Biggest surprise of 2025 introduction:
During the year, we have run in a lot of different shoes as a team. From big hits by well known brands to boutique offerings and the odd hidden gem. This round up covers those shoes which, while they may not be our favourites, are the ones which came out of the blue and brightened our days. Perhaps you can find something here which would make a change to your rotation at the start of a new year of running.
For the more generalist daily shoes, look here. If you want an easier day option look here. Or, if you are after trail offerings, our daily faves are here and the racers are here.
Thys’ Biggest Surprise of 2025 – Nike Pegasus Premium
Nike Pegasus Premium. I don’t think I could have any more of a negative word of mouth impression before I tried this shoe, with most people discarding the shoe for “lifestyle” purposes. For me the pegasus premium marks my return to what used to be my do-it-all shoe back when the pegasus 35 was groundbreaking. Why surprising? Well I really really enjoy this shoe, the more I run in it, the more it gives me that one-stop-shop vibe. I wear it daily for lifestyle, I wear it for easy runs, for sessions, it feels like a shoe that can appeal to many people in one.
Putting my initial doubts aside, I have clocked over 150km in this shoe, taking it up to fast reps (sub-3:00/k pace) and longer tempo efforts (10-20 mins @ 3:15/k), I found that they work for me. Are they the best option for any specific type of running? No. But do they offer great versatility across lifestyle and varied paces? Definitely. For me this is by far the most surprising shoe of the year, not just as it is visually shocking to see a full length air pod in a Pegasus shoe, but also that this actually works for me and it can (for some people) be considered a running shoe.
Ivan’s Biggest Surprise of 2025 – KIPRUN KD900X LD+
A shoe that didn’t get much love, and one I wasn’t fond of initially, was the KIPRUN KD900X LD+. It’s designed as a pure race-day shoe, but sometimes shoes shine in unexpected ways, improving with time or understanding how to get the best out of them. Admittedly, it sat in my closet for a while, but I gave it a second chance – not as a race shoe, but for daily runs with a few fartlek-style pickups.
I naturally land more on my forefoot during easy daily runs, and the shoe suddenly felt surprisingly good. The weirdly flexible midfoot won’t suit everyone, but it encourages forefoot striking and smooth cruising. The forefoot cushioning is plush and smooth When picking up the pace, the KD900X LD+ truly comes alive, revealing its racing potential. While probably better for elite long-distance runners, I’ve enjoyed it for short tempo bursts and surprisingly as an easy, forefoot-focused cruiser, which helps protect my weaker glutes and hips.
Josh’s Biggest Surprise of 2025 – Diadora Atomo Star
2024 was an incredible year for Diadora following the release of the Diadora Gara Carbon – one of my all-time favourite supershoes. I don’t think many brands could have nailed a first try for a high performance shoe that well. However, in 2025 we didn’t see an incredible update to the Gara Carbon (why change it if it’s not broken). That said, we did see a new addition to Diadora’s lineup in the daily trainer category – the Atomo Star. My initial thoughts when receiving the Atomo Star were that the suede-like upper and the strangely designed midsole would result in a shoe which performed better as a lifestyle shoe than a daily trainer. How very wrong I was with this.
The Atomo Star excelled at being a reliable daily trainer throughout my Spring and Summer mileage. With its supportive ride and an upper which had exceptional lockdown I couldn’t find many flaws with it. My only regret is that I’ve come to like the look of the shoe so much that as soon as the seasons changed I had to retire the shoe until next year so as not to expose them to mud, rain and the grit which the winter months bring. All jokes aside, the Diadora Atomo Star was one of the biggest surprises to me in 2025. Furthermore, from the reaction of other testers and runners I know – it seems I’m not the only one.
Esther’s Biggest Surprises of 2025 – ASICS Trabuco 13 and Topo Athletic Vista
Following Ivan’s lead on shoes that didn’t get much love, I’d highlight two outstanding trail options that were really solid value this year. These two were both fun to run in and surprising in their categories.
First, the ASICS Trabuco 13 blew our trail team away with its bouncy, bundle of energy road feel underfoot. It surprised me with its comfort and high level of energy return. It’s an excellent all-around trail shoe for most runners, especially those who want comfort, speed, and grip on almost any terrain. The only downside is a weak mesh, which will hopefully be addressed in the next edition.
Another fun surprise was the all-new Topo Athletic Vista. Topo wasn’t really on my radar before discovering this shoe. I never went out of my way looking for a larger toe box or a zero drop shoe. The Topo Vista is a welcome curveball. It stays true to Topo’s fans with the wide toe box, low(er) drop, but it adds plush comfort, more grip underfoot, and enough of a rocker to keep things moving. It’s a max-cushion trail cruiser that’s smooth, stable, and built for distance. I enjoyed taking this shoe out on longer runs or anytime my legs were barking, begging for a break.
Buy the ASICS Trabuco 13 here.
Get the Topo Athletic Vista here.
Andy’s Biggest Surprise of 2025 – Skechers Aero Spark
Probably the biggest surprise which I had this year was the Skechers Aero Spark. Out of the box it looked like quite a dowdy shoe. The colourway didn’t help matters and I wasn’t holding out much hope. However, when I got to grips with it, I found it to be pleasingly light in hand and very comfortable on foot. The joy didn’t just stop at the fit and feel. On the run, the Skechers Aero Spark was a versatile little number. Good for daily miles and even picking up the pace. While it never became my session shoe, it was always up for a fartlek session or just an easy run done too rapidly while chasing my faster friends.
The other lovely surprise about the Skechers Aero Spark is the price. At only $125 there isn’t much in the brand new shoe market which comes in cheaper and offers as much. Yes, there are shoes which are cheaper, the KIPRUN Cushion 500 is one. But these don’t offer the same quality feel in the ride or materials. There are obviously shoes which can do things a bit better. However, they will cost you a pretty penny more. It’s great to find a balance of value and performance. The other bonus of the shoe is that it will work for the vast majority of runners. It doesn’t ask for a specific footstrike or style. It’s a surprisingly simple and fun little shoe!
The other surprise I had this year was the Vomero Premium. Whilst Thys may have found love for the Pegasus Premium, I couldn’t find the same joy. However, the Vomero Premium was a totally different beast. It was a real running shoe which actually had a purpose and feel like nothing else. While it may not work for everyone in the long term, it is a shoe which everyone should experience the ride of at least once.
