One of the biggest barriers to buying a home treadmill is space. The best treadmills are not small, and finding room is tricky even if the machine folds down flat.

The Walking G5i treadmill doesn’t just fold down flat. It also folds in half, and ends up around the size of a large suitcase when it is in its folded position. It’s still heavy, but it’s much easier to maneuver and store when not in use than most treadmills.

Importantly, it’s also impressive when unfolded and actually in use. The top speed is low, especially given the high price, but the belt runs smoothly and the max incline setting is very high, so you can increase the intensity on your walks and runs.

It’s still a little underspecced for its price in my view, but the fully foldable design might make it worth the outlay for those short on space. If you have room, however, a treadmill like the Urevo CyberMega offers a higher top speed at a lower price.

WalkingPad G5i treadmill review: price and availability

The WalkingPad G5i treadmill costs $1,899 in the U.S. and £1,899 in the U.K., though it’s currently reduced to £1,599 in the latter and I’d expect fairly regular sales on the machine.

It’s an expensive machine, especially as for that kind of money you’d normally be looking at a gym-standard treadmill with a higher top speed and a larger design with a bigger running belt.

With the WalkingPad G5i you’re actually paying a premium for the smart folding design and its high max incline compared to other trifold models like the WalkingPad X218.

WalkingPad G5i treadmill review: design

The WalkingPad G5i arrives fully assembled, so you just need to open the box and unfold it to get started.

Folding the machine is simple to do using the foot lever, and once it’s fully assembled it feels remarkably sturdy — it didn’t feel any different to me during use than a treadmill that doesn’t fold in the middle of the belt.

When folded, it’s easier to lift and move around than treadmills that only fold flat or don’t fold at all, and you can stand it against a wall to save space, or slip it under a table.

The console has touch-sensitive buttons you can use to change the incline, pick a preset workout program, and quickly adjust to speed to one of three preset options.

There’s also a dial in the center you use to start and stop the treadmill and adjust the speed, which is done in 0.1 increments with each turn, so it can take a while to get up to speed at the start of a run.

On the top of the console is a phone or tablet holder that looks small, but was very effective in holding my iPad during runs. I worried that it would shake off, but it stayed firmly in place even when using the machine at high speed or incline settings.

WalkingPad G5i treadmill review: performance

I ran once or twice a week on the WalkingPad G5i treadmill over several weeks of marathon training.

The top speed of 10mph is not fast enough for my workouts and for the price I’d expect a top speed of 12-12.5mph, which you’ll find on other treadmills for less, but it’s still a reasonable top speed for a foldable machine.

I found that the WalkingPad G5i did run smoothly for long periods at its max speed as well. It feels sturdier than most folding models in this regard, and the belt is surprisingly spacious for a folding treadmill.

However, if I tried to change the incline when running at high speeds things did get shaky. Once the incline is set, the shaking settles down, but it takes a very long time for the machine to change the incline, which rises/lowers by one level at a time using the buttons on the console.

If you’re walking on the machine while changing the incline the shaking isn’t so noticeable, and very few people are going to be running on the WalkingPad G5i once it gets anywhere near its 18% max incline, because that is very steep indeed.

There are preset workouts you can pick using the P button on the console before you start, which are explained/previewed in the user manual, but it’s more convenient to set these workouts up and follow them using the partner KS Fit app.

WalkingPad G5i treadmill review: app

The partner app for the WalkingPad G5i is the KS Fit app, not the WalkingPad+ app, which I found constantly crashed and wouldn’t connect to the treadmill.

With the KS Fit app installed, things were much smoother. The app connects easily to the treadmill and maintains that connection, and you can use it to follow guided workouts and adjust the settings on the WalkingPad G5i during activities.

The app does stay in portrait mode even on an iPad though, which means the stats and info on show is a bit cramped.

There are a lot of walking and running workouts in the app, but even though a ‘coach’ does appear on screen to run with you during them, they’re not an instructor and don’t speak to guide or motivate you in the session.

It’s not as helpful or engaging as the fully guided classes with instructors you get with Peloton or Echelon, but the sessions are a good option if you just need a bit of variety or prompting in what to do in your workouts.

During testing I also tried to link the WalkingPad G5i with other apps like Zwift, but the connection never held. Fortunately I can link to Zwift on my Coros Pace 4 Pro running watch and use that to match my speed to the treadmill.

Should you buy the WalkingPad G5i treadmill?

The WalkingPad G5i offers something special in combining its tri-fold design with a very high max incline setting, which makes it great for people short on space who love doing intense walking workouts in particular.

It’s also a capable option for runners, though if you’re not worried about incline then the X Series models from WalkingPad offer the tri-fold design and higher max speeds at a lower price.

If you have room for a machine that only folds flat, the Urevo CyberMega impressed me in testing with its high top speed and powerful motor, and it costs $999.

I’d also consider looking at a Peloton or Echelon treadmill instead if you prefer to do instructor-led classes — the Echelon Stride-6s-10 is a good folding option, though more expensive than the WalkingPad G5i and you’ll also have to pay for a monthly subscription to unlock the classes.

The WalkingPad G5i did impress me in testing overall, but there are some better value alternatives out there if you don’t need its tri-fold/high incline combo.

If you’re short- or long-sighted, active and have never invested in a set of prescription sports sunglasses or glasses, I’m here to tell you that it’s a game-changer.

I’ve been running more or less daily for over 10 years and only really caught on to prescription sports sunnies in the last five years, and they make each and every workout more enjoyable.

In the distant past, I just used my regular glasses, which slipped down my nose, bounced and didn’t work with doses of heavy sweating.

Of course I’ve also tried contact lenses, but they’re a hassle and an expensive option just to use for runs, since I don’t find them comfortable to wear all day.

I’ve now tested a lot of different prescription sports sunglasses, and I’ve covered the pros and cons of five of my favorite sets below after running hundreds of miles with them as well as cycling.

Zenni Optical Zunnies Wrap-Around Sports Sunglasses

I have three pairs of these sunglasses, the last of which I bought just to get them in a color I prefer for races, which gives you some indication of how much I like them.

Zenni’s Zunnies line-up contains some of the best value prescription sports sunglasses and glasses I’ve come across, and these lightweight wraparound sunnies hit all the key markers I look for.

The fit is perfect, with the sunglasses staying firmly in place over runs of any length (including marathons in my testing) without any pressure points.

There’s a variety of lens styles and tints to pick from, and you can choose standard or wider lenses to suit your face. Whatever combo you opt for, the price stays south of $150, and many sets will cost you less than $100. For most people, these would be my top pick.

Ombraz Teton

Ombraz’s line-up of sunglasses uses a cord instead of arms, and this is a brilliantly simple and effective way to get a guaranteed great fit for sports.

I’ve used the Teton regularly throughout my current marathon training block, and I have them with photochromic lenses so I can actually wear them for indoor runs, bike rides and night runs.

The fit is quick and easy to adjust, and you don’t have to tighten the cord so much that it puts any pressure on your head to ensure the Teton sunnies stay in place.

They’re also stylish sunglasses for general use, and because they don’t have arms, they pack away in a flat case, so they’re easy to take on trips.

The price for the prescription version of the sunglasses is high, though, several times what you pay for the standard Ombraz Teton with normal lenses.

Rudy Project Rydon Slim

The Rudy Project Rydon Slim frames live up to their name with a very minimal style that’s incredibly light and comfortable to wear during workouts.

You can bend and adjust the nosepads and arms on the glasses to make the fit more secure, and you can get frames with prescription lenses, optical inserts, or (if you have a more demanding prescription) the optical dock I have on mine, which is why they have full frames.

I also have photochromic lenses on these glasses to make them more useful during the winter months here in the UK, where the sun can be a relatively rare sight.

These are another expensive option, but you get top-class lenses in an extremely light frame, and a wide variety of options for your lenses to suit different environments.

LensDirect Diablo Topspin

The Diablo line-up from LensDirect contains frames built for active lifestyles, all of which have a less sporty look than the other options I’ve picked out here.

As a result, the fit on the Topspin isn’t quite as secure as my other picks, but they are suitable for general use alongside workouts. I’ve done a couple of races with them along with a lot of training runs.

I found I had to nudge them back up my nose at times during runs, but the fit is pretty good, and I like the style of the Topspin. I was also impressed by the VoltPRO color-enhancing lenses, especially on trail runs under tree cover.

The Topspin sunglasses are also good value, though you do pay a bit more if you opt for the VoltPRO lenses.

REKS Sling Blade

The REKS Sling Blade sunglasses are particularly robust and make for a good pick if durability is a top concern.

They are another affordable option I’ve been impressed by, with a sporty style and a wide variety of lens options, including the photochromic ones I went for, along with a variety of sunglasses tints designed for different activities.

I prefer the fit and style of the Zenni Zunnies myself, but the Sling Blade did stay in place pretty well, and the thicker frame and lenses on the REKS specs are part of the reason they’re so durable.

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The Brooks line-up now has more ghosts than an episode of Scooby-Doo, but if I were only going to keep one of the Ghost 18, Ghost Max 4 and Ghost Amp, it would definitely be the Amp.

It’s exactly the type of shoe Brooks needed to modernize the Ghost and its array of daily trainers, with the Ghost Amp livelier and more versatile than the various Ghosts and Glycerins you can buy.

I enjoyed using the shoe for daily runs at easy, steady paces, with the new DNA Hype midsole foam and improved forefoot rocker making the Ghost Amp feel smooth and energetic.

However, in its category, the Brooks Ghost Amp competes with some of the best running shoes available, and there are options I’d buy ahead of it, like the bouncier Asics Novablast 6 or the lighter Puma Deviate Pure Nitro.

Brooks Ghost Amp review: Price and availability

The Brooks Ghost Amp launched in July 2026 and costs $150 in the U.S. and £135 in the U.K., which is the same price as the Brooks Ghost 18.

It’s a good value shoe that comes in at around the same price as many of the most popular daily trainers, including the Asics Novablast 6, Nike Pegasus 42 and Hoka Clifton 11.

Brooks Ghost Amp review: Design and fit

The Ghost Amp is currently available in seven colors, including the light blue design I tested. There's a wide version as well as the standard, and I found it fit me well in my normal running shoe size.

One big difference between it and the Ghost 18 is that the Ghost Amp has a 6mm drop from heel to toe, instead of the Ghost’s traditional 10mm.

The stack height is 36mm at the heel and 30mm at the forefoot, so the Ghost Amp isn't as maxed out as many daily trainers these days, which have 40mm of foam or more at the heel.

It weighs 9.3oz in my US men’s size 10, which is 1.4oz lighter than the Ghost 18 in my size. It’s not a featherweight, but for a daily trainer with a padded upper and thick outsole, the Ghost Amp is impressively light.

Upper

The Ghost Amp’s upper is quite a thick knit material with plenty of padding around the collar and tongue. It has a stiff internal heel counter to add more support at the back of the shoe.

I prefer a more minimal upper myself, but the Ghost Amp was comfortable and held my foot securely during runs, and it retains the plush step-in feel expected of the Ghost and Glycerin lines.

Midsole

The Ghost Amp uses a new midsole foam called DNA Hype, which is a supercritical material made from a blend of PEBA and EVA foams.

It’s not as springy as the DNA Gold foam used in some Brooks shoes, which is made entirely of PEBA, but it’s livelier than the EVA midsole on the Ghost 18.

The Ghost Amp also introduces Brooks’ SpringRamp tech in the forefoot, which is a section of firmer foam designed to add more propulsion to your toe-offs.

Outsole

While it doesn’t have a full outsole, a thick layer of rubber covers most of the forefoot and heel on the Ghost Amp, and I have no concerns about its grip or durability after testing.

It’s not quite as thick and extensive an outsole as the Ghost 18, but the trade-off is worth it to have the lighter shoe, as there’s still plenty of rubber on the bottom of the Amp.

Brooks Ghost Amp review: Running performance

I used the Ghost Amp as part of my running shoe rotation for a couple of weeks of marathon training, mainly doing easy, steady daily sessions in the shoe, along with some strides.

I’ve been testing Ghost and Glycerin shoes for a decade, and while they are always solid, reliable options, the Ghost 18 felt a little dated when I tested it this year.

The Ghost Amp is the change the line needed, with the livelier midsole foam, lower drop, and more rockered feel bringing it up to date and giving it a more versatile ride than the Ghost 18.

While it’s not a pure speedster, I found that running at a steady or tempo pace in the Ghost Amp felt smooth and natural, and it’s also comfortable for long easy runs.

The foam isn't as soft and springy as some, though, and it would be great to see Brooks release a shoe like this with a full PEBA midsole rather than the EVA/PEBA blend used here.

It brings something fresh to the Brooks lineup, but the ride isn’t as fun or versatile as some rivals from other brands. The forefoot is also a tad thin on the Ghost Amp, so it isn't as comfortable in that area over long distances as a shoe like the Novablast 6, for example.

That said, one advantage of the slightly firmer material and lower profile is that the Ghost Amp feels naturally stable and is more supportive than some lightweight daily trainers in this area, like the Adidas Adizero Evo SL.

Should you buy the Brooks Ghost Amp?

The Brooks Ghost Amp is a good daily trainer and would be my pick from the brand’s lineup, unless you want the most cushioned ride possible, in which case the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is worth the upgrade.

Outside of Brooks, however, there are several shoes I’d go for first, starting with the Asics Novablast 6, which is more comfortable and just as light and versatile as the Brooks, or the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro, another great all-rounder.

The Adidas Evo SL or Dynafish Xiaonian are also good options for those seeking a daily trainer that can handle fast runs well in particular.

I always prefer the Hoka Clifton Pro, which is a bit softer and more cushioned than the Ghost Amp, with a similar rockered ride and good stability, though a bit pricier.

It’s great to see Brooks move the Ghost in this direction, though, and I’m excited to see what happens with the future of the Amp, but right now it’s not topping my to-buy list for daily trainers.

I’ve run 17 marathons, and one thing I’ve learned you can’t mess around with is your nutrition. As the mileage grows in marathon training, so does the importance of fueling correctly during runs and supporting your recovery.

Most of this can certainly be done with your regular diet, and I think it’s important not to overuse supplements, but I do use them when fueling my longest and hardest workouts, especially during my peak mileage weeks in marathon training.

Over the past month of training for the Frankfurt Marathon, I’ve been running around 80 miles a week, which is my highest consistent mileage, and I’ve been relying on supplements more than usual to help me keep going.

There are three main categories of sports nutrition products I use — energy drinks and gels for fueling my runs directly, a recovery drink to get key nutrition in after hard workouts, and electrolytes for hydration before/after very long, sweaty runs.

This is just my direct fueling for runs, and it comes on top of trying to eat as healthy a diet as possible with lots of vegetables and carbs, and popping a Costco multivitamin in the morning too.

Energy — Maurten Drink Mix 320 and Gel Mix 480

Carb drinks and gels are the products I use most regularly in training, fueling before and during long, hard workouts, and I’ve found Maurten’s products to be the best for me.

That’s because they don’t give me any stomach problems, which I don’t find is always the case with other gels and drinks.

Maurten’s Drink Mix 320 contains 80g of carbs in a 500ml drink and has long been my go-to before a long workout and during marathons. I’ve used it a lot in training for Frankfurt.

However, on race day I plan to try the relatively new Maurten Gel Mix 480, which packs 120g of carbs into a 350ml soft flask, so I’ve practised with this in my long runs.

The Gel Mix has a texture between a gel and a drink, and makes following a high-carb strategy during runs a bit easier than carrying lots of gels or drinks.

Maurten’s products are very expensive, so sometimes I’ll use cheaper options during training, but when it comes to my key workouts and race day, Maurten has been my go-to for years now.

My toothpaste use also goes up during marathon training, by the way, because when you're consuming high amounts of what is essentially pure sugar, you've got to look after your teeth.

Recovery — SiS REGO Clear Recovery

For most of my marathon training weeks, I don’t use a dedicated recovery product; instead, I just make sure I eat a good meal containing lots of protein, carbs and vegetables, but when doing double workout days or 20+-mile runs, I like to use the SiS REGO Clear Recovery powder.

It contains 20g of protein and 21g of carbohydrates and mixes with 500ml of water into a clear shake that’s quite refreshing to drink, especially compared with thicker protein powders.

While it’s not as essential as the carbs I have during workouts, I feel it helps to kickstart my recovery after sessions, so I’m ready to run the next day, or even later that day.

Hydration — Precision Fuelling & Hydration Electrolytes

I live and run in London, so electrolytes aren't as essential for me as they are for those in hotter climates, so I don’t use them all that often, but when I do, I like to use the Precision Fuelling & Hydration 1000 Electrolyte sachets or tablets.

I’ll dissolve one sachet in 500ml of water ahead of my longest runs and sometimes afterwards as well, which helps replace the sodium lost in sweat. For anything under 90 minutes, I don’t tend to use electrolytes, though.

There are a lot of electrolyte options out there now, and mostly I find just going with one that tastes good is a solid approach, but I like the PF&H products for their especially high sodium content and clear nutritional info.

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The 48th Chicago Marathon will feature more than 55,000 runners on the start line. The race starts and finishes in Grant Park and will pass through 29 neighborhoods, with more than a million spectators expected along the course. Chicago’s pancake-flat course is known for producing fast times, with six world records having been set on its streets.

