I also discovered they are superb feeling for my weight with the surprise hit VN3 GTX. Now I also have the regular VN3, a VN2 as a sneaker for the summer, just got a slightly used DN2 cheap and a DNE2 is on its way. Ah and also ordered a DN3 for testing. I am in between sizes and the smaller size fits perfectly! Just the VN3 GTX I have the larger size. Runs a bit long, but the toe box is flatter ;)
Mizuno has been the brand of the year for me! I've been finding lots of their shoes for around half off. Wave Rebellion Pro (1) was a fantastic race shoe for my half marathon. The wave rebellion flash 2 was also surprisingly great as a versatile daily trainer for me. They feel absolutely fantastic. Just don't take them on the trails.
I had lots of fun with the Mizuno Wave Sky 8 that for me is a nimble as my Magmax Nitro and a comfortable as the amazing Gel-Nimbus 26. And later on I also got the my beloved Wave Rider 28, but this time the Amsterdam version. Anyway, my brand of the year is Asics an then Puma. Mizuno coming very closely in third ... I wish I had tried the Neo Vista... Another great year for running shoes !
Puma for me, because despite the continuous improvements in the shoes, they kept the pricing affordable for me. Happy Christmas and thanks for everything you do for us Fordy's!
Great vlog Fordy. My favorite brand will also be Asics, due to the superblast 2. I really hope Saucony can change that in 2025 with the new speed 5 and others.
Yes! And they sort somethings out for sure, like getting rid of the quickly dying foams! First one with the new supercritical EVA was the Mach 6 i believe and certain runners/youtubers took them to 300/400 miles and the foam did not die. For example Andy Raynor the FOD runner - also a large lad, so no lightweight. I have the soon to be dying Speedgoat 5 - the new 6 is said to be stiffer and sort out things with the upper etc, but people complain it is too hard and uninspiring. I don't know which foam etc, so maybe there is a Speedgoat 7 in 2025? Watch list is the Mach X2 which should be a superb shoe, just the possible heel rubbing is off putting, but there comes a Mach X3 with the upper like the Mach 6 from the looks of it. And a Cielo X1 2.0 with a new upper and way lighter. Clifton and Bondi I am not interested in since these are walking shoes or for people working on their feet the whole day? The Skyward X I would wanna try for its said to be bouncy and fun ride. Skyflow is a bit firmer and a bit higher stacked Mach 6 with a different geometry. Also interested in. Fordy didn't like the shoe at all, said meh, walking shoe or whatever 😂 Given what we know by now, Brooks and Hoka look very good :) Others we just don't know yet. Asics Sonicblast could be a killer shoe. Superblast 3 + Availability maybe too. Nike for sure releases a Zoomfly 7 at some point. The new naming scheme: well, good luck 😅 Adidas and the rest: no clue ;)
Happy Christmas Chris. I've always been a saucony fan and done all my marathons in them. I've just caved into the hype of the SB2 for my marathon training shoe and have to say I am NOT disappointed. Will probably still run the marathons in sauconys but loving the superblast 2 for my everything else runs.
Did you ever try the Magnify Nitro 2 from Puma? Flipping between getting that or the Foreverrun (probably 2nd hand as a few unused listed out there at the mo)
Always been Asics for me, since taking up running the start of 2023. Began with the Novablast 3, which were immense, then the Novablast 4, which I didn’t feel were as good. For me anyway. Managed to pick up a new pair of the 3s recently, for under retail and this year also added the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 cheaper than RRP, plus just go the Magnify Nitro 2 for £58! I’m not expecting miracles mind, I’ll still be dragging my carcass along like a cow with a stitch…
I bought more Asics than anything this year. NB4, three pairs of Superblasts, Magic Speed 3 (used), Trabuco Max 3. All great shoes that just seem to agree with my feet and running gait.
Totally agree with you. Asics by farrrr...!!! And yessss, Puma is doing great. I got: Kayano 31 GT 2000 12 Magic Speed 3 Superblast 2 ...And some of Adidas, Puma, Brooks, Mizuno but never, never Nike. 😂😂 Will see Brooks, Mizuno, Puma, Adidas and why not, asics next year. Thanks.
Asics and New Balance for me. Asics offer a lot of value at every price point and New Balance’s prices are justified imo (unlike Nike’s). Adidas certainly improving and looking forward to their lineup in 2025 (starting evo SL).
