Plated half-marathon racer

Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris

Think of the Metaspeed Edge as a refined version of the Nike Vaporfly 3. That makes it lightweight, cushioned, and quick.

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The Metaspeed series has two shoes – the Sky Paris and Edge Paris. The Sky has a less curved plate and softer forefoot landings. That’s because there’s a thicker layer of foam under the plate, as well as a softer outsole with a window.

On the other hand, the Metaspeed Edge’s plate design is similar to that of the Nike Vaporfly 3. The plate has a steeper curve and is anchored closer to the outsole. So most of the Flytefoam Turbo foam is above the plate. The Edge also has a different outsole than the Sky without the window.

So what happens on the road is this – the firmer forefoot and sharper curve of the plate make the turnover more efficient than the Sky. That’s why we recommend the Edge Paris for distances that are half-marathons and shorter, while the Sky is better used for a marathon.

The Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris makes short work of 10K runs.

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This isn’t to say that the Sky isn’t fit for shorter distances, but the Edge has a stronger use case here.

The cushioned and bouncy ride of the Flytefoam Turbo Plus foam complements the stiff Carbon plate well.

The FF Turbo+ midsole adds responsive ride comfort while keeping the weight low – the Metaspeed Edge weighs a mere 6.5 ounces or 185 grams. On the other hand, the Carbon plate makes the transitions and push-offs quick and efficient. There’s just enough outsole rubber for traction in high-wear areas.

The upper has excellent fit and breathability. The fit is neither too tight nor loose, and the padded heel locks in the foot. The porous mesh and perforated tongue keep the feet cool. The Metaspeed Sky and Edge both share the same upper.

Also consider: The Nike Vaporfly 3, adidas Adios Pro 3.

Soft and bouncy speed shoe

adidas Adizero EVO SL

The EVO SL is like last year’s Adios Pro 3, but without the Energy Rods. It has the speed and comfort for a half.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Adizero EVO SL here.

Remember our review of the Adios Pro 3 from last year? We called it the most versatile super-shoe.

What if adidas removed the stiff Energy Rods from the Adio’s midsole but kept everything else more or less the same? That’s the new adizero EVO SL for you.

This multi-role trainer can do many things. The soft and bouncy Lightstrike Pro foam adds comfort to daily runs, tempo training, and 10K races.

The efficient forefoot rocker rolls the foot forward with enthusiasm. The forefoot Continental rubber outsole is similar to the Adios Pro 3, providing dependable grip during push-offs.

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The EVO SL’s tall midsole has the comfort for even a half-marathon. The 39 mm heel and 32 mm forefoot create a cushioned stack of bouncy softness that encourages high-intensity runs.

In the front, the rocker midsole accelerates the gait cycle with faster roll-offs. The Lightstrike Pro foam is quick to respond, so the tall stack doesn’t impede speed.

For a change, this speed shoe doesn’t have a narrow-fitting upper. The breathable EVO Pro-inspired upper is relatively spacious and will accommodate most foot profiles.

Max-cushioned tempo shoe

Asics Superblast 2

The Superblast 2’s versatile ride works for most runs, half-marathons and marathons included.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Asics Superblast 2 here.

The Superblast 2’s unique suite of tricks made it excellent for long races like a half or full marathon.

The specs appear contradictory, but the entire package runs like a well-oiled machine. Here’s what we mean: The Superblast 2 has stack heights of 45 mm (heel) and 37 mm (forefoot), so it should be a heavy shoe, correct? Wrong. The Superblast 2 weighs less than 9 ounces or a mere 250 grams.

The rocker effect of the midsole is toned down by the less-than-ideal fit and softer Flytefoam Turbo.

The lightweight and uber-cushioned Superblast 2 is missing two things that contributed to the Superblast 1's success.

The midsole stability is excellent relative to its stack height and deep cushioning.

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Also, the midsole doesn’t feel sluggish for a highly-cushioned shoe. The rocker profile of the thick midsole helps with smooth turnovers, and the responsive cushioning of the Flytefoam Turbo – Asics’s premier foam – prevents the midsole from feeling mushy.

While most of the midsole is the soft FF Turbo foam, the firmer base works with the rocker to keep the transitions efficient. That said, we don’t recommend the Superblast V2 for speeds faster than 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile).

The SB2 is a ‘slower’ shoe than the SB1 because of weaker upper lock-down and softer Flytefoam Turbo. The more spacious upper dials down the rocker effect, as the foot isn’t as secure as it was in the SB1. The softer ride makes the transitions a little more work when compared to the firmer Superblast 1.

Compared to the Superblast V1, the V2 has more toe-box room and better ventilation.

Asics has updated the outsole lug design and rubber compound for improved grip over the Superblast V1.

Use them for daily runs, endurance training, and marathons – be it a half or full 26.2.

Propulsive cushioned trainer

Brooks Hyperion Max 2

The Hyperion Max 2’s DNA Flash midsole and Speedvault plate join forces to deliver speed-friendly comfort.