Read on and we'll show you how to watch Chicago Marathon 2026 live streams from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE.

The 26.2-mile course will feature several events, including the professional wheelchair races, handcycle division, professional open races, high-performance program, mass field, and para-athletics program.

Defending champion Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda is in strong contention in the men’s race. He clocked 2:00:28 in London earlier this year, making him the third-fastest marathoner in history and putting the world record of 1:59:30 within sight.

He’ll be challenged by Amos Kipruto (2:01:39), Milkesa Mengesha, Tadese Takele, and a strong American contingent led by Charles Hicks and Clayton Young. Hicks ran 2:04:35 in Boston this year, while both Americans will also be looking to challenge Conner Mantz’s American record of 2:04:43.

On the women’s front, defending champion Hawi Feysa will face two-time Chicago winner Brigid Kosgei, who has a personal best of 2:14:04. Kosgei is making her first Chicago appearance since 2019, when she set the then-world record, while Sharon Lokedi will make her Chicago debut after winning the Boston Marathon for the second straight year in 2026.

Find out all the details on how to tune in and watch a Chicago Marathon 2026 live stream below wherever you are around the world, including free streams.

Watch Chicago Marathon for FREE

Fans in Chicago are in luck! NBC Chicago and Telemundo Chicago are streaming the Chicago Marathon for FREE.

This is accessible via the NBC Chicago website and app in the U.S..

Watch Chicago Marathon 2026 live stream online with a VPN

Away from home? You may not be able to watch the action like you normally would due to regional restrictions. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution.

You can unblock Chicago Marathon live free streams using a VPN, which will help you stream like you would if you were back home. NordVPN is among the best out there:

Using a VPN is incredibly simple:

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is a strong option.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're away from Chicago but want to watch your usual service, you'd select a Chicago server from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to NBC Chicago or another website and watch the 2026 Chicago Marathon live stream.

How to watch Chicago Marathon live streams in the U.S.

As mentioned earlier, viewers in only Chicago can watch the 2026 Chicago Marathon live and FREE on NBC Chicago and Telemundo Chicago, with live streaming available through their apps and websites.

Broader U.S. coverage is available via Peacock, which will cost you $12.99/month for access to live broadcasts.

If you already use the service but aren't in the U.S., you can live stream the Chicago Marathon by using a good VPN.

How to watch Chicago Marathon live streams in the U.K., Australia and Canada

The Chicago Marathon is being shown on FloTrack in the U.K., Australia and Australia.

Prices are as follows (converted from $29.99/month and $150/year):
🇬🇧 ~ £22.70/month or £113.55/year
🇦🇺 ~ AU$43.09/month or AU$215.52/year
🇨🇦 ~ CA$42.75/month or CA$213.86/year

In the U.K., the race is also being live streamed on the TNT Sports via HBO Max, which costs £25.99/month and carries everything on TNT Sports.

If you already use the service but aren't at home right now, you can live stream the race by using a good VPN.

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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The world's top endurance athletes descend on Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, this weekend in a bid to win the IRONMAN World Championship 2026, triathlon's most prestigious full-distance title. Some of the biggest stars in the sport will battle it out over 3.8km of swimming, 180km of cycling and a full marathon in the finale of the IRONMAN Pro Series.

Read on and we'll show you how to watch IRONMAN World Championship 2026 live streams from anywhere with a VPN — including for FREE.

The 226km course in Kona will push even the best triathletes to their limits, as they battle the brutal heat and humidity — as well as each other. This year's event is notable for several reasons, with the men's and women's races taking place on the same day for the first time since 2019 and the IRONMAN Pro Series standings to be decided.

A prestigious field will make a splash in Kailua Bay for the swimming section, then pound the tarmac on the bike before taking on the marathon leg, which finishes on Ali'i Drive. Kristian Blummenfelt headlines the men's race, alongside fellow former champions Gustav Iden, Sam Laidlow and Patrick Lange. The big absentee is 2025 winner Casper Stornes, who misses out following a training crash.

The women's race also features several proven winners, including reigning champion Solveig Lovseth after she claimed victory in her debut season. The Norwegian will be pushed hard by the likes of Kat Matthews, Taylor Knibb and Lucy Charles-Barclay.

Each race winner will earn $125,000 for triumphing in Kona, while the Pro Series champion is set to pocket a further $200,000. Blummenfelt and Iden are in contention for the men's series title, along with Marten van Riel and Jonas Schomburg, while Lovseth and Laura Philipp are battling it out for the women's crown.

Find out all the details on how to watch IRONMAN World Championship 2026 live streams below wherever you are around the world, including for free.

Watch IRONMAN World Championship 2026 for FREE

There are several ways to watch IRONMAN World Championship 2026 for free.

The event will be broadcast live on the official IRONMAN YouTube channel and the IRONMAN Pro Series website across the world, including in the U.S. and Canada.

Meanwhile, DAZN will have live coverage at no cost for fans in supported territories.

Watch IRONMAN World Championship 2026 live streams online with a VPN

Away from home? You may not be able to watch the action like you normally would due to regional restrictions. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution.

You can unblock IRONMAN World Championship 2026 free live streams using a VPN, which will help you stream like you would if you were back home. NordVPN is among the best out there:

Using a VPN is incredibly simple:

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is a strong option.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're away from the U.S. but want to watch your usual service, you'd select a U.S. server from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to the official IRONMAN YouTube channel or another website and watch the IRONMAN World Championship 2026 live stream.

How to watch IRONMAN World Championship 2026 live streams worldwide

As detailed above, fans in the U.S. can watch IRONMAN World Championship 2026 live and for FREE on the official IRONMAN YouTube channel and the IRONMAN Pro Series website.

Viewers with a smart TV can also watch the action through YouTube's ‘Mosaic multiview’, which has four live feeds on one screen.

DAZN also has live coverage at no cost for fans in supported territories.

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• How to watch UK TV abroad: BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and more
• The best streaming VPN
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The Saucony Hurricane line has never lived up to its name, unless you consider a hurricane to be especially comfortable and approachable, but it has delivered some of the best running shoes of recent years for stability seekers.

I’ve enjoyed the past two models, and the Saucony Hurricane 26 improves upon both of them thanks to a new midsole foam that makes the ride softer, springier and reduces overall weight.

It’s still not a shoe I’d grab for speed sessions, but when it comes to cruising through easy long runs and daily training, it’s an impressively comfortable and supportive option.

Saucony Hurricane 26 review: Price and availability

The Saucony Hurricane 26 launched in summer 2026 and costs $170 in the U.S. and £170 in the U.K., which is far from cheap but in line with other flagship stability models like the Asics Gel-Kayano 33 and Nike Structure Plus.

Saucony Hurricane 26 review: Design and fit

The Saucony Hurricane 26 is currently available in nine colors for the men’s shoe and 10 for the women’s. There are also five colors available in a wide version.

I found it fits me well in my normal running shoe size; the same size I use across the Saucony line-up.

At 9.7oz in my US men’s size 10, it’s over an ounce lighter than the Hurricane 25, which is all down to the lighter midsole foam because it has the same 6mm drop and stack height of 41mm at the heel and 35mm at the forefoot.

Upper

The Hurricane 26’s upper is built for comfort rather than focusing on lightness and breathability, which is no bad thing in a max-cushioned shoe like this.

It has a lot of padding on the tongue and a lot of color, and it holds the foot snugly throughout runs, in my experience. It can get a little sweaty in hot conditions, though, especially under the thick tongue.

Midsole

The Hurricane 26 uses two foams in the midsole: a springy core made from the brand’s IncrediLux material surrounded by a frame of PWRRUN, and a firmer foam that provides stability on either side of the foot.

It’s the same setup as the Hurricane 24 and Hurricane 25, but with IncrediLux used instead of PWRRUN PB, which makes the new shoe feel softer and bouncier, though not quite as lively as the Saucony Triumph 24, which has a full IncrediLux midsole.

Outsole

The Hurricane 26 uses a thick layer of ridged rubber to cover most of the forefoot and heel, leaving the midfoot exposed.

It’s quite a firm rubber but didn’t add any harshness to the ride, and the Hurricane 26 gripped well for me on my runs. There’s no noticeable wear on the rubber yet either, and I expect the Hurricane 26 to be durable.

Saucony Hurricane 26 review: Running performance

The Saucony Hurricane 24 was a surprise favorite for me when I tested it, and I enjoyed the Hurricane 25 as more of the same. Having enjoyed the IncrediLux midsole on the Triumph 24, I had high expectations for the Hurricane 26.

I’ve used the shoe for a lot of easy running, and it’s met my expectations on those runs. It’s very comfortable and soft, but not so squishy underfoot as to sap the energy from your stride.

It actually has a decent amount of energy return for a comfort-focused shoe, and the mild rocker design moves you smoothly from heel to toe.

I found it noticeably lighter and softer than the previous model. While the updates haven’t turned the Hurricane 26 into a great speed shoe or all-rounder, they’ve made it even better at its main job of being comfortable and stable for daily training at easy paces.

When I did try to run at faster paces in the shoe, it became a bit clunky. It’s not too heavy, but it has a wide profile and doesn’t naturally support faster efforts. I’d pair it in a running shoe rotation with a lighter, speedier shoe.

The stability elements are subtle but deliver support on both sides of the foot, and the wide base also feels secure. I’m a neutral runner, but I appreciate the extra support when doing recovery runs on tired legs.

Should you buy the Saucony Hurricane 26?

If you use a stability running shoe, I’d recommend the Hurricane 26 as the most comfortable option I’ve tested in 2026.

It’s even plusher underfoot than other max-cushioned stability options like the Asics Gel-Kayano 33 and Nike Structure Plus, and has a smoother ride feel too.

If you want a lighter, more versatile stability option, then the Hoka Arahi 9 would be a better buy. It’s not as cushioned and comfortable as the Hurricane 26, but lighter and nimbler and better for faster runs.

The Hurricane 26 is expensive, and there is still merit in considering the Hurricane 25 on sale. If budget permits, I prefer the new shoe.

I’ve been testing the best running shoes for over a decade and I’ve tried almost the entire Hoka line-up, along with several past models of both the Clifton and the Bondi.

Both have been very popular picks with runners for many years, and the latest models of both shoes stick to the principles that made them so popular.

The Hoka Clifton 11 and Hoka Bondi 9 are both comfortable shoes with a smooth ride that work well for walking and long days on your feet as well as running.

I’d actually say neither is my preferred pick from Hoka’s line-up right now — I’d go for the Hoka Clifton Pro myself — but if you’re picking between the Clifton 11 and Bondi 9, here are the key differences you need to know about.

Hoka Bondi 9 vs Hoka Clifton 11: price

At full price the Hoka Clifton 11 is the cheaper shoe, setting you back $155 compared to $175 for the Hoka Bondi 9.

However, the Bondi 9 has been out for longer and is now a regular in sales, including Hoka’s own where it’s currently available for $140. When the Clifton 11 hits the sales itself it will probably be the cheaper pick again.

Hoka Bondi 9 vs Hoka Clifton 11: design and fit

I tested both shoes in my normal running shoe size and had a good fit for length with them, but like many Hoka shoes they are a little narrow around the midfoot. There are wide and extra wide versions of both shoes you can opt for if this is a concern.

The Bondi 9 is the higher stack shoe, standing 43mm tall at the heel and 38mm at the forefoot for a 5mm drop. The Clifton is 42mm at the heel and has a higher 8mm drop, making it 34mm tall at the forefoot.

Partly because of this extra cushioning the Bondi 9 is the heavier of the pair, tipping the scales at 11oz in my US men’s size 9.5, almost a full ounce heavier than the Clifton 11, which is 10.1oz in my size.

Upper

Both the Bondi 9 and Clifton 11 have mesh uppers that prioritize comfort over being especially lightweight, with lots of padding around the collar and on the tongue of the shoes.

The forefoot on both is breathable though and I found the upper to hold the foot securely and comfortably throughout all my runs in both shoes.

Midsole

The biggest differences between the Clifton 11 and Bondi 9 are found in the midsole, both with regards to the foam used and the geometry of the rocker.

While both shoes use EVA foam, it’s a supercritical version of the foam in the Bondi 9, whereas it’s compression-molded in the Clifton 11. If you’re not as keen on running jargon as me, that means the Bondi 9’s foam is less dense and more responsive.

The Bondi 9 also has a lower drop, which for me makes the Clifton 11’s rocker feel more pronounced — it tips you onto your toes more and has a smoother feel on the run.

Outsole

Both shoes have a thick layer of rubber covering the main impact areas of the forefoot and heel and both have gripped well for me during testing.

There is some exposed foam in the midfoot of each shoe, but I have no concerns about the durability of either — both the Bondi and Clifton are renowned as long-lasting shoes and I have no real signs of wear on mine yet.

Hoka Bondi 9 vs Hoka Clifton 11: running performance

I’ve run around 35 miles in the Hoka Clifton 11 and 40 miles in the Hoka Bondi 9, using both for the same types of daily training runs, with a lot of easy miles along with some steady stuff, strides, and long runs in both shoes.

Both shoes are undoubtedly comfortable, especially when landing at the heel as I do, but the Bondi 9 is a bit softer overall. It does a great job of absorbing the impact of running, especially when you’re rolling through easy runs.

However, the Bondi 9 is not particularly versatile, in that anytime I tried to push the pace at all in the shoe it felt sluggish and a bit cumbersome. I found that while the rocker in the midsole pushed me onto my midfoot well, it felt quite blocky when I arrived at my toe-off.

The Clifton 11 is by no means a speedster itself, but it is lighter and feels more natural at faster paces in my experience. The foam in the midsole doesn’t give a lot of energy back, but the rocker is smooth and it’s better than the Bondi 9 for anything faster than easy pace.

I also did a short run wearing one shoe on each foot to directly compare how they felt on the run, and it highlighted the extra softness of the Bondi 9, and the more fluid and nimble ride feel of the Clifton 11.

Both shoes felt good for walking and traveling too, but if you’re primarily after a sneaker to wear for long days on your feet rather than running, I think the Bondi 9 is a bit more cushioned and comfortable.

Hoka Bondi 9 vs Hoka Clifton 11: verdict

If I was buying a running shoe for myself, I’d go for the Hoka Clifton 11. It’s comfortable and has a smoother ride at all paces, while being lighter and more versatile than the Bondi 9.

However, the Bondi 9 would be the better buy if you just want the most comfortable of the two shoes, either for running or for general use. It’s a little softer and has more cushioning in the midsole.

On value, it might come down to which has the best deal going on it at the time of buying — right now that’s the Bondi 9, but I expect to see the Clifton 11 in sales soon enough.

As a final point, I’d also consider the Hoka Clifton Pro because I think it’s the best of the three. It has the supercritical foam used in the Bondi 9 and the smooth rocker geometry of the Clifton 11, and a bit more bounce than both shoes.

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The Nike Pegasus has always inspired a high degree of loyalty in runners, and if you are a devotee the Pegasus Plus 2 is a great addition to the line, offering a more enjoyable and versatile ride than the Nike Pegasus 42.

It’s the best Pegasus you can get right now and a strong pick for any runner who prefers a high-drop shoe. I certainly enjoyed my miles in the Pegasus Plus 2, but I do think there are more exciting and impressive daily trainers available for less.

These include the Asics Novablast 6 and Puma Deviate Pure Nitro, two of the best running shoes I’ve tested this year, which offer a great combo of comfort and energy return at a lower price than the Pegasus Plus 2.

Nike Pegasus Plus 2 review: Price and availability

The Nike Pegasus Plus 2 launched in August 2026 and costs $170 in the U.S. and £155 in the U.K., making it $25/£25 more expensive than the Nike Pegasus 42, and $50/£35 cheaper than the Nike Pegasus Premium.

It’s competitively priced for a cushioned daily trainer, though there are some excellent options available for less, like the Asics Novablast 6.

Nike Pegasus Plus 2 review: Design and fit

The Nike Pegasus Plus 2 is currently available in four colors, including the white and yellow shoe I tested. I find Nike’s shoes to be very consistent in sizing, and I had a good fit in my usual running shoe size.

Like all Pegasus shoes, the Pegasus Plus 2 has a 10mm drop from heel to toe, which is a little higher than the industry average these days, I’d say.

It’s a well-cushioned shoe, with 38mm of foam at the heel and 28mm at the forefoot. It’s not as maxed out as some rivals, though it certainly feels cushioned enough on the run for me.

The Pegasus Plus 2 weighs 9.3oz in my US men’s size 10, which makes it lighter than the other Pegasus models.

Upper

The Pegasus Plus 2 has a mesh upper with a thick layer of padding around the collar of the shoe.

It’s quite a thick upper and not the most breathable in hot conditions, but I found it comfortable on long runs, and it held my foot securely at faster paces.

Midsole

The biggest change to the Pegasus Plus 2 compared with the Nike Pegasus Plus is that Nike added an Air Zoom pod to the forefoot of the midsole, which is otherwise made from the brand’s ZoomX foam.

Nike uses different versions of ZoomX across the shoes that have it in their midsoles, and in the Pegasus Plus 2, it is a slightly firmer, more resilient material than in racing shoes like the Alphafly 3.

It’s still soft and springy, though, and the Air Zoom pod adds firmness in the forefoot to boost energy return as you come off your toes.

