Best Looking Racing Shoes
The shoes for sale rated highest for appearance by real, experienced, and knowledgeable reviewers.
All racing shoes
17 shoes
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
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#1 Nike
Vaporfly 498 Exceptional Appearance · 3 reviews · Confidence 90/100
Racing · Neutral · 4.9 oz (men's) · 6mm drop
At 4.9 oz with 36mm heel stack, light and highly cushioned.
Overall 98 Cushioning 98$110 $260 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:33 AM UTCOverall98Appearance98Cushioning98Comfort89Value67Durability51Confidence90Buy it now
Other retailers
Dick's $146 44% offRunning Warehouse $165 37% offNike $166 36% offMSRP $260
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Pros
At 4.9 oz with 36mm heel stack, light and highly cushioned.
Reviewers describe a springy, propulsive ride best at fast paces.
Cons
Durability is the lowest-rated dimension in the few reviews so far.
One reviewer says it offers little support.
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#2 Saucony
Endorphin Pro 497 Exceptional Appearance · 14 reviews · Confidence 93/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.5 oz · 7mm drop · 40mm stack
At 6.5 oz, reviewers find it fast and responsive at speed.
Overall 97 Cushioning 86$126 $240 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:32 AM UTCOverall97Appearance97Value96Comfort88Cushioning86Durability78Confidence93Pros
At 6.5 oz, reviewers find it fast and responsive at speed.
Reviewers consider it good value next to other carbon-plated racers.
Cons
One reviewer's heel layer peeled before 100 miles, and durability is the lowest-rated dimension.
Some reviewers find the fit runs small.
Three of fourteen reviewers reported an injury while running in it.
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#3 Nike
Alphafly 396 Excellent Appearance · 19 reviews · Confidence 92/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.9 oz · 8mm drop
Reviewers like the snug heel hold and roomy forefoot fit.
Overall 96 Cushioning 97Overall96Cushioning97Appearance96Comfort95Value84Durability65Confidence92Buy it now
Other retailers
Nike $222 25% offDick's $259 12% offMSRP $295
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Pros
Reviewers like the snug heel hold and roomy forefoot fit.
Runners report fast efforts with feet less beat up afterwards.
Cons
Several reviewers rate durability weakly; one reported roughly 240 miles.
Several reviewers flag the price, even those who call it worth it.
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#4 adidas
adizero Adios Pro 492 Very good Appearance · 5 reviews · Confidence 78/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.4 oz (men's) · 6mm drop
A 39mm heel stack at 6.4 oz.
Overall 92 Cushioning 81Overall92Appearance92Durability86Value85Cushioning81Comfort71Confidence78Pros
A 39mm heel stack at 6.4 oz.
Cons
The Adios Pro 3 before it scores 99 on thirty reviews against its 82.
It lists at $255, above the $250 median for racing shoes on sale.
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#5 On
Cloudboom Strike90 Good Appearance · 1 review · Confidence 72/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.1 oz (men's) · 4mm drop
Light at 6.1 oz on a 43mm heel stack.
Overall 90 Cushioning 87$160 $280 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:34 AM UTCOverall90Appearance90Cushioning87Durability83Comfort81Value68Confidence72Buy it now
Other retailers
Running Warehouse $220 21% offDick's $280MSRP $280
We share affiliate links. Learn more.
Pros
Light at 6.1 oz on a 43mm heel stack.
The one reviewer so far ran long runs in it and calls the cushioning great.
Cons
It lists at $280, above the $250 median for racing shoes, and the one reviewer so far rates appearance 3 out of 5.
At 43mm the stack sits above the 40mm World Athletics limit, so it is not eligible for records in official road races.
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#6 New Balance
FuelCell SuperComp Pacer90 Good Appearance · 4 reviews · Confidence 62/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.3 oz · 8mm drop · 25mm stack
Reviewers call it light and nimble at 6.7 oz.
Overall 90 Cushioning 71$129 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:33 AM UTCOverall90Appearance90Value89Durability77Comfort75Cushioning71Confidence62Pros
Reviewers call it light and nimble at 6.7 oz.
