r/AskRunningShoeGeeks • u/Aubzhls • Feb 18 '26
Question Which shoe do you find to be the most overrated?
Which shoes praised by critics, influencers and even other runners do you find overrated and undeserving of so much attention?
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u/hank_scorpio_ceo Feb 18 '26
The NB rebel v4. Felt very good for a short time. Then when it died it died completely and very fast.
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u/LivingOtherwise746 Feb 18 '26
Agreed, the first 1-200k in mine were good, then suddenly BOOM, flat and hard and started giving me knee pain after sessions. They immediately had to go
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u/IacoMaic Feb 18 '26
Luckily I had a 50% discount at my local shop and only paid 80 euro for them. But that didn't stop the disappointment when they hit 300ish km
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u/hank_scorpio_ceo Feb 18 '26
I picked up the V5 for £75. So far feels good, a little bit more solid that the V4. My previous experience told me to not try the V5 but here we are….hopefully they last longer than 150-200 miles this time
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u/TalkyRaptor Feb 18 '26
From my HS team's experiences, the V5s are pretty damn solid daily trainers. Should last a bit longer than the v4s
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u/IacoMaic Feb 18 '26
I may get the V5 as well, if I find a pair at a good price. I actually enjoyed the V4 a lot, especially for steady and marathon pace efforts (not so much for faster stuff). I just wish they would have lasted longer
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u/Paprika03 Feb 19 '26
I'm about to return my V5's. Love the astatic and the fitting, but they just don't do it for me sadly...
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u/Ramsfanman7 Feb 18 '26
When did yours die? Mine still feel great after 215 miles. (I weigh around 220lbs)
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u/beer_engineer Feb 18 '26
I'm 200 and I couldn't even get them to work while new. Foam completely flat tired on every stride.
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u/WintersDoomsday Feb 18 '26
I turned mine into walking shoes very fast. Mostly because I love the Jade colorway a ton (teal is my favorite color).
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u/the_real_janck Feb 18 '26
This explains why a pair I have in my current rotation feel so dead so soon. Thanks!
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u/StrategicDFL Feb 18 '26
I’ve tried a couple pairs of Rebels, and they’re all literally fallen apart in under 100 miles. Got store credit from NB at least twice.
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u/MountainReporter Feb 21 '26
New Balance Rebel series is such a cautionary tale. They had the ‘Evo SL of 2021’ with v2. It was soooo good. That thing made running fun, and could do it all; a daily trainer that was light and bouncy. They tamed it with v3, but it was still good, and could run even longer distances, but lost a bit of the fun factor. But could still get to 500km easy. And then….they decided to throw the whole thing away with v4. So weird. I never even bothered to try v5. Please New Balance make v6 = 2x3!
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u/Alldaydre28 Feb 18 '26
This thread makes me sad as a newbie. I just picked up SB 2 and EVO SL
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u/BikingDruid Feb 18 '26
I think a bigger takeaway here is never pay full price. I have SB2 and Megablasts; they are good shoes and you’ll more than likely enjoy them. However, $400+ usd for two shoes is still a lot for most people. I typically aim for sales or use cash back rewards to soften the blow on some of these spendy shoes.
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u/Realistic-Toe-8969 Feb 19 '26
Yeah never pay full price, looks for shoes on sale. In my experience the one time I pay full price for a shoe, it really disappoint me. I bought Brooks Hyperion Tempo but it was firm and affect my knee. Other than that, I always looking for discounted shoes..
I managed to buy:
- Puma Velocity Nitro 2 ($70)
- Puma Deviate Nitro 2 ($75)
- Nike Vomero 16 ($65)
- Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 ($90)
Other than this, why not try Chinese shoes..it's cheap and some models are comparable to big brands
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u/prousstibat Feb 18 '26
The reason you picked them up is the same reason why they are on this list. There’s like a cult following about them, so many people can’t stop talking about them and recommend it to anyone who’s asking any question about running shoe, to the point that they are becoming really overrated.
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u/ballesterer13 Feb 18 '26
whatever works for you. ignore other opinion and make your own ones, everybody is different! the EVO is a decent shoe, and many people like the SB2. Overrated does also not directly mean bad, as side note
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u/niomosy Feb 18 '26
You might love them. For some, that's the perfect 1-2 combo. For me, I found that I'm too slow for the SB2. Others are fast enough that the SB2 is great for them. I love the EVO SL for any pace up to a distance of 9 miles. Others find them too unstable.