Outsole

The Pegasus Plus 2 uses Nike’s waffle tread rubber for its outsole, and while there is a fair bit of exposed foam in the midfoot, the heel and forefoot are well covered.

It might not prove as durable as the outsole on the Pegasus 42, which is thicker and covers more of the bottom of the shoe, but I’ve not seen any wear and tear after 40 miles, which has included several runs on light trails.

Nike Pegasus Plus 2 review: Running performance

I tested the Nike Pegasus Plus 2 over several weeks of marathon training, using it for a mix of runs including several easy efforts, a progression run, and a 10-mile long run.

I’ve also tested all past models of the Pegasus Plus and Pegasus Turbo line, along with the past eight versions of the standard Pegasus and the Pegasus Premium. That’s a lot of Pegasuses (Pegasi?), and the Pegasus Plus 2 is the one that’s made the best impression on me since the original Pegasus Turbo.

It’s softer, lighter, and bouncier than the Pegasus Plus and the Pegasus 42, and a little smoother in transitioning from heel to toe.

I still found it quite a slappy shoe in how the forefoot comes down, which is often the case with 10mm drop shoes, but the softer foam helps it to roll through, and then the firmer Air Zoom pods add a little punch to your toe-off when running at faster speeds.

It’s not a particularly quick shoe though, and if you’ve come looking for a super-trainer or an all-rounder that’s great for intervals as well as easy runs, I don’t think you’ll find it here — the Nike Zoom Fly 6 is the shoe that does that for me in the Swoosh’s line-up.

The Pegasus Plus is instead a lively cushioned daily trainer that works best for easy and long runs. In that sense, it really lives up to its name — it does the same job as the Pegasus 42, but has a more enjoyable ride feel and a little extra pop at pace.

Should you buy the Nike Pegasus Plus 2?

If you’re a big Pegasus fan, then I think the Pegasus Plus 2 is worth getting as the best version of the shoe right now, even if it costs you a bit more than the Pegasus 42.

Similarly, if you prefer a 10mm drop shoe, I think it’s a good cushioned option for daily training and more fun to use than rivals like the Brooks Ghost 18.

However, if you’re happy to shop around a bit more, I do think there are better options, whether you want a speedy all-rounder or a cushioned daily trainer.

The Asics Novablast 6 springs to mind as an excellent cushioned option that costs less than the Pegasus Plus 2, while the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro is cheaper, lighter, and more versatile than the Nike, making it better for workouts.

If you want a speedier shoe for daily training, the Adidas Adizero Evo SL is one of my all-time favorites, and the Kiprun Kipstorm Tempo is a max-stack, lightweight super-trainer that can handle any kind of run well.

While the Pegasus Plus 2 is a welcome evolution of the Pegasus line and better than the competent but uninspiring Pegasus 42 and the heavy, overpriced Pegasus Premium, it still suffers a bit in comparison to top options from other brands.

The Adidas Pro Evo line has been controversial from the moment the original shoe launched with a $500 price and suggestions it would only last one race.

Those negatives are enough to put off most amateur runners, but the bigger problem I had with the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 when I tested it was that it didn’t feel all that special to me.

It was light and fast, but didn’t feel a step up on the best carbon plate running shoes that cost half as much and lasted twice as many miles or more.

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 is something truly special, and so the same negatives — high price, low durability — don’t feel quite so important to me.

It’s not a shoe that will suit everyone, either with regards to price or its wildly springy and unstable ride, but the Pro Evo 3 is lighter than any other racer I’ve tried, and makes running fast feel near effortless at times.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 review: price and availability

The Adidas Pro Evo 3 sticks to the same price as past versions of the shoe; it’s $500 in the U.S. and £450 in the U.K., making it the most expensive carbon plate racer on the market.

It’s also hard to get hold of, with the limited stock Adidas sporadically makes available generally getting snapped up in seconds. In the UK, you can enter a draw for when the shoe next goes on sale on 5 October, and more stock is expected in the U.S. at some point this Fall.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 review: design and fit

The Adidas Pro Evo 3 has only been available in the white and black color it launched in so far, though some Adidas athletes did use a model with a red splash on the forefoot at the Berlin Marathon.

I’m generally in between two sizes and went for the larger one with the Pro Evo 3 to get the best fit — I find with Adidas racing shoes they can come up a bit small, so even going half a size up is worth considering.

The Pro Evo 3 made headlines for being the first sub-3.5oz/100g carbon plate super-shoe at launch and it is absurdly light. It’s 3.7oz/106g in my US men’s size 10, which is around 1.4oz lighter than any other racer I’ve tested in my size, and half the weight of many.

This featherweight design is not down to a lack of cushioning in the midsole either — the Pro Evo 3 stands 39mm tall at the heel and 36mm at the forefoot for a 3mm drop.

Upper

When I spoke to the team behind the design of the Pro Evo 3, they told me the upper on the shoe is inspired by materials used in kitesurfing.

It’s very light and flexible, and there’s minimal cushioning and reinforcement on the upper around the back of the shoe, as you’d expect with low weight being a priority.

On my runs in the Pro Evo 3, the upper has held my foot securely, though, even when pushing to all-out paces, and so far I’ve not seen any worrying wear on this part of the shoe.

Midsole

The Adidas Pro Evo 2 was one of the lightest shoes ever made, and yet with the Pro Evo 3 Adidas found a way to make the new Lightstrike Pro Evo foam in its midsole almost 50% lighter than the stuff in the Pro Evo 2.

It’s an extremely soft and springy foam too, and you feel the softness even more because the Pro Evo 3 doesn’t use a full carbon plate. It instead has a carbon rim that runs around the outside of the midsole, which is called ENERGYRIM.

This adds the stiffness required to maximize the propulsive feel of the midsole while also being lighter than a full plate or the carbon rods Adidas used on past models of its racing shoes.

The soft midsole foam is already showing signs of wear on my shoes, with some small chunks coming out around the forefoot, but it still feels just as bouncy as it did when new.

Outsole

The outsole on the Pro Evo 2 was a bit of a disaster, offering little to no grip in wet conditions, and Adidas has taken steps to improve this on the Pro Evo 3 without increasing the weight on the bottom of the shoe.

There are rubber patches covering the forefoot and heel of the shoe, both of which are just 0.5mm thick, and I have found that the Continental rubber used on the forefoot grips well on wet and dry roads in my runs.

Once again, there are worrying signs of wear on this part of the shoe after 30 miles of running. The back patch on one of my shoes has started to flake away and the tread pattern on the forefoot has worn thin in some places.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 review: running performance

The Adidas Pro Evo 3 has already proven itself to be very effective when on the feet of elite athletes. Sabastian Sawe ran the first official sub-2-hour marathon in the shoe at the London Marathon in April, Yomif Kejelcha broke the half marathon world record while wearing it in Buenos Aires in August, and all six podium spots at the recent Berlin Marathon were taken up by men and women wearing the Pro Evo 3.

It’s not hard to see why it’s been so successful when you run in the shoe. I’ve done three runs in the Pro Evo 3, including a 20-miler on the road and a long track session running 24x400m reps at my various race paces, and it’s felt exceptionally good on all of them.

I’ve tested pretty much every major carbon shoe ever made too, so I don’t lack for comparisons, and the Pro Evo 3 does feel genuinely special. It’s not just extremely light and bouncy, but also pushes you through each stride so smoothly that hitting and holding fast paces feels like a breeze at times.

What I noticed in both the track session and 20-mile long run, where I did the second half in 59:30, is that my heart rate was lower than normal at faster speeds, and that I recovered more quickly in between reps on the track.

I’ve done similar 20-milers in many different carbon shoes over the past five years as part of my marathon training, and it’s never felt as good as it did in the Pro Evo 3.

There are drawbacks to the design, though. I would definitely say the soft, unstable feel of the Pro Evo 3 will not suit every runner. I’m not sure it would be supportive enough for me as a 2:25 marathoner, especially in the later stages of the race.

If feels like a pinnacle racer built to deliver the fastest times in history, so us mere mortals might only get the best out of the Pro Evo 3 for shorter events than the marathon, and even then you’ll have to be happy running in an unstable shoe that might only be at its best for 100 miles or so.

Should you buy the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3?

There’s a case for saying that anyone who has to buy the Adidas Pro Evo 3 probably shouldn’t. Unless you’re a pro runner getting handed the shoe for free to use at one key event, it’s not a great investment.

It’s wobbly and lacks durability, and my top alternatives like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, Asics Metaspeed Ray and Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo are also brilliantly fast and efficient racing shoes that cost a lot less than the Pro Evo 3.

However, as an innovative, elite racing shoe, the Pro Evo 3 does deliver on its promise of being the best yet, in my opinion, and that will be enough for many runners to want to give it a go.

There have been points over the past couple of years where I’ve wondered exactly what brands can do to keep improving their super-shoes, given the quality of what’s already out there. The Pro Evo 3 proves there’s still scope to produce something special.

Once you try a full foldable treadmill, it’s very hard to go back. The trouble is that most of the best treadmills that do fold fully flat are small and under-specced compared to larger machines.

Not so the Urevo CyberMega Smart Treadmill, which matches the max speed and incline settings of much larger machines and has a similarly powerful motor, in a fully foldable design that’s easy to store and doesn’t take up too much space.

I’ve tested the machine for several weeks, running on it regularly as part of my marathon training, and it’s impressed me with its performance. It runs smoothly even on long runs at fast speeds, and while it’s not as large and robust as a gym-ready machine, it did everything I needed it to.

The partner app is a little underwhelming, and there’s no AMOLED display to follow workouts, but you can easily connect the CyberMega to other apps for guided workouts or virtual training.

For $1000, the Urevo CyberMega is pretty good value, too, given its spec sheet and performance. If you’re a keen runner who needs a fast, reliable machine for home training and aren’t too bothered about guided workouts, it’s worth looking at it.

Urevo CyberMega Smart Treadmill review: Price and availability

The Urevo CyberMega Smart Treadmill launched in August 2026 and costs $1,000 in the U.S. and £999 in the U.K., which is good value compared to other machines with similarly high speed, incline and motor specs from brands like NordicTrack and Bowflex.

Urevo CyberMega Smart Treadmill review: Design

The Urevo CyberMega Smart Treadmill comes fully assembled in its box, and setting it up simply involves getting it out of the packaging and unfolding it. I managed to do this by myself, but it would certainly be easier with two people, as it’s tricky to manoeuvre the machine out of the packaging.

You can fold and unfold the console on the machine without a tool, and it locks into place once it’s raised. It feels pretty sturdy, and you have to press two large buttons simultaneously to fold it down, but I still felt a bit wary about putting significant weight on the console or handrails while the treadmill was running.

The CyberMega isn't as light and compact as some treadmills I’ve tested, like the DeerRun A1 Pro, but it offers a higher max speed and incline, and it’s impressively small and easy to store for such a capable machine.

Once folded flat, you can lift and move the CyberMega using the wheels under the front. It’s a lot easier to move than bigger machines I’ve tested, like the Bowflex Treadmill 10, and I managed to transfer it between my house and garage by myself.

The console has a central dial used to change speed and incline, as well as a touch panel with shortcuts for certain speed and incline settings. The dial changes the speed in 0.5km/h increments on my machine — for more precise speed changes, you have to use the partner app.

It doesn't have buttons on the handrails to adjust speed and incline, but there are sensors you can use to measure your heart rate.

On top of the console is a foldable LCD that also doubles as a tablet or phone holder. This just shows your stats during the run, rather than being a full AMOLED display you can use to set up your runs and follow scenic routes or instructor-led workouts.

For those features, you need to link to the Urevo app, which you can do via Bluetooth. You can also link to other apps easily with the treadmill — I mostly had it linked to Zwift for virtual runs during my sessions.

Urevo CyberMega Smart Treadmill review: Performance

I’m currently training for the Frankfurt Marathon and running around 70-80 miles a week, and I moved several of those runs each week to the CyberMega while testing the treadmill, with the longest runs I’ve done on the machine being around 10 miles.

I was concerned that despite having impressive specs, it wouldn’t actually feel robust enough to use at faster speeds and higher inclines, but it actually felt quite sturdy during my training even when holding speeds over 10mph for 30-40 minutes.

It’s not the fastest when changing speed or incline, but it doesn’t wobble about too much when you increase the latter while running, and the belt ran smoothly and fairly quietly at high speeds.

I checked that the speed of the belt was calibrated correctly by measuring the full length of the belt and marking it with tape to count the revolutions, and it was spot on.

It’s not the biggest running belt, though. It feels quite narrow, and you have to keep your focus to stay in the center of the belt, and while it was long enough for me (I’m 6ft tall), I do have quite a short stride length, so if you’re a taller person with a loping gait, it might feel cramped.

The benefit of the smaller belt is how compact the machine is as a whole, and it’s much easier to move and store than the Bowflex Treadmill 10 I tested before it, and it takes up much less space in a room as well.

Urevo CyberMega Smart Treadmill review: App

The Urevo app is free and can link to the treadmill to guide you through workouts and scenic routes, including the full courses for the Boston and Berlin Marathons (you can do 5K, 10K, or half marathon runs along these routes if the full 26.2 miles seems a bit much).

You can also use the app to adjust settings on the treadmill mid-run, including smaller increments for the speed than are available on the machine’s console.

If you use a tablet or phone on the built-in stand/LCD screen on the machine, you can move the stats to display around your device. I found my phone and tablet rattled around a bit on the stand during long runs, and I had to prod them back to the center occasionally.

I also found that it took a few tries to establish the app’s connection to the treadmill, and the variety of workouts available isn't as impressive as apps that require a subscription, like Peloton or Echelon apps.

During my testing, I rarely used the app as a result — I preferred to link the machine to Zwift and run in its virtual worlds, which is easily done using the treadmill’s Bluetooth.

Should you buy the Urevo CyberMega Smart Treadmill?

The Urevo CyberMega is a compact treadmill that can match the demands of even experienced runners, and it’s the kind of machine I’d pick myself thanks to its high top speed, space-saving design, and ability to link to partner apps.

It’s not as strong an option if your priorities are features like guided workouts and in-run entertainment, which are better done by treadmills with large AMOLED displays and better apps that can show instructor-led workouts, like the Echelon Stride-6s-10.

I have only tested the machine for a few weeks so far too, so I can’t comment on its durability yet. It ran well throughout my testing, but the smaller, foldable design doesn’t have the hardy feel of a large, gym-ready machine like the Peloton Tread or Bowflex Treadmill 10.

For regular personal use, however, the fully foldable Urevo CyberMega is a lot more convenient, and I can’t fault its performance. I wouldn’t go back to a larger machine myself, and if you’re a committed runner looking for an affordable, foldable machine that can keep up with your training, it’s a great option.

The 52nd BMW Berlin Marathon will feature more than 56,000 runners from 160 countries pounding the streets of the German capital today. The 26.2-mile course is famously flat and fast, making it one of the world's best stages for elite marathoners and recreational runners alike —Tigst Assefa may even break her own women-only world record.

Read on and we'll show you how to watch Berlin Marathon 2026 live streams from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE.

The biggest storyline is the return of Assefa, who won the Berlin Marathon in 2022 before returning a year later to set a women's marathon world record of 2:11:53. That mixed record has since been broken, by Ruth Chepngetich, but Assefa remains in excellent form after setting a new women's-only world record of 2:15:41 at the London Marathon earlier this year.

Today, the Ethiopian has Chepngetich's 2:09:53 in her sights as she eyes a third Berlin victory but will face tough competition from defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru, as well as European champion Alisa Vainio.

The men's field is no less replete with talent, with 2021 Berlin champion Guye Adola in fine form after winning the Rotterdam Marathon earlier this year in 2:03:54. He'll be run close by Tanzania's Gabriel Geay, whose personal best is 2:03:00 and Ethiopia's 2020 London Marathon winner Shura Kitata, who set a 2:03:59 PB in Seville earlier this year.

The weather should be more comfortable this year than last year's notoriously hot race, with temperatures around 13C at the start potentially rising to 22C later in the day. The official time limit is 6 hours and 15 minutes from when runners cross the start line, with a specific cutoff requiring them to reach the 33km mark by 3:40 p.m.

Find out all the details on how to tune in and watch a Berlin Marathon 2026 live stream below wherever you are around the world, including free streams.

Watch Berlin Marathon 2026 live stream for FREE

Fans in Germany are in luck! RTL is streaming the Berlin Marathon for FREE.

The 2026 Berlin Marathon will also be shown for FREE on the Olympic Channel in the following countries: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

If you're from any of these countries but currently abroad during Berlin Marathon weekend, you’ll be blocked from watching your usual streams.

That said, you can avoid paying for another streaming service and unblock Berlin Marathon live free streams using a VPN, which will help you stream like you would if you were back home. NordVPN is among the best out there:

Using a VPN is incredibly simple:

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is a strong option.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're away from Germany but want to watch your usual service, you'd select a Germany-based server from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to RTL or another website and watch the 2026 Berlin Marathon live stream.

How to watch Berlin Marathon live streams in the U.S.

Viewers in the U.S. can watch the 2026 Berlin Marathon via FloTrack. A subscription costs $29.99/month or $150/year.

If you already use the service but aren't in the U.S. right now, you can live stream the Berlin Marathon by using a good VPN.

