Lightweight 10K trainer for under 45 minutes

Brooks Hyperion 2

The unofficial successor to last year’s Hyperion Max is our top 10K shoe pick.

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This 7.1-ounce (201-gram) running shoe doesn’t have a plate, but its low weight and DNA Flash midsole make it ideal for quick miles.

The ‘DNA Flash’ midsole is made of nitrogen-infused EVA foam, a cushioned material with great feedback – just the ingredients for a mid-distance race.

Despite its weight, the midsole packs a lot of foam. The heel and forefoot are 34 mm and 26 mm tall respectively, so the Hyperion has ample cushioning for a 10K.

Non-EVA compounds like the Brooks DNA Flash fares well under heavy loads.

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The rubber outsole fully covers the forefoot and high-impact areas under the heel. The excellent forefoot grip helps with the quick transitions.

What you also need for a 10K is a lightweight and breathable upper that also secures the foot – something that you’ll find on the Hyperion 2.

It’s worth noting that the Hyperion V2 is not the true successor to the Hyperion, but a replacement for the Hyperion Max V1 at a $30 cheaper price.

Plated 10K racer for under 40 minutes

Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris

The closer-to-the-ground plate design makes the Metaspeed Edge Paris a better shoe for a 10K than the Sky.

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You’ll be okay with any of the Metaspeed models, but we recommend the Edge Paris for a half-marathon and shorter. Naturally, that includes a 10K. Here’s why:

The plate inside the Metaspeed Edge is designed differently than the Sky. The plate curves lower under the forefoot to create a stronger rocker effect.

A sharper curve also increases the sensation of the springboard snap under the heel. If this sounds familiar, that’s because the Metaspeed Edge behaves similarly to the Nike Vaporfly.

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

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On the road, the Edge does a better job with turnovers. It’s easier to tip the forefoot because of the (more) pronounced rocker, and the heel is also more responsive.

These character traits make the Edge Paris a superior shoe for 10K than the Sky.

Also consider: The Nike Vaporfly 3 and Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2. (the previous version)

Responsive 10K trainer for under 45 minutes

Hoka Mach 6

The completely redesigned Mach 6 is great for 10K, thanks to its bouncy ride and secure upper lockdown.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Hoka Mach 6 here.

We love what Hoka has done with the Mach 6. It’s nothing like the Mach 5 in the way it rides. While the narrow upper fit feels familiar, the rest of the shoe offers a brand-new experience.

Instead of the Mach 5’s dual-density setup, the midsole is now made of a bouncy supercritical foam. This new foam feels soft and bouncy at easy speeds (6:00 min/km, 9:40 min/mile, and slower) and efficient at higher paces.

The new midsole foam delivers its springy cushioning no matter the speed or footstrike orientation.

At quicker paces (4:00 min/km, 6:30 min/mile, and faster), the midsole delivers a springy sensation. The mild midsole rocker tips the foot forward towards the end of the gait cycle.

Equally important is the tight upper that drives the power to the midsole. There’s a good reason why most speed footwear (including ice skates and soccer boots) have a tight fit; it does a better job of transferring the power than a loose-fitting shoe.

The upper is narrow, yet comfortable. The mesh is soft, and the tongue and heel are padded.

Just know that the Mach 6 fits a half-size shorter than the Mach 5, meaning that a size 10 on the Mach 6 will give you the same length as a size 9.5 on the Mach 5.

10K tempo trainer for under 50 minutes

New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V4

This cushioned, lightweight, and breathable trainer makes a strong case for itself during a 10K.

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1. Read our detailed review of the New Balance Rebel V4 here.

Here’s a heads-up – the New Balance Rebel V4 is nothing like the Rebel V2 or V3. It’s got a brand-new midsole geometry as well as a new midsole foam. Even the upper doesn’t fit the same as the last time.

Regardless of the changes, the Rebel V4 is a sensible choice for a 10K run. Unlike the previous Rebel, the rocker midsole assists the foot during push-offs for quicker transitions. There’s more foam under the foot, so there’s enough cushioning for up to a half-marathon.

The wider outsole makes the Rebel 4 more stable than the Rebel V3 and V2. Though the PEBA-EVA blend foam isn’t as soft as the previous model, it’s got decent levels of responsiveness.

Also new for this year is the wider forefoot fit. The past Rebel models had a snug forefoot; the V4 does not. There’s more room for the toes to splay, and what’s more, New Balance also sells an optional wide.

10K racer for under 45 minutes

adidas Adizero EVO SL

The EVO SL’s 39 mm and 32 mm tall midsole offers speed-focused comfort for 10K races.