For me Adidas have continued to provide a superb range of trainers. The Boston 12 for tempo/daily versatility, the Takumi Sen 10 for fast efforts/5k & 10k racing, the SL2 for daily/easy/recovery running and the Pro 3 for long distance racing. This is the brand pushing the market and I reckon 2025 will be a year to watch Adidas.
Think it has to be Asics for me. The Superblast 2 is amazing, the Metaspeed Edge paris is awesome. I got the Novablast 5 for Xmas and am looking forward to trying that too.
I think each brand has something different they do well. My rotation is a mixed bag of brands because of this. I do think ASICS is probably the top brand, but if I am looking for a reasonably priced speed shoe, then I look at last year’s models in Saucony. I got a beautiful pair of Speed 3’s for $100. For my daily trainer I can often find a good deal on last year’s Novablast or last year’s Glycerin’s. I will use the Novablast as my light weight daily trainer and the Glycerin as my cruiser. Both pairs I got for about $80. My race day shoes are Nike’s. For this shoe I have friend who can get me a good price for Nike brand shoes.
I am currently running in the puma range. It has changed my running for the good. I tried a lot of other brands, but the are the BEST.PUMA forever 😂😂🏃🏃
Wow what a tough call to make. Hoka showed vast improvement with even more to come next year. I love the Mach X2 and the Ciello X1. Asics gave us the Metaspeed Paris and Superblast 2. Nike offered the Alphafly 3 and ZoomFly 6. Puma the Deviate Nitro 3 series. Adidas the Evo SL, Pro 4 and the Adizero SL2. Saucony offered the Speed and Pro 4. Honestly I can’t pick a winner. 2025 is going to be even better. Apologies to those shoes I didn’t mention because the list would be too long.
I don’t have enough of each brand to know! If only Puma would bring the drop down a bit but 10mm for most of their shoes is too much for me. Saying that, just got some Foreverrun nitro knit as it’s slightly different to the foreverrun in that it has a bigger rocker and 7.5mm drop. Looking forward to trying them out!
I also thought so, but still work for me. I have to think about it a little bit when running. I absolutely love the lower drop of Hokas 5mm in Speedgoat 5 and 5/6(?) mm for the Mach 6. Also Fuji Lite 4, Ghost Max 1 has 6mm i think etc. Makes it much easier to not heel strike! 8mm drop should be the absolute maximum! But: i don't give a crap about official stats, i look up runrepeat what they measure and you get the real picture. Also what testers say how the drop feels. For me I love the 4-6mm drop by official spec. Asics 8mm drop is ok, but more i don't really need or want. EDIT: also came across the Foreverrun Nitro Knit and it is said to be a different shoe! But i have so many shoes atm to test and probably sell and the shoe is new and full price, so... maybe later :)
For me and the research I’ve done in my rotation I’ve got SL2 and Boston 12 and when AP3 are cheaper they will be the race/long run shoe. But I like the foams and design so mine is Adidas.
Hi Fordy. If you think ASICS is shoe brand of the year but Magic speed is not all that. What would you recommend for tempo/speed session shoe? HyperionM2?
For me, I have to say Puma. Their shoes just seem to work for me. I haven't tried the Deviate Nitro 3 yet but I will if they don't upgrade it before I get to it. Their shoes are so durable that I don't wear them out fast enough to try a lot.
Why the Hoka hate Fordy ? Their trail shoes are a banger ( speedgoat 6 , mafate speed 4 , tecton x 4 , challenger 7 jusy to name a few ) . But then again you rarely venture to the trails .
My shoes is anything I feel comfortable to run in , without my ankle rolling over , the last 3 months it's been the novoblast , Adidas never seems to fit properly , as for carbon plates ,ect i don't bother about if it's comfortable for running in and within my price range and I know it will last a while , then that's good enough for me , I'm only as fast as my feet take me !!!
have to disagree with ASICS choice tbh, Yes, the Metaspeed are almost universally regarded as the best Race shoes, but the foam in the Nimbus and other Flightfoam blast+ eco shoes is lifeless, and for me they bottom out after 15k. Whereas my Saucony Triumph 21 and 22, both of which have very different foams, feel like they can go all day and feel exactly the same after 20k as they do at the start. After buying 18 different pairs of shoes in just over a year, Saucony and Puma have everything I need. I still cheated on them though and bought some NB more v5 from the Gods of comfort.