How to watch Berlin Marathon live streams in Canada

In Canada you’ll need a FloTrack subscription in order to watch the Berlin Marathon 2026.

If you're away from home and struggling to tap into your subscriptions, you could use a VPN to help you access a Berlin Marathon stream from anywhere. We recommend NordVPN.

How to watch Berlin Marathon live streams in the U.K.

It's FloTrack in the U.K., too.

A subscription costs the same as in the U.S., and is billed in dollars.

If you’re currently traveling in the U.K. from abroad, don’t worry, as you can use NordVPN to access your usual streaming services from back home.

How to watch Berlin Marathon live streams in Australia

For those in Australia, FloTrack is also the place to watch the Berlin Marathon. In Oz, this will set you back AU$29.99/month or AU$149.99/year.

Outside of Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN, such as NordVPN, to watch the race as if you were back in Oz.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to watch UK TV abroad: BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and more
• The best streaming VPN
• I’m a 62-year-old marathon runner — here’s the exact strength workout I use

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Mizuno has always been one of the more innovative brands when it comes to carbon plate running shoes, with mixed results.

The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro line had crazy cutouts and an incredibly high midfoot stack height and was a bit too wild for my liking, but the Mizuno Hyperwarp Pure is an excellent lightweight racer I’ve loved for 5K and 10K events in particular.

While the Pure is light, the new Mizuno Hyperwarp 96 takes things to another level with a design that tips the scales at just 96g/3.4oz, making it the lightest carbon plate racing shoe yet.

It comes in a gram lighter than the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 on listed stats, and given the success of the world-record-breaking Pro Evo 3, runners will be itching to get their feet into the Hyperwarp 96 too — I know I am.

Here’s what you need to know about the Mizuno Hyperwarp 96.

The Hyperwarp 96 goes on sale in December and it will be very expensive

Mizuno has announced the Hyperwarp 96 today ahead of the Berlin Marathon, but it won’t be available to consumers until the end of the year.

The price is yet to be fully confirmed, but is set to be about £400 in the U.K., which I’d expect to translate to a U.S. price of around $450 based on the prices of other Mizuno shoes.

That would make it less expensive than the Adidas Pro Evo 3, which is $500/£450, but more expensive than every other carbon plate super-shoe.

It has a spray-on, laceless upper

The most striking aspect of the Hyperwarp 96’s design is the spray-on upper, which looks a lot like the LightSpray uppers On uses on some of its shoes, like the On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS.

This 3D-engineered upper is very light and designed to be denser at the bottom.

I like the LightSpay uppers on On’s shoes, but they can be tricky to deal with if you have wide feet or high arches, and you can’t adjust the fit if it’s not perfect out of the box.

The midsole is made from an all-new foam

A new foam called Mizuno Enerzy XP+ is used for the midsole of the Hyperwarp 96. It’s an extremely light material, and Mizuno shaved off every area not critical to performance to reduce weight as much as possible.

Unlike the Hyperwarp Pure, which achieves its low weight partly by having a lower stack height than most super-shoes, the Hyperwarp 96 has as much cushioning as rival racers.

It stands 39mm tall at the heel and 36mm at the forefoot for a 3mm drop, which is exactly the same specs as the Adidas Pro Evo 3.

It has a full-length carbon plate

The Hyperwarp 96 has a full-length carbon plate with a section cut out under the heel to reduce the weight.

This isn’t a novelty with super-shoes in general, but other super-light options have used other systems to add stability and propulsion without the weight of a full-length plate.

The Pro Evo 3 uses a carbon rim rather than a full plate, while the Asics Metaspeed Ray has a teardrop-shaped plate that only sits under the forefoot.

This means Mizuno might have an easy way to make the shoe even lighter if it wishes, by opting for a half plate or some other design, if it can do so without impacting performance.

Maybe this time next year we’ll see the Mizuno Hyperwarp 86?

More from Tom's Guide

• How long do running shoes actually last? I asked an expert who makes them, and they gave me a great tip for recognizing when your shoes are done
• What makes the new Nike Alphafly 4 special? I spoke to the VP of Nike Running Footwear to find out, and the answer surprised me
• I tested shoes from 5 up-and-coming running brands — here are the ones worth your money

The 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships will take place in Copenhagen, on September 19 and 20. Six world titles up for grabs across the road mile, 5K and half marathon. Kenya dominated the inaugural 2023 event with five golds, three silvers, and 12 bronze medals.

Read on and we'll show you how to watch World Athletics Road Running Championships 2026 live streams from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE.

There’s plenty of star power in the field, led by Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who will compete in the 5K just one week after winning the same distance at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

The event will also feature 2025 world 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier of France, while American record holder Yared Nuguse headlines the road mile after posting a career-best 3:51.90. Nuguse also owns the fastest road mile by an entrant this year, with fellow American Vincent Ciattei second on the list.

There will be plenty to watch in the other events, too. Uganda’s Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei headlines the men’s half marathon alongside Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir, while Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich leads the women’s half marathon field after winning the individual cross-country world title earlier this year.

In the women’s 5K, Caroline Nyaga and Caroline Makandi Gitonga are among the leading contenders, and American Addison Wiley arrives with the fastest road mile of the 2026 season.

Find out all the details on how to tune in and watch a World Athletics Road Running Championships 2026 live stream below wherever you are around the world, including free streams.

Watch World Athletics Road Running Championships 2026 live streams for FREE

Fans across Europe are in luck, with Eurovision Sport showing both days of the World Athletics Road Running Championships 2026 completely free of charge.

The free coverage includes viewers in countries such as Denmark, France, Czechia, and Switzerland, giving fans an easy way to watch all the action without needing a paid subscription.

In the UK, coverage on the second day is split between Eurovision Sport and BBC iPlayer, with both platforms offering their coverage for free.

Meanwhile, viewers in Canada can watch the championships for free on CBC Gem, which will also provide live coverage of the event.

In Australia and elsewhere worldwide where no broadcaster has picked up the event, fans can turn to the official World Athletics+ streaming platform, which will also show the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships for free.

Away from home right now? Unlock your free stream with NordVPN — find out more below.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple:

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is a strong option.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're away from the U.K. but want to watch your usual service, you'd select a U.K.-based server from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to BBC iPlayer or another website and watch the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships live streams.

How to watch World Athletics Road Running Championships 2026 live streams in the U.S.

Viewers in the U.S. can watch the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships on Peacock, which can be accessed for as little as $1 through a 30-day trial of Walmart+.

Alternatively, a Peacock sub for live sport is available for $12.99/month.

If you already use the service but aren't in the U.S. right now, you can live stream the event by using a good VPN.

How to watch World Athletics Road Running Championships 2026 live streams in Canada

In Canada, fans can watch the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships live for free on CBC Gem, CBC’s free streaming service.

If you're away from home and struggling to tap into your subscriptions, you could use a VPN to help you access a World Athletics Road Running Championships stream from anywhere. We recommend NordVPN.

How to watch World Athletics Road Running Championships 2026 live streams in the U.K.

In the UK, fans can watch the first day's coverage for free on Eurovision Sport, while coverage on the second day is split between Eurovision Sport and BBC iPlayer, with both platforms offering free streaming.

BBC iPlayer is available on a number of devices, including streaming sticks, smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, and smart TVs.

If you're currently traveling overseas, don't worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships from abroad.

How to watch World Athletics Road Running Championships 2026 live streams in Australia

For those in Australia – and elsewhere where no broadcaster has picked up the event – the official World Athletics+ streaming platform is the place to watch the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships live, completely FREE.

Outside of Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN, such as NordVPN, to watch the race as if you were back in Oz.

World Athletics Road Running Championships start times and schedule 2026

(All times BST / ET)

Saturday, September 19

9:10 a.m. / 4:10 a.m. — Women’s Mile
9:30 a.m. / 4:30 a.m. — Men’s Mile
1:10 p.m. / 8:10 a.m. — Women’s 5km
1:40 p.m. / 8:40 a.m. — Men’s 5km

Sunday, September 20

8:10 a.m. / 3:10 a.m. — Women’s Half Marathon
8:45 a.m. / 3:45 a.m. — Men’s Half Marathon

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• I’m a 62-year-old marathon runner — here’s the exact strength workout I use

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The Nike Alphafly has been one of the best carbon-plate running shoes you can buy since the original launched in 2020, and the Alphafly 3 set both men’s and women’s marathon world records.

In the time since the Alphafly 3 came out in early 2024, however, a slew of outstanding rival super-shoes from other brands have come out, with the most notable being the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.

The Pro Evo 3 was used by Sabastian Sawe to run the first sub-2-hour marathon in an official race in April at the London Marathon — seven years after Eliud Kipchoge did it at a special event in a prototype of the original Alphafly.

There’s some pressure on the Nike Alphafly 4 then, which launches today and needs to be both better than its illustrious predecessors and the best racers from other brands.

To find out how Nike went about updating its flagship marathon racing shoe, I spoke to Bret Schoolmeester, Vice President overseeing Nike Running Footwear, and to my surprise, one of the major focuses in the development of the shoe was stability.

What were the aims going into creating the Alphafly 4?

Nike leaned on both its extensive roster of elite athletes and its research teams to create its aims for the Alphafly 4.

“The benefit we have in our racing line is we have the voice of our athletes telling us ‘hey, here's some things we want’, and we also have our lab team being pretty consistent that there's an evergreen benefit that we always need to keep pursuing, and that's how do we improve runners’ running economy; how efficiently they can run in the shoe,” says Schoolmeester.

“There’s things we know we're never going to stop pursuing, like weight reduction and energy return, and then one thing we did uniquely focus on with the Alphafly 4 is stability.”

Improving stability is tricky in a modern racing shoe, most of which uses tall stacks of soft foams, but it can be important in the latter stages of long events in particular.

“Late in a race, your biomechanics break down,” says Schoolmeester. “The better you're supported, the more you're going to be able to hold that critical velocity all the way through the race.

“That was a really big one for us, because it came from our kind of everyday athletes, but it's also trickled up into the elites.”

Trickled up is not a phrase I often hear when covering super-shoes — usually the benefits aimed at elite athletes trickle down to amateurs — but Nike is keen to position the Alphafly 4 as a racer for all levels.

“What we're really proud of with the Alphafly overall is that while it's the franchise that helped break the two-hour marathon for the first time when Eliud did it, it's also the most widely adopted marathon racing shoe. From the front of the pack all the way to the back, we see Alphaflys on everybody's feet.”

What are the key updates to the Alphafly 4?

The Alphafly 4 has been updated from the upper to the outsole to help make it 5% lighter and more energetic than the Alphafly 3, and the key updates to the shoe are found in the midsole.

“There’s a new foam — ZoomX LT is a new way for us to process ZoomX, so we can get that 17% weight reduction while still improving energy return by 8%,” says Schoolmeester.

Nike also changed the design of the Air Zoom pods in the forefoot of the shoe, switching from a thermoformed bag to radiofrequency welding, to reduce weight by 30%.

“Then the plate,” says Schoolmeester. “The plate has always had this really scooped geometry to help with propulsion. We switched up the geometry to make sure it was also adding to stability, maximising the deflection of the foam and the airbags.”

Along with the new ZoomX LT foam, the Alphafly 4 also uses standard ZoomX in its midsole, a setup that Schoolmeester suggests boost both performance and stability.

“That’s one of the things we worked through in the development process,” says Schoolmeester. “Should we go with both foams? Should we switch the configuration?

“What we found was that using ZoomX on the bottom midsole part, which still offers incredible energy return and weight, helped stabilize the system, whereas with the top part we put a heavier premium on lightweight and energy return.

“It maximized both of those different components, and that wound up being the best performing system.”

Why is stability important in a marathon racing shoe?

I’ve tested a lot of pinnacle racing shoes and rarely is stability given such prominence as it is with the launch of the Alphafly 4, but it's an important feature that shouldn’t be overlooked.

“Energy return: no-brainer. Lightweight: no-brainer. But stability in a racing shoe; people don't consider it as necessarily being really important,” says Schoolmeester.

“But watch any marathoner — even the world's best — their mechanics don't always look exactly the same towards the end of the race, and especially for us mere mortals, you're going to need some extra support.”

That extra support can directly lead to you running faster, which is ultimately what these super-shoes are all about.

“If you're fighting the shoe at all, or fighting to stay stable, that's energy that's not being put into going straight forward as fast as you can,” Schoolmeester.

“We intentionally fatigue athletes and run tests to make sure that the benefits are holding up even when fatigued, because feeling good mile one through five, any marathoner will tell you, is not the hard part.

“Feeling good at 30km, 35km (18 miles, 21 miles) and holding everything together all the way through to the finish line. That's the real magic.”

The Nike Alphafly 4 costs $275/£254 and will be available as a limited release from 17 September, with broader availability from 29 October.

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• How long do running shoes actually last? I asked an expert who makes them, and they gave me a great tip for recognizing when your shoes are done
• Rheon running shorts are being used by top road, track and trail runners — I spoke to an expert to find out more about the tech
• I tested shoes from 5 up-and-coming running brands — here are the ones worth your money

I love a good rocker on a running shoe, and the On Cloudsurfer line’s signature feature has always been its CloudTec Phase cushioning, where holes in the midsole collapse into eachother like dominoes to roll you from heel to toe as you run.

The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a lightweight daily trainer, while the On Cloudsurfer Max is a more cushioned but firmer shoe. The new On Cloudsurfer 3 splits the difference between these shoes, and based on my early testing, I think it could be the best Cloudsurfer yet.

I’ve been able to do a couple of runs in the On Cloudsurfer 3 ahead of its launch, and it’s impressed me on both. The shoe uses a new foam in the midsole called Surreal and delivers a soft, smooth ride that helps the miles tick by enjoyably.

Here’s what you need to know about On’s latest running shoe, including my early likes and dislikes.

On Cloudsurfer 3: Price and availability

The On Cloudsurfer 3 launched on 15 September 2026, and my first like about the shoe is that it hasn’t risen in price compared with the Cloudsurfer 2. It costs $160 in the U.S. and £150 in the U.K., making it one of the cheaper cushioned shoes in On’s line-up.

Like #1: It’s more cushioned than past models

The Cloudsurfer 3 feels like a softer shoe with more cushioning underfoot than past models, especially under the forefoot.

On say that the new Surreal superfoam deepens compression by 15.5% compared with the Helion foam used on the Cloudsurfer 2, and I could feel the extra depth in the midsole on my runs and how much the new shoe absorbed the impact of running.

I found that the Cloudsurfer 2 could sometimes "bottom out" and feel a bit flat by the end of runs, but I haven’t had that feeling from the Cloudsurfer 3 at all so far.

The Cloudsurfer Max was marketed as an incredibly soft shoe when it came out, but I actually found it pretty firm — the Cloudsurfer 3 delivers on its promise of softness.

Like #2: The ride is impressively smooth at a variety of paces

Soft shoes are great, but not if you end up stuck in that soft foam and feeling like you have to push through it to keep running, which does occasionally happen with max-cushioned shoes in my experience.

This is where the CloudTec Phase rocker comes into play with the Cloudsurfer 3, because it helps move you through the midsole onto your toes smoothly, so you don’t lose momentum while enjoying the impact-absorbing benefits of the cushioning.

I used the On Cloudsurfer 3 for a progression run, moving from an easy to a steady pace, and was able to clip along at sub-6min/mile pace comfortably in the shoe, despite the fact that it’s not all that light.

Like #3: There’s more spring off the toes

The main criticism I’ve had with past Cloudsurfer shoes is that the Helion foam in the midsole isn’t all that springy. The shoes have a smooth ride and a lightweight feel, but don’t deliver much energy return off the toes.

The Surreal foam in the Cloudsurfer 3’s midsole is a definite improvement on that front. I noticed a lot more bounce from the shoe, especially at faster paces.

That extra energy from the forefoot is also clear during longer runs in the shoe, when the previous models would start to feel a bit flat.

Like #4: The outsole grip is better

I did a short run wearing the On Cloudsurfer 2 on one foot and the On Cloudsurfer 3 on the other, and along with differences in the ride feel, I also noted that the outsole on the new shoe gripped a little better on damp sidewalks.

While I didn’t have any real problems with the grip of the Cloudsurfer 2 when I tested it out, any improvement in this area is always welcome in a cushioned daily trainer you’re going to use in all conditions.

Dislike #1: It’s heavier than the Cloudsurfer 3

The new Surreal foam used in the Cloudsurfer 3 is lighter than the Helion material used in past models, according to On, but the overall weight of the shoe has gone up considerably.

My US men’s size 9.5 weighs 10.8oz compared to 9.4oz for the Cloudsurfer 2 in the same size, likely because the shoe has more outsole coverage and more cushioning in the midsole, as well as a wider base.

This isn’t a big problem for me, because the Cloudsurfer 3 doesn’t feel heavy or cumbersome on the run thanks to its rockered ride, but it’s quite a noticeable change from the Cloudsurfer 2, and big fans of the older shoe might not take to the larger design.

Dislike #2: It’s not as versatile as some daily trainers

While I enjoyed using the Cloudsurfer 3 at easy, steady paces, it’s not a shoe I think will handle speed sessions all that well. That’s not really its job to be fair — it’s a cushioned shoe for comfortable cruising — but there are some terrific daily trainers that do offer more versatility.

