AMPLA Fly
$120 1 of 18
Founded by sports scientist Dr. Marcus Elliot, AMPLA encourages the efficient use of a runner's force by including a carbon fiber plate in the forefoot. This flexible, angled Forcepower plate—extending from the toe to the midfoot—is meant to guide the footstrike and push the runner forward, much like a spring would.
The brand's only model, the Fly comes in two colors and is available for men and women.
Find a
race near youAdidas Solyce
$100 2 of 18
Want an extra spring in your step—literally? The Springblade Solyce utilizes 16 curved "springblades" spanning the full length of the shoe to add energy to your stride. As you step down, the springs compress, creating forward power as you push off with each step.
The neutral shoes include synthetic overlay for added side support and come in four color options for men. Try the Springblade Nanaya for a comparable women's shoe.
Find a
race near youAMPLA Fly
$120 3 of 18
Founded by sports scientist Dr. Marcus Elliot, AMPLA encourages the efficient use of a runner's force by including a carbon fiber plate in the forefoot. This flexible, angled Forcepower plate—extending from the toe to the midfoot—is meant to guide the footstrike and push the runner forward, much like a spring would.
The brand's only model, the Fly comes in two colors and is available for men and women.
Find a
race near youAdidas Pure Boost X
$120 4 of 18
These shoes, designed specifically for a woman's foot, feature a detached, "floating" arch that supports and hugs the curve of your foot, regardless of shape. Mimicking the design of most women's feet, the shoe was created with a narrower heel and arch and features a wider ball and forefoot.
Built for nonstop forward movement, the lightweight shoes (6.5 ounces) provide a cushioned, but energetic stride for neutral runners.
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race near youHOKA ONE ONE Rocket LD
$90 5 of 18
Most people know HOKA ONE ONE for their super cushioned, super supportive running shoes. That's why we did a double take when the company announced a track spike, which seems to go against the maximalist running style they usually offer.
What we quickly learned was that just because a shoe is flat doesn't mean it's unsupportive. The Rocket LD (and HD for shorter distances) has a contoured foam midsole that wraps around your arch, while still maintaining HOKA's signature rocker shape for a smooth toe-off.
Find a
race near youAdidas Pure Boost X
$120 6 of 18
These shoes, designed specifically for a woman's foot, feature a detached, "floating" arch that supports and hugs the curve of your foot, regardless of shape. Mimicking the design of most women's feet, the shoe was created with a narrower heel and arch and features a wider ball and forefoot.
Built for nonstop forward movement, the lightweight shoes (6.5 ounces) provide a cushioned, but energetic stride for neutral runners.
Find a
race near youAdidas Solyce
$100 7 of 18
Want an extra spring in your step—literally? The Springblade Solyce utilizes 16 curved "springblades" spanning the full length of the shoe to add energy to your stride. As you step down, the springs compress, creating forward power as you push off with each step.
The neutral shoes include synthetic overlay for added side support and come in four color options for men. Try the Springblade Nanaya for a comparable women's shoe.
Find a
race near youAMPLA Fly
$120 8 of 18
Founded by sports scientist Dr. Marcus Elliot, AMPLA encourages the efficient use of a runner's force by including a carbon fiber plate in the forefoot. This flexible, angled Forcepower plate—extending from the toe to the midfoot—is meant to guide the footstrike and push the runner forward, much like a spring would.
The brand's only model, the Fly comes in two colors and is available for men and women.
Find a
race near youAPL TechLoom Pro
$140 9 of 18
These shoes might not look that special, but when the NBA banned a pair of APL's shoes because they provided athletes an "undue competitive advantage," people started paying attention. Now, with shoes for running, basketball and training, Athletic Propulsion Lab is primed to be a force in the athletic shoe industry.
The company uses a technology called "Load and Launch" to enhance the propulsion effect at the toe-off phase of the gait, aiming to reduce the amount of energy a runner has to expel in order to push off each step. A six-spring technology produces a compression and release action to aid in a powerful stride.
