7 Best Tempo Shoes in 2025

With energy in its DNA, the Adidas Adizero EVO SL takes the trophy as our top tempo trainer. Feeling extremely light in our runs, its Lightstrike Pro midsole took us fast while its shock-absorbing nature took us far. As our lab results reveal, its versatile nature makes it suitable across various run training.

EVO SL is the perfect high-performance trainer, sustaining our speed without the stiffness because it’s non-plated. Instead, it generates responsiveness through its midsole, which recorded high energy return scores of 74.3% in the heel and 70.3% in the forefoot.

With every powerful takeoff, a gentle cushion awaits. It took care of our feet no matter where we land, backed up by its high shock absorption scores of 147 SA in the heel and 126 SA in the forefoot.

Running in the EVO SL feels like we’re floating. Our scale reveals it’s a mere 7.9 oz (223g), 12.9% below average. Plus, it bends freely with our feet, confirmed by our 30-degree test with a 34.7% higher flexibility score than average.

However, we caution that the tongue isn’t gusseted. While it’s not a big issue, it may be an annoyance for some runners.

The HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 is loaded with deep cushioning and powerful rebound, packed in an ultralight design. We enjoyed how it’s so easy on the feet yet heavy on performance, impressing us inside and outside of the lab with the best energy return for tempo running.

The midsole feels electric, and we wanted to quantify the responsiveness we felt. In our energy return test, we recorded a massive 75.9% in the heel and an even higher 78.4% in the forefoot. The midsole has a stiff carbon plate in between to further add vibrance to our strides, while the aggressive rocker drives us forward and improves turnover.

To soften the blow of landings, Cielo X1 2.0 has a luscious 38.8/28.1 mm stack. Not only is it tall, but it’s able to reduce impact better than average with its impressive shock absorption scores of 160 SA (heel) and 108 SA (forefoot).

Surprisingly, we maintained our agility and speed through its airy build. Our scale shows it’s only 7.3 oz (208g), 21.5% lighter than average.

Note that this shoe feels far from stable, so those seeking extra guidance should skip this pair.

The ASICS Megablast is living proof that speed and comfort can seamlessly blend. A remarkable foam delivers boundless energy beneath our feet while its leg-saving cushioning and light build provide much-needed relief to ease out the most brutal speed sessions. Our lab results back up that the Megablast is the best shock-absorbing tempo running shoe.

The cushion dampens impact effectively with every stride, validated by its impressive 160/144 SA score in the heel and forefoot, indicating Megablast lessens the load on our legs by 24.0% and 35.8% better than average, respectively.

Testing for the midsole’s energy return, the heel scored 73.0% and the forefoot 73.8%! These remarkable figures indicate propulsive takeoffs, and our feet wholeheartedly agree. 

What’s amazing is how the comfort and pop don’t fade away as we run longer miles, making the ride all the more enjoyable. Its pleasant sensation is further enhanced by its light 7.8 oz (218g) construction, allowing us to pick up the pace easily.

Because the Megablast has so much to offer, it comes with a mega price tag of $225. Runners who are not willing to indulge can find more affordable alternatives elsewhere.

When it comes to tempo training, the Nike Streakfly 2 is the ultimate lightweight beast. Staying true to its name, we flew through the miles gracefully, with its exceptionally low weight and agile build. Proven by our lab results, this speedster is ready to support us through heated sessions with its comfortable ride and breezy upper.

Running with the Streakfly 2 feels like we’re barefoot! Our scales confirm a feathery 4.5 oz (128g) build, the lightest we’ve ever encountered in the lab. This airy build, plus the absence of a carbon plate, makes it highly agile, witnessed by the streets as we sprinted through turns effortlessly. Our lab confirms it’s 53.3% more flexible than average, making it comfortable even for relaxed runs.

What propels us aggressively is the ZoomX midsole, which we confirmed in our energy return test with solid scores of 76.3% in the heel and 77.9% in the forefoot. Sustaining heart-pumping paces feels more effortless with the dynamic ride the Streakfly 2 brings.

Further enhancing comfort is the ultra-breathable upper, as confirmed by our lab tests with a perfect score. We never felt our body heat trapped in, effectively preventing unwanted blisters and hotspots.

Due to its lack of structure, going beyond 10K distances feels uncomfortable because we’re working hard to stay stable.

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 feels good at any pace and distance, with its light and flexible design enhancing comfort and agility. Lab tests confirm its responsive and shock-absorbing midsole, yet it stands out for the SPEEDROLL geometry, enhancing smooth strides without stiffness. Therefore, it’s our best versatile tempo running shoe.

Whenever we want to speed up, the cushion springs into action immediately. In our energy test, we noted significantly high scores of 73.2% in the heel and 78.2% in the forefoot, assisting our toe-offs.

The SPEEDROLL geometry consists of a rocker and a nylon plate that boosts our forward momentum without stiffening the ride. It maintains freedom of movement and emerges 15.1% more flexible than average in our bend test. Together with its light 8.5 oz (241g) build, ES5 feels comfortable at any pace.

When it comes to endurance runs, the midsole took care of our muscles and joints by reducing the forces of each touchdown. Lab results capture our senses with great shock absorption ratings of 132/108 SA.

ES5 offers top-tier ventilation, but at the expense of durability. Those looking for a sturdier upper construction should skip this pair.

With our grippy ground control and its exceptional performance in lab tests, we awarded the ASICS Noosa Tri 16 as the tempo running shoe with the best traction. We felt prepared smashing our speed training regardless of the weather because of the shoes’ versatile outsole, responsive kick, and shock-absorbing cushioning in a lightweight package.

Starting with the main highlight, the ASICSGRIP rubber reassures us it’s one of the most reliable compounds by smashing our wet-condition test with a 0.79 friction score. Only a few shoes can match this level of traction, since it’s a whopping 68.1% grippier than average! Even if we pass through sharp turns and slippery streets, we have full confidence in the shoe.

We measured the stack height at a modest 32.8/26.9 mm using our caliper, leading to its impressively low weight of 7.7 oz (217g). However, we found it comfortable enough for multi-hour runs. We further tested how it reduces the impact of landings on our muscles, and it received solid shock absorption scores of 129/108 SA in the heel and forefoot, respectively.

Picking up the pace felt much easier in this shoe since the effort we put in is rebounded to our takeoffs. In our energy return test, the forefoot impressed with a 60.5% score. However, heel strikers won’t get the same experience and can only enjoy a 53.9% energy return score. If this is a dealbreaker, we recommend trying alternatives.

At $120, the Brooks Launch 11 offers impressive speed in our runs with a durable outsole and a dynamic cushion, all in a lightweight package. For the price, it’s way below the average speed trainer ($153) and has the qualities of more premium shoes. Our lab results cement its status as the best budget speed-training shoe.

Light in the pocket and on the feet, Launch 11 feels delightfully airy on foot. Our scales show it’s only 8.4 oz (237g), 10.6% below the average running shoe. This boosts our speed and agility, as our streets come to witness.

Adding value to the shoe is a bouncy midsole, with the forefoot notably impressing us with its 60.0% score. We enjoyed the touch of spring it added to our strides when we wanted to pick up speed.

The outsole emerges as a standout feature, surprising us with its dependable grip and impressive longevity. In our traction test, it managed to return an above-average 0.51 friction score. Despite extensive outdoor testing, we noticed minimal wear, backed up by lab data showing 20.0% less wear than average. No doubt, this budget shoe can last many training blocks.

However, we discovered Launch 11 isn't a good fit for broad-footed runners with its tight toebox. Those who prefer more room should go for less tapered shoes.