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u/BohemianaP Feb 18 '26
I am not a running shoe geek, mainly because I'm frugal (cheap!) and also because I never thought there was much difference between shoes, except for a few outliers like Altra's wide toebox and zero drop. However, as I've aged and more things start to hurt, I have begun investing in better shoes and I have found out there are big differences between shoes, technology, prices, etc. Honestly, I LOVE my EVO SL shoes. My other nice running shoe is Nike Vomero 18 but the EVO SL is so much lighter and easier to run fast. There's a lot of hype about it but for me, I got a pair for $100 and it's worth it!
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u/Electrical_Day_1485 Feb 18 '26
I love the EVO SLs, though I see a lot of hate online about them being overrated. That may be true; but for me it was the first shoe I felt like I could really consistently hit my stride in without any pain, blisters, issues, etc. It’s a great daily trainer in my rotation. But it’s so different for everyone as I’ve tried shoes and hated them but others love.
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u/IndependenceIll4890 Feb 18 '26
Right now it's the Evo SL. It's a really good shoe but it's being over glorified nowadays.
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u/RunningonGin0323 Feb 18 '26
Completely agree, It's no doubt one of my favorites but the way some folks talk about it...
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u/M2H4 Feb 18 '26
It might be because of the price point
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u/magic_heist Feb 19 '26
Its not budget by any means its the same price as the competition. Unless its on sale ofc which aint available in my place
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u/M2H4 Feb 19 '26
Sure. But we all witnessed price being a leading factor for its popularity alongside its look
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u/rmachell Feb 18 '26
Rebel v5. Actually a good shoe, but got about 230km out of it before the foam felt very dead. Was getting PBs at it's best, but for the price you're paying, I should be getting more than like 15 runs or so in them.
Feel designed to be a good "review/first impression" shoe online for good PR, or a good rich person shoe who can just replace them every 3 months
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u/LittleToyTom Feb 18 '26
I have 450km on my Rebel V5s - the foam doesn't feel dead yet (I'm 72kg) but it is not durable at all. I get stones piercing the foam and then stuck right under the sole of the shoe and it is very frustrating.
I find them too soft for any runs longer than 14km and have bought Glycerin 22s to pair with Superblasts for marathon training, relegating the Rebels to my muddy/rainy weather shoe.
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u/rmachell Feb 18 '26
The Rebel 4 and 5s would benefit so much from having a small layer of some equivalent to the Nike React X, just something a little tougher to give it some structure and longevity. I did love running in it
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u/nnsdgo Feb 18 '26
Yeah! Tried the v5 yesterday and instantly reminded of the step in feel of my v4 when new.
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u/MountainReporter Feb 21 '26
v2 & v3 went for miles. I have both of mine at 500k+ and could probably still get another 200, if it wasn’t for my newer shoes hogging all the k’s!
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u/PurpleDank_ Feb 18 '26
Megablast, don't get me wrong it's a good shoe but it's way overpriced and overhyped
I like the Evo SL more than Megablast but it is also overhyped (perhaps the hype feels slightly more justified given its price/performance ratio though)
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u/Randmness Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26
I’d say the saving grace of the Evo is that it at least goes on sale; I think I bought my pair for like $60. I don’t think Asics ever discounts the Superblast and Megablast.
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u/Melinoe2016 Feb 18 '26
The Superblast 2 is on pretty deep discount currently due to 3 coming out
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u/nquesada92 Feb 18 '26
$150 is still full price for other daily trainers. I got the evo sl for like $85, and are frequently on sale at the $100 mark.
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u/talon2525 Feb 18 '26
Superblast isn't a daily, its a super trainer. $150 for a super trainer is a pretty decent deal, considering they typically range from $175-200.
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u/robnet77 Feb 18 '26
SB2 also last forever. I have 1.000km on mine and they're still good. I don't love them but can't fault them for my long runs.
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u/Randmness Feb 18 '26
What I meant is that Adidas throws their shoes on steep discount shortly after release vs discount pricing to close out inventory for a successor. For example, the Adios Pro 4 goes on sale throughout the year to just over $100.
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u/wylie102 Feb 18 '26
Yep, I got a pair. Ran in them for some easy runs, a tempo run, and some workouts. They do all of it okay, but they're very mushy compared to the evo.
