What are we excited to try in 2025?
With all the hype generated by TRE, we all have our eyes on different brands or shoes which are due to drop in the next 12 months. There are whole new shoes. Some favourites have had an upgrade. There are those whacky looking things which make you want to find out if they are actually running shoes or not. With well over 100 models shown at TRE, narrowing it down was hard. Below, you will find what some of our team are most looking forward to in 2025.
Be sure to leave us a comment to say which of the many 2025 shoes you are most looking forward to getting on foot!
What Ivan’s excited to try in 2025
Ivan: I have no doubt that models like the Adidas Evo SL, Nike Vomero 18, Brooks Hyperion Max 3, and Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 will dominate their respective categories, generating significant buzz in the year ahead. However, the one I’m most excited to try in 2025 is the Hoka Cielo X 2.0. I can’t wait to lace up this updated version, which promises to be more comfortable, lively and efficient with its thinner upper, more dynamic midsole, and even bolder rocker geometry.
Another standout I’m keeping an eye on is the norda 005. A few teasers for this upcoming uptempo trail shoe have already generated a some buzz. Beyond its sleek design, the norda 005 boasts impressive upgrades, including a strong Biodyneema upper, an energetic TPEE-based midsole, and a brand new Vibram MegaGrip Elite outsole, to name just a few.
What Silke is excited about
Silke: I am really looking forward to the new Saucony Endorphin series. The Endorphin Speed 1 was my shoe of the year when it came out. Moreover, I used it for nearly all of my runs training for my first marathon. I hope Saucony will move back to what this shoe offered and give it back that sensational ride. However, I think I will have to accept that it is just the look that gets me excited. The first version, for example, of the Endorphin Speed was not designed for a wide range of runners and was therefore a bit unstable. Lets hope they can bring back the running feeling that the Endorphin Speed gave me. That’s what I’m excited to try in 2025.
What is Andy excited to try in 2025?
Andy: After looking at all the photos, watching all the videos and writing all the articles, the standouts for me are probably the new Hyperion line from Brooks and the CEP Omnispeed. It is these I am excited to try in 2025 for very different reasons. The Brooks Hyperion line was all very comfortable last year. But, they were all lacking a modern foam to really push them to the upper echelons of fast shoes. Thankfully, the designers at Brooks listened to the comments and created DNA Gold. An all new peba based foam which looks and sounds very promising. I would love to get my feet into the whole Hyperion line this year and see just how much better they are than last year’s. Let’s hope shoe Santa is out there reading this!
Secondly, I would also love to try the CEP Omnispeed. This is for entirely different reasons to the Brooks line. With those, I have a good idea of the baseline of comfort and quality and I am just looking to see how the peba foam supercharges an already good experience. On the contrary, with the CEP, it just looks like the kind of shoe I enjoy testing. A crazy looking thing which makes some big promises. With a look which gives Incredible Hulk mashed up with PUMA’s Fast-R and Li-Ning’s Shadow I am fascinated to see how it performs. Finally, and with a heavy dose of cheating, but as I’m editing the article, nobody can stop me,I also really want to try the Tracksmith Eliot Racer because it looks beautiful.
Tim is excited by
Tim: Having seen nearly 100 models (including some we can’t mention here), choosing a favorite is a very tricky task.There are so many I am excited to try in 2025 That said, if I had to return from TRE with only one shoe, it would probably be the norda 005 or the Tracksmith Eliot Racer (okay, that’s two shoes). Both share some similarities: they’re incredibly light, feel comfortable while I was slipping them on, and both seem to feature midsole/geometry that promise excellent energy return. Now, I’ll just have to wait a few months to see if my expectations hold true.
Esther can’t contain her excitement about
Esther: I’m really excited to discover the Hoka Mafate 5. There’s something thrilling about how Hoka continues to push the envelope, always innovating and refining what we know in the trail running world. This time, they’re shaking things up with their midsole design, flipping the typical soft-to-dense foam layering. They claim there will be a noticeable dampening feel thanks to foam deformation on the trails as the softer foam shapes around the terrain.
Plus, Hoka is adding a rocker integrity plate that promises to extend that signature rocker feel. Smart move to address foam durability. I’m looking forward to putting these claims to the test over many trail kilometers.
After the distance category, I am also looking forward to seeing two other exciting makeovers shoes in the faster, lighter trail category. The first being the gorgeous Pulsar 4 with a 6mm drop and a promising Energy foam evo, boasting comfort and speed. The second is a wild makeover for the Catamount 4 that desperately needed more cushion. Despite modest lug depth, Brooks promises phenomenal uphill propulsion and responsiveness paired with a DNA Flash v2 foam that is going to keep your feet on the trails longer in the all new Catamount 4.