The Asics Novablast 6 immediately springs to mind as a max-cushioned shoe that’s lighter and a bit livelier at fast paces than the Cloudsurfer 3, while the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro is an incredibly light daily trainer that I found comfortable for long, easy runs and that can also handle speedwork well.

I think the Cloudsurfer 3 is competitive with other cushioned shoes in its category, like the Saucony Triumph 24 and Hoka Clifton Pro, but those looking for more of an all-rounder will be better served by a shoe like the Novablast 6.

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• Rheon running shorts are being used by top road, track and trail runners — I spoke to an expert to find out more about the tech
• I tested shoes from 5 up-and-coming running brands — here are the ones worth your money

I will always have a soft spot for the Saucony Triumph line because it was the shoe I used most when I first started running myself around 11 years ago.

However, the past few versions of the Triumph haven’t really hit the spot, lacking the energetic and fun feel of the best running shoes.

A significant update was needed, and that’s what has happened with the Saucony Triumph 24, which uses a new midsole foam called IncrediLUX that creates a much livelier ride than I experienced with the Triumph 22 and 23.

It’s still not as soft and springy as the Nike Vomero Plus or as smoothly-rockered as the Hoka Clifton Pro, but the Triumph 24 is a great cushioned option for daily training, and its balanced, traditional ride will suit a wide variety of runners well.

Saucony Triumph 24 review: Price and availability

The Saucony Triumph 24 launched in June 2026 and costs $170 in the U.S. and £170 in the U.K., which is a $10 price rise over the Triumph 23. Its price is in line with other cushioned favorites, though, like the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28, Hoka Clifton Pro and Nike Vomero Plus.

Saucony Triumph 24 review: Design and fit

The Saucony Triumph 24 is currently available in 10 colors in the men’s shoe and 14 in the women’s. Along with the standard shoe, there’s a wide model and a GTX version with a waterproof upper.

I found that the Triumph 24 fit me well in my normal running shoe size, the same size I’ve used for every version of the shoe I’ve tested.

The Triumph 24 weighs 9.6oz in my US men’s size 10, which is a 0.3oz drop in weight on the Triumph 23 despite the fact that the new shoe has a 6mm higher stack height of 43mm at the heel and 33mm at the forefoot. It sticks to the same 10mm drop.

Upper

The Triumph 24 has a mesh upper with padding on the tongue and collar, and an internal heel counter to add more structure at the back of the shoe.

It’s a pretty standard cushioned shoe upper all round, and I found it comfortable on all my runs, though not the most breathable, particularly under the thick tongue.

Midsole

The big update to the Triumph 24 is in the midsole, which is now made from a supercritical aliphatic TPU foam called IncrediLUX, instead of the PEBA-based PWRRUN PB foam used in the Triumph 22 and Triumph 23.

This new foam is lighter and softer than PWRRUN PB and delivers more energy return as well. It also feels less dense underfoot than PWRRUN PB and improves the ride of the Triumph 24 greatly compared with its predecessor.

Outsole

The Triumph 24 uses Saucony’s XT-900 carbon rubber to cover the forefoot and heel of the shoe, leaving the midfoot exposed.

I had no problems with grip during my testing, and the thick rubber covers the main impact areas on the bottom of the shoe, so it should be durable.

Saucony Triumph 24 review: Running performance

I used the Saucony Triumph 24 for a few weeks during my marathon training, racking up a lot of easy runs in the shoe along with a progression run and a 15-mile long run. I’ve tested the past 10 models of the Triumph, and I think the Triumph 24 is the best yet.

That’s all down to the IncrediLUX midsole, which delivers a great balance of comfort, control and energy return. It’s not as soft and springy as some shoes, but the Triumph 24 cushions landings nicely at the heel, then puts a bit of pep in your step as you roll through to the forefoot.

Although it’s pretty light for a cushioned shoe, it’s not ideal for speedwork — I’d use the Triumph 24 in a running shoe rotation with faster options for workouts. That’s not unusual for a cushioned shoe like this, though, which is primarily built for easy, steady training runs.

I was using the Triumph 24 during relatively high-mileage weeks as I ramped up my marathon training and often turned to it for recovery runs the day after a workout; it’s great for those recovery runs, providing enough comfort for tired legs while still ticking over nicely.

Should you buy the Saucony Triumph 24?

If you’re in the market for a comfortable daily trainer, the Triumph 24 ranks among my top options, especially if you prefer a more traditional, straightforward ride.

Rivals include the Nike Vomero Plus, which has a wilder, bouncier feel that I love on easy runs, and the Hoka Clifton Pro, which is more rockered than the Triumph and very smooth, rolling you from heel to toe.

I’d also consider the Asics Novablast 6 as a lighter, cheaper and more versatile daily trainer that’s also highly cushioned if you’re looking for one shoe to handle all your runs, because the Triumph 24 is a bit sluggish for speed sessions.

If you need more support on the run but like the sound of the Triumph, the Saucony Hurricane 26 is the equivalent stability shoe in the brand’s line-up, and it also uses IncredLUX foam.

Overall, it’s great to see the Triumph return to form, and it manages to bring in a modern-feeling superfoam to its midsole without straying too far from the ride feel that made it so popular in the first place.

The 45th edition of the Great North Run is set to be the biggest ever, with 63,000 runners taking on the famous 13.1-mile course from Newcastle to South Shields. One of the world's biggest half marathons, it will also draw more than 200,000 spectators to line the route, plus Newcastle United captain and England star Dan Burn serving as the official starter.

Read on and we'll show you how to watch Great North Run 2026 live streams from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE.

Alex Mutiso will be looking to defend his men's title, but the Kenyan faces some serious competition from USA duo Casey Clinger and Zouhair Talbi, 2025 European marathon champion Iliass Aouani, Tokyo Marathon 2025 silver medallist Deresa Geleta and Olympic silver medallist Abdi Nageeye. Mutiso's 57:59 personal best makes him the man to beat, and he may even have his eye on the the Great North Run course record of 58:56, which has stood since 2011.

In the women's race, Sheila Chepkirui returns to defend her title, but she'll have to get past fellow Kenyan Brigid Kosgei, the women's course record holder, and Viola Lagat. Eilish McColgan will also be one to watch. In the wheelchair races, reigning champions Sean Frame and Mel Woods are back, while nine-time winner David Weir and 2024 champion JohnBoy Smith will also be chasing victory.

Find out all the details on how to tune in and watch a Great North Run 2026 live stream below wherever you are around the world, including free streams.

Watch Great North Run 2026 live stream for FREE

Fans in the U.K. are in luck! BBC iPlayer is streaming the Great North Run free in the United Kingdom. It's also available via the BBC One TV channel.

You can also watch thousands of finish line moments in South Shields by heading to the @GreatRunTV YouTube channel.

However, if you’ve found yourself outside of the U.K. the weekend of the Great North Run, you’ll be blocked from watching BBC iPlayer.

That said, you can avoid paying for another streaming service and unblock BBC iPlayer using a VPN, which will help you stream like you would if you were back home. NordVPN is among the best out there:

Using a VPN is incredibly simple:

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is a strong option.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're away from the U.K. but want to watch your usual service, you'd select a U.K.-based server from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to BBC iPlayer or another website and watch the 2026 Great North Run live stream.

How to watch Great North Run live streams in the U.S.

Viewers in the U.S. can watch the 2026 Great North Run via FloTrack. A subscription costs $29.99/month or $150/year.

If you already use the service but aren't in the U.S. right now, you can live stream the Great North Run by using a good VPN.

How to watch Great North Run live streams in Canada

In Canada you’ll need a FloTrack subscription in order to watch the Great North Run 2026.

If you're away from home and struggling to tap into your subscriptions, you could use a VPN to help you access a Great North Run stream from anywhere. We recommend NordVPN.

How to watch Great North Run live streams in the U.K.

The 2026 Great North Run will be shown on BBC One in the U.K. with coverage starting at 10 a.m. BST.

That means you can also watch Great North Run live streams for free on BBC iPlayer, which is available on a number of devices including streaming sticks, smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, and smart TVs.

If you're currently traveling overseas, don't worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch the BBC iPlayer from abroad.

How to watch Great North Run live streams in Australia

For those in Australia, FloTrack is also the place to watch the Great North Run. In Aus, this will set you back $29.99/month or $149.99/year.

Outside of Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN, such as NordVPN, to watch the race as if you were back in Oz.

Great North Run start times and schedule 2026

(All times BST / ET)

10:20 a.m. / 5:20 a.m. — Elite wheelchair
10:25 a.m. / 5:25 a.m. — Elite women
10:27 a.m. / 5.27 a.m. — Visually impaired participants
10:50 a.m. / 5:50 a.m. — Elite men and masses start

More from Tom's Guide

• How to watch UK TV abroad: BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and more
• The best streaming VPN
• I’m a 62-year-old marathon runner — here’s the exact strength workout I use

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

As someone who reviews all kinds of running and fitness products, durability is both the easiest and hardest thing to test. All I have to do is keep using something to see if it’s long-lasting, but the rapid turnover of running products means there’s always something new to test.

That’s especially true with the best running shoes, watches and headphones, which are updated yearly, but I do get more of a chance to test running apparel over the long-term, and there are some items that have really stood out for their durability in my time as a runner.

I’ve used all of the products below regularly for several years, which means they’ve withstood hundreds of miles of running and frequent washing. Thousands of miles, in some cases. So while they're expensive up front, there's no doubt I've gotten great value from them in the long run. No pun intended.

You can extend the life of your products with good care — I always wash my running gear on a cold, fairly short cycle — but largely, durability depends on the quality of the goods, and I happily guarantee these five products stand up to the long-term run test.

Saysky Pace 2 in 1 Shorts 5”

I have a few pairs of these shorts that I’ve used weekly for several years and they’re just as comfortable as ever and show almost no signs of wear and tear.

They’re my go-to shorts for easy and long runs thanks to the supportive inner layer, which has a couple of handy drop-in pockets that can take a phone, keys and a couple of gels.

The upfront cost is pretty high, but as one of Saysky’s most popular products the 2 in 1 shorts are often featured in the brand’s sales, and they’re certainly built to last.

Soar All Weather Jacket

A healthy percentage of my longest-lasting running apparel is made by British brand Soar, and durability is certainly demanded given the high prices you do pay for Soar’s stuff.

The All Weather Jacket I have is the original version, and it has been updated since, but I have little doubt it remains just as durable as the one I’ve used myself for several winters' worth of running. My jacket still feels soft and comfortable, and aside from some fraying around the cuffs, it’s held up perfectly to regular use in inclement weather.

It’s windproof, water-resistant enough to fend off rain without being as hot and sweaty as a full waterproof, and has a close fit that allows for freedom of movement. The last point is important, because it means I can wear the jacket for fast runs in the winter, whereas many jackets feel too bulky.

There are certainly great running jackets available for less, but the All Weather Jacket lives up to its name in being warm enough for snow but breathable enough for mild, wet days, and it’s still my go-to after years of use.

Stance Run Crew Socks

I’ve been a big fan of Stance’s running socks since I first slipped a pair on many years ago, and I’ve amassed a sizable collection of the Run Crew socks in particular, with some that have lasted me more than five years.

While they’re not quite as soft and flexible as they were when new, these long-lasting socks are still comfortable after years of regular runs and washes, and none have developed holes or frayed at all.

Darn Tough is another running sock brand that has impressed me with their durability, and this is an apparel area where I’ve definitely found it’s worth paying a little more upfront to get a longer lasting product.

Tracksmith Van Cortland Tee

Tracksmith is another premium running brand that I found does offset the high initial price of its products with better-than-average durability, and the Van Cortland Tee has been a staple of my training wardrobe for several years.

It’s a loose-fitting tee that’s breathability in hot conditions, even if it’s not the thinnest and lightest option, and comes in a variety of designs that all feature Tracksmith’s trademark sash.

I use it mainly for easy and long runs as I personally prefer something tighter and lighter for sessions, though in winter the relaxed fit of the Van Cortland is handy as I can fit it over a base layer easily.

Under Armour Performance Tech Boxerjock

I prefer to wear underwear under my running shorts as I find this more supportive than relying on the liners in shorts alone, and these Under Armour Boxerjocks are both highly comfortable — I never get chafing with them — and unbelievably durable.

Frankly, I wasn’t sure whether to put them in this article, because it’s a little embarrassing to say you’ve been using the same underwear for almost 10 years, but they’ve stood up so well to regular use and washes I had to highlight them.

They’re good value too, and often appear in Amazon sales. Make sure you get the Tech version though, as the cotton ones won’t be as suitable for running.

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Walking, running or ‘Jeffing’ on a treadmill can be a great way to stay healthy in later life, because it allows you to exercise in a controlled environment to improve your cardiovascular fitness, strength and balance.

The best treadmills can be a little daunting to use at first, because they all come with a wide array of controls and settings, and sometimes even apps you have to navigate.

Once you get your head around what you can do with treadmills, however, they become the ideal training partner.

I enlisted James Stirling, personal trainer and Technogym Ambassador, for his advice on how seniors can make the most of treadmill workouts, and which settings they should be using in particular.

What are the benefits of using a treadmill versus outdoor running for older adults?

Running outside comes with the extra benefits of fresh air and the mental health boost of getting into nature (if your local area allows), but there are specific benefits to indoor running as well.

“Most treadmill belts have some give, which reduces impact loading compared to sidewalks,” says Stirling. “For anyone managing joint sensitivity this can be particularly beneficial.

“As we head into a colder season, treadmill running means no ice, no uneven kerbs in the dark and naturally, no dodging traffic. For older adults, a treadmill eliminates a lot of fall risk from an unpredictable surface.”

You also get more control over your speed and incline when running on a treadmill, and you can follow structured workouts that are created for you on the machine.

“For beginner runners, this makes it really easy to follow a run/walk programme where you run a little, walk little,” says Stirling.

Finally, most treadmills have handrails, which can be especially valuable if you’re concerned about balance.

“Handrails on treadmills also provide a reassuring safety net,” says Stirling. “That reassurance often means older adults push a little harder than they would outdoors, simply because they trust the environment.”

What are the key settings and features on treadmills that seniors can use?

The first thing Stirling recommends doing is training on a mild incline, which is a lot easier to do on a treadmill than outdoors.

“Using a modest incline of 1–3% at an easy pace builds strength and cardiovascular capacity without the added impact of speed,” says Stirling. “This is probably the most underused tool for this age group."

“The ability to adjust speed in small increments also lets you progress gradually rather than in bigger jumps than what the body's ready for.”

It’s also worth always using the emergency clip on treadmills, which will pull out and stop the belt if you fall or move too far from the console.

What treadmill workout for seniors would you recommend?

“The run/walk protocol is always the best starting point,” says Stirling. “It breaks the run down into manageable intervals and it’s really easy to make progressions. Aim to gradually build the run intervals, and reduce the walk intervals, until you can run for around 20 minutes.”

Stirling also notes that speed isn’t the only way to progress your treadmill running and make it harder — adjusting the incline means you can push yourself without raising the speed, which might feel more manageable.

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Once the best carbon plate running shoes were established as the fastest option for race day, it was only natural for plates to start appearing in training shoes as well, and for a few years, these plated super-trainers were all the rage.

That era seemed to be ending, however, with a wave of plate-free super-trainers taking their place, led by shoes like the Adidas Adizero Evo SL and Asics Megablast, as runners opted for a more natural, plate-free experience outside of race day.

The New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1 might be the shoe to bring plated trainers back to the fore. It’s one of the best running shoes for fast training I’ve ever tested, with a lightweight, springy and fun design, and the plate helps you to keep pushing during workouts.

While it’s not cheap and some runners might well still prefer a lightweight, plate-free shoe like the Evo SL or Dynafish Xiaonian for workouts instead, the SuperComp Rebel v1 is an outstanding fast trainer and a shoe I’ll continue to use in my own rotation.

I've been putting the shoe through its paces, along with Fitness Editor Jane McGuire. Read our New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1 review below.

New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1 review: Price and availability

The New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1 launched in August 2026 and costs $200 in the U.S. and £180 in the U.K., making it considerably more expensive than the New Balance Rebel v5, which is $145/£140 and doesn’t have a plate.

It’s priced in line with most super-trainers, but there are some notable fast training alternatives that come in cheaper, like the Adidas Adizero Evo SL and Dynafish Xiaonian.

New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1 review: Design and fit

NHF: The SuperComp Rebel v1 is currently available in four colors, including the angora with slate grey model I tested.

It’s quite a tight-fitting shoe, but I was just about OK in my normal running shoe size. If you tend to be big for your size, however, I’d consider going half a size up.

The shoe has a 4mm drop and a stack height of 40mm at the heel and 36mm at the forefoot, so it’s a well-cushioned shoe if not as maxed out as some.

At 7.9oz in a US men’s size 9.5, the SuperComp Rebel v1 is lightweight given the high stack, if not as light as true racing shoes like the New Balance SC Elite v6, which are closer to or under 7oz.

JM: I tested the SuperComp Rebel v1 in a pistachio colorway, which is beautiful. Like Nick, I found this to be a tight-fitting shoe. I normally go up half a size in New Balance, but I went up a full size in the SuperComp Rebel v1.

Upper

The SuperComp Rebel v1 has a lightweight, breathable mesh upper with a little padding around the collar.

