The best all-rounder running shoes are the ones that you can use and enjoy for every kind of run, from relaxed easy plods to races, and everything in between. What that means for a runner will differ from person to person; you priority might be comfort above all, or you might trade a bit of that on easy runs for a shoe that gives you an edge for track sessions and races. In this video four of the team pick their two favourite all-rounders of 2024 and explain what they look for in a do-it-all running shoe.
00:00 – Intro
01:15 – Tom’s Picks
06:03 – Kieran’s Picks
10:50 – Nick’s Picks
15:24 – Mike’s Picks
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Hello and welcome to run testers my name Is Nick and in this video we are each Going to be picking out our favorite Allrounder running shoes so these are The shoes we would pick if you had one Shoe to do absolutely everything from All your easy runs through sessions Progression runs Tempo runs all the way To race day so that's the only criteria We've really set on this we've got a Free choice otherwise like it can be Plated shoes unplated shoes you can look At Value if you want to or you can just Pick the most expensive shoe on the Market if that's what you think is the Best but we're each going to be picking Out two shoes our absolute favorite and Then a runner up that we also really Like all around as well I don't know What the other guys have picked as yet But it will depend a little bit Obviously on ourselves as Runners and What we really value like I'm always Going to be picking a shoe that will Help me on race day at least a little Bit so I'm not going to go for just a Straight cushion shoe even if that is The best option for easy runs I you know It's what about what you value most in Your running when you're looking at an Allrounder so for some people out there The best allrounder will actually be a Nice Comfy Cushion shoot because that's Going to do most of they're running and
That's the one they value the most for Other people it might be a super trainer That has a plate in it or just you know A shoe that can do those fast runs but Whatever the criteria is we'll each Discuss them what we're looking for and Then like I say pick out our two Favorite rounders hopefully help you out If you are looking for that one shoe to Do it all or just a really versatile Shoe to add to your rotation to Hoover Up a lot of different types of Runs so when we're talking about all Round of shoes We're talking about shoes That can do everything so if you could Only buy one pair of shoes and you were Doing easy runs all the way up to a Marathon race day you're looking for one Shoe that can do all of those things now I don't think there's any perfect shoe For this there obviously people train in Different ways people uh run different Speeds of marathons people do different Sorts of training sessions so if you are Somebody that uh is like Nick and you're Training at a very fast pace uh and a Lot of your training is skewed towards Faster intervals and faster Tempo Sessions then obviously you're going to Need an allrounder shoe that really does Skew more towards that faster training If you are a runner that's spending a Lot more of your time doing easier Sessions so your training block may look
Like uh a lot of more comfortable runs Where you're actually just trying to Tick off the mileage as opposed to Running fast and doing interval sessions Then those two shoes are going to look Very different for me I think there are A lot of great allrounder shoes out at The moment so there's loads of shoes That I would say to people if you're Just looking for one shoe there's a Really good selection of options out There at the moment for me and the type Of Runing that I do my my top pick is Going to be the Super Blast 2 at the Moment the reason for that is super Blast 2 is a shoe that if you're running On for again for an easy run it's got a Really nice level of Stack height it's Got a nice bit of cushioning uh it's Also a relatively stable shoe but it Just is very comfortable to run in for Easier sessions you could take that out On holiday with you you could just do a 5k or a 10K easy run every day and that Shoe would be absolutely fine you're not Going to find that it is trying to make You go faster all the time it's not Going to be uh uncomfortable to wear so Great for easier sessions but it really Comes into its own when you do those Faster efforts I don't think it's the Best ratio in the world I think it's There are shoes that are faster if You're going for a PB a marathon but I
Think when it comes to all rounder shoes It's really up there with um some of the Best options that you can you could use For race day it's got a really nice Transition it's quite responsive in the Midsole as well so even though you get Those nice easy runs in it it's also Pretty pretty good at picking up the Pace when you want to do the the faster Session and especially for something Like half marathon or a marathon where You're looking at running a nice Consistent pace for a long period Fantastic shoe for that maybe for 5Ks if You're going for really fast Flatout 5Ks It's not going to be the most amazing Shoe maybe if you spend a lot of time on Track and you're doing interval sessions Again it's not going to be the best you For that but overall as an allrounder it Really does have a wide spectrum of uses Um and definitely my top pick my second Pick is a shoe that's quite different Than superlast 2 it's the Mao Neo Vista And this shoe is um it skews more Towards those easier efforts so it's an All rounder shoe but it really really Delivers on easy runs Zu Blast 2 is fine At easy runs but if it I was just buying That shoe for easy runs then I I got far Better shoes for easy runs Neo Vista is A shoe that I actually do use a lot just For easy runs um but it's it's quite a Versatile shoe the reason is good for
