EDIT Sep 16: LAST chance to apply. We meet with a few candidates on Sep 29/30. --- We're looking for an avid runner with English fluency, willing to move to Aveiro. --- Help turn the world’s largest running shoe testing database into reviews that millions of runners can trust. You’ll run in shoes, analyze our lab findings and write detailed, engaging reviews in fluent English. You’ll also help turn our findings into video content and appear on camera (n[…]
Today’s running shoes are faster than ever, and it’s not just about elite racing models. Even training shoes—like those in the emerging category of super trainers—now pack features once reserved for competition, delivering substantial gains in performance. We’ll break down every component behind this new era of faster running shoes and show how innovations in foam, plates, weight or geometry have transformed performance to the point where ru[…]
The running shoe market is far more vibrant today than it was 5 or 10 years ago. After testing countless models in the lab, we believe that modern superfoams entering daily trainers, advanced uppers, and higher-grip outsoles have created clear, measurable improvements across all categories. We will explore in this guide the different tiers of running shoes, their role in the market, and which one might suit your needs. Understanding these tiers can help you make a smarte[…]
In 2019, we presented the original The State of Running 2019, which was presented together with the World Athletics in China. This is our first follow-up in 6 years. For this 2025 report, we’ve narrowed our focus to look exclusively at races in the US, and exclusively at the marathon distance. Key conclusions Marathon participation peaked in 2014 with 496,178 participants. Over the following 4 years, participation slowly declined to 411,792, a yearly decline of 4.4[…]
Shock absorption refers to a shoe’s ability to reduce and spread out the impact forces that hit your body with every footstrike. When running, each step can create forces up to 3 times your body weight, leading to muscle fatigue and more stress on bones and joints. That’s why many modern shoes focus on improving shock absorption. It’s true that shock absorption it’s often mentioned alongside energy return, but the two are very different. A highly[…]
The phrase “energy return” has only gained attention in the last decade as advanced materials like TPU, TPEE, PEBA, and A-TPU entered the scene. This guide covers every nuance about energy return based on our lab data (500+ shoes tested for energy return) and consultations with lots of experts on the topic. What is energy return and why it’s important in running shoes Energy return in running shoes refers to how efficiently the midsole foam rebounds aft[…]
Disclaimer: For ease of understanding in the context of reviewing running shoes, we use the term "softness" instead of "hardness." In the RunRepeat lab, we ensure precise midsole softness measurements by first cutting the shoe in half. This approach allows us to apply the durometer directly to the actual foam, giving us accurate and reliable results. It’s a costly process because we purchases the shoes with our own money, and that’s probably why most running[…]
The heel counter in running shoes is a semi-rigid, U-shaped piece, that snugly wraps around the heel. It stretches over the shoe's upper heel portion and typically includes two sidewall parts that extend forward beneath the medial and lateral malleoli. This component is crucial for stability because it locks down the rearfoot, and its design greatly improves the fit and comfort around the heel area, effectively preventing heel slippage even during uphill running. It also[…]
While the toebox might not be the most prominently featured aspect in the marketing of running shoes, it plays an essential role in determining the quality and comfort of your run. It's not just a matter of fit; the toebox can influence everything from the mechanics of your stride to the level of support and space your feet receive. In this guide, we will explore the subtle yet important details that establish the toebox as a crucial component of running shoes. You'll ga[…]
Breathability in running shoes it's a crucial feature that's often overlooked by both consumers and critics alike. At RunRepeat, we're convinced of the essential role of airflow—a view that is supported by this study as well. To provide you with the most accurate and comprehensive insights, we employ cutting-edge smoke tests for each pair of shoes that undergoes our lab tests. Additionally, we utilize a microscope and a powerful light to delve deeper into the struc[…]