It’s not as plushly padded as the uppers on cushioned shoes built for easy runs, but I found it perfectly comfortable on all my runs and had no issues with rubbing or hot spots.

Midsole

The midsole in the SuperComp Rebel v1 is made from the same supercritical aliphatic TPU as the SC Elite v6 and delivers a very energetic, bouncy ride.

It’s the biggest upgrade on the shoe compared with past plated trainers from New Balance I’ve tested, like the SuperComp Trainer v3, making the SC Rebel v1 lighter and more responsive.

Running through the foam is a carbon-infused Pebax plate, which is a little more flexible than the plate on the SuperComp Elite v6, to make the SuperComp Rebel v1 more comfortable for regular use in training.

Outsole

The SuperComp Rebel v1 uses PU rubber to cover the forefoot and heel of the shoe and I’ve found that it grips well in wet and dry conditions.

A large cutout runs down the center of the shoe, which reduces weight and shows off the plate in the midsole. I found that if you run on gravel trails, you can be sure this cutout will pick up the odd stone that needs to be removed ASAP to avoid damaging the plate.

For a lightweight, speed-focused shoe, the Rebel v1 has quite a wide base, which improves its stability, even though it’s still a pretty wobbly, soft shoe.

New Balance SC Rebel v1 review: Running performance

NHF: I used the SuperComp Rebel v1 for a variety of training runs during my testing, including workouts with short one- and two-minute reps, a steady 10-miler and a threshold session running six-minute reps at around half marathon pace.

While I mostly did faster runs in the shoe, I also tested it with some easy running to see how it fared as an all-rounder that can handle all your training.

It impressed me most at speed. The springy midsole and plastic plate produce a ride that’s almost as fast as a full carbon racing shoe, and I loved doing both short and long interval workouts in the SuperComp Rebel.

The bounce from the midsole also holds up throughout long runs, like the steady 10-miler I ran in the shoe, and the SuperComp Rebel v1 could be a good racing option for longer events if you don’t enjoy the feel (or high price) of pinnacle racers.

I also enjoyed using the SuperComp Rebel v1 for my easy runs, even if it’s not the most stable or supportive shoe. It works best in a running shoe rotation alongside a more cushioned and stable daily trainer for easy runs, but if you want one shoe for everything and like speedy sneakers, it would be a great pick.

JM: Like Nick, I mainly wore this shoe for tempo sessions and easy runs. I immediately loved how bouncy and exciting this shoe feels underfoot. If you're looking to travel with one pair of running shoes and get all your sessions done, this is the shoe you'll probably reach for. It's an exciting shoe to run in.

Should you buy the New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1?

The SuperComp Rebel v1 is the best New Balance running shoe I’ve tested in years, maybe even ever. It’s fast, bouncy and fun to run in, especially when doing workouts.

Thanks to the excellent midsole foam, it’s a clear step up from New Balance’s other speed-focused trainers, like the Rebel v5 and SC Trainer v3, though the Rebel v5 is a bit more comfortable and stable for easy efforts.

There are cheaper alternatives that are also brilliant for faster training, though, especially the Adidas Evo SL and Dynafish Xiaonian, and those who want a more supportive and stable super-trainer could look at the Asics Megablast instead.

It’s the best plated trainer on the market right now, though, in my opinion, outperforming previous favorites like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 and Hoka Mach X3.

Unless you use a true carbon racer for your workouts, the SuperComp Rebel v1 is as good as it gets for fast training, and it’ll stay within easy reach for my own marathon

As a running shoe reviewer, there are two questions I get asked all the time. One is "What are the best running shoes?" And the other is "How long do running shoes last?"

Both are tricky to answer, but picking the best shoes is one of my favorite parts of my job, and I certainly have a lot of opinions to share on the topic. How long running shoes last is, however, almost impossible to answer definitively.

That’s because different runners go through shoes at different rates, depending on things like foot shape, running style, weight and the terrain they run on.

Running shoes also vary in how long they last — racing shoes are built for speed, not longevity, whereas cushioned daily trainers are designed to be more durable.

To get more insight into how long shoes last, I asked Damion Perry, Senior Product Line Manager, Puma Running, who gave me the best advice I’ve ever had on how to spot when a shoe might be past its best.

How long do running shoes last?

“It’s very tough to tell, because the lifespan is so extended on all of them,” says Perry. “But to paint in broad strokes, most shoes are probably set to last you between 300 to 500 miles comfortably.”

That’s your starting figure, but durability will depend on the type of shoe you’re using, and in my own experience, shoes tend to last me longer than that.

Even with racing shoes like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, which is built for speed, not durability, Perry says the lifespan can vary between runners.

“We all want to sell shoes that people can use for long periods of time,” says Perry. “I've had people come back and say that they've got like over 1000km (600 miles) in a Fast-R.”

How can you tell when you need to replace a running shoe?

For me, this is the more important question, because shoes do vary greatly in lifespan. There are some easy ways to spot when a shoe needs replacing, like the outsole being completely worn away or tears in the upper.

However, the main determinant of whether a shoe is still good is the midsole, because when that firms up and loses its spring, it becomes less fun and can even be risky to keep using the shoe.

This is harder to spot, especially if you use a running shoe rotation and swap between sneakers each day, but Perry gave some great advice for recognizing when a shoe is past its best.

“Speaking from my personal running experiences,” says Perry. “When running starts feeling harder and you’re doing the same paces, performing the same routes.

"As runners, we are such creatures of habit that when some weird discomfort starts popping up on the same route that you run like every Monday, and you're like, ‘what is this, this feels terrible.’ This natural sense of ‘I feel like something's wrong.’ That's probably the biggest indicator.”

This advice really spoke to me as a runner because I run the same routes all the time, and I do feel when something is a little out of whack, which for me can also be down to things like being unusually tired or illness setting in.

If you’ve run a similar route for months in a shoe and it starts to feel somehow wrong, it could well be that the midsole has lost its spring. You might even notice an odd niggle starts to arise after using a shoe, which can be another sign your shoe needs swapping out.

“There's user preference, within what that lifespan is, so you as a runner are your own best judge,” says Perry, “Check in with yourself as you start to get around that 3-, 4-, 500-mile mark in a shoe. It's a gut feel on how that Monday morning route feels.”

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The On Cloudboom Volt first caught my eye at The Running Event in Texas 2025, where brands preview their launches for the following year.

Mostly, that was because it looks fantastic — the light blue color I tested might be the best-looking shoe I’ve tried this year, which is always a plus. However, it was also more affordable than On’s other racing shoes, and looked an intriguing option thanks to the combo of a plate and On’s bouncy Helion HF midsole foam.

By the time I tested the shoe, however, the On Cloudboom Strike 2 had somewhat stolen the Volt’s thunder as one of the best carbon plate running shoes, and the Volt simply isn’t as good a racer as the Strike 2 in my opinion.

However, the Volt is cheaper, and in my testing it emerged as a strong plated option for fast training in particular. I wouldn’t mark it as a must-buy, but I did enjoy all my runs in the On Cloudboom Volt and if you spy it in a sale it might be a worthy addition to your running shoe rotation.

On Cloudboom Volt review: Price and availability

The On Cloudboom Volt launched in February 2026 and costs $200 in the U.S. and £190 in the U.K., making it more affordable than On’s top racing shoe, the On Cloudboom Strike 2 ($250/£230).

It’s cheap compared to most carbon racers, but the price is more in line with other fast training shoes with plates, which is where I’d position the Volt myself.

On Cloudboom Volt review: Design and fit

The On Cloudboom Volt is currently available in four colors, including the light blue Celeste shoe I tested, which is just gorgeous.

I found that it fit well in my normal running shoe size. It’s a bit tighter around the toes than On’s cushioned sneakers in the same size, but that’s normal for a speed-focused shoe, and I didn’t have any trouble with the upper rubbing during my runs.

The Volt has a 5mm drop and weighs 7.8oz in my US men’s size 9.5. It’s light, but not as light as most top racing shoes, which are usually under 7oz in my size.

Upper

The Cloudboom Volt has a lightweight mesh upper with just enough padding around the collar to be comfortable without adding too much bulk to the shoe.

I had no complaints with the upper during my testing. It was breathable enough and held my foot securely during fast runs.

Midsole

The Cloudboom Volt uses two layers of On’s PEBA-based Helion HF foam, which is also used in the brand’s top racers and the On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS.

However, the version of Helion HF used here is significantly firmer than on other shoes, including the Cloudboom Strike 2. It’s not as squishy and bouncy as a result, but it still delivers a good level of energy return in my runs.

A carbon-infused plate runs through the midsole between these two layers of foam, and the Volt has a mild rocker shape to aid in pushing you onto your forefoot.

Outsole

Fast training and racing shoes generally have minimal outsoles to reduce weight, so the extensive rubber coverage on the Cloudboom Volt is a pleasant surprise.

It will boost the shoe’s durability if used for a lot of training, and it grips well on wet roads. I also felt comfortable taking it onto light trails at times, knowing the rubber would protect the softer midsole foam.

On Cloudboom Volt review: Running performance

I did a variety of runs in the Cloudboom Volt, from easy daily training to fast workouts doing short and long reps. I also used it for both runs on a double-workout day, racing up to about 20 miles in the shoe that day.

I’ve tested several On shoes that use the Helion HF midsole, and it was a surprise to feel how firm the Cloudboom Volt was in comparison. However, I still found it comfortable enough for longer workouts, and the firmer feel helped to produce a fast transition from heel to toe.

It’s not the most rockered, bouncy or propulsive shoe, but the Cloudboom Volt is nimble and pushes you onto your toes during fast runs. It could be a good option for those who don’t like the exaggerated rides of highly rockered or squishy shoes, as a result, because the Volt has quite a traditional, natural ride for a modern speed shoe.

I also found it fairly stable and was happy running at easy paces in the shoe, which is not always the case with high-stack plated shoes.

There are certainly significant caveats to the Volt’s performance, though. It’s not as light as you’d expect for a plated shoe aimed at shorter events, and when it comes to my fastest training runs and races, I prefer a more efficient, aggressive ride.

Should you buy the On Cloudboom Volt?

The On Cloudboom Volt might not top any "best of" lists this year, but it’s a shoe that impressed me and one I enjoyed running in, and that’s not just because I’m obsessed with its looks.

It’s an accomplished fast training shoe, and I think it will drop in price during On’s sales. It’s available for around $150, rather than its $200 MSRP; it’s an option worth considering if you like a firmer ride in your speed shoe.

There are excellent fast training shoes available for less, though, notably the Adidas Adizero Evo SL, which is one of the best value sneakers on the market, or the Dynafish Xiaonian.

I’d also consider the New Balance SC Rebel v1 as a springier option with a plate, though it’s as expensive as the Volt.

For race day, I prefer the more aggressive, lightweight design of shoes like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 or Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, and the On Cloudboom Strike 2 would be worth upgrading to as well if you’re in pursuit of PRs.

I’ve been running for just over 10 years and consider myself very fortunate to have taken up the sport when I did, because running shoes have never been better.

The most high-profile area of this is carbon plate running shoes, which have proved controversial in aiding rapid improvements in world records for elites and personal records for amateurs.

However, there’s no controversy over the advances in shoe design that have led to brilliant training shoes that everyone can enjoy.

Right now, the best running shoes are lighter, bouncier and just flat-out more fun than shoes were when I started the sport, and that’s mostly down to what’s going on in their midsoles — the part of the shoe between the sockliner and the outsole on a sneaker.

To find out more about advancements in midsole tech and performance, I spoke to Damion Perry, Senior Product Line Manager at Puma Running.

Why is the midsole so important on a running shoe?

Uppers and outsoles are important, but the key to running shoe performance is the foam in the midsole, which serves two purposes, according to Perry.

“One is to absorb the impact of you landing on the ground,” says Perry, “and the second is to return energy for you to feel that sense of lift and bounce.”

Finding a material that does both those jobs effectively is the tricky part.

“You have something soft like sand which absorbs a lot of impact very well,” says Perry. “Then you have something like a trampoline, which provides an extraordinary amount of energy return.

“In a running shoe, you're trying to use a material that effectively absorbs those forces and then gives them back to you as much as it can. That’s the midsole, and we use foam to do that.”

Why have midsoles improved so much in recent years?

When I started, running shoes were a lot better at absorbing energy than they were at giving it back, but foams have improved dramatically in recent years, and a lot of that comes down to using supercritical foams.

“Previously, foams were injection-moulded or compression-moulded,” says Perry. “Plastic-based materials that are poured into the shape of a sole.

“Inherently, with that, they’re quite dense materials. They provide some level of cushioning, but not at the level of what we're seeing today from using the supercritical foaming process.”

Supercritical foams are created by infusing foams with a gas (usually nitrogen) using a high-pressure, heated chamber called an autoclave. This creates air within the cell structure of the foams, making them lighter and less dense than older foams.

“You can use a lot of different raw materials for it,” says Perry, “but the process of supercritical foaming is what's created this drastically new underfoot feel. Materials that compress feel really airy and bouncy and absorb those forces. It allows for a better cushioning experience.”

What are the differences between the foams you get in midsoles?

This supercritical process is used with all kinds of foam used in running shoes. EVA was the main material used for a long time, before springier modern materials like PEBA and now aliphatic TPU became more popular.

Brands still use a variety of foams in their line-ups, though, because each has properties that make it attractive to certain consumers, including EVA.

“Everyone's running experience or use of running shoes is quite different, right?” says Perry. “There's a difference between clicking off three- or four-minute Ks [five- or six-minute miles] and walking.

“If you need something that feels supportive and secure and familiar underfoot, something like EVA is a great solution for that. But if you want a PR in the 5K, you get this foam [aliphatic TPU] that has an extremely high amount of energy return, and mix that with the modern geometries and plates that allow it to be harnessed in its maximized way, there's a clear preference and purpose for that.”

Right now, the market is certainly skewing toward foams like PEBA and aliphatic TPU that deliver high levels of energy return, but when picking your running shoe, it’s not just about the foam used; it’s also about how the brand uses it.

What is shoe ‘geometry’ and why does it matter?

If you look at a shelf of running shoes, you’ll quickly notice that they don’t all have the same shape. Some are much more rockered than others, with a curved sole that rolls you forward, and they also differ in width, stack height and drop — how much higher the heel stack height is compared with the forefoot stack height.

This is the geometry of the shoe, and it has a huge effect on the ride feel of a shoe, regardless of the foam used. Speaking of foams, those can also differ hugely in feel even if they’re made from the same material.

“There are so many things that can be tweaked to create a particular experience that we on the brand side are trying to curate,” says Perry. “This is a daily trainer, this is a racer, this is a super trainer, this is a recovery shoe. We might be able to use the same ingredients, but there are things that we can toy with.

“At the foam level, density is one — just because something is made of aliphatic TPU does not mean it's going to feel exactly the same in every single shoe, because we can change the density.

“We make decisions on geometry, and we make decisions on density to curate an experience that we want you to have.”

The differences in foam can be drastic even if brands use the same name across different shoes, like Puma’s Nitro Elite material or Nike’s ZoomX. You can’t just go by the label — it’s important to look at what the shoe is designed to do.

Cushioned shoes for daily training will generally have more stable, less springy foams in the midsole to protect your body when racking up a lot of mileage, while racing shoes use the most energetic materials possible to try and help you get faster and more efficient, and those foams are often used in tandem with a carbon plate to boost those benefits.

One of the things I love most about testing running shoes is that there is no one best foam or shoe geometry — we all like different things, and experimenting with a mix of shoes is always a good idea where possible.

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Gravel running is nothing new — runners have been seeking out gravel tracks for as long as the sport has existed, because they offer a quieter, calmer experience than busy roads without the perils of truly technical trail running.

Gravel running shoes, however, are a relatively new phenomenon. Their rise is no doubt partly inspired by the huge success of gravel bikes, and the principles underpinning the rise of gravel shoes are similar to those behind the bikes, which are built to handle a little bit of everything.

That’s why I value gravel shoes myself as a runner. They might seem like a niche product, but they’re actually among the most versatile running shoes on the market, capable of handling a wide variety of terrain and different types of training runs.

They’re perfect for trips when you’re not sure what terrain you’re going to run on, and even if you mostly run on the road and only occasionally hit the trails, they’re worth considering because they work so well on pure road runs too, in my experience.

I’ve picked out the best gravel running shoes I’ve tested below, and I also spoke to Erin Cooper, director and marketing for Performance & SportStyle at Salomon, about what to look for if you’re buying some.

What are the key features of a gravel running shoe?

I’ve been testing the best trail-running shoes for a decade and there have always been good options for light trails, which have been known as road-to-trail or all-terrain shoes in the past.

Gravel shoes are an extension of this area of the market, aiming to combine key features from road and trail shoes to work well on both.

“For Salomon, our gravel shoes are rooted in our road platforms and leverage key technologies from our leading products in both road and trail footwear to find an ideal balance,” says Cooper.

The midsoles of gravel running shoes are often the same soft, energetic foams found on a brand’s road running shoes, whereas traditional trail shoes might use a firmer material for more stability.

This creates the same kind of comfortable, bouncy ride people expect from a modern road running shoe, but with the added benefit of a more substantial outsole.

“Our Gravel contaGRIP outsole provides reliable grip and durability matched with 2.5 mm lugs — vs. 4+ mm in our trail shoes,” says Cooper.