Easy runs is it's got this really soft Bouncy midell foam in it you go out and You do a 5k or 10K in it it just bounces You along if feels very very comfortable Fantastic shoe for that um and if it was Just an easy shoe it would be a great Easy day shoe but because of the uh Plate that sits in it because of that Bounty midell foam you can really pick Up the pace in this as well so I've been Using this quite a lot recently for Loads of my training actually I'm doing Training for Valencia marathon and um I've got a lot of interval sessions i' Got a lot of tempo sessions and I've got Loads of easy runs as well in longer Sessions so I've used this for all of Those runs um and it does a really good Job at all of them what I would say is Uh it's Probably uh it's limited to uh the runs That are a little bit easier so whereas The super plus 2 really excels at runs Where you're going for a long time and You want a consistent Pace great Turnover this shoe doesn't necessarily Work that well for those longer efforts Where you may be doing 25k 30k at Marathon pace because that softer Pham Does it's it's not as it's not got As Nice a transition as a superl 2 Everything else is it's just a really Lovely bouncy shoe so you can do great Interval sessions in this shoe you can
Do really long comfortable uh enjoyable Slow runs in it because it just bounces You wrong ly um and I'd be more than Happy to RAC in the shoe it's it's not The best race shoe out there but when it Comes to versatility and all the stuff That it can do it skews more towards Those easier runs but you could race in It whereas the super Blast 2 actually is More likely a race shoe which you can Also do your easy runs in so they're my Two picks for allrounder shoes at the Moment when it comes to running shoes That can do it all I don't think we've Ever had it so good there are so many Options out there and I for one salute That we test dozens of shoes each year And there's nothing more pleasing than Finding a pair of genuinely versatile Running shoes that you can use for Almost any run versatility will mean Different things to different Runners I'm lucky that I can run my easiest Recovery miles in shoes that offer much Less cushioning than some other I don't Need to lace up something like a big Pillowy you balance more V5 or a balos Or a hooker skywood those kind of shoes And that means there are loads of shoes That I find versatile enough for all my Mileage that other people maybe might Not the downside for that is picking two For this video becomes a little bit more Tricky now shoes I had on the long list
For this included the ASX super Blast 2 Denova blast 4 the KN Pegasus 41 the New Balance St trainer V3 the Hoka Mac X2 The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 the Hoka Max 6 The oncloud monster 2 or even the Oncloud eclipse I could go on there are Lots of shoes in this bracket I can do All my miles in what all these have in Common I think is the ability to cope Across a wide range of paces and be able To cope also with a big range of Distances they also need to be instantly Comfortable on the foot and hold that Comfort over the long haul this is the Kind of shoe that I will end up using For most of my runs so that also means Big mileage durab ility I find is an Essential here as well the first shoe Here for me is an absolute no-brainer The sakon Endorphin speed 4 has it all It's a genuine do it all all rounder I've done everything in this shoe easy Miles intervals marathons I've even run Ultra distances it offers Lively cushion Ride that feels light and full of energy I think without any harshness without Too much harshness or fussy business to Fit feels really natural it feels Immediately kind of disappearing on the Foot and that is a really good sign now It has all the reliable comfort of a Ride 17 I think but the propulsive ride That's more like an endorphin Pro There's not too much distance I don't
Find between those two shoes and this is A shoe that you can rock back and cruise Easily in safe from the knowledge that You're nicely protected but it's also Built to perform when you kick up Through the gears and want to go much Faster that's where the midsole The Rocker and the nylon plate kick in for An energetic and fun ride now when you Compare it to the Super Blast 2 or the New Balance SC Trainer V3 a couple of Other super trainers out there it's Definitely a more direct shoot there's More ground feel coming up from the Speed 4 and fans of bigger cushioning on Slower runs that bottom end of the pace Might find the speed for a bit too harsh But I love it even when I'm moving slow I like to be encouraged to keep my Turnover High not to get lazy and softer Sink shoes and it does just that so if Someone told me I was only allowed to Buy one shoe to do all of my training And Racing for a marathon the speed for Would be very high on the short list Given its versatility I also think that For the price it's good value too I Could have picked any number of shoes For my second choice and I think the New Balance SC Trainer V3 would have been a Strong Contender if it wasn't for the Crazy 230 UK price tag the Hoka ma X2 Would have been up there too but the Only thing for me is I find the fit a
Little bit too race snug for the longer Longer miles or time on fee I love it up To the half marathon but I wouldn't be Confident in the comfort myself with my Big wide feet over two hours so the shoe I've actually chosen is the A6 super Blast 2 the ax super Blast 2 is a bigger Shoe than I'd normally go for it's a Whacking great beast but since I've had It in for testing I've loged close to 50 Miles and done everything in it that Includes everything from short and fast To a solo cruising Pace Marathon Distance 4 hours on feet that was and This is a shoe that delivers it's Surprisingly light for a whopping great Shoe you get big cushion comfort that's Soft but not too soggy it's got a nice Roomy toe box there's balanced heel Collar padding which adds to that Comfort with the long haul there's good Leg sparing energy from the bouncy but Controlled midsole for me it's perhaps Lacking a bit at my top Paces there are Shoes that would be better for the Allout allout fastest intervals and it Can feel a little soggy at my very very Slowest Pace but I'm talking about the Outer limits in both of those cases and Where this shoe really excels I think is Kind of cruising that marathon pace that I talked about there and either side of That and for that reason it covers the Majority of my runs now not all Runners