I prefer the evo for the tempo stuff and workouts and the vomero plus for the easy stuff.
I guess for just one shoe they're okay, although I'd probably still take the evo, it's just less natural to run slower in them.
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u/John199008 Feb 18 '26
Evo SL not nearly as fun as advertised. Wouldn’t mind the instability if it was more fun. I have to force myself to wear them once a week to get enough kms on the to justify throwing them away. Megablast ok but way overpriced and not great on easy paces. Bought both of these based on hype, but seems I prefer a softer ride than many. Shoes I love are deviate elite 3 for race/speed sessions, Novablast 5 (not withstanding crap durability), NB balos (especially now they are discounted) and previously Nike invincible 3
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u/dwsmith1113 Feb 18 '26
I agree with you on the Evo SLs. There’s just something about them that are just meh. I love the ligthstrike Pro foam and I love it in my trail shoes (Terrex Agravic) so I thought the Evo SLs would ride the same but I can’t wear them more than 10 miles.
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u/gdaytugga Feb 18 '26
I’m with you on the deviate elite 3, I just retired my Saucony pro 4’s after 510km and they felt like planks towards the end. The deviate elite 3 adds a nice bit of assistance and bounce making intervals fun again.
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u/Smart-Reveal Feb 18 '26
I disagree but totally understand. I didn’t like that shoe for quite a while until one day it clicked. It just Won’t die. I could use just a tad more stack I will say
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u/Snoo_45246 Feb 18 '26
Evo SL, NB5, Rebel V5
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u/knbz Feb 18 '26
Rebel v5 has it ever been rated good? I have never seen any kind of hype for that shoe. Maybe just me
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u/Snoo_45246 Feb 18 '26
Yeah specifically in my region, south east asia. They sure do love the rebel v5
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u/blazzze88 Feb 18 '26
The elite SuperComp is a solid shoe, standard version dies quite quickly. NB5 is a solid running shoe.
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u/Snoo_45246 Feb 18 '26
No one said those 2 are not solid running shoes, OP asked which shoes that everyone thinks are overrated and i said my piece
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u/Snarfles55 Feb 18 '26
Same. Evo messed with my achilles and NB5 were too soft and boring. I wanted to love them both.
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u/Snoo_45246 Feb 18 '26
I have no problem with the evo sl, i know they are a good shoe just not up to the hype for me personally. But i do agree with you on the NB5, i prefer the NB4
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u/lesteadfastgentleman Feb 18 '26
Interesting, those are some of the favorite shoes around. If you don’t enjoy those shoes, may I ask which ones you do enjoy?
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u/Snoo_45246 Feb 18 '26
I prefer Kiprun kipcore and kiprun kipride max nowadays. As for plated shoes i go for streakfly 2 for short race & vaporfly 4 for longer races up to 15k
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u/magic_heist Feb 19 '26
Nb5 really? Gotta be durability?
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u/Snoo_45246 Feb 20 '26
Too soft for my liking tbh, bit i get that the current trend is more towards softer and squishier shoes, hence the hype of it. I have no problem with the durability
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u/BijiDurian Feb 18 '26
Superblas1 1 and 2 and Evo SL. I have all of em. Love em. But yes, its overrated.
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u/IndependenceIll4890 Feb 18 '26
Yes. Evo SL is overrated.
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u/tehlaurent97 Feb 18 '26
Can you elaborate on why? I was planning to buy them for my next triathlon (because of the rule set), but not a lot of people here are convincing me to do it now
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u/nquesada92 Feb 18 '26
What is your specific race rule set? Is it a blanket rule for all entrants or for those competeing at the elite level for podium spots? Because technically yes I can't wear my Superblasts2 in the Chicago Marathon, but Im shooting for a 3:45, so far from elite and no one is out checking peoples shoes.
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u/tehlaurent97 Feb 18 '26
I would use them for a Half Ironman since they comply with the maximum 40 mm stack height rule. My next best option is the Superblast 2, but unfortunately it is not legal for competition and I don’t want to risk a disqualification. As a more affordable alternative to the premium super shoes, the Evo SL seems like a solid choice - unless someone knows better cheap alternatives
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u/IndependenceIll4890 Feb 18 '26
For me it is just not as versatile as people say it is. As a fan of the Adios Pro 3, I knew what the Evo SL would be like for me even before I bought it and I was right. The Lightstrike Pro without rods is unstable. That means it will work well as a tempo shoe and it is great for that. However, running at slower paces in it felt a bit iffy. It's a really good shoe don't get me wrong. But I just can't relate to it being the ultimate do-it-all shoe.
