What is an uptempo shoe?
Another category which is open to a lot of interpretation. With the amount of sales and discounts available, full on carbon plated race shoes are more usable as speed session shoes. For example, I have found PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite for less than £40. However, some people are reticent to use those magic slippers on anything but race day. Some companies offer specific companion shoes to their race efforts to help these runners out. Nike ZoomFly 6 has got excellent reviews. Saucony’s Endorphin Speed is a favourite of huge numbers of people. It is a very subjective category. For example, I am sure many people’s favourite uptempo shoes have already appeared in our daily trainer article.
See what we chose below and tell us your best uptempo shoe of 2024 in the comments below.
Ivan’s Uptempo Shoe of 2024: New Balance SC Pacer v2
Ivan: This category is a tricky one because the definition of an uptempo shoe varies greatly depending on the needs and preferences of the runner. It encompasses everything from lighter, more dynamic daily trainers to max-cushioned models with plates, and even shoes that border on being race-day options.
Personally, I’ve used several shoes that many would consider race-ready, such as the Hoka Cielo or Adidas Prime X. However, my favorites tend to be lighter uptempo models that may lack the cushioning needed for a full marathon but excel on uptempo days, including intervals, fartlek sessions, and similar workouts.
Over the past year, the New Balance SC Pacer 2 has become my go-to for those days. While I haven’t always been a fan of ultra-soft NB models, this shoe strikes the perfect balance between weight, agility, and responsiveness. It’s an absolute joy to run in, and when I’m unsure of which shoe to pick or workout to do, the SC Pacer 2 can handle just about anything with ease.
The upper is incredibly comfortable, and the ride is snappy, direct, and efficient. It even performs decently on easier sections, and while the stability could be better, it’s more than acceptable given the shoe’s design and focus. That’s why it is my uptempo shoe of 2024.
Silke’s Choice: ASICS Magic Speed v4
Silke: Just like Ivan writes above, this category is a tricky one. For example my favourite daily trainer, the New Balance Rebel v4, might be the best uptempo shoe for another runner. After all, it is lightweight and equipped with a midsole that contains a racing foam.
For me, the ASICS Magic Speed v4 gets the award for best workout shoe and therefore best uptempo shoe of 2024. The little brother to the carbon plated racing models of the Metaspeed Paris series comes with a carbon fibre plate but lacks the most modern super foam. Designed for training, the super bouncy midsole is placed under your mid to forefoot and comes to live the harder you push.
I used it for my warm up and was glad that I didn’t have to change shoes when I picked up the tempo. In fact, this shoe felt better and better the faster I got. A little drawback has to be named and it has been the upper which felt cheaper than in all the other Asics models at that pricepoint. On the other hand it, didn’t bother me too much.
Maisie’s Uptempo Shoe of 2024: ASICS Superblast 2
Maisie: This year, I had the pleasure of testing the ASICS Superblast 2. This has to take the spot of the best uptempo shoe of 2024 for me. Firstly, the ride of the shoe is truly wonderful and it transitions incredibly well across paces. It completely comes into its own as you hit marathon pace and above. As I work up the speed, they just feel better and better and the energy return is impressive considering there is no plate of any kind.
They are also a max-cushioned shoe and although they weigh a bit more than their predecessor, they still feel very light and responsive. Over recent months, they have been my ‘go to’ shoes, for most of my uptempo sessions. I love that they offer such an enjoyable ride with impressive energy return, without the potential drawbacks of a plated shoe.
I had a few fit issues with the width, which may have been solved by going half a size up. But this hasn’t taken away from the fact that I really love these shoes and reach for them again and again!
Alex’s Pick: adidas Evo SL
Alex: I picked the Evo SL for my uptempo shoe of 2024. It is the shoe I ran the most with in November and it is a gem. That said, it is an unpolished gem because the upper is far from perfect. The tongue is too short and there is some lacing pressure. Yet the rest is so exceptional that it clearly outweighs the drawbacks. What makes the Evo SL so special is the midsole made of the same Lightstrike Pro foam that adidas used in the Adios Pro 3. But instead of being coupled with rods, the foam is “pure” with a mere midsole shank to stiffen the midfoot part.
