Super trainers
45shoes
Racing foam, and usually a plate, in something durable enough to train in. 27 of the 45 carry a plate.
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Super Trainers Compared
Kit for your next run
See all →1 / 5Weight, middle of the shelf
244g median
Heavier than racers, livelier than daily trainers. That is the whole point.
2 / 5Lightest · 193 g
Asics
Magic Speed 5
Magic Speed 5
Maker's use: light carbon-plated speed trainer.
Weight193 g
Drop7 mm
FoamFF LEAP / FF Blast Plus
PlateCarbon
3 / 5Heaviest · 296 g
On
Cloudboom Max
Cloudboom Max
Maker's use: cushioned plated super trainer.
Weight296 g
Drop8 mm
FoamHelion HF (PEBA/TPEE)
PlateNylon
4 / 5Narrowed it down?
Now let someone
watch you run
watch you run
A spec table can narrow the shelf, but it cannot watch you run. The gait analysis comes with a shoe recommendation.
Book a gait analysis5 / 5Do you keep one shoe for workout days and another for easy miles? If so, the workout shoe usually comes from this shelf.
Here are 45 super trainers from 15 brands in the ATHLO+ Shoe Lab, lightest first, compared on the figures their makers publish.
The Super Trainer: Racing Tech You Can Train In
This is the newest category on the list, and the least well defined. A super trainer borrows the foam and usually the plate from a racing shoe, then puts them in something durable enough to train in — 27 of these 45 carry a plate of some kind.
They are heavier than racers and livelier than daily trainers, which is the whole point.
The Full Comparison
- Lightest193 gAsics Magic Speed 5
- Median244 gacross 45 shoes with a published weight
- Heaviest296 gOn Cloudboom Max
- 180–200 g1
- 200–220 g5
- 220–240 g14
- 240–260 g13
- 260–280 g6
- 280–300 g6
45 of 45 have a published weight. Lightest 193 g, heaviest 296 g.
| Shoe | Weight | Stack (heel/fore) | Drop | Foam | Plate | Year | Maker's stated use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asics Magic Speed 5 | 193 g | 37 / 30 mm | 7 mm | FF LEAP / FF Blast Plus | Carbon | 2026 | Light carbon-plated speed trainer |
| Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro | 201 g | 39 / 33.5 mm | 5.5 mm | Enerzy XP (TPEE) | Carbon-infused nylon | 2026 | Forgiving plated super trainer |
| Puma Deviate Pure Nitro | 213 g | 38 / 30 mm | 8 mm | NITROFOAM (100% PEBA) | None | 2026 | Plateless PEBA trainer, light and versatile |
| Asics Magic Speed 4 | 218 g | 36 / 29 mm | 7 mm | FF Blast+ / Turbo | Carbon | 2024 | Budget carbon tempo + racer |
| New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1 | 218 g | 40 / 36 mm | 4 mm | Infinion (TPEE) | Pebax | 2026 | Light plated do-everything trainer |
| Topo Athletic Specter 3 | 218 g | 39 / 34 mm | 5 mm | RevFoam (ATPU) | None | 2026 | Plateless uptempo trainer with a roomy toe box |
| Asics Megablast | 224 g | 45 / 37 mm | 8 mm | FF Turbo² (A-TPU) | None | 2025 | Max-stack plate-free super trainer |
| Kiprun KD900 | 225 g | 36 / 30 mm | 6 mm | VFOAM Plus | None | 2024 | Value tempo trainer |
| Kiprun Kipstorm Tempo | 225 g | 45 / 37 mm | 8 mm | FASTECH+ (dual-density ATPU) | None | 2026 | Max-stack tempo trainer; CMEVA carrier acts plate-like, runs large |
| Adidas Adizero Evo SL | 230 g | 39 / 33 mm | 6 mm | Lightstrike Pro | None | 2025 | Fast do-it-all trainer (Evo, no rods) |
| Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 | 230 g | 36 / 28 mm | 8 mm | PWRRUN PB | Nylon | 2024 | Tempo + uptempo daily |
| Hoka Mach 6 | 233 g | 37 / 32 mm | 5 mm | Supercritical EVA | None | 2024 | Uptempo daily, tempo |
| Saucony Endorphin Speed 6 | 233 g | 38 / 30 mm | 8 mm | PWRRUN PBX | Nylon | 2026 | Plated trainer for tempo and long runs |
| Adidas Adizero Boston 12 | 235 g | 37 / 30 mm | 7 mm | Lightstrike Pro / 2.0 | Rods | 2023 | Tempo, half-marathon training |