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In the grand scheme of all things running-related, a 10K race is considered short to mid-distance. But it’s twice as long as a 5K, and certainly not a distance for novice runners.

A 10K race is Solereview’s personal favorite. It’s long, but not that long. It’s also possible to set faster splits than one would during a full marathon.

You’d probably have guessed where we’re going with this. A running shoe for 10K needs to do two things very well. First, it has to be comfortable enough to absorb the repetitive landing stress. Two, the midsole should be designed to go fast.

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The adizero EVO SL scores highly on both requirements. The 39 mm and 32 mm tall Lightstrike Pro midsole has soft and bouncy cushioning that adds an engaging flavor to the ride.

Runners will also benefit from the rocker midsole. The high toe spring helps with quicker turnovers by tipping the foot forward. The grippy Continental rubber patch under the forefoot assists with quick touch-and-go.

The adizero EVO Pro-inspired upper doesn’t have a narrow fit like a traditional racer. It has an accommodating forefoot in a true-to-size profile.

Most comfortable trainer for 10K

Asics Novablast 5

The Novablast 5 blends high levels of cushioning with a speed-friendly character.

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Not everyone wants to run a 10K in a lightweight tempo trainer or a plated racer. Cushioned trainers are often a sensible choice because of ride comfort.

Not only is the Novablast 5 deeply cushioned, but the midsole rocker also makes the ride propulsive.

The bouncy Flytefoam Blast Max foam makes the ride engaging. You should also know that the Novablast 5 is much softer than the Novablast 4, so you’ll miss the rock-solid stability of the older models. The rocker effect also gets diluted because of the (more) flexible forefoot.

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The new upper loses the thick mesh from the previous model. That frees up some room inside the forefoot while improving breathability.

Despite the updates, the secure upper does a good job of transferring the power from the foot to the midsole. When not running a 10K, the Novablast 5 is also perfect as a versatile everyday trainer.

Everyday trainer for 10K

Saucony Ride 18

Thanks to its Pwrrun+ midsole, the Ride 18 will breeze through a 10K without slowing you down.

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Not only is the Saucony Ride 18 an excellent update to the series, but it’s also one of the best neutral trainers of its kind.

At the time of publishing this guide, it’s comparable to the Asics Cumulus 26, Brooks Ghost 16, New Balance 880V15 and the Nike Pegasus 41. Our opinion is that the Ride 18 is more versatile than all these trainers, and here’s why.

Its headlining act is the Pwrrun+ midsole and its mild rocker profile. Pwrrun+ is an expanded PU foam similar to what the adidas Ultraboost 5X also uses.

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The Pwrrun+ on the Ride 18 is softer and lighter than the Ride 17. That said, it doesn’t lose its supportive feel. That’s good news for versatility – a resilient midsole makes the loading efficient. The slight rocker profile and rubber outsole help with quick turnovers during a 10K.

The shoe has plenty of cushioning for a 10K, and the comfortable upper is nicely proportioned.

New for this year is the extra foam padding inside the heel collar. This has the effect of reducing room in front of the toes, so the Ride 18 fits tighter and slightly smaller. We’d still classify the fit as true-to-size.

How we selected: What to look for

A 10k run is a popular choice for many reasons. It’s a gateway for runners who eventually aspire to run half and full marathons; it gives you an idea of what longer races feel like. Even when not racing, a 10K training run is an excellent workout distance to build stamina without testing the limits of your body.

Depending on the pace, running a 10K involves being on your feet anywhere between 30 minutes to a little over an hour. If your target is a sub-40 minute 10K, that means you’d want (not need, though) a shoe that feels fast.

On the other hand, if finishing a 10K takes an hour or more, then you need a shoe with sufficient ride comfort. In other words, a running shoe needs to meet the speed and endurance requirements of a 10K run.

If you’re already wrapping up 10K runs in under 40 minutes, then you should read our buyer’s guide for 5K races. Those models will do just fine for fast 10K paces.

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

Given the context, we’ve put together a list of recommended shoes that work for both categories of runners. So regardless of whether you’re running a 37-minute or an hour-long 10K, these shoes will do a splendid job.

There’s another reason to consider this list. You can also use these shoes for half marathons, a distance where thinner racing flats (otherwise suitable for 5K races) may not offer adequate ride comfort.

Our selection criterion is relatively straightforward. The shoes listed below have a good blend of cushioning and fast; in other words, they’re lightweight trainers with enough midsole to go the distance.

While the Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris is the only Carbon-plated racer in this guide, also consider the adidas adios Pro 3 and Nike Vaporfly 3.