The ride is an absolute dream no matter the paces. The shoe is pleasant for easy paces up to faster-than-you-need paces. Nothing can stop it. It feels nimble, agile, explosive, and natural at the same time. The narrow platform and relatively long and narrow fit will probably be an issue for some people, but for neutral runners with average width feet, it has to be a 2025 purchase.
Tim’s Uptempo Shoe of 2024: ASICS Superblast 2
Tim: I’ll join Maisie on this one. My favorite uptempo shoe of 2024 is the ASICS Superblast 2. That said, I have to admit that this year I didn’t find an uptempo shoe that truly excited me every time I see it on my shelf. There was nothing that had me yearning to run in ti time after time.
It’s also worth mentioning that while I tested quite a few uptempo shoes, I missed 2 major contenders that might have changed my choice: the HOKA Mach X2 and the adidas EVO SL. That said, the ASICS Superblast 2 is an outstanding shoe. Like my favorite daily trainer, it’s more of an allrounder than a pure uptempo shoe, but it absolutely gets the job done. As I’m writing this on a train heading for Christmas time, it’s one of the two shoes I packed and guess what, I have some uptempo sessions planned!
Don’t let the big and bulky appearance of the Superblast 2 fool you. It feels light on foot, offers plenty of cushioning. Furthermore, it delivers excellent energy return when you pick up the pace thanks to its superfoam and integrated plate. Yes, the price tag is a bit steep, but the shoe’s durability makes it worth the investment. And clearly, I’m not the only one who thinks so, given that it’s out of stock nearly everywhere.
Josh’s Selection: ASICS Superblast 2/New Balance SC Pacer v2
Josh: I’ve broken this into two categories: high stack shoes and race day ready shoes. My personal favorite high stack uptempo shoe likely comes as no surprise. A couple of my colleagues from Meta Endurance have already chosen it. For me, the ASICS Superblast 2 is a large, lightweight do-it all shoe which feels just as comfortable at faster paces as it does at easier paces. As Tim mentioned, it’s a great shoe for those holiday trips where you may not be able to bring shoes along for all planned sessions. However, it is worth noting that I have found the shoe begins to feel a bit too bulky and cumbersome for paces over 3:30min/km.
This leads me onto my next shoe within this category – the New Balance SC Pacer v2. Personally, the New Balance SC Pacer v2 is the perfect training companion for this uptempo category. The geometry of the shoe feels relaxed enough to be comfortable at slower paces during the warmup of a session or rest between intervals. However, where it really shines is when you pick up the pace. I continually find myself reaching for this shoe for anything from threshold sessions to interval and fartlek sessions. The one drawback I have had with this shoe is the heel which I have found to rub my achilles quite excessively resulting in blistering. However, the more I have used the shoe the less this has occurred. Additionally, it can be avoided by wearing thicker socks.
Andy’s Uptempo Shoe of 2024: Scott Carbon RC 2
Andy: I think I am going to choose a shoe which I absolutely hated the first time I put it on. In fact, I am quite surprised that I am picking it myself. However, when I was looking in the racks to see what I was going to choose for the category one pair stood out to me. Somehow, my favourite uptempo shoe of 2024 is the Scott Carbon RC 2.
When I first put it on, I really disliked the firmness and thinness of the midsole. However, when I looked back at the running I have done in them, I have picked them out for those faster, shorter sessions. I would not pick them for race day but the plate and midsole are responsive and they can go fast when needed. Aside from picking up the pace, I also found them refreshing on my feet when I had been in a lot of very soft shoes.
Finally, they were also on my feet when I won my only Strava segment of the year. That has to count for something, right!? Whilst I am not sure I would recommend them to you, dear reader. I will continue to pick them out of my shelf for those fun, faster mornings.
