Best running shoe brands of 2026, ranked by 17 category wins

These are the brands behind the #1 shoes in every major running category this year. One brand is clearly dominating, again, and the biggest comeback story belongs to a brand that wasn't on this table at all last update.

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 16, 2026

With so many new running shoes dropping each year, it can be overwhelming to figure out which of the top running shoe brands are really delivering the goods, and not just for one type of run, but across the board.

I test and rank shoes across every major running category, from daily trainers and racing flats to ultra-distance trail shoes, injury-specific picks, and everything in between (you can learn more about my review process here). This roundup tallies the podiums from all seventeen of my category roundups to answer a simple but surprisingly insightful question:

Which brands are actually making the best running shoes right now?

One quick signpost before we start: this page ranks the brands.

Best Running Shoes 2026: 10 Picks I Actually Train In

The 10 best running shoes of 2026, every one tested over real miles by me. Daily trainers, race-day picks, stability, and trail shoes that earn it.

Alastair RunningAlastair Dixon

If you're here for the shoes themselves, my best running shoes roundup is the buying guide, and every category linked below ranks its full field. This page is the scoreboard.

I love periodically updating this post, and seeing all the data from my shoe reviews laid out in a way that uncovers anomalies and insights that would otherwise be impossible to notice without one tester, reviewing shoes across the board. Let's get to it!

All 17 category winners at a glance

Each shoe below currently sits at #1 in its category on this site, based on real-world testing, performance, value, and comfort. Every category links to its full roundup, where you'll find the complete ranked field, specs, and buying links.

A few patterns jump straight off that table: the Endorphin Azura holds two crowns, the Hurricane 26 doubles up across stability and flat feet, and the Endorphin Speed 6 leads both tempo and Hyrox.

When single shoes win multiple categories, that's a brand executing, which brings us to the scoreboard.

📊 Brand leaderboard: which brand is really winning?

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 16, 2026: I tallied up all the podium finishes (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) from all seventeen of my running shoe roundups, and here's how the brands stack up, right now:

(Arc'teryx drops off the table this update; the Sylan no longer holds a top-3 spot after my trail racing refresh.)

👑 The winner? Saucony. It's not even close.

With eight category #1s and twelve total podiums across seventeen categories, Saucony has gone from winning to lapping the field. The Endorphin family alone (Speed 6, Azura, Elite 3) owns tempo, super trainers, and marathon racing, the Hurricane 26 took stability AND flat feet, the Xodus Ultra 4 leads the all-mountain trail category, and the Endorphin Speed even topped my new Hyrox list.

That's road, trail, injury support, and hybrid racing, all led by one brand. I keep waiting for this data to say something else; it keeps saying Saucony.

HOKA remains the most complete brand in running: nine podiums spread across nearly every category type, gold in carbon speed racing (Rocket X 3) and shin splints (Gaviota 6), and silver finishes everywhere from stability to ultra racing to Hyrox. If you want one brand that covers every kind of running to a high standard, HOKA is still the safest single answer.

The comeback of the year is Brooks. Last update, Brooks had dropped off this table entirely. It returns with five podiums including a category gold, and the story behind that is telling: Brooks didn't change, my categories did.

The new injury roundups reward exactly what Brooks builds, traditional 10mm platforms with structured, predictable support, and the Ghost 18, Adrenaline GTS 25, and Glycerin 23 swept podium spots across all four injury lists. Boring is a superpower when your tendons are angry.

Adidas jumped from one podium to five, and it's the innovation story of the table: the Agravic Speed 2 took the skyrunning gold outright, the Evo SL earned silver in cushioned tempo, and the Adios Pro 4 holds silver in speed racing. Salomon grabbed its first gold since I started this table, with the Aero Blaze 4 taking the daily trainer crown, backed by three trail bronzes.

And Mount To Coast just took its first gold too: the M1 wins the ultra racing category outright, fresh off carrying Rémy Brassac to the UTMB TDS 2026 win, confirming what the brand's quiet podium streak has been hinting at all year.

Every major running shoe brand, ranked and reviewed (2026)

A quick read on each major brand and where they actually shine right now:

Saucony: Owns the road, the trail, and now the injury lists. Eight category golds: the Endorphin family (Speed 6 for tempo and Hyrox, Azura for super trainers, Elite 3 for marathon racing), the Hurricane 26 (stability and flat feet), and the Xodus Ultra 4 (all-mountain trail). See my best Saucony running shoes roundup.

HOKA: Still the most complete brand in running. Gold in speed racing (Rocket X 3) and shin splints (Gaviota 6), with silver finishes nearly everywhere else, from stability (Gaviota 6) to tempo (Mach 7) to ultra racing (Tecton X 4) to Hyrox. The safest single-brand answer for runners who want range. See my best HOKA running shoes roundup.

Adidas: The surge story of this update, one podium last time and five now. The Agravic Speed 2 took the skyrunning gold outright, with silvers for the Adios Pro 4 (speed racing), EVO SL (cushioned tempo), and Terrex Agravic SL (all-mountain), plus a Hyrox bronze for the EVO SL.

Brooks: The comeback of the table. Brooks dropped off this leaderboard entirely last update and returns with five podiums including the Achilles gold (Ghost 18), backed by the Adrenaline GTS 25 and Glycerin 23 across all four injury lists. When the category rewards structured, traditional support, Brooks wins it. See my best Brooks running shoes roundup.

