For a while now, the most hyped running shoes have shared one thing: a carbon plate. The tech behind these record-breaking "super shoes" is brilliant for racing, but stiff, aggressive, and not much fun for everyday miles.

Lately, though, the foams have caught up. The newest ones are so light and springy they give you that fast, lively feel without needing a plate at all. Without the stiffness, you get a shoe that's easier on your legs and your wallet. 2026 has brought a wave of these carbon-free super trainers, alongside fresh models and refined classics.

The ASICS Superblast range has earned serious status for a reason. Most very fast running shoes get their "spring" from a stiff carbon plate in the sole, but these plates can feel rigid and aggressive to run on.

The Superblast proved you could skip the plate entirely, and instead rely on ASICS' high-tech super foam instead, and still get a shoe that feels super fast and fun. For a lot of runners, that's the best of both worlds: speed without the harshness.

This newest version is the biggest update the shoe has had, and a lot of it happens in the midsole (the cushioned layer between your foot and the ground that determines how a shoe feels). ASICS replaced the firmer foam used before with a new one called FF Leap, the same premium foam found in its top-tier Metaspeed racing shoes. In plain terms: the cushioning is now softer, springier, and more comfortable, while still giving lots of energy back with every step.

ASICS also made the shoe taller, adding more foam underfoot (the "stack" went up from roughly 37-45 mm to 38.5-46.5 mm). More foam usually means more weight, but impressively they actually made it 10 g lighter than the last version. So you get a more plush, protective, cushioned ride without the shoe feeling heavy or sluggish.

The result is an extremely energetic, do-it-all shoe which is comfortable enough for everyday runs, cushioned enough for long ones, and lively enough to feel brilliant on race day. The catch is the price, at around £200 / $210, it's a genuine investment, so it's best suited to runners who want one premium shoe that can handle anything.

PUMA have taken their Deviate NITRO race shoe and made one big change: removed the PWRPLATE, (PUMA's carbon plate) and instead are relying entirely on a thick layer of its best cushioning foam, the NITROFOAM, made from a premium, lightweight material called PEBA that's normally reserved for racing shoes. This has resulted in a shoe where the foam alone can delivers a fast, fun ride, similar to the Superblast.

At around 213-225 g, it's seriously light yet it still has plenty of cushioning underfoot (a 38 mm / 30 mm "stack," meaning the amount of foam under your heel and forefoot).

This puts it in the popular new category often called "carbon-free super trainers": fast, cushioned shoes that skip the racing plate. It sits alongside similar favorites like the adidas Evo SL and Saucony Azura, and it's also great value at £129.99 / $150.

This is a smooth shoe, versatile enough for everything from easy jogs to racing a half marathon.

Nike's Pegasus, or "the Peg," is one of the most popular running shoes ever made, now in its 42nd version. It's a dependable, daily shoe that's been a safe first pick for runners for decades.

The biggest change in this version is a new strip of cushioning air built into the sole. Think of it as a thin, sealed cushion of air that runs the full length of the shoe. It squashes down when your foot lands and bounces back as you push off, giving you some extra spring with each step. Older versions had two smaller air pockets instead of one long one, so this new design feels smoother and more even underfoot.

The front of the shoe also curves up a bit more, which helps your foot roll forward naturally as you stride. Overall, you can expect the ride to feel smoother and a little more comfortable than the last model, but the Pegasus still feels firm and steady rather than soft and bouncy. Its main drawback is weight, at around 300 g (about 10 oz).

If you are a fan of this classic Nike range, this latest model feels similarly stable and reliable.

The Ellipse is a brand-new shoe from New Balance, not an update to an existing one. It's pitched as a comfortable, easygoing daily trainer at a friendly price.

It uses New Balance's cushioning foam called Fresh Foam X, which is super soft and comfortable underfoot, with a moderate amount of cushioning. Interestingly, this is the same foam the brand's popular flagship shoe, the 1080, just stopped using, so the Ellipse now carries it on instead.

It's the kind of shoe that feels best on easy days, recovery runs, and steady everyday miles, not necessarily the one you'd reach for when you want to pick up the pace.

This is a great entry-level shoe considering both price and purpose. It offers modest support and isn't built to do everything, but if you want a soft, comfortable shoe for relaxed running without spending a lot, it delivers exactly that.

The Glycerin Flex is a new shoe, designed by Brooks to bend and move with your foot instead of controlling it, so running feels more natural.

The thinking, based on years of their research, is that letting your foot move freely helps keep it strong and healthy. This make a nice change from the stiff "super shoes".

The big idea is flexibility that comes from a sole that has deep grooves cut into it that let the shoe bend and twist as your foot does. Each step feels smooth and free.

The cushioning is comfortable and middle-of-the-road, meaning it's not thin, but not sky-high either. It's a bit softer under the heel, so landings feel gentle, and a bit firmer at the front, so pushing off feels lively. The shoe also sits fairly low and level to the ground, which encourages a natural stride.

A few things to know: this isn't a soft, max-cushioned shoe. It feels calm and steady rather than springy. It's one to put on your list if you like a low-to-the-ground, natural feel.

ASICS Novablast 6: ASICS' extremely popular soft-and-bouncy everyday trainer is landing in July 2026.

Hoka Clifton Pro: A faster, more performance-focused take on Hoka's hugely loved Clifton, arriving in the second half of 2026.

Saucony Paramount Max: A brand-new shoe built around what may be the softest foam on the market, made purely for plush, leg-saving recovery miles.

Over on Runna TV, we test our favourite shoes and share our tips — including how to build a shoe rotation and our top picks for race day.