If you choose running shoes by use in 2026, your 1st pair is HOKA's Clifton 11 (283g, JPY 19,800). With a 42mm heel stack, it was the lighter of the 2 pairs built for slow, long runs. For daily training, adidas Adizero EVO SL (224g, JPY 19,800); for racing, Nike Vaporfly 4 (about 190g, JPY 29,700). From 6 brands, I chose 10 pairs by use using Japan official numbers.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
If you buy a 2nd pair, the EVO SL, which has no plate. It uses a foam with the same name as the race-day Adios Pro 4, and the heel stack differs by only 0.5mm. Yet it costs JPY 8,800 less. Add a plate after you decide to enter a race.
Key points
- The new generations out in 2026 are 3: Pegasus 42, Novablast 6 and Gel-Nimbus 28
- Plate materials differ by use: nylon or fiberglass for training, carbon for racing
- The official price gap between the 3 race pairs is JPY 1,100. The weight gap between the 2 pairs at 27cm is 30g
325g and 190g: the same "running shoe," 135g apart
Nike's Vomero 18 is about 325g, and the same company's Vaporfly 4 is about 190g. Both are official numbers for men's 28cm, and the gap is 135g. The Vomero weighs about 1.7 times the Vaporfly (325 ÷ 190).
The price is the other way around: the lighter Vaporfly costs JPY 11,000 more. Heavy shoes are cheap and light shoes are expensive; that is how running shoes are today.
This gap is a gap in use. A shoe for slow, long runs gets a thick, durable sole and becomes heavy; a race shoe is trimmed and becomes light. So "which is best" has no answer until you decide the use first. This article splits use into 4 and chooses 10 pairs.
How to choose running shoes: the conditions I used by use
It is not in order of sales. I chose by these 4 conditions.
| Criteria | Reason |
|---|---|
| ① A current model you can buy now on the Japan official site | Older models differ in stock and sizes by store |
| ② The official page lists the weight or stack | Line up the shoes people hesitate over before buying and compare |
| ③ The use matches the official explanation | Choose by the way the maker intended it to be used |
| ④ Within the same use, lighter or cheaper | Use it as the tie-breaker when you hesitate |
The 4 uses are ① a first pair, a cushioned type for slow, long runs, ② an all-rounder for daily training, ③ for speed training, and ④ thick-soled carbon for racing.
Quick table of weight and stack for 10 running shoes
| Use and model | Weight | Drop | Official price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ① HOKA Clifton 11 | 283g (M10) | 8mm | JPY 19,800 |
| ① Nike Vomero 18 | About 325g (28cm) | 10mm | JPY 18,700 |
| ② adidas Adizero EVO SL | 224g (27cm) | 6.5mm | JPY 19,800 |
| ② Nike Pegasus 42 | About 289g (27cm) | 10mm | JPY 18,700 |
| ③ adidas Adizero Boston 13 | 255g (27cm) | 6mm | JPY 18,700 |
| ③ Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 | 237g | 8mm | JPY 29,700 |
| ④ Nike Vaporfly 4 | About 190g (28cm) | 6mm | JPY 29,700 |
| ④ adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 | 200g (27cm) | 6mm | JPY 28,600 |
| ④ PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4 | About 170g (27cm) | 8mm | JPY 29,700 |
When you compare weights, match the size condition. At 27cm and 28cm, the same shoe weighs differently. The Pegasus 42 lists both numbers, about 289g at 27cm and about 300g at 28cm, a gap of about 11g per 1cm (300 − 289).
A mechanism readers easily overlook: plate materials differ by use
People tend to think "thick soles mean a carbon plate," but reading the official pages side by side, the plate material comes in 3 kinds.
| Model | Use | Plate / rod material | Price per gram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston 13 | ③ | Glass-fiber rods | About JPY 73 |
| Endorphin Speed 5 | ③ | Nylon plate | About JPY 125 |
| Adios Pro 4 | ④ | Carbon rods | JPY 143 |
| Vaporfly 4 | ④ | Carbon plate | About JPY 156 |
| Deviate Nitro Elite 4 | ④ | Carbon plate | About JPY 175 |
Saucony describes the nylon plate of the Endorphin Speed 5 as "a plate built for training." The explanation leans toward durability and versatility over carbon. adidas too changes the material: a fiberglass rod for the Boston 13, used for both training and racing, and a carbon rod for the race-only Adios Pro 4.
