If your holidays double as running trips, it's shoe-buying season. Outside Online just published its October 2026 road running shoe guide, built on an unusually serious testing effort: 25 runners logged thousands of miles in 63 of the latest models, covering everything from tired-leg recovery jogs to 5k speed sessions and long endurance runs. Each shoe was rated on fit, comfort, ride, support, price and overall performance.
The headline result: the Asics Superblast 3 keeps its crown as the best all-rounder. The new dual-density midsole pairs a 10mm base of nitrogen-infused FF Blast+ foam with a thicker layer of Asics' new A-TPU superfoam, and testers loved the springy, soft-but-not-mushy ride. It weighs just 8.4 oz (men's 9) despite a 46.5mm heel stack, which testers say helps cut fatigue deep into long runs. The Sorbothane-free quibbles: a loud footstrike and a feel that may be too soft for fans of the Superblast 2.
Close behind is the Saucony Triumph 24 ($170), rebuilt top to bottom with a full A-TPU superfoam midsole — one of the first max-cushion daily trainers to get racing-shoe foam. Testers praised its bouncy rebound, 43mm stack that stays stable thanks to a wide footprint, and a fit with a roomy toe box and secure heel that you won't be desperate to peel off post-run.
On value, the Mizuno Wave Rider 30 wins at $150. The 1997-vintage classic has gone softer, with the stack up to 42.5mm and a full-length Wave Plate delivering a smooth heel-to-toe roll that testers found stable without feeling corrective. It's not built for fast paces, and the thick upper runs warm, but as an everyday workhorse it's hard to argue with.
The rest of the list covers the whole spectrum. The Nike Vomero Plus is the pick for max cushioning — 45mm of ZoomX foam that stays lively rather than wallowy, with one tester calling it the only trainer they took on vacation. The Puma Deviate Pure takes lightweight honours at 7.8 oz, plate-free with a naturally flexing forefoot, though one tester spotted early midsole wrinkles hinting at durability questions. The Altra Experience Flow 3 earns the natural-ride slot, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 handles stability duty, the New Balance Supercomp Rebel is the pick for speed workouts, the Asics Sonicblast 2 for tempo runs, and the On Cloudboom Strike 2 is the marathon racer of the bunch.
For a travel reader, the takeaway is simple: if you run on the road while away, one well-chosen daily trainer can do everything — easy morning miles, long scenic runs, even adestination race. The Superblast 3 and Triumph 24 both come in around 8-9 oz, light enough not to make a dent in your luggage allowance, and versatile enough that you don't need a second pair.
Reported by Outside Online.