Find a
race near youBrooks Neuro
$130 10 of 18
Intended to be a faster version of a long-distance trainer, these futuristic-looking shoes fall into Brooks' "Propel Me" category, unveiled by the company last year. The concept is iterated quite literally in the form of propulsion pods, which were designed with adaptive cushioning and an efficient energy return in mind.
The Neuro's innovative hammock system wraps the underfoot and tightens through the eyelets, cradling the foot for a "second-skin" fit. A Gearing Mechanism allows the heel and forefoot to move independently for a smooth and powerful push-off.
Find a
race near youEnko
$390 11 of 18
For those who want a little mechanics in their running shoes, meet Enko. Founded, designed and engineered in France, each pair is individually manufactured for the buyer, taking into account body weight and foot size.
With a focus on shock absorption, each shoe includes two springs, 12 studs and a flexible, fulcrum-like mechanism. These three elements work together to cushion each step, store energy and aid in your push-off.
Find a
race near youHOKA ONE ONE Rocket LD
$90 12 of 18
Most people know HOKA ONE ONE for their super cushioned, super supportive running shoes. That's why we did a double take when the company announced a track spike, which seems to go against the maximalist running style they usually offer.
What we quickly learned was that just because a shoe is flat doesn't mean it's unsupportive. The Rocket LD (and HD for shorter distances) has a contoured foam midsole that wraps around your arch, while still maintaining HOKA's signature rocker shape for a smooth toe-off.
Find a
race near youNew Balance Zante Generation
$400 13 of 18
In the race to create the first 3D printed shoe, New Balance beat out their competition with the Zante Generation, the world's first running shoe with a full-length 3D printed midsole. The shoe proved to be even more special as only 44 pairs were made available for the initial April 15 launch in conjunction with the Boston Marathon.
While the shoe sold out faster than the time it took to print one, New Balance tells us there's a good chance more will be made in the future.
Find a
race near youNike LunarEpic Flyknit
$175 14 of 18
One of Nike's latest big announcements, the LunarEpic is sure to turn a lot of heads on a run. With a focus on what Nike calls a "vanishing fit," the LunarEpic features an innovative ankle cuff that is designed to act like a natural extension of your leg, so you essentially feel as though you aren't wearing shoes at all.
Stepping into these is like sliding on super stretchy socks, and Nike's Flyknit fabric envelops your foot in a soft, yet supportive way. Laser cuts in the side of the sole compress with each step to absorb weight and shock, and the bottom of the shoe features similar cuts to disperse impact and help with traction on various surfaces.
Find a
race near youReebok ZPump 2.0
$99.99 15 of 18
Remember the Reebok Pump that was popular in the '90s? The ZPump 2.0 works in a similar fashion, except instead of a pump feature in the tongue, this model's pump is on the side of the shoe. By integrating air cages that surround your midfoot and heel, Reebok's Pump Technology allows you to customize the feel of your shoe by adding or removing air from the chambers until you get the perfect fit.
A carbonated foam midsole also provides a lightweight, cushioned ride, while a tire-inspired outsole provides durability and traction in tough environments.
Find a
race near youSpira Stinger XLT
$129.95 16 of 18
This shoe's missing chunk of midsole may seem like its defining feature, but it's what you can't see in the Stinger XLT that makes this shoe stand out.
Instead of filling their soles with gel, air or pure foam, Spira uses three stainless steel springs to absorb shock and provide an energy return with each step. With two springs in the forefoot and one in the heel, each step is cushioned and powerful upon toe-off. Molded EVA foam surrounds the springs for a more traditionally supportive and comfortable ride.
Find a
race near youUnder Armour Gemini 2 Record-Equipped
$149.99 17 of 18
These "smart shoes" are actually Under Armour's regular SpeedForm Gemini 2 model, but with one exciting feature: a lightweight chip, embedded right into the shoe, that can track all your running metrics without a phone or watch in sight.
The tracking automatically begins when you start running (you must run faster than an 11-minute mile, for the record) and monitors distance, time, pace, splits and calories burned. These metrics are then synced to the MapMyRun app for a full analysis of your run. The technology can even track how many total miles you've run on the shoes and let you know when you need a new pair.
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