For me Adidas at least in latin américa is king why? Better price, great durability, great avaliabality, great discounts and Adidas stores every where! Here Nike, Asics and New Balance are extremely expensive and don't offer discounts, Saucony and Brooks are dificult to find and very expensive. And Puma are prices right but are dificult to find and not all the modelos are avaliable here! And thats is all the same in all latín américa from Argentina to Mexico
In fact in the races You Will See in Colombia and Venezuela, in élites and semi élites and faster every day runners 1 Adidas, 2 New Balance 3 Asics 4 Nike 5 Hoka 6 Saucony 7 Puma
I'm sure Puma shoes are great BUT they have NOTHING in my size 15 in Canada for the last 6 months or more. So they are getting zero business from me. 😂😂
I'm sooo stoked for Saucony's 2025 lineup!
I’m a die hard ASICS fanboy but have bought DNE3 and Forever run recently and loved them both!
I also discovered they are superb feeling for my weight with the surprise hit VN3 GTX.
Now I also have the regular VN3, a VN2 as a sneaker for the summer, just got a slightly used DN2 cheap and a DNE2 is on its way. Ah and also ordered a DN3 for testing. I am in between sizes and the smaller size fits perfectly! Just the VN3 GTX I have the larger size. Runs a bit long, but the toe box is flatter ;)
Mizuno has been the brand of the year for me! I've been finding lots of their shoes for around half off. Wave Rebellion Pro (1) was a fantastic race shoe for my half marathon. The wave rebellion flash 2 was also surprisingly great as a versatile daily trainer for me. They feel absolutely fantastic. Just don't take them on the trails.
I had lots of fun with the Mizuno Wave Sky 8 that for me is a nimble as my Magmax Nitro and a comfortable as the amazing Gel-Nimbus 26. And later on I also got the my beloved Wave Rider 28, but this time the Amsterdam version.
Anyway, my brand of the year is Asics an then Puma. Mizuno coming very closely in third ... I wish I had tried the Neo Vista...
Another great year for running shoes !
Puma for me, because despite the continuous improvements in the shoes, they kept the pricing affordable for me.
Happy Christmas and thanks for everything you do for us Fordy's!
Thank you
Great vlog Fordy. My favorite brand will also be Asics, due to the superblast 2. I really hope Saucony can change that in 2025 with the new speed 5 and others.
ASICS for me! Novablast 5, Superblast 2 are just wonderful.
Puma #1, I love the Deviate series, Mizuno #2 the Neo Vista is a great trainer the racers from them are not for me but they do look really fun.
ASICS are my favourite brand as well. I have the Nimbus, Novablast and Supablast! I am interested in the Glycerin Max though.
Hoka had a great year in my opinion. Mach 6, Mach X2, Skyward X, and Cielo X1 are all great! Asics, New Balance, and Adidas are on fire too!
I think Hoka could have a great 2025
Yes! And they sort somethings out for sure, like getting rid of the quickly dying foams! First one with the new supercritical EVA was the Mach 6 i believe and certain runners/youtubers took them to 300/400 miles and the foam did not die. For example Andy Raynor the FOD runner - also a large lad, so no lightweight.
I have the soon to be dying Speedgoat 5 - the new 6 is said to be stiffer and sort out things with the upper etc, but people complain it is too hard and uninspiring. I don't know which foam etc, so maybe there is a Speedgoat 7 in 2025?
Watch list is the Mach X2 which should be a superb shoe, just the possible heel rubbing is off putting, but there comes a Mach X3 with the upper like the Mach 6 from the looks of it.
And a Cielo X1 2.0 with a new upper and way lighter.
Clifton and Bondi I am not interested in since these are walking shoes or for people working on their feet the whole day?
The Skyward X I would wanna try for its said to be bouncy and fun ride.
Skyflow is a bit firmer and a bit higher stacked Mach 6 with a different geometry. Also interested in.
Fordy didn't like the shoe at all, said meh, walking shoe or whatever 😂
Given what we know by now, Brooks and Hoka look very good :)
Others we just don't know yet. Asics Sonicblast could be a killer shoe. Superblast 3 + Availability maybe too.
Nike for sure releases a Zoomfly 7 at some point. The new naming scheme: well, good luck 😅
Adidas and the rest: no clue ;)
Dont forget their trail line of shoes- Hoka speedgoat 6 got me to finish the Lakeland 50
Happy Christmas Chris. I've always been a saucony fan and done all my marathons in them. I've just caved into the hype of the SB2 for my marathon training shoe and have to say I am NOT disappointed. Will probably still run the marathons in sauconys but loving the superblast 2 for my everything else runs.