| Brooks Hyperion Max 2 | 235 g | 38 / 30 mm | 8 mm | DNA Gold | None | 2024 | Uptempo long-run trainer |
| Li-Ning Feidian Discipline | 235 g | 38 / 30 mm | 8 mm | Boom | None | 2024 | Tempo + daily trainer |
| Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 | 235 g | 38 / 30 mm | 8 mm | Enerzy Lite | Nylon | 2024 | Uptempo trainer + racer |
| Xtep 260X | 235 g | 38 / 30 mm | 8 mm | PEBA | Nylon | 2024 | Tempo trainer |
| Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 | 238 g | 36 / 28 mm | 8 mm | PWRRUN PB (PEBA) | Nylon | 2025 | Nylon-plated tempo all-rounder |
| Asics Superblast 3 | 239 g | 46.5 / 38.5 mm | 8 mm | FF Leap + Blast+ | None | 2026 | Long runs to tempo, do-it-all |
| Saucony Endorphin Azura | 240 g | 40 / 32 mm | 8 mm | PWRRUN PB | None | 2026 | Plateless high-stack Endorphin |
| Asics Sonicblast 2 | 242 g | 46 / 38 mm | 8 mm | FF Turbo² + FF Blast Max | Pebax | 2026 | High-stack plated trainer for uptempo miles |
| Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 3 | 244 g | 37.5 / 34.5 mm | 3 mm | ENERZY NXT / ENERZY XP | Nylon | 2025 | Low-drop plated tempo shoe |
| Nike Pegasus Plus | 244 g | 37 / 27 mm | 10 mm | ZoomX | None | 2024 | Lively uptempo daily |
| On Cloudflow 4 | 244 g | 35 / 29 mm | 6 mm | Helion HF | None | 2024 | Lightweight tempo + daily |
| Skechers GoRun Razor Excess 2 | 244 g | 34 / 30 mm | 4 mm | Hyper Burst | None | 2023 | Bouncy tempo trainer |
| Hoka Mach X 2 | 248 g | 39 / 34 mm | 5 mm | PEBA + EVA | Pebax | 2024 | Plated tempo + daily |
| Asics Superblast 2 | 249 g | 45 / 37 mm | 8 mm | FF Turbo+ / Blast+ | None | 2024 | Long runs to tempo, do-it-all |
| On Cloudflow 5 | 249 g | 37 / 31 mm | 6 mm | Helion HF (supercritical) | Nylon | 2026 | Firm speed / tempo trainer |
| Puma Deviate Nitro 4 | 250 g | 38 / 30 mm | 8 mm | NITROFOAM | Carbon | 2026 | Plated uptempo trainer |
| Nike Zoom Fly 6 | 252 g | 40 / 32 mm | 8 mm | ZoomX + SR-02 | Carbon | 2024 | Plated tempo + long-run trainer |
| Adidas Adizero Boston 13 | 255 g | 37 / 30 mm | 7 mm | Lightstrike Pro / Lightstrike | Rods | 2025 | Rodded do-everything trainer |
| Topo Athletic Specter 2 | 255 g | 33 / 28 mm | 5 mm | Pebax ZipFoam | None | 2024 | High-stack uptempo trainer |
| Asics Sonicblast | 261 g | 46 / 38 mm | 8 mm | FF Turbo Plus | Nylon | 2025 | Max-stack plated super trainer |
| Puma Deviate Nitro 3 | 264 g | 40 / 32 mm | 8 mm | Nitro Foam | Carbon | 2024 | Cushioned daily + tempo |
| Mizuno Neo Vista 3 | 266 g | 44.5 / 36.5 mm | 8 mm | Enerzy NXT | Nylon | 2026 | Bootie-upper super trainer |
| New Balance FuelCell SC Trainer v3 | 269 g | 40 / 36 mm | 4 mm | FuelCell (PEBA) | Carbon | 2024 | Long runs, marathon training |
| On Cloudmonster Hyper | 272 g | 44 / 38 mm | 6 mm | Helion HF | None | 2024 | Plateless high-stack super trainer |
| Saucony Kinvara Pro | 275 g | 42 / 34 mm | 8 mm | PWRRUN PB / EVA | Nylon | 2023 | High-stack tempo + long run |
| Brooks Hyperion Max 3 | 281 g | 46 / 40 mm | 6 mm | DNA GOLD / DNA FLASH v2 | Nylon | 2025 | Max-stack plated super trainer |
| Hoka Skyward X 2 | 283 g | 44 / 39 mm | 5 mm | PEBA over supercritical EVA | Carbon | 2026 | Max-stack plated super trainer |
| Hoka Mach X 3 | 289 g | 46 / 41 mm | 5 mm | PEBA over EVA | Pebax | 2025 | Plated super trainer / racer |
| Adidas Adizero Prime X3 Strung | 290 g | 50 / 43 mm | 7 mm | Lightstrike Pro | Rods | 2025 | 50mm non-race-legal super trainer |
| Hoka Clifton Pro | 296 g | 42 / 34 mm | 8 mm | Supercritical EVA | None | 2026 | Performance-leaning Clifton |
| On Cloudboom Max | 296 g | 40 / 32 mm | 8 mm | Helion HF (PEBA/TPEE) | Nylon | 2026 | Cushioned plated super trainer |
How to Read the Numbers
- Weight: The figure that changes how a shoe feels most obviously, but it is quoted at one sample size — usually a men's US9. Your pair will weigh more or less.