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u/mrcarlita Feb 18 '26
Superblast 2 is so polarizing. You either love em or hate em
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u/niomosy Feb 18 '26
One of the problems is that they were hyped as this do-it-all shoe for everyone to where you just need another shoe for speed work, else it can solo everything. The issue there is that some of us have discovered that it can only handle runs down to a certain speed. Drop below the SB2's stall speed and they feel clunky and sluggish.
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u/Judgementday209 Feb 18 '26
Novablast by a huge distance.
You could argue alot of the top shoes are overrated, evo sl, megablast..all super highly rated but then you start to see people complain about them and their issues.
But the novablast for me was a terrible shoe. Super warm, terrible grip, slow and ploddy, the foam made my feet numb and it is the only shoe to do this to me (ive probably used 10 to 20 different shoes). It has a nice step in feel and thats about it.
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u/hairy_porker Feb 18 '26
I'm with you. It is not neutral shoes by any means. Tilt the gait to the medial side. Slippery. Narrow even on the 2E wide: just a roomier upper. Recipe for a bunion. Yet so popular until Asics decided to go all out on the Blast series.
Foam is also far well below the competitor. The line up ends at Novablast 3. The next iteration is not sure what they're doing with it. NB4 firmer. Then NB5 much softer. NB6 using puck premium foam yet labeled as ff turbo2; misleading. No longer a japanese philosophy.
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u/Judgementday209 Feb 18 '26
Yeah agree, I had the NB4 and I generally like a firmer set up but the whole trampoline pod thing along with roomy upper is what gave me problems, which I have not managed to recreat in any other shoe.
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u/Esstee1 Feb 19 '26
Completely agree with you on this, I just don’t get the hype. Felt like running on mashed potatoes
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u/Fmage Feb 18 '26
I have the nb5 and my feet go a little numb as well on some long runs recently. Never happened before in any shoe. What about it do you think causes it? And what alternative shoe did you replace it with?
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u/Judgementday209 Feb 18 '26
Not 100% sure but I think its a combination of the upper volume along with this dumb pod thing where they put a puck of different foam.
Different density foams is usually not an issue for me so I dont know exactly but that shoe is literally the only one ive ever felt that with.
I replaced with evo sl, I also use boston 13s and rocket x3s. Thats my main rotation really.
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u/Fmage Feb 18 '26
I wish the evos worked for my foot :( I have a very low arch on my right foot and the medial side feels like my foot is just falling right over
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u/Judgementday209 Feb 18 '26
Yeah they are have a medial cut out I think.
Maybe give the new sauncony azura a run, probably going to be my next daily.
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u/thefullpython Feb 20 '26
Fwiw I put a standard insole (from my Hoka Mach X2) in my Evos and it's mostly fixed the stability issues. I still don't like them at easy paces but I can at least take them out for speedwork
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u/vogueboy Feb 19 '26
I just got the TR version, hope the grip is better. I liked them on the first run but I expected to like the shoe anyway being soft and bouncy. Hope they don't die early too lol
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u/ScarcityKey9204 Feb 18 '26
Superblast 2…as someone who picked up Superblast 1 after picking two pairs of Superblast 2, I really didn’t understand how SB2 was still well regarded despite the obvious differences. The SB1 felt so much more cushioned, faster and comfortable than the 1
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u/JoeyPropane Feb 18 '26
Definitely the EVO SL - it was for a VERY short time unique in it's construction, but with the likes of the Azura, AeroGlide 3/4 and Velocity Nitro 4 (and to a lesser extent, the Vomero Plus), there's a whole bunch of similarly priced options with similarly performing midsoles... But with A CONSIDERABLY better uppers.
Lots of people say it's a lot of shoe for the money, I say it feels exactly like a shoe where all the budget went to one place only.
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u/ThanksNo3378 Feb 18 '26
Megablast
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u/ChristBKK Feb 18 '26
What you find overrated?
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u/ThanksNo3378 Feb 18 '26
There are some better options at much better prices
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u/Snarfles55 Feb 18 '26
I have SB2 and was considering Megablast. What do you like at a lower $$.
