Running is booming, and this enthusiasm extends all the way to the sport’s pinnacle: marathons. Last year, more people ran the 26.2 miles than ever before. The 2025 London, Paris, and New York City marathons all saw a record number of finishers, and this year’s stats are pointing towards even more growth — with the 2026 London Marathon witnessing an all-time high of 59,830 finishers and New York’s race in November having a good shot at breaking that.

First-timer? We’ll let you in on a little secret: You’ll want purpose-built shoes when you lace up on race day. The best marathon shoes on the market feature every brand’s cutting-edge technology, which usually includes specs like a carbon plate for propulsion and advanced cushioning that holds up across all those miles.

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These innovations have advanced by leaps and bounds (pun intended) over the last few years, right alongside running’s skyrocketing popularity, so it’s no wonder the new carbon plate–equipped shoes are being referred to as “super shoes” for their ability to slash time off everyone’s records.

The Best Marathon Running Shoes to Buy Online

BEST OVERALL

Brooks Hyperion Elite 6 Shoe

Buy now at Brooks running $275 Jump to Details

RUNNER-UP

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Shoe

Buy men’s at adidas $255 Jump to Details

FASTEST OPTION

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 Shoe

Buy men’s at puma $199.99 Jump to Details

BEST NIKE SHOE

Nike Alphafly 3 Shoe

Buy men’s at nike $305 Jump to Details

BEST CUSHIONING

On Cloudboom Strike Shoe

Buy men’s at On $220 Jump to Details

View more +

The daily runners you’ve been using to train will work fine for a marathon, but dedicated race shoes will help you conquer the distance faster and more effortlessly.

If you have a race on the books, read on. Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the top marathon running shoes to buy right now from brands like Brooks, Nike, and Adidas.

(Your body and your PR will thank you.)

BEST OVERALL

Brooks Hyperion Elite 6 Shoe

$275

Buy now at Brooks running

Brooks has been quietly perfecting its carbon-plate marathon shoes, and the brand’s latest — the unisex Hyperion Elite 6 — proves that it’s as close to flawlessness as anyone’s gotten. The incredibly lightweight shoe is centered around a SpeedVault+ carbon fiber plate that delivers a powerful roll and snap motion to cover more ground with every step.

The sneaker’s upper is exceptionally comfortable, too, and the updated DNA Gold midsole cushioning is bouncy without sacrificing stability.

RUNNER-UP

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Shoe

$255

Buy men’s at adidas

$255

Buy women’s at adidas

Adidas has been ruling the marathon leaderboards recently, with the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 carrying Sebastian Sowe to a world-record 1:59:30 finish at the 2026 London Marathon.

The Evo 3 is highly exclusive and almost impossible to get, but Adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro 4 is an overachieving, mass-market alternative. Regularly cited as the best of the best in the category, the AP4 has an explosive but approachable feel, providing an ideal launch pad for midfoot and forefoot (if not heel) strikers. The shoe is also quite versatile in terms of distances, working well for everything from 5Ks to marathons and beyond.

FASTEST OPTION

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 Shoe

$199.99 $300 33% off

Buy men’s at puma

$199.99 $300 33% off

Buy women’s at puma

Trust us when we say: Wearing the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 is like having a rocket ship on each of your feet. The race shoe is shockingly fast thanks to its unique, extra-long carbon plate, extremely light weight, and Puma’s premium Nitro Elite foam.

The model does have certain downsides, like a slightly unstable ride, but if you’re looking to cross the finish line in as little time as possible, it will allow for just that.

BEST NIKE SHOE

Nike Alphafly 3 Shoe

$305

Buy men’s at nike

$221.97 $295 25% off

Buy women’s at nike

Nike crafted the modern super shoe, and it’s still (unsurprisingly) at the forefront of the industry’s carbon-plate marathon technology.

The Swoosh’s freshest flagship is the Alphafly 3, which is the lightest and most aggressive Alphafly yet. Its predecessor faced some backlash for having a separated forefoot and heel, resulting in clunkiness, but Nike corrected in a major way with the Alphafly 3’s impressively smooth-rolling ZoomX midsole. As a bonus, this iteration’s bootie upper offers unbeatable breathability — letting you wave those Mile-10 foot sweats goodbye.

BEST CUSHIONING

On Cloudboom Strike Shoe

$220 $280 21% off

Buy men’s at On

$220 $280 21% off

Buy women’s at on

If you’re an On diehard, there’s great news: The beloved Swiss company has put out a seriously solid marathon shoe, in the form of the Cloudboom Strike. It combines a carbon Speedboard with On’s plush cushioning — guaranteeing a snappy, fast, and supported ride over longer distances.

Not as aggressive as other steppers on this list, you can utilize the Cloudboom Strike for shorter mileages during training, too.

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Why Trust WWD

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Meet the Author

Oscar Hartzog is a Managing Commerce Editor at Penske Media Corporation, overseeing lifestyle and commerce content across WWD, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, and Billboard. After a decade in the space, Hartzog has reviewed thousands of products spanning categories like fashion, fitness, spirits, and travel. He is passionate about helping people spend their hard-earned dollars on purchases that live up to their hype, whether it’s a T-shirt, a bottle of whiskey, or a gift for a loved one. Hartzog graduated from The American University of Paris with a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature and philosophy.

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The Best Marathon Running Shoes to Buy Online

Brooks Hyperion Elite 6 Shoe

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Shoe

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 Shoe

Nike Alphafly 3 Shoe

On Cloudboom Strike Shoe

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Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Shoe

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On Cloudboom Strike Shoe

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