One reviewer calls it incredibly durable and good for ground feel.
Cons
Reviewers describe firm cushioning suited to road racing and fast intervals rather than easy or long runs.
Cushioning draws the lowest ratings of the four reviews so far at 4.0 out of 5, and one reviewer notices less energy return from the plate than expected.
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#7 Nike
Zoom Rival Fly87 Good Appearance · 1 review · Confidence 75/100
Racing · Neutral · 8mm drop
The one reviewer so far calls it durable, eye-catching and comfortable, and rates it better than the Air Max they came from.
Overall 87 Cushioning 69$75 $105 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:34 AM UTCOverall87Appearance87Cushioning69Value69Comfort68Durability64Confidence75Pros
The one reviewer so far calls it durable, eye-catching and comfortable, and rates it better than the Air Max they came from.
It lists at $105, well below the $250 median for racing shoes on sale.
Cons
The design dates to 2019.
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#8 ASICS
METASPEED Sky+82 Good Appearance · 13 reviews · Confidence 92/100
Racing · Neutral · 7.2 oz · 5mm drop · 37mm stack
Reviewers describe a bouncy, propulsive ride from the carbon plate.
Overall 82 Cushioning 80Overall82Appearance82Cushioning80Value71Comfort67Durability61Confidence92Pros
Reviewers describe a bouncy, propulsive ride from the carbon plate.
At 7.2 oz with a 37mm heel and a 5mm drop.
Runners race well in it from 5k up to marathon.
Cons
One reviewer found it unresponsive after two marathons.
Durability is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.9 out of 5.
Two reviewers call it expensive, at $250 list.
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#9 adidas
adizero Adios 981 Good Appearance · 3 reviews · Confidence 60/100
Racing · Neutral
It lists at $140, well below the $250 median for racing shoes on sale.
Overall 81 Cushioning 56Overall81Appearance81Value77Durability77Comfort65Cushioning56Confidence60Pros
It lists at $140, well below the $250 median for racing shoes on sale.
Comfort and value both average 4.7 out of 5 across the three reviewers so far.
Cons
The Adios 8 before it scores 87 on sixteen reviews, against 67 for this version.
One of three reviewers rates its looks 1 out of 5.
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#10 HOKA
Rocket X 280 Good Appearance · 18 reviews · Confidence 83/100
Racing · Neutral · 7.5 oz · 5mm drop · 37mm stack
Reviewers report durability holding up well past 100 miles.
Overall 80 Cushioning 95Overall80Durability97Comfort96Cushioning95Value93Appearance80Confidence83Pros
Reviewers report durability holding up well past 100 miles.
Runners use it from 5k races to marathons and tempo workouts.
At 7.5 oz on a 37mm heel stack.
Cons
At 7.5 oz it is heavier than most carbon-plated racers.
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#11 Nike
Alphafly Next% 379 Decent Appearance · 3 reviews · Confidence 73/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.6 oz · 7mm drop
Light at 7.0 oz in the men's and 6.2 oz in the women's for a 40mm heel stack.
Overall 79 Cushioning 65Overall79Appearance79Cushioning65Comfort62Value54Durability54Confidence73Pros
Light at 7.0 oz in the men's and 6.2 oz in the women's for a 40mm heel stack.
One of three reviewers finds it snug at the heel and wide enough at the forefoot, a combination they could not get from the Ghost or the Vaporfly.
Cons
That reviewer has the heels wearing down too fast, though they rate the comfort worth it.
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#12 PUMA
Fast-R Nitro Elite 377 Decent Appearance · 4 reviews · Confidence 12/100
Racing · Neutral
One reviewer describes a poppy, aggressive ride built for fast running.
Overall 77 Cushioning 77Overall77Cushioning77Appearance77Value73Comfort66Durability56Confidence12Buy it now
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Pros
One reviewer describes a poppy, aggressive ride built for fast running.
One of four reviewers calls it the best racing shoe since the Vaporfly.
Cons
Durability draws 2.3 out of 5 in the four reviews so far, the lowest mark of any dimension.