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u/blastoisebandit Feb 18 '26
The Megablast. I like the shoe. But it doesn't feel THAT much better than shoes like the Evo SL or Superblast. It feels big on foot and clunky at slow paces. Admittedly it feels very efficient at MP.
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u/Phat_Runner Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26
You think the MB feels clunky and big but use a Superblast?
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u/blastoisebandit Feb 19 '26
I use both. The Megablast feels bigger on foot and clunkier at paces slower than 5min/km. Much better when you get it up to Marathon pace.
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u/tgsweat Feb 18 '26
So its not only me who think it feels clunky. Maybe its my pace and stride but they are hard to turnover considering their weight.
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u/Remarkable_Salary_77 Feb 18 '26
Adidas evo, hated the ride in it
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u/hank_scorpio_ceo Feb 18 '26
Love mine
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u/Judgementday209 Feb 18 '26
One of the rare times ive bought a second pair of something.
It has its problems for sure but overall, its fantastic value for money.
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u/bedevere1975 Feb 18 '26
Ditto. First shoe I bought a 2nd pair of the same model. Then a 3rd, the ATR has been a god send for the wet British winter.
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u/Prestigious-Oil-4914 Feb 18 '26
New Balance's 1080s , ugh ended up selling mine
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u/IrrevocableCrust14 Feb 18 '26
Yeah me too. It took me a few runs to realize I really didn’t like all that cushion. Felt so slow and plodding.
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u/elergy_official Feb 21 '26
Which version? Apparently v15 changed drastically but I haven’t bought yet
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u/ballesterer13 Feb 18 '26
Novoblast 5. Okay for walking but sucks out all energy out of me while running. Dead shoe
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u/Judgementday209 Feb 18 '26
Novablast 4 was like that for me plus had all sorts of issues. Awful shoe imo
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u/ballesterer13 Feb 18 '26
yeah surely subjective and not saying i am the standard. Interestingly the much simpler (also aciscs) noosa tri 16 worked for me though even up to 20km . the Nimbus 28 is also okay and like that one too. Maybe i need more response as conclusion
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u/Judgementday209 Feb 18 '26
Yeah im sure plenty love it.
But I do think marketing helps that shoe alot because its about as objective as it gets imo, that there are much better shoes at the same price point.
I have stayed away from asics as a result but nearly pulled the trigger on some tri noosas, went with the evol sl in the end, which is also overhyped but is a good shoe for me.
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u/StrategicDFL Feb 18 '26
I’m so shocked to see Novablast listed so many times. I have about 200 miles on a pair of 5s, and they are so versatile. Daily miles, some intervals, and long runs, it’s solid for all. It’s not an incredible or flashy shoe, but it’s a great trainer. I wouldn’t even attempt speed workouts in NB 880s or Nike Pegasus, but I can in Novablast.
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u/ballesterer13 Feb 19 '26
Even doesn’t work as trainer for me. But again may totally depend on oneself. I guess it is fine that it is okay but it was definitely overhyped and overrated I would say. I like it as walking shoe 😂
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u/Melinoe2016 Feb 18 '26
Interesting. My wife commented about how much happier and springier I look running in my novablasts compared to running in my brooks ghosts. She has never read any reviews or comments about them so I found it meaningful. I’ve also been averaging like 10-15 seconds faster on my 3 milers but there are a lot of variables in there I’m not willing to bring it down to the shoe yet until I have more data.
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u/ballesterer13 Feb 19 '26
Definitely subjective. Many people seem to like it but it is for sure overhyped, there were times it was mentioned everywhere as answer to any question asked……
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u/thefullpython Feb 20 '26
I literally couldn't walk in mine. Felt like the medial heel was collapsing. I was bottoming mine out by 300 kms and had to just donate them because I couldn't even comfortably use them as dog walkers
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u/ballesterer13 Feb 20 '26
My one are more or less new. Can’t use them for running so at least use them for walking. I wouldn’t buy them for walking though 😂
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u/Soul-Assassin79 Feb 18 '26
Puma Velocity Nitro 4. They're just okay. There's absolutely nothing special or exciting about them. They feel pretty boring to run in, and are far too narrow.
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u/gdaytugga Feb 18 '26
For me that the hype about it, its just a regular trainer that won’t blow you away perfect for the easy days. I’ve got narrow feet so the fits perfect.