It is not a single-line story that a stiffer plate is faster. Each company's approach is a not-too-stiff material for the shoe you use every day, and carbon for the shoe of race day only. So I do not see the ③ shoes as a "cheap version of carbon." I choose them as shoes with a different role.
Price per gram also lined up by use. For race shoes it is JPY 143 to 175, and for adidas's 2 training pairs JPY 73 to 88. The price of saving weight is almost 2 times per gram.
① First pair: for slow, long runs
HOKA Clifton 11
Why it is here: It has a 42mm heel stack and holds to 283g. It is 42g lighter than the Vomero 18 in the same ① (325 − 283; HOKA is M10, Nike is 28cm). The drop is 8mm, around the middle of the 10.
HOKA positions this shoe as "a reliable training shoe for daily runs." The differences from the previous generation are 2: the mesh fabric of the upper and the insole. The sole construction has not changed much. It is a generation where a finished shoe had only its foot feel fixed.
What to watch: There is a sibling, the Clifton PRO (296g). The official price is about 10% higher. The names are similar, but it is a different shoe described as for training at a faster pace. For a first pair, choose the "11" without a suffix.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
HOKA Clifton 11
The lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 14,190 (as of 10/16). Prices range up to JPY 25,300 depending on the store. Prices change daily. For shoes, the surest test is trying them in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the store's return and exchange terms before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNike Vomero 18
Why it is here: With a 46mm heel and 36mm forefoot, it has the thickest sole of the 10. The heel is 4mm thicker than the Clifton 11 (46 − 42). Yet the official price is the second-lowest tier of the 10. It is a shoe that buys thickness cheaply.
The sole is 2 layers. On top of a foam called ReactX sits ZoomX, which is also used for racing. Nike describes this shoe with words meaning the softest, best-cushioned ride in its own lineup.
What to watch: At about 325g, it is the heaviest of the 10. Let me convert the 135g gap from the Vaporfly 4 into full marathon steps. Setting stride at 1m gives 42,195 steps, about 21,100 per foot. With 135g × 21,100 steps, the total weight each foot lifts differs by about 2.8 tons. It is a shoe for slow days, not for days you aim for a time.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Nike Vomero 18
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 15,400 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 56,800 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping Japan② All-rounder for daily training
adidas Adizero EVO SL
Why it is here: It is the lightest in ②. At 224g, it is 31g lighter than the ③ Boston 13 (255 − 224). The heel stack is 38.5mm, only 0.5mm different from the 39mm of the race-day Adios Pro 4.
The foam is LIGHTSTRIKE PRO, the same name as in the Adios Pro 4. The differences are that no rod is inside, and the price. The official price is about 70% of the Adios Pro 4 (19,800 ÷ 28,600).
It is a race sole made into a form you can use every day, without a plate. You can take it out on slow days and fast days, so if you are unsure what to buy as a 2nd pair, this settles it.
What to watch: The drop is 6.5mm, smaller than the 2 pairs in ① (8mm and 10mm). Many similar-named variants are also something to watch. The official list has Woven, EXO, Zip and ATR. The numbers in this article are for the EVO SL with nothing attached.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero EVO SL
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 15,840 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 19,800 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNike Pegasus 42
Why it is here: It is a new generation out in April 2026 with clearly changed contents. In the previous generation, the air-filled part (Air Zoom) was split between the front and the heel. In the 42, it is 1 piece from toe to heel.
Nike's announcement says energy return is 15% higher than the previous generation. The foam in the sole is ReactX. The product page says the toe spring was also made larger.
