2025 Super Trainer Tier List Introduction
We’ve seen how Alex ranked the best daily trainers of 2025. ASICS, Nike, HOKA and New Balance took the God Tier placements there with shoes that will help you reach your flow state. Next up on the block for judgement we have the super trainers. Not quite a race day beast but offering more than a daily trainer, these are the hybrids. Chimera mixes of comfortable uppers and super race day foams. Some with a plate, some without. It is a sector which has seen remarkable growth in the past few years but has been dominated by the ASICS Superblast.
How has 2025 shaken things up? Let’s dive in and take a look at the list. If you like the look of anything, you can get a discount at Top4Running with code META at checkout.
2025 Super Trainer Tier List: God Tier
Atop Mount Olympus, we find three shoes which stood out from the crowd. In fact, one of them was probably the biggest shoe of 2025. An out of the blue smash that took the streets by storm despite not originally even being listed as a running shoe by the brand.
This of course is the EVO SL. Without a doubt it has been the hottest property in running this year. From run clubs to race day, it has found its place on feet everywhere. Of course, it is easy to see why. adidas top of the range superfoam on a shoe which comes in at a mid market daily trainer price point. It would be crazy to turn it down. Some people had an issue with the upper which the German giants have addressed with the Woven version. Will it dominate 2026 as well or will another brand find the secret sauce to knock it off its perch?
Next up, we find the Brooks Hyperion Max 3. This year saw Brooks take a leap into the present day with the addition of DNA Gold into their foam line up. This added the dose of PEBA power which their top tier shoes had been missing. This added pop makes this a great long run and speedier session companion.
The last of our God Tier shoes in the 2025 super trainer tier list is the KIPRUN KD900X.2. Out tester Ivan, who has run a lot of miles in a lot of shoes, says this is probably one of the best shoes he has ever used in his whole running life. This is pretty significant praise! It marks the French brand as being able to deliver top end running for modest prices. They are a brand to watch out for in 2026 with some interesting releases coming.
A Tier
Moving down the mountain, we come to those who didn’t quite hit the elite for one reason or another. The first shoe in the A tier is the ASICS Superblast 2. While this is still an excellent shoe which has seen many miles on Alex’s feet. The rush of new blood into the market at lower price points has taken some of the glow off the once golden boy of the super trainer world.
For those who want to have a touch of Italian craftsmanship to accompany them on their runs, we have the Diadora Atomo Star. This is a big cushioned shoe which, if you have the right midfoot strike, really helps push you along on those longer, stronger efforts. It is worth noting that it is a very short fitting shoe. Take this into account when ordering. Next up, we have the HOKA Mach 6 which Alex spent a good time with this year. The Mach 6 has been his speed session partner on those days when indecision is overwhelming. An easy shoe to lace up and run fast in, it deserves its place in the A tier.
The final A tier shoe we find is the Nike Vomero Premium. From the first leaks, this shoe has caused commotion in the running world. Proudly branded “Not World Athletics Approved” on the rear of the midsole, this is a shoe which stands out. From the gargantuan 55mm stack in the heel to the massive air bubbles in the midsole, this is a shoe which dares you to try and ignore it. Despite its massive size and not inconsiderable weight, the pop and bounce of the midsole make it more versatile than you might think. While it may not be the shoe of choice for all-out 200m reps, it can certainly give you enough of a boost for some tempo and marathon paced work.
2025 Super Trainer Tier List: B Tier
Our first B tier shoe is the perennial favourite, the adidas Boston. In this case, the Boston 13, has brought the line back from a couple of sub-par outings. However, while it is a good shoe to run in, the fit can be an issue for some runners which is why it finds itself in the B tier for the 2025 super trainer tier list.
For those who were bemoaning the lack of PUMA shoes in the daily trainer article, the B tier finds a couple. The Deviate 3, which is another hang over from last year’s list, leads the big cat out of the blocks. Still a good shoe that you know what you are going to get when you put it on, it slightly lacks the oomph to put it over the top. Their next entry is the MagMax. This long run superstar has kept on pushing through the distance with cushion and comfort. Should this be in the super trainer category or the daily side?
New Balance also has a couple of shoes hanging out in the B tier. The Boston based brand bring us the SC Trainer v3. This is a shoe which caused some confusion. While it is a decent all round shoe, it doesn’t seem to excel in any area. Some may say that is why it is a good super trainer. However, when compared to its peers, there are shoes out there which just do it better.
The next New Balance offering is the Rebel v5. The Rebel has come a long way in five iterations. The original was not very well received, then came the v2. This was the EVO SL of its time. The shoe that everyone had to have on foot. From speed to easy runs, it could do it all. Over the past few years, the Rebel has become a little more conformist. It’s gained some girth and some mass (haven’t we all). It’s more refined than rebellious now. Still a comfortable and fun shoe, it has some issues with durability of the midsole foam which keep it as a B tier offering.
C Tier
A bit of a mixed bag of shoes come to us in the C tier. There are also one or two which may cause consternation for some readers out there. The ZoomFly 6 and the Endorphin Speed are both shoes which are firm favourites of runners all over the world. However, both left Alex feeling a little underwhelmed. The ZoomFly 6 because it didn’t fit his gait cycle well. Meanwhile, the Endorphin Speed 5 lacks in stability and feel for Alex’s running style. I am sure many out there would disagree.
On find themselves with only one entry here and it comes with the Cloudboom Zone which finds itself in a bit of limbo. It isn’t quite lean and low enough to be an all out trackday speed shoe. On the other hand, it isn’t quite thick and bouncy enough to be a true super trainer. This is why it finds itself in Tier C.
2025 Super Trainer Tier List: D Tier
Getting towards the bottom of the pack, those shoes which may find the super soubriquet a little generous. Seeing a slump from previous outings, the original ✨illegal✨super shoe, the Prime X is lodged firmly in the doldrums. Lacking the fun and propulsion of the first and second versions, it leaves Alex looking wistfully back into the past. The function just doesn’t live up to the aesthetics.
The other D level dweller is the Saucony Endorphin Trainer. This is a shoe, much like the original Streakfly, that came with a huge hype around the release. Incredirun Foam and a reasonable price should have made it a hit. In reality, it never quite matched the expectations.
E Tier
One big brand with a big mistake and a boutique brand which didn’t quite hit the mark. Our two lowest rated shoes for the 2025 super trainer tier list are the Nike Pegasus Premium and the Tracksmith Eliot Racer. For those who have run in the Pegasus Premium, this rating probably needs no elaboration. If you haven’t had the dubious pleasure, it is a strange shoe which manages to be vertically very stiff while, laterally, it is incredibly sloppy. Nike first premium release of their three silos and probably the worst shoe in the range. We hope the v2 is much improved.
To bring us to a close, we have the Eliot Racer from Tracksmith. It has the perfect premium recipe, as Tracksmith pride themselves on, however, the sum of the parts felt dull and dead. Some testers even found a mighty squeak in the midsole which further added to their woes. That said, Tracksmith has been in the lab and their TRE release looks very interesting indeed!
Thank you for joining us on this 2025 super trainer tier list odyssey. Please let us know in the comments which shoes we missed or messed up. If you want to buy any of those mentioned above to try for yourself, code META at Top4Running will put a little smile on your face.