Would want to race a marathon in this Shoe for sure but I think many Runners Could safe from the knowledge that it Will feedback the energy that you put in And crucially it will look after you if Everything goes wrong or if you just Want to do the 26.2 in Comfort this is Another shoe I think that will cater for That race and long time on feet it's It's another shoe for many Runners that Could cover an entire training and Racing block for a Marathon so if I'm thinking about an Allrounder shoe the one shoe that is Going to do absolutely everything Certainly right at the front of my mind Is is this shoe going to be fast enough When I go and do my sessions and look at Racing because that's something I really Value as a runner I'm nearly always Training for some kind of race and I Don't want to be let down on race day And I usually can get by with most shoes When it comes to easy runs like I don't Really find shoes too unstable or Unforgiving or anything like that so I'm Pretty happy to have a shoe that's going To feel pretty good on easy runs as long As it's then going to help me when it Comes to fast sessions and races now That said I have made some kind of Concessions to the idea of I'm going to Have to use this shoe for everything so I've not just gone and picked a carbon
Plate running shoe although the Hocus y X1 definitely cropped into my mind as a Fantastic shoe that you can pretty much Everything in and is very fast but I've Gone for two super trainers myself and This was a really easy pick for me Actually I think these two shoes have Been my absolute standouts of the year So far two shoes that I would very Happily have as an allrounder running Shoe and the one I've picked above all Is the Hoka Mac X2 so the original Hoka Macx I wasn't a huge fan of like I've Always loved the Hoka Mac line and I Thought the macx was going to be amazing Just a you know a slightly faster Version of the Mac that actually I found The original macx a little bit sluggish And a shoe that I kind of found okay for Poing around in but didn't really have Much pace for me and I just didn't Really feel like it was a super trainer It was more just you know a daily Trainer the Mac X2 is very much a super Trainer it's got more peber foam Under Foot it's got a really high stackage You've got that peack plate in there to Add that propulsive feeling without it Being a full carbon plate to be that Little bit more stiff and all that kind Of thing and you just got a ride that I Really enjoyed for everything like it's Really fast it certainly can sub in for A carbon shoe in sessions it does have
The feeling of a full Super Shoe at Times and you are doing those hard Sessions and I've done a lot of really Hard training in the shoe just tough Tempo workouts tough workouts at the Track and it's always come up trumps and I also find it really comfortable just For easy runs as well so first time I Really used the Mac X2 was on the Holiday where I just did lots of Different types of runs in it and yeah Really enjoyed it for everything only Concern I really have with it is the Upper which has been okay for me so I've Heel locked it this heel design can rob People the wrong way but it's not Actually a problem I've really had with The shoe and if you don't have that Problem then I think it's pretty much Perfect in every other way so yeah I was Pretty happy with it all around so the Only other problem with it that hasn't Occurred to me until this exact moment When we're doing this all around the Videos if I am going to use this for Everything including races and I Bothered by the fact is above the legal Limit for race shoes cuz the stack is Over 40 mm at the hill those rules are Mainly for Elites they are rules I tend To stick by but given this is a shoe That's offering I'd say less of a Performance boost than an actual carbon Shoe under 40 mm I think it'll be okay
So yeah the Hoka Mac X2 is my top pick For the best allrounder on the market And then my runner up is the Sak Endorphin speed 4 the shoe that would Have won this title for sure in pretty Much every year leading up to now since The original endorphin speed launched I Love the Endorphin Speed Line I still Really love the Endorphin speed 4 I love It as much as previous models some People have started to really go off the Shoe and found it you know not as fast And as fun as previous versions but I Still really like it I think it's Delivering the same speed I expect from It I've done really hard workouts in the Shoe and again like the Mac X2 it does Perform in a similar way to a carbon Shoe for me and I find it really Comfortable for easy runs I think it Does have an edge on the Hoka when it Comes to those more relaxed runs you've Got a slightly more padded uper you've Got a very kind of cushy design at the Back there that's where I think the Softest area of the foam is on the shoe At the at the heel and as a heel Striker I enjoy cruising you know around in the Shoe because of that and like I say it Does deliver when it comes to the faster End of things you've got the peber Midsole paback plate it's got a really Nimble feel to it unlike lots of shoes These days which have gone for Mega
