Updated October 2026: After a summer of testing the latest running shoes and comparing them to existing top picks that are still available, we’ve added three new plated shoes to our list of the best marathon shoes. The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 replaced the Nike Alphafly 3 as best overall due to its smooth, cushioned ride that’s suitable for most runners. One shoe runners might overlook is the On Cloudboom Strike 2, which we highlighted for its stable ride that doesn’t compromise cushion or rebound. The biggest surprise was the Topo Specter Elite: Testers across the board raved about its wide toebox and lively new foam.
As the heat and humidity give way to chilly mornings, every runner can sense that the fall marathon season is upon us. The temperatures drop, your paces all get faster, and all your hard work this summer is about to pay off. But the closer you get to race day, the less you can do to improve your race readiness. The one thing you can still do to be able to race faster is get a fresh pair of marathon shoes.
Today’s racing shoes use highly specialized foams that lose some of their energy return over time. The easiest fix is to get a fresh pair a few weeks before your race. Whether you’re buying the same shoe or looking for something new, here are the best marathon running shoes available today, based on our testing.
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