Did you ever try the Magnify Nitro 2 from Puma? Flipping between getting that or the Foreverrun (probably 2nd hand as a few unused listed out there at the mo)
I’m 90 kgs and have done about 150 kms in the magnify ,unstable,too soft,foam bottoming out now,I would go with the forever run next time,good luck
Hoka & Puma for me in 2024
Always been Asics for me, since taking up running the start of 2023. Began with the Novablast 3, which were immense, then the Novablast 4, which I didn’t feel were as good. For me anyway.
Managed to pick up a new pair of the 3s recently, for under retail and this year also added the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 cheaper than RRP, plus just go the Magnify Nitro 2 for £58!
I’m not expecting miracles mind, I’ll still be dragging my carcass along like a cow with a stitch…
I bought more Asics than anything this year. NB4, three pairs of Superblasts, Magic Speed 3 (used), Trabuco Max 3. All great shoes that just seem to agree with my feet and running gait.
Morning all. For me, at 2024: 1- Asics. 2- Brooks. 3- Puma. Like to Fordy. Have a good day.
Thank you
Totally agree with you. Asics by farrrr...!!!
And yessss, Puma is doing great.
I got:
Kayano 31
GT 2000 12
Magic Speed 3
Superblast 2
...And some of Adidas, Puma, Brooks, Mizuno but never, never Nike. 😂😂
Will see Brooks, Mizuno, Puma, Adidas and why not, asics next year.
Thanks.
ASICS for all the consistent bangers this year!
Totally consistent
Asics and New Balance for me. Asics offer a lot of value at every price point and New Balance’s prices are justified imo (unlike Nike’s). Adidas certainly improving and looking forward to their lineup in 2025 (starting evo SL).
For me Adidas have continued to provide a superb range of trainers. The Boston 12 for tempo/daily versatility, the Takumi Sen 10 for fast efforts/5k & 10k racing, the SL2 for daily/easy/recovery running and the Pro 3 for long distance racing. This is the brand pushing the market and I reckon 2025 will be a year to watch Adidas.
Think it has to be Asics for me. The Superblast 2 is amazing, the Metaspeed Edge paris is awesome. I got the Novablast 5 for Xmas and am looking forward to trying that too.
I think each brand has something different they do well. My rotation is a mixed bag of brands because of this. I do think ASICS is probably the top brand, but if I am looking for a reasonably priced speed shoe, then I look at last year’s models in Saucony. I got a beautiful pair of Speed 3’s for $100. For my daily trainer I can often find a good deal on last year’s Novablast or last year’s Glycerin’s. I will use the Novablast as my light weight daily trainer and the Glycerin as my cruiser. Both pairs I got for about $80. My race day shoes are Nike’s. For this shoe I have friend who can get me a good price for Nike brand shoes.
Yeah fair point
I am currently running in the puma range. It has changed my running for the good. I tried a lot of other brands, but the are the BEST.PUMA forever 😂😂🏃🏃
Wow what a tough call to make. Hoka showed vast improvement with even more to come next year. I love the Mach X2 and the Ciello X1. Asics gave us the Metaspeed Paris and Superblast 2. Nike offered the Alphafly 3 and ZoomFly 6. Puma the Deviate Nitro 3 series. Adidas the Evo SL, Pro 4 and the Adizero SL2. Saucony offered the Speed and Pro 4. Honestly I can’t pick a winner. 2025 is going to be even better. Apologies to those shoes I didn’t mention because the list would be too long.
I don’t have enough of each brand to know! If only Puma would bring the drop down a bit but 10mm for most of their shoes is too much for me. Saying that, just got some Foreverrun nitro knit as it’s slightly different to the foreverrun in that it has a bigger rocker and 7.5mm drop. Looking forward to trying them out!
I also thought so, but still work for me. I have to think about it a little bit when running.
I absolutely love the lower drop of Hokas 5mm in Speedgoat 5 and 5/6(?) mm for the Mach 6.
Also Fuji Lite 4, Ghost Max 1 has 6mm i think etc. Makes it much easier to not heel strike!
8mm drop should be the absolute maximum!
But: i don't give a crap about official stats, i look up runrepeat what they measure and you get the real picture.
Also what testers say how the drop feels.
