7 Best Competition Running Shoes in 2024

We flew to the finish line with this insanely responsive, lightweight, and surprisingly comfortable shoe. It has all the speed-enhancing features that justify its $250 price tag. With its unmatched energy and high-performance level, Vaporfly 3 works best for PR chasers — making it our ultimate pick for competition running. 

Our lab results speak for its speed yet our feet lived to tell the tale. Its Pebax foam felt incredibly springy and soft — like launching off a diveboard in every toeoff and landing home with its cozy platform. Our durometer confirms its plush touch, measuring 29.1% softer than average. 

This racer could keep up even if we pushed our paces to the limit. It performed best at faster speeds! Our 90º bend test confirmed this and showed it's 88.3% stiffer than average! Keeping each turnover effortless and efficient is the shoe’s carbon plate and light weight. At 6.7 oz (190g), it’s much lighter than the average racer (7.5 oz / 214g). 

Complementing the performance-driven midsole is a well-ventilated upper that scored 5/5 on our breathability test. Shoes rarely get a perfect score here! There’s no need to worry about hotspots or wet socks in this pair.

We discovered that VF3 performs best in longer distances (10K+). Because of its focus on adding comfort, it may lack the quick-release sensation that some 5K/10K runners are looking for.

The third iteration of Alphafly is a super shoe marvel with its overwhelming energy return, cushioned platform, and unexpected stability. After hours in the lab and miles on foot, it's our top marathon/ultra-shoe, which provides heavenly comfort, extra support, and tons of energy for endurance runs. 

This racer comes to life and feels more natural at faster paces. Our cut-in-half shoe reveals the rigid FlyPlate and Air Pods integrated into the midsole. These provide a consistent stream of energy that shines in longer distances. Our 90° bend test reveals a solid 144.7% higher stiffness than average. 

Alphafly 3 features the dynamic ZoomX midsole that offers world-class responsiveness. What sets this shoe apart is its dual-density setup. Our durometer shows the top layer is 23.6% firmer than average to enhance stability and control, while the bottom layer is 23.3% softer than average for impact protection. Both elements work together to save our legs from fatigue, especially in the latter miles when extra support is needed.

Despite the sky-high stack, the shoe is surprisingly light (7.1 oz / 201g). What also amazed us was the immensely breathable Atomknit upper that assures we won't have hotspots or blisters.

The outsole may be less resistant to abrasions since the rubber is 1.3 mm thinner than average. We recommend saving this shoe for race days.

Metaspeed Sky Paris helps us soar to the finish line with its superior combination of speed and comfort. It’s a breath of fresh air with limitless power and delightful cushioning. Among all our lab-tested competition shoes, ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris tops the midfoot/forefoot strikers category.

The platform consists of a 39.1/ 32.6 mm stack that supports every landing gently. Meanwhile, the flat carbon plate nestled between two FF Turbo+ layers launches us with great magnitude every compression under our forefoot. Together with the moderate 6.5 mm drop, we've confirmed this shoe is designed for non-heel strikers.

Peak performance is a given with the one-of-a-kind midsole, and is further elevated with its remarkable lightness. At only 6.5 oz (183g), we gained significant weight savings vs. the average 9.4 oz (265g) running shoe.

Adding to its feathery feel is the wind beneath our feet, literally! With a perfect score on our breathability test, its MOTIONWRAP 2.0 mesh upper is well-ventilated. What’s even more impressive is its solid 4/5 toebox durability score because shoes usually tend to perform inversely on both lab tests.

Sky Paris lacks the stability that some racers require because of its high and soft midsole. Those in need of more support should search elsewhere.

Massive energy rebound, heavenly cushioning, and a refreshing feel—these are just some of the many qualities that make Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 the top competition shoe for heel-strikers. Our runs feel effortless and supported by the vibrant midsole that combines comfort and speed perfectly.

At 38.1 mm, the Endorphin Pro 4 provides supreme heel cushioning for any distance. Our cut-in-half shoe reveals two distinct foams: a plush 18.5 HA top layer for protection, and a firmer 22.0 HA bottom layer for stability, ensuring confident strides even as fatigue sets in.