- Stack: The foam under your heel and under your forefoot.
- Drop: The heel-to-toe difference between those two. It changes where the load sits, not how much of it there is.
- Plate: What is embedded in the midsole. Carbon is the stiffest and the most common in racing shoes, while nylon, Pebax and rods are progressively more forgiving. “None” is not a lesser shoe, just a different one.
- Foam: The maker's own name for the midsole compound, reproduced as published. The names are marketing, but the behaviour is not — PEBA-based foams are generally lighter and more resilient than EVA-based ones.
Compare Any of These Side by Side
Want to see two of these head to head? The ATHLO+ Shoe Lab stacks any two to four of them against each other on the same specs. ATHLO+ does not sell running shoes, but you will find the rest of your kit in Training and Racing.
If you are deciding between versions of the same shoe, see how the Asics Superblast 3 compares with the Superblast 2 and Megablast, and what changed from the Hoka Mach 6 to the Mach 7.
Find Your Fit with FORGED by ReFormd on ATHLO+
A spec table can narrow the shelf, but it cannot watch you run. FORGED by ReFormd's 3D running gait analysis, which you can book on ATHLO+, comes with a shoe recommendation.
Book 3D Running Gait Analysis with FORGED by ReFormd on ATHLO+ →
Ready to see how they stack up against race-day shoes? Read our guide to carbon plate racing shoes next.
More Shoe Lab Comparisons
- Carbon Plate Racing Shoes Compared — 64 shoes
- Daily Trainer Running Shoes Compared — 62 shoes
- Trail Running Shoes Compared — 52 shoes
- Stability Running Shoes Compared — 33 shoes
- Max Cushion Running Shoes Compared — 41 shoes
Where these numbers come from
Every figure on this page is the manufacturer's published specification, compiled in the ATHLO+ Shoe Lab, which is powered by iRUN Singapore. These are specifications, not our own test results — we have not run in every shoe listed, and nothing here is ranked or recommended. Stack heights and weights are quoted at the manufacturer's sample size and will vary with your own size. Where a maker publishes no figure, the cell reads “—”.
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The Shoe Lab is built with iRUN Singapore, whose specialists fit runners day in, day out. The specs here are compiled with them — and the shoes are in their stores if you want to put a pair on before you decide.
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More from the Shoe Lab
By brand
Asics33Race · Daily · Stability
Hoka31Max cushion · Daily · Trail
Nike27Race · Daily · Super trainer
Saucony26Race · Daily · Trail
Adidas24Race · Daily · Super trainer
Brooks24Daily · Stability · Trail
On22Daily · Race · Trail
New Balance21Race · Daily · Super trainer
Puma17Race · Daily · Super trainer
Mizuno15Super trainer · Race · Max cushion
Everyone else65Altra · Salomon · Topo Athletic · 17 more
By category
Carbon plate racers64Stiff plate, thick foam. Built for one hard effort.
Daily trainers62The shoes most of your week happens in.
Super trainers45Racing foam and a plate, durable enough to train in.
Trail52Grip and protection for anything that isn't tarmac.
Max cushion41Defined by one number: how much foam is under the heel.
Stability33Geometry and firmer foam to limit how far the foot rolls in.