Comfort rates 3.3 out of 5 across the same four reviewers.
One reviewer says it does not suit slow runners or heel strikers.
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#13 Mount to Coast
R177 Decent Appearance · 2 reviews · Confidence 5/100
Racing · Neutral · 7.5 oz (men's) · 8mm drop
A 36mm heel stack at 7.5 oz, light for the cushioning.
Overall 77 Cushioning 76Overall77Comfort92Durability83Appearance77Cushioning76Value71Confidence5Pros
A 36mm heel stack at 7.5 oz, light for the cushioning.
Both reviewers so far rate comfort 5 out of 5.
Cons
Cushioning and value draw the lowest ratings of the two reviews so far, both at 4.0 out of 5.
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#14 New Balance
FuelCell SuperComp Elite v576 Decent Appearance · 4 reviews · Confidence 48/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.2 oz (men's) · 8mm drop
Light at 6.2 oz with a 40mm heel stack.
Overall 76 Cushioning 76$140 $265 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:32 AM UTCOverall76Comfort81Cushioning76Appearance76Durability73Value64Confidence48Buy it now
Other retailers
Running Warehouse $160 40% offDick's $265MSRP $265
We share affiliate links. Learn more.
Pros
Light at 6.2 oz with a 40mm heel stack.
One of four reviewers uses it as an uptempo long run shoe, saying it locks into a pace and settles there.
Comfort and appearance both average 4.5 out of 5 across the four reviewers so far.
Cons
Two of four reviewers put it a touch below the top tier of racing shoes.
The v3 and v4 before it score 75 and 82 here, against 69 for this version.
One reviewer rates durability 2 out of 5, against 5s from the two others who rate it.
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#15 New Balance
FuelCell SuperComp Elite v375 Decent Appearance · 3 reviews · Confidence 50/100
Racing · Neutral · 7.5 oz · 4mm drop · 40mm stack
One reviewer calls it the best shoe for intervals and affordable next to other race shoes.
Overall 75 Cushioning 86$153 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:33 AM UTCOverall75Comfort86Cushioning86Durability77Value76Appearance75Confidence50Buy it now
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Pros
One reviewer calls it the best shoe for intervals and affordable next to other race shoes.
All three reviewers so far rate value 4 or 5 out of 5.
All three reviewers so far rate durability 4 or 5 out of 5.
Cons
Averaging 7.5 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is heavier than the 6.6 oz median for racing shoes on sale.
Two newer versions have followed it, and the SuperComp Elite v5 is on sale now.
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#16 HOKA
Rocket X 369 Below average Appearance · 2 reviews · Confidence 18/100
Racing · Neutral · 7mm drop
Both reviewers so far rate comfort and cushioning 5 out of 5.
Overall 69 Cushioning 91Overall69Cushioning91Comfort87Durability77Value70Appearance69Confidence18Pros
Both reviewers so far rate comfort and cushioning 5 out of 5.
The Rocket X 2 before it scores 97 on eighteen reviews.
Cons
Durability and appearance draw 3 out of 5 from the two reviews so far.
Value draws 2 out of 5 from the two reviews so far, against a $250 list price.
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#17 ASICS
METASPEED Sky Tokyo55 Bottom-tier Appearance · 1 review · Confidence 38/100
Racing · Neutral · 5mm drop
A carbon plate under a maximal stack.
Overall 55 Cushioning 70Overall55Cushioning70Value56Durability56Appearance55Comfort53Confidence38Pros
A carbon plate under a maximal stack.
The one reviewer so far rates it 5 out of 5 overall and 5 for cushioning.
Cons
It lists at $270, above the $250 median for racing shoes on sale.
How this ranking works
Ratings come from our statistical models of runner reviews: the score is our best estimate of how a shoe is rated, and the bar behind it in an expanded row is the range we consider plausible given how many reviews it has. Shoes with few reviews rank more cautiously rather than shooting to the top on a handful of glowing write-ups. Prices are the live prices at the retailers we track, and everything ranked here is a shoe you can buy today.