Lug length and shape are certainly key aspects of gravel shoes. The outsole has to grip on light trails with loose surfaces, but still feel comfortable on flat, paved roads. In most gravel shoes I’ve tested, this means 2.5mm lugs with broad, flat shapes, often chevrons.

“Runners should look for shallow lugs,” says Cooper. “These provide enough grip and traction to be confident on light trails, rolling hills, gravel paths, or any other non-technical mountain terrain and a smooth ride on the roads.”

This outsole also boosts durability when on gravel tracks — road shoes often have large areas of exposed foam that can get chewed up on light trails like this.

The upper is also an important feature of a gravel shoe. Road shoe uppers prioritize comfort and breathability, while full trail shoe uppers focus just as much on durability and protection through features like toe bumpers. Gravel shoes, once again, find a balance.

“The upper should be lightweight like on a road shoe, but with added protection for improved foothold and durability on gravel and trail surfaces,” says Cooper.

The best gravel running shoes

Some of my favorite shoes of 2026 so far have been gravel shoes, and I’ve taken several trips where they’ve been my only option for travelling, walking and all my runs.

Unless you spend your time exclusively on the roads or on mountain tracks that require a full trail-running shoe, it’s worth considering adding a gravel sneaker to your rotation.

Here are the three best gravel running shoes I’ve tested.

Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL

Salomon has spearheaded the gravel shoe moment, and I think the Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL showcases the versatility of this type of sneaker brilliantly well.

It has an energetic midsole made from a supercritical TPU foam called OptiFoam Squared that delivers a good balance of comfort and bounce for easy, steady-paced runs, and the outsole grips well on light trails and roads in both dry and wet conditions.

The quick-lace system brought over from Salomon’s trail shoes will divide opinion as it’s not as comfortable as standard laces, but this allows you to quickly tighten the laces with the toggle.

The North Face Altamesa 500 v2

The Altamesa 500 v2 is pitched more as an all-terrain trail-running shoe than a gravel shoe, but it fits into this category well, in my opinion, thanks to its bouncy ride and impressive performance on the road and light trails.

It has 4mm lugs, which are deeper than on most gravel shoes, but still feel smooth and comfortable on the road, and the Dream midsole foam is enjoyably springy and comfortable on long runs.

I used The North Face Altamesa 500 v2 for all my runs on a holiday this year, covering a mix of road, gravel and trails, and it’s a great all-rounder option for those who vary the terrain they run on.

Asics Blazeblast

The Asics Novablast is one of the most popular road running shoes available, and rightly so in my view — it’s comfortable, fun, and suits a wide variety of runners well for daily training.

It doesn’t have the most extensive or durable outsole, though, and that’s where the Asics Blazeblast comes in. It shares a lot of DNA with the Novablast, including a high stack of comfortable foam in the midsole, but with a full outsole with 2.5mm lugs that excels on gravel tracks.

The Blazeblast is another shoe I took on holiday this year as my main walking and running shoe, and its versatility shone through. I did a 15-mile run on mixed terrain and clambered all over some rocks with my kids, another activity where the more substantial outsole was welcomed.

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In a world of AI training plans, Runna stands out from the crowd. Its plans are developed by real-life coaches, who create algorithms that help runners of all abilities achieve their goals. I’ve used Runna for my past three marathons, and it is, without a doubt, one of the best running apps on the market.

The app has grown exponentially, and since it was bought by Strava in May 2025, it has continued to roll out new features. Today, Runna announces a partnership with Loughborough University — this collaboration will embed the very latest sports science within Runna’s coach-designed training plans. To find out more, I sat down with Runna’s Head Coach and former Olympian, Steph Kessell.

What does this new partnership mean for runners?

At the moment, Runna uses algorithms created by experienced, qualified coaches to work out which plan is best for a user. To do so, when you sign up for the app, you’ll be asked a series of questions based on your running experience and goal. The Loughborough University partnership takes this a step further, explains Kessell, “Research evolves over time, and we want to make sure that we’re keeping up to date with that. It feels like a really good time to set ourselves apart from AI-generated training plans.”

The focus of the partnership seems to be on ensuring that the training plans on the app can achieve their goals, while minimizing their risk of injury. Is injury the biggest risk with AI training plans? I ask Kessell. “Yes,” she says, “Running is so individual and two runners who have the same experience might need to train in different ways. I can use myself as an example. I’m a marathon runner and compared to other Olympic athletes I was running against in Tokyo, my mileage was a lot less.

"They’d all be doing 100+ mile weeks, but my body is not able to do that based on my biomechanics and how I run. As a beginner runner, you don’t know that, but if beginners come to us [rather than use AI plans] we can build them up based on what they have been doing and start them off at a level that is right for them.”

How does Runna know its users are at risk of injury?

Runna estimates a 43% lower self-reported rate of injury per 1000 hours of training when compared to a 2015 Sports Medicine benchmark. This is an impressive stat, so I asked Kessell how the app currently predicts if a user is overtraining. “We can see from a runner’s data if a plan is still suitable for them. If we see that they’re missing their pace targets, we’ll advise them to slow down. The same applies to people who are running more than they’ve committed to — we might advise that they could go up. It’s about finding your baseline, then Runna is here to either get you back on track, or nudge you along a bit.”

I ask Kessell, as a coach, what she thinks the biggest injury risk is for runners. “I think often you see a lot of coaches getting really carried away by progression and building up volume and intensity at the same time,” she tells me.

“By doing both at the same time, you’re only increasing your injury risk. Sure, you’re increasing the chances of getting fitter and faster, but with running there’s always a risk — it’s a high-impact sport. For me, it’s about deciding: are you going to build up your mileage or do you want to build speed? Something we plan carefully at Runna is to get this balance of volume and intensity right, depending on what a runner’s goal is.”

What does Runna’s Head Coach hope to see next?

In an app that’s constantly evolving, what do the coaches want next? I ask Kessell as our chat comes to an end, “We have so many features in our pipeline I won’t give away, but I think there’s so many important things within running that can make our programs even more personalized. Bringing in the importance of female health into our plans, for example. But also if we can educate more runners on different aspects of running, whether that’s building mileage or intensity, fuelling, warming up properly, strength training — the more education we can provide to our users, the more consistency they’ll have in their training.”

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It's officially running season in Australia, with the Sydney Marathon kicking off this Sunday, August 30. Running any marathon length — even 5km — is a great accomplishment, as sustaining the same pace and energy throughout a miles-long race is no easy feat, even for those who actually enjoy running.

Some adrenaline-fuelled Aussie runners are already in the thick of planning the next few months, with events scheduled every weekend across the country. From park runs to full-on marathons coming up, there's no better time to invest in the best running essentials to get you through your big race.

Whether it's your first marathon or hundredth, IMO, you always need items on hand to give you the motivation to push through. I'm talking comfortable, yet vibrant running shoes, an insulated water bottle, and fun new training gear that'll inspire you to reach your PB. You could even chuck in a new handheld fan or appliance to help fuel you before and after the race.

I've listed 18 of the best running essentials below that are worth considering ahead of your big race, including some top-rated running shoes as chosen by Tom's Guide's fitness team.

Better yet, most of these items have fast shipping, so you can order them now and have them in time for any marathon events you might be attending this weekend. That said, most running experts don't suggest opting for a new pair before a big race weekend (especially if you are competing this weekend). FWIW, you could view this purchase as a consolation prize for, well, running a marathon.

So scroll on to find the best running essentials worth adding to your cart right now.

As someone who lives in the UK, I’ve only really had cause to use the term ‘heat training’ ironically for most of my life. The very idea seems absurd when heading out for a run under cloudy skies in sub-70℉ (21.1℃) conditions, which is what we often call summer.

However, this year the UK is experiencing the longest and hottest heatwave of my life, and as someone who runs every day, adapting to and dealing with the heat has become a real part of my marathon training.

The temperature has been over 80℉ (26.6℃) on many of my runs for weeks, and it’s peaked at around 95℉ (35℃). As a result, I finally had the chance to test the CORE 2, a thermal sensor you can attach to a heart rate chest strap that monitors skin and body temperature and beams the info live to an app and wearables.

This sensor is often used by athletes trying to adapt to the heat, often before having to compete in scorching conditions. That’s not my main aim — hopefully it will have cooled off before the Frankfurt Marathon, which I'm running in late October — but I still found the data useful, and I picked up a lot of new knowledge about how heat affects the body, and there are benefits to heat training even if you plan to race in cold conditions.

Here are five things I learned running with the CORE 2 thermal sensor every day for a month.

Core temperature doesn’t always track with skin temperature

The CORE 2 sensor shows your core and skin temperature live — I added the Connect IQ data field for it so I could see these stats on my Garmin Forerunner 970.

Of these stats, core temperature is a stronger indicator of the state of your body during exercise and rises more consistently in line with effort and heat.

I was surprised to see how much skin temperature could fluctuate and even drop during activities, owing to factors like sweat and wind cooling the skin.

For example, on this 15-mile Sunday long run, my core temperature rose consistently throughout the workout, while my skin temperature dropped, and even during very hard workouts, my skin temperature might not be that high owing to profuse sweating.

I found this all fascinating, and it shows that you need to get in deep and get those core temperature readings to get useful insights into the body during workouts.

That’s not to say skin temperature sensors on wearables are useless — they are important for measuring skin temperature overnight, which can help predict illness and help track the menstrual cycle.

It takes time for the core to cool down after hard runs

On my hardest hot run with the sensor — an afternoon track workout in blazing sunshine — I hit a core body temperature of 101.8℉ (38.7℃). I also hit over 100℉ (37.7℃) on an easy run when the outside temperature was around 95℉ (35℃).

On both these occasions, I wore the sensor for a while after I hit this peak to see how long it takes to come down, and I noticed it took a while, even when I was jogging at an easy pace after the workout for my cool down.

After the workout, it took 50 minutes for my body to drop back down to its normal core temperature, even though I couldn’t feel that heat anymore.

The takeaway for me was to bear that in mind with my recovery and what I have planned straight after workouts. I used a cooling towel after another workout to help me drop my temperature, and it’s hard to beat a shower where you gradually lower the water temperature.

Get under tree cover when you can

I’m lucky enough to live by a big forest and for most of my runs during the heatwave I’ve been heading under tree cover, which I find makes a huge difference.

It was good to see that, backed up by the sensor data, most notably on the 95℉ (35℃) day, when I spent the first half hour on the road with no cover before heading into the forest. My core temperature rose sharply on the road but plateaued once I was in the forest, even though I felt like I was working harder on undulating trails.

The advice for running in the heat is always to do your runs early in the day and ideally in the shade, and using this sensor has driven that point home to me over the past month.

I can do a full hour in 85℉ (29.4℃) heat in the forest and stay in the lowest heat strain zone on the CORE 2 sensor, whereas if I’m exposed on the road, the same pace and heart rate quickly moves me into higher zones.

Easy efforts need to be scaled back

Captain Obvious will be the first to tell you that running is harder in the heat, so you need to adjust your pace, but once again, even as an experienced runner, I found it useful to have that data laid out before me during runs.

I’ve been running for over a decade, and I do know my body so I can run to feel pretty accurately, but I’m not accustomed to heat, and I did find the sensor useful in showing that easy runs needed to be scaled back to actually be easy, especially when the temperature was over 90℉ (32.2℃).

Having the data on my wrist meant that I could see if I strayed out of the lowest heat zone on an easy run and reduce my pace. I saved my heat adaptations for harder run days.

Heat acclimation takes dedication

The best use for the CORE 2 sensor is to monitor your response to heat training and help yourself acclimatize to it, especially ahead of tackling events in hot conditions.

That’s not really what I was using it for — I was just learning about how heat affects the body, and if anything, trying to avoid getting too hot — but I did think that running every day through a heatwave would boost my heat acclimation.

It turns out you have to really focus and work hard to do this, because I’m still ranked a ‘Thermal Rookie’ in the CORE app and only 4% acclimatized, because I have aimed to run under tree cover and early in the day when possible.

Only workouts directly in the sun really moved the needle for me on acclimatization, and if you're aiming to do this, you’ll have to work hard through dedicated sessions in hot conditions to push your body to adapt.

There are reasons to do this kind of heat training even if you plan to race in cool conditions, because it can also help improve things like your VO2max and lactate threshold, so I might start enjoying lie-ins and getting out for my runs in the sun.

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Every runner is an individual with their own preferences in shoes. Some love super-squishy and soft cushioned shoes, while others prefer ultra-light and aggressively rockered trainers.

It can sometimes be difficult as a reviewer to pick out the best running shoes for everyone as a result, but I try to highlight sneakers that offer a bit more than their rivals in the same category, whether that’s better value, more fun, or a higher level of performance.

The poll feature at Tom’s Guide gives me a chance to get feedback on running shoes in general, and recently, I asked readers to vote on the brand they wear. After counting 380 votes, I was pleased to see a clear winner that aligned with what I’d voted for myself.

Which running shoe brand do you wear?

Asics actually got more votes than the next four brands combined, and for me that isn’t a surprise, because right now the Japanese brand has some of the best options in a wide variety of running shoe categories.

I’ve picked out my favorite Asics shoes below and also gone into why I think Puma is a brand people are sleeping on.

The poll is still open if you want to add your own vote to see if it shifts the results.

My top Asics running shoes

Whether you’re looking for one of the fastest carbon plate racers on the market or a cushioned shoe for easy runs, the Asics line-up has you well covered, and it also boasts the best all-rounder available in my view, which is the Asics Megablast.

The Megablast is very expensive, though, so the alternative most people might prefer is the Asics Novablast 6, one of my favorite shoes of 2026 so far. It’s a great cushioned daily trainer with a bit more punch for faster efforts than other Asics max-cushioned shoes, like the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28, which I found relatively dull on the run.

For race day, Asics has three of the best super-shoes going. I’ve set PRs in the Asics Metaspeed Ray and Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, while some might prefer the Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo to the Sky — they’re similarly great shoes, with different ride feels.

Overall, the Sky would be my top pick in this category from Asics, even over the ultra-light Ray, which is pricier and very soft and unstable, so it might not suit everyone.

If you’re heading onto light trails and gravel paths, then the Asics Blazeblast is a shoe I thoroughly enjoyed testing this summer. It’s as comfortable as a cushioned road shoe with an outsole that offers better grip and durability when off-road.

Puma should be more popular

Looking at the rest of the results, the one that really stands out to me is how low Puma ranked. It’s understandable because for a long time Puma was not a force to be reckoned with for road running shoes, but that has all changed in recent years.

They have a smaller line-up than Asics but challenge for the top spot in a couple of key categories of running shoes.

The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 just edges out the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo as my top racer right now, while the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro is a great lightweight daily trainer to rival the Novablast 6 as perhaps the best new shoe of 2026.

Puma shoes tend to offer good value in general as well, and they crop up in sales regularly, so they deserve to be higher in the rankings in my view.

It was interesting to see "Other" do well — I’ve been testing shoes from a few up-and-coming brands this year, and some have been exceptional, most notably the Dynafish Xiaonian.

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I was sold on armless sunglasses from my first run using them, simply because the secure fit provided by the cord immediately rules out the biggest problem I have with running sunnies, which is that they bounce or slip down your nose when you get sweaty.

The only reason I haven’t been using the Ombraz Refugio more often since I first tested them is that I prefer to use prescription running sunglasses over contacts, so when the chance arose to try the Ombraz Teton with prescription lenses, I jumped at it.

I’ve run 200 miles in three weeks using the glasses, as well as using them for bike rides, strength workouts and general use. They don’t come cheap, but I’ve been highly impressed with the sunglasses — here are my likes and dislikes.

Like #1: The fit is rock solid and quick to adjust

The best running sunglasses have to provide a reliable fit to be of any use, and it’s not easy to find a design that fits every face using nosepads and sticky or adjustable arms.

Ombraz’s glasses sidestep these issues thanks to the cord that attaches directly to the frame, which you can tighten quickly and easily using the two toggles.

I found that I didn’t need to have the cord that tight for a bounce-free fit, even during my hardest runs. This means there was no pressure on the back or sides of my head, and I never had to push the Teton glasses back up during runs.

If you’re constantly frustrated by sunglasses slipping or bouncing during runs, especially on trails where I find downhills can make otherwise secure sunnies slip, then this armless design could be the answer.

A bonus of not having to constantly adjust the glasses during runs is that you don’t get sweaty fingerprints on the lenses.

Like #2: I haven’t had any fogging during runs

The Teton glasses have large flat lenses that don’t wrap close to the face. This is a downside in some respects, as I’ll come onto later, but it does mean there’s space for air to flow around them.

This means I’ve not noticed any fogging during hot, sweaty runs, even indoors on the treadmill, which can be another common problem with sports sunglasses.

Like #3: Photochromic prescription lenses are ideal for year-round use

I opted for photochromic lenses with the Teton glasses, which isn’t an option with every prescription Ombraz style but is well worth it for me as a runner in the UK who is regularly under tree and cloud cover.

The lenses darken quickly in the sun but are completely clear when running indoors on the treadmill and react rapidly when I train in my local forest, moving from sun to shadow and dappled light.

I’ve been testing the sunglasses during a heatwave and can also vouch for the fact that they are dark enough for me in bright sunlight, but if you are more focused on reducing glare and just blocking out the sun, other lens options might suit you better.

