What makes a surprise of the year?
At Meta Endurance, we are extremely fortunate to try out many pairs of shoes. For lots of them, we may already have a rough idea of what they are going to be like. Many brands have incremental upgrades. A new upper here, a slight tweak to the midsole there but we know what a Bondi is going to feel like, roughly. However, we do from time to time receive something that either totally takes us by surprise or an upgrade which is truly worth the name. Sometimes it’s a whole new shoe or a brand that comes out of nowhere to steal our hearts.
As ever, to decide on our surprise of 2024, there were no real rules outside the shoe being released or tested in 2024. It could be a daily shoe, a trail shoe or a racer. Let’s see what everyone chose.
Ivan’s Surprise of 2024
Ivan: The surprise of the year for me has undoubtedly been the Fila Float Maxxi 2 Pro. Admittedly, my expectations were modest, as I’ve never really associated Fila with high-performance running shoes. However, this shoe has exceeded all my expectations and is now my top choice for long-distance runs.
The upper is exceptionally well-padded and comfortable, but the real standout feature is the midsole and ride quality. The combination of an early-stage rocker, carbon plate, and a responsive yet deeply cushioned midsole compound, delivers an incredibly smooth and balanced experience, even on the longest runs.
For ultra-marathoners, this shoe could be a dream come true, offering both comfort and performance over extended distances. Fila has truly outdone itself with this one!
Silke’s Surprise of 2024
Silke: My surprise of the year has been the Brooks Ghost Max 2. I never warmed to the higher drop and the denser foam of the Ghost lineup. So, when I first ran in the Ghost Max 2, I did not have the slightest idea that this shoe could become my long run shoe of the year. On paper, it still doesn’t look like my kind of thing, but it simply works.
The lower drop and the balanced ride work with my foot strike. Yes, it is heavier than the Ghost Max 1 and heavier than a lot of competitors for daily trainers. Moreover, it does not offer a super bouncy ride like the Glycerin Max. But on those relaxed paces that I run for over 2-3 hours I felt confident to go and go. I also find the Ghost Max 2 to be very comfortable for walking. Its overall versatility and comfort are why it is my surprise of 2024
Andy’s Surprise
Andy: I concur with Ivan as the Fila Float Maxxi 2 Pro was also a real surprise for me. However, I think the one that outshines that is the Diadora Gara Carbon. For me, Diadora was a brand from my youth in the early 1990s. Tracksuits, football culture and terrace wear. When I received a carbon plated racing shoe from them, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. Any doubts dissipated as soon as I slipped it on foot. The comfort was next level.
From doubts, a deep love developed when I got them out on the road. The foam and plate work wonderfully together and it runs superbly. It’s the shoe I reach for when I want to run a workout but know my fitness is lacking. The Gara Carbon seems to do a lot of the work for me and that’s why I love it so and it is my surprise of 2024. If you haven’t run in it yet, do yourself a favour and grab a pair in a winter sale somewhere. You won’t regret it.The only downside is a split in the lace loops of my pair where I cranked the laces tight and one of the holes split. Thankfully, I have managed a repair and my pair are back in active duty!
Alex’s 2024 Surprise
Alex: Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB. Hopefully you read past the brand and model. Everything this shoe has to offer is in the “PB” part of the name. Brooks heard the critics and did their homework, upgrading their top racing shoe with a new midsole compound – DNA Gold – in between seasons.
The result sheds light on everything they did right with the previous version, a great upper, excellent fit, next-gen Arris carbon plate (with varying torsion and flexion properties in the same plate) while also emphasizing how important the midsole is. DNA Gold is on par with the best Peba-based midsole in the industry and combined with everything else in this shoe, it delivers a close to perfect ride. I am racing in this shoe in February and I have not been so confident in my race day shoe choice in a while.
Tim’s Surprise of 2024
Tim: The Saucony Ride 18 is the biggest surprise of 2024 for me. Sure, the shoe officially launches on January 1st, but I’ve been testing it for two weeks now, so it counts, right?
I had no expectations going in. Yet, I discovered a very good daily trainer on which I expect to load tons of distance in the coming months. It is very nearly an all-rounder. Overall, it performs well on easy runs and even handles a 10K pace (3:30 min/km). However, there are two areas where it could improve: the grip and the foam’s softness at recovery paces (6:00 min/km) These are the reasons why it’s not a true all-rounder for me.
