s no doubt a smart economic choice to broaden its base beyond trail.
With its splashy Phantasm road shoes, there was a push to make Salomon as competitive as super shoe stalwarts like Nike and adidas but with a bit more time to develop a deeper offering, Salomon announced the S/Lab Spectur at TRE.
Salomon’s cool catch phrase for the S/Lab Spectur is “speed democratized.” It’s for the non-elite road racer but it borrows elite tech like the full-length carbon Energy Blade midsole as part of its dual-density supercritical PEBA stacked with Salomon’s proprietary Energy Foam.
Specs:
- Launch date: May 2024
- Weight: 8.2 oz. (232 g)
- Stack height: 38mm/30mm
- Price: $250
Diadora Gara Carbon
Diadora is a historical Italian sportswear company that many of us will remember from our youth soccer days or from 1980’s pro tennis players. But as far as the North American market is concerned, the company is now all-in with running and it has come out of the gate with a very competitive road shoe, the Gara Carbon.
“Gara” is Italian for race and runners will no doubt throw down fast times in this Pebax and carbon fiber composed midsole, making it a competitively light shoe with bouncy and quick return. The carbon fiber in the Gara was developed in the same factory as the Formula 1 material used for Ferrari and Lamborghini.
The upper should be very durable as the model includes Matrix mesh with carbon yarns.
Specs:
- Launch date: February 2024
- Weight: 230 g
- Stack height or drop: 5 mm
- Price: $300
Mount to Coast R1
As hard as it must be to launch an entirely new shoe company in today’s market, it hasn’t stopped several brands from doing just that, including the new Chinese outfit, Mount to Coast.
The brand’s focus is on producing ultra distance shoes but not for the trail. These are road ultra shoes which is a unique category unto itself, and the R1 is the pinnacle shoe in its burgeoning collection.
It uses “Tuned Cell,” Mount To Coast’s unique, optimized supercritical foaming process that improves rebound. The Lightweight “Zerosag” polyurethane insert is adapted from high-speed rail padding and should provide exceptional cushioning over long distances.
We know ultramarathons can pose an increased risk of injury, so the R1 also uses a dynamic technology to prevent overpronation.
Specs:
- Launch date: April 2024
- Weight: 7.5 oz. (U.S. M9) / 6.8 oz. (U.S. W7)
- Stack height: 28mm/22mm
- Price: $180
Topo Specter 2
When I asked Russ Stevens, Topo’s product line manager what the brand’s most competitive racing shoe is for 2024, he said emphatically it’s the Topo Specter 2.
Topo is perennially a favorite brand among GearJunkie testers on the trail side, with its MTN Racer line. But what has it done to be competitive on the road?
The new version now uses a full Pebax foam midsole as opposed to the original’s Pebax and EVA hybrid. This all-Pebax version will improve running efficiency and is the “up tempo” choice for cost-conscious roadies at $165 and weighing only 7.6 ounces.
The heel and forefoot have beefier rubber thickness which should increase durability and traction.
Specs:
- Launch date: August 2024
- Weight: 7.6 oz. (U.S. M9)
- Stack height: 37mm/32mm; 5mm drop
- Price: $165
Scott Speed Carbon RC 2
Though the dealer and rep network in the US has made getting a pair of Scott shoes difficult in the last few years, Digital Marketing Manager Thaddeus Morse told me it is a big priority right now and going forward. It’s fitting because Scott has been making some exceptional shoes over the last few years and the demand is increasing.
Like its mountain oriented brethren, Scott is also offering a road shoe that is highly competitive for racing or fast training in its Speed Carbon RC 2. It has an updated midsole material which leverages the efficiency of a Carbitex carbon-plate which becomes stiffer as the plate is flexed, giving you more power and efficiency when you need it, and an easier ride when you don’t.
The rockered shape promotes a forefoot stride to increase efficiency.
Specs:
- Launch date: January 2024
- Weight: 240g oz. (U.S. M9)
- Stack height: Not available at time of publication
- Price: $200
More Shoes We’re Looking Forward To
La Sportiva Prodigio
This is an all new midsole offering from La Sportiva, which in the past followed a very European-minded super firm and ground-feel oriented foam. The Prodigio uses a supercritical midsole foam called “X Flow” — a soft and responsive cushioned foam for long runs.
Though it’s light at 9.5 ounces, the bathtub construction is paired with a stability wrap to anchor the foot into the shoe, making sure that as you’re ticking off the miles you’re not also sacrificing agility and precision over technical sections of trail.
Specs:
- Launch date: Spring 2024
- Weight: 9.5 oz
- Stack height: 34mm/28mm
- Price: $155
The North Face Summit Series Offtrail BOA
A specialty shoe for technical terrain (think Mount Marathon in Alaska), the Offtrail is a rugged mountain shoe built for its athletes like Mike Foote, longtime pro for The North Face who has tackled gnarly FKTs and projects in Montana and beyond.
The BOA closure is multidirectional and the upper has a shroud-like protective layer combined with the durable Matryx material.
The outsole lugs are a whopping 7 mm, so it’s certainly going to find its home for exploratory — not necessarily — racing trail athletes.
Specs:
- Launch date: August 2024
- Weight: 345 g (U.S. M9)
- Stack height: 26mm/20mm
- Price: $199
Nnormal Kboix
This is the first all-new shoe from Nnormal following its two debuts: the Kjerag and Tomir. With one of the boldest sustainability initiatives in the industry, the Kboix includes three different insertable midsole options, the eventual opportunity to re-sole the outsole, and an upper made of the hard-to-break Matryx material.
These three components should make the Kboix a one-time investment that could be utilized for a really long time.
Specs:
- Launch date: Not available at time of publication
- Weight: Not available at time of publication
- Stack height: Not available at time of publication
- Price: Not available at time of publication
