Creating a record-breaking running shoe is a marathon, not a sprint. Each design is the product of years of research, athlete testing, and meticulous fine-tuning, with brands working tirelessly to improve. However, with the sport of running growing bigger by the day and all eyes on pinnacle events like the Paris Games this year, design teams were locked into a race to redefine the limits of performance footwear before the tech hit the worldwide stage.
Super shoes have been leading the pack for a while now, but in 2024, the quest to make them even more super reached new heights. This year, Swiss brand On unveiled their revolutionary LightSpray upper, setting a new standard for lightweight performance shoes and robotic manufacturing technology. Over in Germany, PUMA broke all the rules with a stacked-up super trainer designed to maximise energy return and cushioning. Across the industry, brands turned their focus to pushing the limits of foam, delivering lighter, more responsive midsoles to enhance every stride. Some also streamlined their ranges, offering runners a clearer path to finding their perfect training tool.
But these advancements weren’t just for the elite – they helped to reshape the running market at every level. Catering for seasoned athletes and casual joggers alike, here are the best running shoe innovations for 2024.
On LightSpray
On Running’s LightSpray tech is arguably one of the most exciting developments in footwear this year, full stop, but in a sport like running where every gram matters, making your shoes as light as possible will give you a serious advantage. On proved that LightSpray had all the makings of a game-changer in Boston, when Hellen Obiri took home the women’s marathon win wearing the CloudBoom Strike LS before the technology was even officially revealed. Fast forward to July, and On showcased the printing process in Paris to coincide with the Olympics. It was here that we got a deeper understanding of how Lightspray worked.
A LightSpray LightSpray shoe like the CloudBoom Strike LS comes together by spraying 1.5km of fine filament knit-like pattern directly onto a high-performance midsole in a process that takes approximately three minutes. In the CloudBoom Strike’s case, this midsole unit is also computer optimised and made from double helium HF Hyper Foam, which means the shoe only weighs a tiny 170g. And while that might not sound like the sturdiest thing in the world, let us reassure you – LightSpray material is strong. Additionally, there’s no need to worry about a lack of ankle support when they’re that difficult to get on at first! The shoe’s ultra-light weight isn’t the only big development either, as the technology is also a huge step forward in sustainability, producing up to 75 per cent fewer carbon emissions than other racing uppers that go through a more complicated creation process. And while this all sounds like an expensive dream, On will be looking to roll out the tech more widely next year – the LightSpray era is only just getting started.
Breaking the Rules
The PUMA NITRO Fast RB might just be the year’s most controversial running sneaker, but it’s also a huge feat in running technology. The souped-up running shoe took rocker shapes to new levels, with a drastically angled forefoot, cut-out midfoot and a highly stacked, irregular-shaped heel section – all designed to propel you forwards in your running. The shoes caused a stir when they hit the shelves as they were over the legal stack height for racing, but as PUMA’s Vice President of Innovation Romain Girard told us earlier in the year ‘f*ck the rules’.
‘[The Rulebreaker] was all about maximising the cushioning for our marathon runners, but we are blocked by the [World Athletics] rules at 40 millimeters. But these people are running 230 to 300 kilometers a week in training. Their marathon is once a month, once every six weeks, 40 kilometers. We said f*ck the rules and we built something that broke the rules. You cannot run your marathon in them but if you're going to train in them, you’re going to reach another level while training with a special tool,’ he told us.
Getting Stacked
The Rule Breaker wasn’t the only tall runner this year – plenty of brands managed to max out on their cushioning. In a complete reversal of the mid-2000s barefoot runner trend, brands like Hoka have been comfortably flying the flag for cushioned runners since their inception, and with competition between brands heating up, it was clear that the max cushion crew were onto something. While most brands kept their races under the legal stack height (a modest 38mm instead of 40), a lot of them experimented with taller models among their training shoe rosters. We’re talking New Balance’s Fresh Foam X More v5 (44mm), the Brooks Glycerin Max (45mm) and the Hoka Skyward X (48mm).
Foam Focus
It goes without saying that a higher stack height can contribute to a higher weight, but keeping things light and airy is essential in running shoes. Therefore, brands also had to put a lot more effort into their foam this year. PEBA-style foam dominated thanks to its level of energy return, though PEBA differs slightly between each brand. New Balance upgraded their Super Comp Elite with new foam for the v4, bringing in a 100 per cent PEBA mix that delivered 87 per cent energy return, versus the 83 per cent energy return delivered in the v3, making for a lighter and bouncier ride. Saucony also upped the ante on their Endorphin Pro 4, boosting the midsole with a slither of their PWRHNG HG, which was previously found on their Endorphin Elite. Not to be outdone, Nike bolstered some of their everyday models with their own tech, kitting out the Pegasus 41 with ReactX for the first time ever and even producing a more responsive version with ZoomX. The Swoosh’s foam-Air combo is also set to get another upgrade in 2025 with the launch of their Vomero 18 – stay tuned for more on that next year!
Cheeky Takedowns
If extortionate price tags was one of the biggest running shoe takeaways of 2023 (we’re looking at you, adidas), then it was all about catering to the mass market in 2024. Understanding that not everyone could (or needed to) drop $500 on a one-use super shoe, Team Trefoil introduced their secondary marathon runner, the Adizero Adios Pro 4, as well as an everyday training shoe, the Adizero Evo SL, which were both designed to mimic the distinctive look of the Adios Pro Evo 1. As mentioned, Nike also released multiple tiers of the Pegasus, with a premium version also set to land in 2025.
Why Overcomplicate?
With so much tech going into running shoes (and so many people getting into running), entering the running shoe world can feel quite complicated and even a little overwhelming. Pro models, takedowns and everyday training options can be confusing to navigate, so one of the biggest shifts we saw this year came from the Swoosh, who confirmed they’d be simplifying their running ranges. Towards the end of the year, they categorised their road running ranges into max cushioned (Vomero), responsive cushioning (Pegasus) and supportive cushioning (Structure), simplifying their main franchises and helping buyers find the best running shoes for them.
Wondering what else caught our eye in 2024? These are the best innovations in sneaker tech this year.