Salomon: First gold on this table, and it's a big one: the Aero Blaze 4 takes daily training. Three trail bronzes (Ultra Glide 4, Aero Blaze 4 GRVL, and the cushioned Aero Glide 4) round out the deepest specialist trail lineup in running. See my best Salomon running shoes roundup.

Altra: Two golds, both convincing: the FWD VIA 2 in max cushion and the Experience Wild 3 in road-to-trail, plus daily-trainer silver for the Experience Flow 3. The foot-shaped, low-drop formula keeps clicking for road runners.

Mount To Coast: The brand most runners still haven't heard of just won a category outright: the M1, the JETCELL-powered cruiser that carried Rémy Brassac to the UTMB TDS 2026 win, takes the ultra racing gold, backed by silvers in super trainers (C1) and road-to-trail (H1). See my best Mount To Coast running shoes roundup.

New Balance: Quiet consistency: the 1080v15 takes cushioned silver and the 860v15 a plantar fasciitis bronze, while the SuperComp Elite v6 and SuperComp Rebel v1 keep the speed side sharp. See my best New Balance running shoes roundup.

Nike: Two bronzes (Vaporfly 4 in speed racing, Zoom Fly 6 in cushioned tempo), and the Vomero Plus and Alphafly 3 keep it dangerous everywhere else. Choosing between the swoosh racers? My Alphafly vs Vaporfly comparison settles it.

On: CloudTec has matured into real podium form: the Cloudrunner 3 takes stability bronze and the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper takes super trainer bronze, with the Cloudboom Max and Cloudultra Pro podium-adjacent on race day and trail. See my best On running shoes roundup.

ASICS: One gold, and it's the most trusted kind: the Gel-Kayano 32 wins plantar fasciitis outright, and the Megablast stays podium-adjacent in tempo and super trainers.

Merrell: Holds skyrunning silver with the MTL Long Sky 2 MATRYX after the Agravic Speed 2 took the crown; still one of the best race-day values on trail.

Topo Athletic: One podium, but what a podium: the Specter Elite takes marathon-racing silver, beating shoes $50 more expensive.

The North Face: A skyrunning bronze for the VECTIV Sky 2 keeps TNF at the sharp end of trail racing. (Arc'teryx drops off the table this update.)

Frequently asked questions

What is the best running shoe brand right now?

Saucony, by the widest margin yet: eight category #1s and twelve podiums across road, trail, injury support, and Hyrox. HOKA is the most complete brand if you want range across every category, and Brooks is the comeback story, returning to the table with five podiums after missing it entirely last update. The right answer for any individual runner depends on what kind of running they do most.

What is the best running shoe brand for beginners?

HOKA and Brooks are the safest brands for new runners. The HOKA Bondi 9, HOKA Clifton 11, and Brooks Ghost Max 3 are all forgiving, well-cushioned, and easy to run in straight out of the box. Avoid carbon-plated racers and zero-drop shoes for your first pair.

Which is the best running shoe brand for stability or overpronation?

Saucony with the Hurricane 26 is my top pick for a max-cushioned modern stability shoe that doesn't feel corrective, and it now tops my flat feet list too. Mount To Coast with the P1 and HOKA with the Arahi 9 are excellent alternatives, and the ASICS Gel-Kayano 32 is the safest mainstream pick for traditional guided support.

What is the best brand for marathon running?

Saucony, HOKA, Adidas, and Nike are all making podium-level marathon racers. The Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 and HOKA Rocket X 3 are my two most-recommended racers, with the Elite 3 being the more cushioned pick for the full marathon distance and the Rocket X 3 the more controlled, lighter option for 5K to half racing.

What are the best trail running shoe brands?

For all-mountain and ultra trail running, Saucony, Mount To Coast (whose M1 wins the ultra category outright), and HOKA are my top three. In trail racing, Adidas now leads the skyrunning side with the Agravic Speed 2, with Merrell and The North Face right behind. Salomon still has the deepest specialist trail lineup if you want true mountain capability.

Are HOKA the best running shoe brand?

HOKA holds two category golds in 2026 (the Rocket X 3 in speed racing and the Gaviota 6 for shin splints) and nine total podiums, second only to Saucony. HOKA's strength is being top-three in almost every category, which makes it the safest single-brand answer for runners who want range without committing to a specialist.

Final thoughts

If you're trying to decide which brand to trust for your next pair of running shoes, this breakdown gives you a good idea of who's making consistently great products across the board.

That said, not every runner has the same needs, so the individual roundups are where the buying decisions happen:

That said, not every runner has the same needs, so the individual roundups are where the buying decisions happen:

• Best running shoes (the top 10 overall)
• Best daily trainer running shoes
• Best tempo running shoes
• Best carbon plated race day shoes
• Best stability running shoes
• Best cushioned running shoes
• Best super trainers
• Best all-mountain trail running shoes
• Best trail racing shoes
• Best road-to-trail running shoes
• Best running shoes for Achilles tendonitis
• Best running shoes for plantar fasciitis
• Best running shoes for flat feet
• Best running shoes for shin splints
• Best shoes for Hyrox
• Best running shoes for heavy runners
• Best running socks

And if you've found a shoe that's working great for you, let me know in the comments. I love hearing what everyone's running in.

-Alastair ✌🏼

If you haven't already, signup for my free newsletter, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel for all the latest running shoe reviews. 👉🏼 And for an inside look at what comes into my studio with unboxings, lace up reels, behind the scenes, and short form reviews, follow me on Instagram, and TikTok. -Alastair

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