2026 Men's Running Shoe Review by Experienced Marathoner and Product Tester

Chas Newkey-Burden, a running product specialist and author, has tested numerous men's running shoes for 2026, drawing on his experience from four marathons and ongoing training for a fifth. He evaluated models from brands including New Balance, Under Armour, Sudu, Ena Athletics, Salomon, Nike, Asics, Brooks, Saucony, and On across various conditions and distances. The assessment focused on cushioning, stability, responsiveness, and specific features like heel-to-toe drop and durability. Expert input from athlete Ben Mounsey categorizes shoes into cushioned/neutral, support/overpronation, and racing types. The review highlights top picks for different purposes, such as the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 for overall performance and the Ena Athletics Proto Runner 1 for marathon training.