Like #4: They’re easy to pack

The corded style of the glasses means that they pack pretty much completely flat, and they come with a padded pouch to store them in.

I’ve been on a couple of trips while testing the glasses, and they slip easily into the side pocket of my rucksack and can be thrown into a suitcase without fear of damaging the arms, because there aren’t any.

Like #5: The style isn’t too sporty

While I like the look of very sporty wraparound sunglasses when I’m running, they’re not the best to use outside my training, whereas the Ombraz Teton are good-looking sunnies for general use that happen to be great for runs.

They are quite large, which is the case for most of the Ombraz line-up, but I like a larger style with my sunglasses.

Dislike #1: The price for prescription is much higher

Ombraz sunglasses don’t come cheap in general, but the $160 you pay for a standard set of the Teton isn’t really out of line with many top sunglasses brands.

However, if you do want to get prescription lenses, the price rises very sharply. You shop via Lens & Frame Co and the quality of the lenses is great, but the cost of the Teton rises to $420 for standard glasses, $520 for sunglasses, or $570 for photochromic lenses.

This kind of price rise for prescription sports sunglasses isn’t that uncommon, but there are great options I’ve tested that cost a lot less if you don’t need the cordless design, like Zenni Optical’s Zunnies line-up.

Dislike #2: They’re not full wraparound lenses

As I mentioned above, the flat lenses on the Teton mean they are easy to pack safely, but at times on the run, I noticed I had to turn to get a full view of things in my peripheral vision.

I often run on a bike path, for example, and have to turn my head right around to check that no one is coming up behind me, whereas wraparound styles give you a wider field of vision.

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The Hoka Clifton is one of the most popular running shoes in the world, which is obviously great news for Hoka, but does come with one notable disadvantage — how do you update a shoe that people already love without risking disappointment?

One answer is to barely update it at all. For me, the Hoka Clifton 11 is very similar to the Hoka Clifton 10, bar some changes to the upper and a slightly softer sock liner.

Hoka clearly did have some big updates to the Clifton in mind this year, but instead of putting them into the Clifton 11, they went into the Hoka Clifton Pro, which launched at the same time.

The Clifton Pro has a new midsole foam that creates a more energetic and fun ride, and for me it’s one of the best running shoes launched so far this year, and the Clifton to go for over the 11, even if you pay slightly more.

For its part, the Clifton 11 remains a comfortable daily trainer for rolling through easy miles, and it’s also great for those who spend all day on their feet for work, but rivals like the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro and Asics Novablast 6 are more enjoyable options, along with the Clifton Pro.

Hoka Clifton 11 review: price and availability

The Hoka Clifton 11 went on sale in July 2026 and costs $155 in the U.S. and £140 in the U.K., making it $10/£10 cheaper than the Hoka Clifton Pro, which launched at the same time.

Some of its key rivals do come in slightly cheaper, notably the equally-popular Nike Pegasus 42 and Brooks Ghost 18, along with the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro.

Hoka Clifton 11 review: design and fit

The Clifton 11 is currently available in 15 colors for the women’s shoe and 13 colors for the men’s shoe. It comes in wide and standard fits — I found the standard shoe fit me well in my normal running shoe size, but Hoka shoes can run narrow so the wide option is welcome.

It’s listed as being slightly lighter than both the Clifton 10 and Clifton Pro at just under 10oz in a men’s size 10. My men’s size 9.5 actually came in at 10.1oz on my scales, but minor variances like this are normal in running shoes.

The Clifton 11 has a drop of 8mm and a stack height of 42mm at the heel and 34mm in the forefoot, which is the same as the Clifton 10 and Clifton Pro.

Upper

The Clifton 11 has a mesh upper that has some minor changes from the Clifton 10, designed to improve the fit and breathability.

I found the fit and feel of the upper very similar to that of the Clifton 10, which is no bad thing. It’s a comfortable upper that’s breathable enough for me in hot conditions, with some padding around the collar that helps to hold the heel securely.

Midsole

The midsole on the Clifton 11 uses a compression-molded EVA foam, as opposed to the more energetic and impressive supercritical EVA foam on the Clifton Pro. It’s the same midsole foam as on the Clifton 10, but the sock liner has been changed to a softer material.

Overall, the setup feels similar to the Clifton 10, and I think Hoka could have introduced the ProGlide+ foam from the Clifton Pro into the Clifton 11 and made that a bigger update rather than introducing a second Clifton into the line-up.

Outsole

The Clifton 11 uses Hoka’s Durabrasion rubber to cover the forefoot and heel on the bottom of the shoe. It has gripped well for me throughout testing and there are no signs of wear and tear yet, despite me using the shoe on dirt trails for most of my runs.

Hoka Clifton 11 review: running performance

I used the Clifton 11 for a mix of daily training runs at easy and steady paces, with my longest run in the shoe being just over 10 miles.

Throughout testing it felt very familiar to me, as someone who has ran extensively with the last few models of the Clifton. It has a soft, mellow ride feel that’s great at easy paces, with the mild rocker profile of the shoe helping to ease you from heel to toe smoothly.

At faster paces, the limitations of the midsole foam are more apparent, in that it doesn’t give a lot of energy back when you’re trying to push. This is the main difference from the Clifton Pro for me, which does offer more energy return, while also being comfortable and smooth.

During testing, I did a short run wearing the Clifton 11 on one foot and the Clifton Pro on the other, and extra resiliency and bounciness of the Pro was noticeable. The Clifton 11 is softer at the heel, but lacks the spring off the forefoot you do get from the Pro.

I did enjoy my easy runs in the Clifton 11 and it gets the job done as a daily trainer for racking up miles, but there are certainly rivals that do the same job more enjoyably thanks to livelier midsole foams, while also being more versatile with regards to their performance at faster speeds, with the Novablast 6 and Puma Deviate Pure standing out on this front.

The Clifton has long been a popular pick for people who are on their feet all day at work and I still think the Clifton 11 will do this job very well. It’s great for walking too, just like past models of the shoe.

Should you buy the Hoka Clifton 11?

The Hoka Clifton 11 does all the things I expect a Hoka Clifton to do, being a comfortable option for easy runs that will suit a wide variety of runners, as well as walkers.

However, it doesn’t feel as up-to-date as the best shoes in its area, which are using livelier midsole foams that are bouncier and more fun, and the killer rival might well be the Clifton Pro, which I think is worth the $10 upgrade.

The Asics Novablast 6 is lighter and performs better at faster paces for me, while still being just as cushioned as the Clifton 11. The Puma Deviate Pure has a lower stack, but it’s still comfortable and much lighter and faster than the Clifton 11.

Compared to other very popular options, I do favor the Clifton 11 over the Nike Pegasus 42 and Brooks Ghost 18, both of which are firmer, heavier, and less cushioned and smooth. The Novablast 6 or Clifton Pro would get my vote over the entire trio, however.

I run often, but I wouldn't class myself as "a runner," so I write this hands-on with the Adidas Kaphiros sports glasses with some trepidation. I don't want to anger the Adidas lovers among us, but I've got some likes and dislikes when it comes to testing the Kaphiros this summer.

The Kaphiros is a rimless sport shade that is lightweight and offers unobstructed views, as I can attest. And if you're looking for the best running apparel to finish off the summer, the sports glasses are a strong contender for several reasons. However, there were a few issues I had when wearing the glasses, and no, it wasn't down to sizing.

If you're interested, find out what I liked and disliked below, plus whether or not I think they're worth the $154 price tag.

What I liked

They sit well

For those who don't know me, I have a notoriously small head. Sunglasses aren't the easiest running apparel for me to wear at the best of times, but when I'm running, I find sunglasses extremely difficult to wear. Either they don't fit, or they limit my view and distract me, so I always end up whipping them off and going for the "squint and hope for the best" option instead.

The Kaphiros are designed for fluid movement and agility. I had no problems running in the glasses, though they did bounce up and down (to begin with) on my nose, which seemed to rectify itself the sweatier I got. Perhaps I had unlocked some sort of hidden suction feature?

They're flexible without feeling cheap (they're not cheap), with adjustable nose pads, rubber grips and temples for a personalized fit; the result is a secure, lightweight pair of sports glasses that actually allow me to focus on the road ahead. And that's because, unlike traditional lower borders found on frames, the Kaphiros eliminates this in favor of downward sight, which means you can check your terrain and your sports watch.

They offer brilliant protection and uninterrupted vision

As I mentioned, they're rimless, which gives you an unobstructed, expanded field of vision. When running, situational awareness is key; whether you're on the roads or the trails, blind spots are dangerous. The Adidas Kaphiros feel expansive, and I could see my route along the coast really clearly. This was on tricky terrain, which I followed up with a woodland effort and a regular road route, all of which went without issue.

The sunglasses use PowerVizn technology for the lens tints and mirror coatings, which helps enhance contrast and regulate light transmission. I loved wearing them in the bright sunlight, and I felt like they were properly protecting my eyes, especially as they use a wraparound design and block out a lot of intrusive light.

The lenses also feature HD optics with dual-sided hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings. If you, like me, haven't heard those terms before, it helps make the glasses repel water, sweat and dirt or smudging. They're also built to be durable, but only time will tell on this one.

What I didn't like

They pick up smear marks

The Adidas Kaphiros uses a specialized ventilation system with integrated holes along the temples to help increase airflow along the inner lens and prevent fogging. I can't really speak on this one yet, but I will update this hands-on a little further down the line.

I mentioned above that the dual-sided coatings should eliminate smudges and marks, but even with the lightest of touches, my sunglasses were absolutely covered in fingerprints and dirt. Given the design and color of the glasses, it's extremely noticeable and not easy to rub off, either.

I experienced some bounce and slide

This is a bit of a cheat, as they did eventually settle on my face, but initially I found that even with the snug and comfortable fit, the glasses bounced up and down on my nose. Now, is this down to it being a men's model, or would this happen anyway?

The Kaphiros sunglasses feature fully adjustable temple and nose pads, and the rubber grip interior should ideally prevent the frame from bouncing or sliding. I'm a pretty sweaty person when I exercise, and although the glasses did stop bouncing during the runs, they continued to slip here and there, the sweatier I got.

The temple design isn't built for hair

Lastly, let's talk briefly about the temples (the arms of the sunglasses). They have a slightly rugged design, which enhances grip and helps them to sit snugly over your ears. Great, I hear you say, although if you have hair on your head, adjusting your glasses or taking them off just isn't fun.

For those of you with short (or no) hair, this won't be a problem, but for anyone else, it's quite annoying. In fact, it actually hurts. It's a small but fair gripe, I think.

Verdict

I went for these glasses because, in my view, they're unisex, if you get your sizing right. The temples need a little work for anyone with hair, and they pick up a little too much grease on the lenses for my liking, but that said, I love the design, and the quality of the Kaphiros is brilliant, especially if you want to see clearly when running along uneven terrain. Plus, they look very, very good.

Are they worth $154? Annoyingly, I'm just not sure. I plan to update this hands-on once I've spent some time with them during the winter months, but if you want a pair of sports glasses to throw on during a sunny run, you can't go far wrong. It's just whether or not that price tag is scary for you.

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• I ran 10K with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and my trusty Apple Watch Ultra 2 — here's 3 things Samsung did better (and 1 it didn't)

I've been wearing an Apple Watch to track my runs ever since I ditched Fitbit a few years ago, and I've settled into a good rhythm with one of the best Apple Watches, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, since 2024.

However, before considering a potential upgrade to the rumored Apple Watch Ultra 4 (if it breaks cover), I wanted to see what Samsung's latest — the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 — had to offer. So I borrowed the press sample loaned to the Tom's Guide fitness team, strapped it to my right wrist (I wore the Apple Watch on my left) and clocked up my usual 10K (6-mile) run.

The watches are unerringly similar: both sport a rugged design, a shortcut button (Action Button on the Apple Watch, Quick Button on the Galaxy Watch) for starting an exercise quickly and dual-frequency GPS for accurate location tracking.

Of course, one run isn't enough to say whether one is better than the other, but there were a few things that immediately stood out about Samsung's effort. Before we get to them, here's the data each watch captured.

As you can see from the table above, there are some discrepancies in a few areas, which I can explain. I tend to mix running with calisthenics training and aim to complete 100 push-ups during each run.

On the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, I had auto-pause enabled, which kicked in every time I dropped down to rattle off some push-ups. That explains the difference in duration, distance, pace and cadence (since the Apple Watch Ultra 2 just kept rolling), but I'm not sure why the active calorie count is so different between the two.

Leaving the stats behind and progressing on to good old-fashioned subjectivity, here are three things I really liked about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and one where my trusty Apple Watch Ultra 2 still wins out.

3 things Samsung did better

The bright screen

Samsung has given the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 a 1.52-inch Super AMOLED display with up to 5,000 nits of peak brightness. The company is known for making display tech, and over the course of the run I was constantly impressed with how legible the display was. It adjusted smoothly between sunlight and shade, and I never had to worry about glare on the screen.

Literally and figuratively, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 outshone the 3,000-nit LTPO OLED screen on my Apple Watch Ultra 2. When you couple this with the fact that Samsung's workout display shows fewer metrics in a larger font size, it means the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 wins the glance-ability contest.

I also like how your current heart rate zone is displayed with a rainbow color scale at the bottom, which pops on the AMOLED screen. While you get more pixels on the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (502 × 410 vs 498 × 498 pixels on the Apple Watch Ultra 2), this didn't make as much of a difference to me as the brightness.

The strong haptics

Apple calls the haptic technology inside the Apple Watch (and iPhone) the "Taptic Engine". But based on my run with both watches, I'd rate the horsepower inside the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 as higher.

I haven't done a teardown of each model, so I can't say for certain which vibration motor is larger or stronger, but I felt that buzz on my right wrist plenty more than the one on my left. I think it's important too, since I rely on the haptics to alert me to each kilometer I cover. It's not as much of a necessity on a small run, but if you're getting to half-marathon or marathon territory, it becomes indispensable.

Even without haptics, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 called out my splits and pacing from the built-in speaker. It was loud enough (albeit a little robotic) to hear comfortably without ever having to raise my wrist. I disabled this same feature (called Voice Feedback) on my Apple Watch Ultra 2 a long while ago, so I don't have a comparison from this run. But I'll make sure to re-enable it again on my next one to see if the Apple Watch Ultra 2 can hold up in this regard.

The comfortable strap

It seems like a small thing to mention, especially since they're interchangeable, but the bundled Marine Band attached to the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 has caught my attention. Samsung sells this separately for $90, and in my experience, it's an extremely comfortable strap that sat snugly on my wrist during the run.

It didn't slide around when I started to sweat thanks to the channel on the underside that encourages airflow. My Apple Watch Ultra 2's Trail Loop band, by comparison, was drenched in sweat by the end of the run.

While I never wore Samsung's original Marine Band, this latest version reduces the weight by 10g (0.35oz) by, among other things, switching the keeper from titanium to rubber.

Overall, the band is slimmer and as a result more flexible on the wrist. Even if you don't plan on upgrading to the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 from the first generation, I'd encourage looking into this strap as a purchase. It uses Samsung’s Dynamic Lug band attachment system and fits the original Galaxy Watch Ultra just as well.

I have an affinity for chunky watches, so the Galaxy Watch Ultra's 47.4 x 47.4 x 12.1 mm dimensions don't bother me — but it's definitely a watch I'd rather wear for running than for sleeping.

1 thing it didn't like

Apple's Digital Crown still reigns

It's been hot this summer. Like, really hot. But I live in the U.K., where a lot of the time it's cold and/or rainy. This can often necessitate wearing gloves while out running, hiking, or cycling and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that physical controls always win out where gloves are concerned.

During a run, if I want to raise or lower the volume of my audio or scroll through my metrics, nothing beats the tactile feeling of Apple's Digital Crown. The tiny little grooves etched into the metal can be felt through running gloves, and you don't even need to look at the Apple Watch to use it.

Samsung has given the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 a Touch Bezel feature you can activate in the settings, letting you run your finger around the edge of the display to scroll through the watch's functions. There are some vibration haptics that accompany this, but it's just nowhere near as easy or as satisfying as Apple's solution.

Even a physical rotating bezel as you'd find on a dive watch would have been better. I haven't used this feature in the heavy rain or snow, but I can't see it faring as well as the Digital Crown when you need to interact with your smartwatch with cold, numb fingers.

Final thoughts

Coming away from a single run with the two watches, there's no question the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is the superior device. It's brighter and more performant with greater storage and a longer battery life.

It also undercut the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at launch with a price of $699 to Apple's $799 (the current price of the Apple Watch Ultra 3), so it wins out if you're on a budget, too. Of course, you can currently find the Ultra 2 at a reduced price since it's been usurped by the Ultra 3, but for the sake of comparing apples to...err...apples? Samsung wins on price.

But it's not a complete victory. For instance, I like that the summary of your run stays up longer on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 than it does on the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Also, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a good-looking timepiece, I'm not entirely sold on the square-circle hybrid case design.

My final takeaway is to see what the Apple Watch Ultra 4 holds if and when it launches in a couple of months. Then I'll decide whether to keep my affinity with Apple going for another year or jump ship over to Samsung's side for future workouts.

What's your wearable of choice for recording your activity? Let me know if you prefer Apple or Samsung (or split the difference and go with Garmin) in the comments below.

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