What to watch: About 289g at 27cm. It is 65g heavier than the EVO SL at the same 27cm (289 − 224). It is a shoe to choose as a sturdy staple, not for lightness. For wide feet, the Wide is available as a separate product.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Nike Pegasus 42
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 17,600 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 64,100 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanASICS NOVABLAST 6
Why it is here: It is the cheapest of the 10 and a generation that has just come out in July 2026. The maximum stack is about 41.5mm. A thickness almost the same as the Clifton 11 heel (42mm) is available at the lowest price.
The sole is 2 layers: FF BLAST MAX, with a high-rebound foam called FF TURBO SQUARED added to the forefoot only. ASICS explains the forefoot shape as "inspired by a trampoline."
What to watch: Rakuten also lists the previous generation's 5, so choose by looking at the number in the product name.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
ASICS NOVABLAST 6
The lowest price on Rakuten was JPY 13,200 (as of 10/13). It ranges up to JPY 22,000 depending on the shop. Prices move daily. Try shoes on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit differs by brand, so read the shop's return and exchange terms before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping Japan③ For speed training
adidas Adizero Boston 13
Why it is here: It is the cheapest of the shoes with a rod. The official price is a little below the rod-free EVO SL. At 255g with a 36mm heel, it has a fiberglass rod called a "5-finger rod."
The foam is 2 types, Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro, layered. adidas writes both uses, for training and for race day.
What to watch: It is 31g heavier than the EVO SL, and the heel is 2.5mm thinner (38.5 − 36). It is a shoe to decide by whether you need a rod. If you do not need one, the lighter, thicker EVO SL is the better deal.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero Boston 13
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 11,999 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 18,700 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSaucony Endorphin Speed 5
Why it is here: It clearly positions its nylon plate as for training. 237g, 36 / 28mm. The foam is PWRRUN PB, which it bills as a "super foam with beads."
What to watch: The official price is the same as the race-day Vaporfly 4. There is a JPY 11,000 gap from the Boston 13 (29,700 − 18,700). The weight is 18g lighter (255 − 237). If you weigh price heavily, the Boston 13.
④ Thick-soled carbon for racing
Nike Vaporfly 4
Why it is here: About 190g in the 28cm number, under 200g. Nike writes that from the previous generation it lightened 3 places: the upper, the midsole and the outsole. The usable range is "from the 1-mile race to the marathon."
3 things changed: it was made lighter, the plate angle was raised, and the drop was made smaller (6mm). The foam is ZoomX, with a carbon plate running from toe to heel.
What to watch: The official price is JPY 29,700, JPY 1,100 higher than the Adios Pro 4 (29,700 − 28,600).
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Nike Vaporfly 4
The lowest price on Rakuten was JPY 23,980 (as of 10/13). It ranges up to JPY 31,000 depending on the shop. Prices move daily. Try shoes on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit differs by brand, so read the shop's return and exchange terms before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping Japanadidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
Why it is here: It has the lowest official price of the 3 pairs in ④. 200g, 39 / 33mm, a drop of 6mm. A carbon rod (ENERGYRODS 2.0) and a 2-layer LIGHTSTRIKE PRO.
Switching from the EVO SL for training, the foam name and the drop are almost the same (6.5mm and 6mm). What changes is the rod, and 24g of lightness (224 − 200). It suits people who do not want the feel of sole height to differ between training and racing.
What to watch: It is 30g heavier than the Deviate Nitro Elite 4, at the same 27cm (200 − 170).
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 28,600 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 262,200 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanPUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4
Why it is here: About 170g at 27cm. It is the lightest of those compared, and it reduces the effort of swinging the leg forward. The sole is thick at 40 / 32mm and softens landing impact. The drop is 8mm, the same as the ① Clifton 11.
PUMA writes a durability distance guide for each shoe. For this shoe it is 400km. I could not find this guide on the product pages of the other 9 pairs.