Stacks including the Mac X2 it's you Know it's a relatively low stack shoe And that creates a nice agile feeling And I feel I can turn my feet over Really well in the in Oren speed and Always have been able to because of that Speed roll rocker which just seems to Really suit my Gates so it's a really Good shoe for everything when picking Between this and the macx 2 I think the Macx to doeses have a bit more punch and Bounce when it comes to those faster Runs faster long runs in particular and The Max has having more foam under the Forefoot just makes it a little bit more Comfortable there sometimes I get a Little bit of discomfort under the Forefoot if I'm doing a hard long run in The Endorphin speed kind of the way I Slap through as a heel Striker but you Know it really is a great sh round and It's legal stack height as well so if That did really start to get in my mind With the macx 2 and I didn't want to RAC In it then the Endorphin speed forward Would become my pick for the best Allrounder because it has that legal Stacky but yeah those are my top two Shoes they're both you know plastic Plated super trainers with really good Foams in the midsole and a design that Leans more towards speed over anything Which is really the key recipe for me Like I want an allrounder that leans
More towards speed because I do enjoy Running an easy in these and that's fine For me but I really like the fact that They are also lightning F shoes with That plastic plate making them a little Bit more suitable to do a bit of Everything in because don't really like The idea of doing every single run in a Carbon plate shoe and the plastic plate Probably doesn't make that much Difference but in my mind makes them a Little bit better and more appropriate As all around us so yeah number one for Me mac X2 runner up IND Dophin speed 4 so in terms of my top kind of do all All round running shoe picks that I'm Loving at the moment I think are great Options I'm going to talk about one Firstly which I think is a pretty Obvious one but ultimately it's the one That I've spent the most time in Recently it's been very easy to kind of Spend a lot of time in this shoe that is This the ax super Blast 2 I didn't get The opportunity to run in the original I've spent a lot of time in the two now And I totally get it I know why this Shoe is so well loved and it is Expensive but I do think you get what You pay for a very accomplished kind of All around A versatile shoe and I found I've been able to run easy in it I've Been able to run more Tempo slightly Faster I've racing it as well to Shorter
Distances it's not impeccable and would Be my go-to kind of faster shoe it Absolutely didn't feel out of place Running a little bit quicker in it and I Think the crucial thing for me here is That and I've said this in other videos You know this is a Max cushion super Trainer style shoe and there's a lot of Those shoes here now in that category But ultimately what I think is the super Manages to deliver that versatility in a Very seamless way during a run and you Know transition between those different Speeds and that's kind of what I've Really kind of loved about it if I've Gone out and I've wanted to you know I've planned to go and do an easy run I've wanted to run a little bit more Up Tempo this shoe feels comfortable to do That within a real which I don't think Is necessarily the case for all shoes That sit in this category so I think you Know it is a versatile do all shoe I Think it's going to you know the amount Of mileage I put in it I'm kind of kind Of 60 plus miles in it now it still Feels as good as that first run and I Think you know if you are looking for a Shoe that can do a lot of different Things and work for a lot of different Sessions this is a shoe absolutely that For me it's expensive but absolutely can Do that and I've had a great time Running this shoe now in terms of my
Second choice I was going to talk about The hawka Max 6 which is obviously Cheaper than the asex super Blast 2 but I've gone even cheaper on price and Value and I think OB going be a shoe That you know don't be fooled by its Price because absolutely this is a shoe That can work for a lot of different People so That shoe is this the pum velocity Nitro 3 now you're probably expecting Nick to Be speaking about this shoe but I think This absolutely is a shoe that again a Bit like the superlast 2 it's a very Easy shoe to throw on and do a mixture Of different runs in maybe isn't as Versatile as the super Blast 2 Particularly as kind of slightly faster Paces but from kind of slow easy kind of Uptempo Paces it does work very well for Me a lot of that is down to that Nitro Foam and you know just being a right mix Of being slight slly plush but not too Plush slightly firmer as well too and Just giving you that experience that Just feels nice to kind of roll through Those different Paces I think other Thing for me as well too is I'm sure it Applies to a lot of people you're not Just going to be running on roads and Pavements pummer makes some of the best Outsole um that you can find on a Running shoe the pum outsole in here Means this is a shoe that you can go
Off-road in as well too and there's a Good amount of rubber here to make sure You're going to get good durability and It's going to hold well as well too when It is kind of slightly wetter kind of Run conditions as well I think this is a Shoe that's going to work for a lot of Different people it's going to be a shoe That you know whether you're at the Beginning of your running Journey Whether you're a little bit more Advanced on that it's going to be a shoe That can handle a lot of your kind of Daily mileage and as I said has that Versatility as well there too and yeah As I said it's a shoe that you know Every time I put on you know I never Really regret putting it on because it Just works and a bit like the superl 2 It can really transition very nicely Between those different Paces as well so Yeah that second pick for me is the Pumer velocity Nitro 3