For me I love the 4-6mm drop by official spec. Asics 8mm drop is ok, but more i don't really need or want.
EDIT: also came across the Foreverrun Nitro Knit and it is said to be a different shoe!
But i have so many shoes atm to test and probably sell and the shoe is new and full price, so... maybe later :)
@ I got them on ebay brand new for £60!
@@Mr80Miles Woohoo!
100% Asics, almost all of their current offerings are excellent, from beginner, stability all the way to top-end racers.
Couldn't agree more!
Novablast 5 is a fab shoe.
Saucony for speed and race day shoe, ASICS for all-rounder shoe
I'd probably have to wait till 2026, when I'll be wearing 2024 shoes 😂
Hi Chris, same as you Asics and in second Brooks
For me and the research I’ve done in my rotation I’ve got SL2 and Boston 12 and when AP3 are cheaper they will be the race/long run shoe. But I like the foams and design so mine is Adidas.
Hi Fordy. If you think ASICS is shoe brand of the year but Magic speed is not all that. What would you recommend for tempo/speed session shoe? HyperionM2?
For me, I have to say Puma. Their shoes just seem to work for me. I haven't tried the Deviate Nitro 3 yet but I will if they don't upgrade it before I get to it. Their shoes are so durable that I don't wear them out fast enough to try a lot.
Can’t be Asics for me because they don’t make superblast or racing shoes in bigger uk sizes. Shame for people with bigger feet.
Merry Christmas Chris
PUMA GANG 🤙🏻
ASICS all day long 🎉👍🏃🏻♂️
Yeah killing it
yes Asics 100% , they came back strong
I think asics is on point here for this year. Next year it probably wont be.
Asics for the win !
For me its adidas aidzero line from the sl2 through the pro 4 are the best you can get.
Yeah true
Totally agree with you
Thank you
How dare you, sir! I don’t think you uttered the word Saucony once. : )
I think in 2024 it must be Hoka hands down. Puma is strong second.
Asics + Mizuno and Adidas this year
Mizuno be interesting in 2025
Probably says it all you didn’t mention Saucony. Let’s hope one day Puma target the wide footed runners or I’ll never know what Nitro feels like.
Why the Hoka hate Fordy ? Their trail shoes are a banger ( speedgoat 6 , mafate speed 4 , tecton x 4 , challenger 7 jusy to name a few ) . But then again you rarely venture to the trails .
My shoes is anything I feel comfortable to run in , without my ankle rolling over , the last 3 months it's been the novoblast , Adidas never seems to fit properly , as for carbon plates ,ect i don't bother about if it's comfortable for running in and within my price range and I know it will last a while , then that's good enough for me , I'm only as fast as my feet take me !!!
Puma for me having got elite 3 & mag max & deviate nitro wtr have come away from new balance completely
Adidas & Asics
Yeah great
have to disagree with ASICS choice tbh, Yes, the Metaspeed are almost universally regarded as the best Race shoes, but the foam in the Nimbus and other Flightfoam blast+ eco shoes is lifeless, and for me they bottom out after 15k. Whereas my Saucony Triumph 21 and 22, both of which have very different foams, feel like they can go all day and feel exactly the same after 20k as they do at the start. After buying 18 different pairs of shoes in just over a year, Saucony and Puma have everything I need. I still cheated on them though and bought some NB more v5 from the Gods of comfort.
By the way, I used your Fordy runs code for nearly all of them at Start Fitness 😉
adidas for me, asics is too max stack for my preferences
Hoka Ceilo X1 over 350 mi trainers and racers.......even with the stupid price......361 degree Coming up fast!
I’m looking forward to the second version of that shoe
Nike?
Nah but maybe in 2025
For me Adidas at least in latin américa is king why? Better price, great durability, great avaliabality, great discounts and Adidas stores every where! Here Nike, Asics and New Balance are extremely expensive and don't offer discounts, Saucony and Brooks are dificult to find and very expensive. And Puma are prices right but are dificult to find and not all the modelos are avaliable here! And thats is all the same in all latín américa from Argentina to Mexico
In fact in the races You Will See in Colombia and Venezuela, in élites and semi élites and faster every day runners 1 Adidas, 2 New Balance 3 Asics 4 Nike 5 Hoka 6 Saucony 7 Puma
I'm sure Puma shoes are great BUT they have NOTHING in my size 15 in Canada for the last 6 months or more. So they are getting zero business from me. 😂😂