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Despite the same name, the Hyperion Max 2 is not the successor to the Hyperion Max 1 – the Brooks Hyperion 2 is.

The H-Max 2 is a brand-new shoe with a much taller stack (37 mm and 31 mm) and 9.1-ounce weight. That’s nearly 2 ounces over the outgoing Hyperion Max V1.

The V2 also has a transition plate (Speedvault plate) that prevents the foot from sinking into the soft midsole. It’s clear that the H-Max 2 has very little to do with the previous model and is a stand-alone model for 2024.

The Hyperion Max 2 is comparable to the New Balance SC Trainer V4 than any Brooks shoe.

The Hyperion Max 2 is a completely different shoe than the Hyperion Max 1.

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In short, it’s a very cushioned trainer that’s also agile – thanks to the stiff plate that assists the loading process. So you get the cushioned comfort from the tall midsole, yet have the tempo-friendly character that’s useful during a half-marathon.

The transitions are also helped by the rocker midsole and stiff forefoot that rolls the foot forward for easier turnovers.

The lightweight upper is similar to the Hyperion Max V1 though – it’s lightweight and breezy with a true-to-size fit.

Versatile cushioned trainer

Asics Novablast 5

This versatile half-marathon trainer has a bouncy ride and rocker assist.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Asics Novablast 5 here.

The Novablast 5’s ultra-cushioned midsole (41.5 mm and 33.5 mm stack) makes it a comfortable running shoe up to a marathon. The Flytefoam Blast Max foam is neither E-TPU nor PEBAX, but delivers excellent cushioning feedback.

This year’s version is softer and bouncier than the Novablast 4 because of the new Flytefoam Blast Max foam.

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Being tempo-friendly is the other thing that the Novablast is good at. The rocker assists with quicker push-offs, helped by the improved grip from the hybrid Asicsgrip outsole.

There are a couple of things one should know about the Novablast 5. First, its softer ride negatively impacts stability and rocker effect. Since the forefoot midsole isn’t as stiff as the V4, it’s slightly less eager to propel you forward.

Heavier runners will miss the rock-solid stability of the Novablast 4.

The second update is about the upper fit. The V5 uses a thinner mesh and a different lacing setup than the V4.

These tweaks add more forefoot room, and that too, dilutes the ‘speed’ part of the ride quality. A relaxed fit is less effective at transferring the power from the foot to the midsole.

Versatile daily trainer for half-marathons

Saucony Ride 18

The Ride 18 packs enough cushioning to cruise through a half-marathon.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Saucony Ride 18 here.

Between the New Balance 880V15 and Saucony Ride 18, we had to pick one for this guide. While the 880V15 is softer than the Ride 18, this Saucony trainer is the more sensible choice. Here’s why:

The dense Pwrrun+ foam midsole has better bounce and responsiveness. When combined with a mild midsole rocker, the midsole is better at quicker miles than the Cumulus or Brooks Ghost 16.

Rocker assist is unavailable on the Saucony Ride 18.

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When we say quick, we mean speeds of 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile) and slower. For sub 4:00 min paces, we recommend shoes like the Brooks Hyperion 2 or a plated racer.

There’s a lot of underfoot comfort for a half-marathon – the Pwrrun+ foam used here is softer and lighter version than the Ride 17. Runners who are upgrading from the previous model will notice the increased softness.

The footbed used the same material as the midsole, so the step-in comfort is best in class.

The true-to-size upper has a plush interior; the sleeved midfoot and padded tongue+heel secure the foot.

The upper fits tighter than the last model because of the thicker heel and tongue padding. The mesh has been switched to a softer kind to improve interior comfort.

How we selected: What to look for

We have running shoe product guides for 10K runs and marathons, but what about the under-rated half marathon?

A half marathon doesn’t get the credit it deserves. It’s a long-distance race that’s a good test of physical endurance. At the same time, it doesn’t require the intense training and long recovery period that a marathon entails. If you’re in reasonably good shape, a sub-2:00 half-marathon is within reach for most runners.

By the way, if you’re searching for an easy-to-follow training plan for a half marathon, here’s one on the Canadarunningseries website that’s put together by Saucony. And here’s another one from the Boston Athletics Association.

This guide contains running shoes that are recommended for distances between a 10K and a half-marathon. If you want to see a selection of plated running shoes for marathons (and longer), then reading this guide should help. On the other hand, if a soft running shoe is all that you need, then our recommendations are here.

So what kind of half-marathon running shoes would you find here?

This guide includes cushioned running shoes with a bit of snap in them. That way, the cushioning won’t slow you down during fast, high-mileage runs. Highly cushioned tempo shoes like the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 use transition-friendly components like a rapid plate for a speed-friendly character.

On the other hand, products like the Asics Superblast 2, adidas EVO SL, and Novablast 5 don’t use stiff internal components. They combine midsole foam and geometry to create a ride quality that’s comfortable and fast.

While the Asics Metaspeed Edge is our recommended plated racer on this list, you’d be served equally well by the Nike Vaporfly 3 or adidas adios Pro 4.