With the holidays having come and passed, there’s sure to be a lot of pent up stress. Family can be a blast, but it with it often comes internal (and external) strife. If that sounds like something you might have to deal with, we feel you. We find heading out on long runs not only helps your happiness levels, but everyone’s around you. To put an added kick in your late December runs, we rounded up some of the hottest releases from December.
Altra Timp 1.5
Altra released version 1.5 of the Timp complete with a softer and more flexible midsole. It has the same foot-shaped toe box so you have plenty of room for your toes, a zero-drop platform to help lower impact on your feet during movement and a more intense rubber outsole. Strap on a gaiter and you’ll never worry about it falling off thanks to Altra’s 4-Point GaiterTrap.
Asics Gel-Quantum Infinity
The Gel-Quantum Infinity features a full gel outsole that stretches from heel to toe. Each step should feel like you’re walking on a pillow thanks to the plush foam heel and midsole. You should also notice a difference in shock absorption thanks to the gel — it helps tackle impact and enables a swifter push-off. A sweat-wicking sock liner also helps to manage temperature inside the shoes.
Reebok Floatride Run Smooth
The well-known and loved Floatride foam appears again in these lightweight sneakers. The lime green and cobalt blue colorways showcase the mesh upper paired with a molded sock liner to keep your comfort at a maximum. The external heel cup provides some support while simultaneously getting rid of any irritation some can cause.
MBT GT 2
We tested these sneakers down in Austin, Texas at the annual Running Event. They handled minimal hills, trails and the miles of running paths along Lady Bird Lake in stride. A memory foam heel feels plush from your first step, and the intense rocker sole makes quick work of long distance runs.
Hoka One One Gaviota 2
Hit the trails with some serious support in version two of Hoka One One’s Gaviota. These are very stable shoes with a middle of the road cushioning — not too plush, but also not incredibly responsive. You’ll feel the road, but won’t feel like you’re a foot off the ground thanks to the cushioning. Version two has an all-new upper with engineered mesh that’s more breathable than previous iterations, and most everything else is the same.
Brooks Levitate 2 Ugly Sweater Running Shoe
The Ugly Sweater Running Shoe isn’t changing anything that’s loved from the original Levitate 2 sneakers, but it does offer a fun holiday kick that’s perfect for holiday 5Ks, 10Ks and any other races you have planned.
Adidas Ultraboost 19
When the Ultraboost 19 dropped just over a week ago, we immediately took them out for a run. They’re just as responsive as we remember with the same first step comfort, in addition to an updated upper and heel cup. While these shoes are already sold out, if you’re an Adidas runner, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the next drop.
Nike Air Zoom Vomero 14
Nike updates another sneaker in the Air Zoom line with the Vomero 14. Underfoot, you’ll feel the Zoom Air unit from toe to heel providing some much needed cushioning and quick turnovers. The shoes are built with the same React foam we’ve come to love this year (hello, Epic React) with a more stable and secure upper like the Pegasus 35.
Salomon Predict RA
Salomon already dominates the trail world, so in the next step of running dominance, the team decided to reimagine a road running sneaker. They started from scratch, threw out all the typically accepted ways of designing a sneaker, built out a team of road runners to test products and came up with the Predict RA. The decoupled, yet stable sole piece looks drastically different from other running sneakers. Overall, this sneaker is incredibly flexible mirroring the bone and joint patterns in your feet. While it takes a few runs to transition, the shoe is built to adapt to your feet.
This definitive guide to the best new running shoes of 2018 explores everything you need to know before buying new running shoes this year, including shoes from Brooks, Altra, Adidas, Asics, Mizuno, Reebok and more. These twelve shoes are worth tracking down this year. Read the Story
