Every Running Shoe I’ve Tried (and the One I Keep Coming Back To)

The question I get most often from runners:

“What’s your favorite shoe to train in?”

Instead of a one-word answer, here’s a rundown of every running shoe I’ve tried — with quick thoughts on fit, feel, and how they held up.

Nike

• Pegasus (38, 39, 40, 41, Turbo)

  • My all-time favorite daily trainer — no contest. I’ve bought five generations because the Peg checks every box: performance, comfort, durability, design. A 10/10.

• Vaporfly 3

  • As advertised. Pricey, but game-changing for racing. If you’re serious about squeezing every second out of your races, carbon-plated shoes are worth it. Once mine lose their edge for racing, I recycle them into workout shoes for tempo efforts.

• Zoom D

  • My first pair of spikes. Basic, affordable, and get the job done. Don’t expect them to transform your race, but as an entry-level spike they’re fine.

• Dragonfly

  • My go-to spikes for comfort. Spikes usually feel harsh, but these are surprisingly cushioned and springy. I haven’t had a “massive PR” moment in them yet, but they feel good to race in — which counts for a lot.

Adidas

• Supernova

  • The fit never worked for me. Too narrow, and I often wound up with shin splints. If you have narrower feet, you’ll probably get along with them better.

• Adizero Boston 10

  • Same issue as the Supernova: narrow fit, and I always felt a little off-balance. Hard to judge performance fairly since they just didn’t work with my feet.

ASICS

• GT-2000 9

  • A comfortable daily trainer, especially for easy runs. My only knock: the toe box wore thin and eventually developed a hole, something I’ve never had happen with another shoe. Not as versatile as the Peg (I wouldn’t tempo in them), but solid for logging miles.

Brooks

• PureCadence

  • My first-ever running shoe. Totally fine, nothing special. Solid for utility, but not a shoe that sparks joy — especially in the looks department.

• Adrenaline GTS 21

  • Tank-like durability. I put over 800 miles on these before retiring them, which makes them one of the most budget-friendly options I’ve ever owned.

Hoka

• Clifton 9

  • A “better for walking” shoe in my book. Soft, cushioned, chunky. If pace isn’t a priority and you want maximum comfort/injury protection, these could be a good match.

On

• Cloudsurfer

  • My second favorite shoe behind the Peg. They feel bouncy and light, even on easy days. Downsides: On shoes are pricey, and this model collects tiny rocks in the outsole — annoying, but not a dealbreaker.

• Cloudrunner

  • Great for walking, less so for running. Cushioned and comfortable, just not responsive enough for me on the run.

Final Thoughts

Shoes are personal — the same pair can feel amazing to one runner and terrible to another, depending on foot shape, stride, and goals. But across all the models I’ve tested, the Nike Pegasus remains my daily trainer of choice, with the On Cloudsurfer a close second.