2025 Favourite Daily Road Shoe Introduction
It is that time of year again when we round up our favourites of the year. The miles have been run, the fun has been had and the decisions have been made. Here, our team rounds up their 2025 daily road shoe favourites. For these articles, the testers are given free reign to decide on the shoe they want to celebrate. They have had the opportunity to run a lot of miles in a selection of shoes. You have probably read the reviews, now it is time to say which is the cream that rose to the top.
If it is trail shoes you are looking for, you can find the daily best here and the best racers here.
Ivan’s 2025 Favourite Daily Road Shoe – Brooks Hyperion Max 3
My daily shoe of the Year is the Brooks Hyperion Max 3, and it could also be a contender for Surprise of the Year. The previous Hyperion Max rarely impressed me and saw little use, but this new version is a completely different beast. Likely designed as an uptempo trainer, I reach for it on almost every type of run. While not a racing or recovery shoe, the Hyperion Max 3 handles most other runs exceptionally well. The tight-knit upper fits my foot perfectly, and the cushion provides plenty of comfort for any distance despite not being very soft. The stiff platform and pronounced rocker, combined with responsive foam, deliver a ride that is both efficient and engaging. It suits daily runs, long runs, and occasional uptempo sessions, making it a remarkably versatile and enjoyable shoe.
Josh’s 2025 Favourite Daily Road Shoe – adidas EVO SL
To determine whether a shoe would work as a daily trainer I ask myself one question – If I were to bring this shoe on holiday with me, would I be able to do all my usual training in them without feeling like I was missing something?
In 2025 I don’t think there is any better shoe for me than the adidas EVO SL. This shoe and I have done everything from grueling interval sessions to recovery long runs. Furthermore it has been worn as a lifestyle shoe around town. Weighing just 224g (US M9) it is light enough that it feels comfortable at faster paces when your cadence is faster and your stride is longer during a hard session, but the full Lightstrike Pro midsole offers the comfort and bounce that you need the next day when your legs are feeling wrecked.
Another factor which sets the EVO SL so far ahead of other competitors in this section is the fact the shoe doesn’t have a plate. This makes the shoe extremely versatile, but also more pleasant and effective to run in on a daily basis because I’m a strong believer that if you want to become the best runner you can be – you shouldn’t be relying on carbon plated shoes for all of your weekly miles.
Maisie’s 2025 Favourite Daily Road Shoe – New Balance Rebel v5
My favourite daily shoe of the year is the New Balance Rebel v5. I had heard a lot of hype around the New Balance Rebels and this was my first time giving them a blast. Well, they match the hype for me. The fit is bang on, nice and roomy in the toe box – I have wider feet so this is key for me for a daily trainer. It offers a nice grounded feel with surprisingly good road contact given the soft and bouncy foam underfoot and the stability through the midfoot and heel is excellent.
I do have to admit that the Rebel v5 is definitely better matched for easy, everyday and recovery miles over speed work, it is just missing that ‘pop’. But my year has mainly consisted of long, slow running, so on this occasion it has been bang on the mark for me.
Andy’s 2025 Favourite Daily Road Shoe – Nike Vomero Plus
For me, I had a few shoes which could have taken the crown as my favourite daily shoe. First, we had the Rebel v5, which while it has gained some weight and lost some rebelliousness, is still a fun ride. Then there was the Clifton 10. This surprised me as I am not always a fan of HOKA’s daily offerings in contrast to their race shoes. However, both of these were short-lived flings. The foams in both shoes were too soft, too uncompressed and didn’t last long. Big fun but for a short time. Then we had the Skechers Aero Spark, a lovely little shoe which can do a bit of everything with simplicity and ease. But, even that left me a tad flat on the longer efforts.
So what makes it to the top of the pile for me? It is a shoe which I initially disliked. I found our first ride a little stiff and awkward. But, I knew I should persevere. The runs became more frequent, soon we were inseparable. The short runs became longer. Miles accumulated and before I knew it, I really didn’t want to run in anything but the Vomero Plus. Nike managed to hit the Goldilocks zone for me in this. While it isn’t as nimble as something like the EVO SL, it offers a surprising amount of versatility. From easy days at super relaxed paces where the foam soaks up the miles to days when I was feeling a little more frisky and the paces rose to tempo zones, the Vomero Plus always seemed to be my perfect partner.
Comfort, durability and versatility. For me, these are the keys to a great daily trainer. I find that the Vomero has all of these and is just an enjoyable shoe to take out for a run. Thanks, Nike!