What to watch: Divided by 400km, it is about JPY 74 per km (29,700 ÷ 400). Keep it as a shoe for race day only. The differences from PUMA's sibling models are summarized in the article on Deviate Nitro differences.
What are the new running shoe generations out in 2026?
Since this is "2026 picks," I separate out which are this year's new releases. The ones the official announcements give as 2026 releases are the following 3.
| Model | Release (official announcement) | What changed from the previous generation |
|---|---|---|
| ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 | Jan 2026 | About 20g lighter (27.0cm). Outsole rubber only where needed |
| Nike Pegasus 42 | April 2026 | The air part became 1 piece. Energy return up 15% |
| ASICS NOVABLAST 6 | 7/2026 | FF TURBO SQUARED added in the forefoot |
A new generation is not necessarily better. Some generations, like the Clifton 11, change the foot feel and leave the sole almost unchanged. If the previous generation remains at a low price, it is enough to decide by whether what changed is something you need.
Shoes I kept as candidates and left out of the 10
| Model | Weight | Official price | Reason left out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saucony Triumph 24 | 250g | JPY 25,300 | Light and thick, but costs JPY 5,500 or more than the 2 pairs in ① |
| Brooks Ghost 18 | 290g (27cm) | JPY 19,800 | Same price as the Clifton 11, and the 2 pairs in ① are enough |
| HOKA Rocket X 3 | 227g | JPY 30,800 | Heavier and more expensive than the 3 pairs in ④ |
The Triumph 24 is 250g at a 43mm stack. By the numbers alone, it could be the pick for ①. If you do not mind the price, you may choose this.
For On, the article on On shoes has a table of 18 models that I read on another day.
On's new generations I read one pair at a time in separate articles. For daily use, the Cloudsurfer 3 (285g), sold first at specialty stores on Oct 1, 2026; for racing, the 158g LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2.
Who is it for?
- Who it suits: ③ and ④ are for people who want to bring speed in races.
If you do not race, you can run with 1 pair from ① or ②. The life guide for ④ is 400km. For daily shoes, choosing from ② costs less. If the previous generation's sole remains, it is soon enough even after you wear it out.
FAQ
Which running shoe should a beginner choose as a 1st pair?
If you have not decided how fast you will run, the Clifton 11. If you also want to build fast days, the EVO SL. The official price is the same, and the weight differs by 59g (283 − 224; the size conditions are M10 and 27cm). If you choose by full marathon goal time, the article on shoes by goal time splits it into 6 levels.
What is the drop (height difference) of a running shoe?
It is the heel stack minus the forefoot stack. For the EVO SL, 38.5 − 32 is 6.5mm. The 10 pairs fall between 6mm and 10mm, and race shoes tend to be smaller.
Can running shoes be used for HYROX too?
Yes. The total running distance is 8km, so a running shoe is the base. A way of choosing that also considers the sled-push station is written in the article on recommended HYROX shoes.
Is the weight the same for women's running shoes?
No. The weights in this article are all men's numbers. Even the same model is lighter at smaller sizes.
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- HOKA Japan official: Clifton 11
- HOKA official Japan site: Rocket X 3
- Nike Japan official: Vomero 18
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 42 (Wide)
- Nike Japan official: men's running shoes list
- Nike Japan official: Vaporfly 4
- NIKE, Inc. announcement (Feb 24, 2026, Pegasus 42)
- adidas Japan official: Adizero EVO SL
- adidas Japan official: Adizero Boston 13
- adidas Japan official: Adizero Adios Pro 4
- ASICS Japan official: NOVABLAST 6
- ASICS Japan official: GEL-NIMBUS 28
- ASICS announcement (Jul 2, 2026, NOVABLAST 6)
- ASICS announcement (Jan 5, 2026, GEL-NIMBUS 28)
- Saucony Japan official: Endorphin Speed 5
- Saucony Japan official: Triumph 24
- PUMA official Japan site: Deviate Nitro Elite 4
- Brooks Japan official: Ghost 18