Embedded in the soft and bouncy midsole is the super stiff carbon plate. Our flex test reveals it needs a force that’s 137.5% higher than average to bend to 90 degrees! This translated to insane responsiveness and the feeling of being propelled forward effortlessly.

Despite all the cushioning and support, EP4 remains a featherweight 7.8 oz (220g), 17.3% lighter than the average road running shoe. The ride feels like a breath of fresh air since the upper is extremely breezy. It showcased superior performance in our breathability tests, earning a well-deserved 5/5 score. We had no worries about hotspots and blisters and could purely focus on our performance.

Although this racer is very responsive, other elite counterparts may feel faster since they focus more on speed and performance than comfort.

We experienced the best of both worlds in the AP3! This racer ticks the boxes of a supershoe with its lightning speed, comfy ride and airy nature. While its counterparts tend to be unsteady, it's the exact opposite because of its wide landing platform and balanced midsole. This makes it our top stability competition shoe.

Exceeding the standard racer, AP3 has a balanced cushion and a wider-than-average landing base in the forefoot - an additional 6.2 mm. This promotes stable landings for forefoot and midfoot strikers. Even when cornering at high speeds, we remain steady and in control.

It blends comfort and speed in perfect harmony through its mega-stack and rigid platform. The underfoot feels delightful and is dense enough so that we don’t sink into it. Our durometer confirms it’s 12.9% softer than average. Every stride feels powerful with its insane energy return. Our flex test validates this as AP3 ranks 49.5% more resistant than average. A higher resistance springs back up more power.

AP3 is a breath of fresh air. The breeze flows in and out freely and our breathability test confirms this with the highest rating. It’s only 7.7 oz (218g), as light as other racers.

Watch out, heel-strikers! The heel area may feel tight since it’s 6.1 mm narrower than average.

Already in its name, Deviate Nitro Elite 2 deviates from the usual outsole of a supershoe. While other racers focus on speed and light weight, DNE 2 combines these qualities with a tough outsole — making it our most durable competition shoe.

DNE 2 finds the equilibrium between durability and traction. Our durometer shows the outsole's rubber is 74.8 HC vs. the 80.0 HC average of running shoes. This shows its unparalleled grip as it's soft enough to cling to the ground — keeping us steady on slippery surfaces. The rubber stands 2.5 mm thick (most racers are sub-2.0 mm), showing it’s more resistant to damage and wear.

This shoe is elite in power and speed, launching us forward with its stiff carbon plate and rocker structure. As a more durable shoe, it can be used for training speed intervals. Our flex test confirms it’s 23.3% stiffer than average, translating to responsiveness in our runs.

This racer keeps things light with its feathery 7.6 oz (214g) and its breezy upper. Its weight is at par with other racers while its breathability score in the lab is the highest 5/5. 

DNE 2 is stacked in the heel, leading to a 9.1 heel-to-toe drop, which may feel too steep for some forefoot strikers.

Supported by our lab tests and runs, we discovered the Noosa Tri 16 is a light, airy, and comfortable shoe that can go fast and be worn sockless! As eye-catching as it looks, it has intentionally unique qualities that make it highly suitable for triathlon races.

Our feet feel fresh whether we go easy or full-out speed. NT16 sits at a light 7.7 oz (217g), leveling with our lab-tested runners designed for racing. It requires less effort to lift each foot, keeping our momentum strong during off-the-bike runs. The fluid midsole, which emerged 28.9% more flexible than average in our bend test, boosts our agility and comfort.

The FF Blast+ cushion provides much-needed energy return and support to accomplish the third sport of the race. Our durometer measured the foam to be 14.1% softer than average— balancing comfort and responsiveness. Meanwhile, the 3D Guidance System ensures each stride feels surefooted especially as fatigue sets in.

NT16 feels refreshing as the breeze brushes through our toes. Our breathability test confirms this with a perfect score. Its seamless mesh makes it comfortable to wear even without socks, which many triathletes do to save time. On top of this, it includes heel and tongue tabs for faster wear during transition. However, the upper’s light nature compromised durability. Those who need more robust uppers should look elsewhere.