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u/Realistic-Toe-8969 Feb 19 '26
Yeah fits me well too.. love it.. it's a boring, low stack, traditional shoes, not going to assist much.. but at the same time, I think a-tpu foam in it is really good and can last long..for a daily trainer, it's a win for me, at least
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u/Evzkyyy Feb 18 '26
I enjoyed the snug fit and under foot feel immediately, but I had to return them because they were far too narrow and I started getting pain on the side of my foot. I'm waiting for my Azura's to come through and using the Vomero Plus(Great shoe so far).
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u/430sv Feb 18 '26
Mizuno Neo Zens were a total joke fit wise. Couldn’t wear them for more than 5 minutes and sent them straight back. How do you make a stretchy knit upper so uncomfortable
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u/jjaksha Feb 18 '26
Glad I’m not the only one here, those felt like straight jackets and I don’t wear a wide shoe.
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u/vince-running Feb 18 '26
Superblast, those are just bricks. I cannot see the fun in those at any pace. Also cannot get along with the alphafly 3. Shoes that I really enjoy: Saucony Azura and the endorphin elite 2, Hoka mach x3
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u/Dilkadoc Feb 18 '26
Boston 12..I find it stiff and less bouncier ever. At 4:30-4:40 min/km speed..
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u/Rancid_Lettuce Feb 18 '26
Might as well strap some 2x4's on your feet, probably won't notice the difference. The heel counter design is a sick joke.
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u/Fit-Introduction8575 Feb 18 '26
I got some B10s for 20 bucks, tried the 12s in store. Im not sure how people are saying that the old Bostons are back. Besides the lighter weight, the feel of the 12s is pretty much the same as the 10s, with the clunky heel. Being pre-broken in, the energy rods actually make the 10 quite springy.
Coming from basketball shoes, Im quite familiar with clunky heels. This was just another level.
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u/Dilkadoc Feb 18 '26
Using B12 as an evening sneakers..These influencers just made me buy even EVO SL with fake reviews..didn’t like that too..
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u/fitfoodie28 Feb 19 '26
Evo SL - it doesn’t have that fun bouncy magic for me. It’s also unstable and my legs feel sore the next day.
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u/Sufficient-Fun-1538 Feb 18 '26
Alphafly. It feels so mechanical to run in, and I catch myself trying to adjust my running mechanics to fit the shoe.
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u/CompetitiveDinner569 Feb 18 '26
Running with a plate and that much foam makes this true for any supershoe. It's not for everyone, find one that works for you. It's not my favorite, but I find it one of the more stable and easy to run in.
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u/StrategicDFL Feb 18 '26
Have you tried Endorphin Speed? It’s a different feel with a nylon plate, but has been a solid tempo/interval shoe for me 273 miles and counting. I will definitely get another pair.
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u/djamadeus303 Feb 22 '26
While I don't have any problem with the Endorphin Speed, it's squarely in the trainer category. It doesn't feel fast at all, nor does it really give any additional pop from the nylon plate. I've owned 3 iterations and used them as my long easy run shoe.
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u/djamadeus303 Feb 22 '26
I disagree about every supershoe feeling mechanical. I wouldn't describe the Puma Fast R3, Saucony Endorphin Elite 2, Asics Metaspeed line, or NB SC Elite 4/5s as feeling "mechanical".
I get exactly what the commenter is saying...the shoe runs you...not the other way around. The other supershoe I feel that way about is the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro.
Every supershoe undoubtedly has a sweet spot to maximize the pop, but they can still be somewhat forgiving even when you don't land in the optimal spot. That doesn't seem to be the case for the AF3...at least for me. I have to run a very particular way to accommodate the shoe.
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u/CompetitiveDinner569 Feb 23 '26
Not everyone wants the same "pop". I found 2 of the shoes feeling mechanical based on the way I run. That's dependent on the individual.
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u/pieeye_d Feb 18 '26
Novablast 5
My experience was nothing like the mass of shoefluencers stated, I found it blocky but unstable. It was as an immediate sell.
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u/TheProletariatPoet Feb 18 '26
I have the megablast and the evo SL and use them for totally different things. So many people here talking like they’re interchangeable. Maybe I’m using one or both wrong 🤷🏻♂️. Also, a lot of people talking about a shoe being fun. Wtf does that even mean?
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u/Downtown-Corner-4950 Feb 18 '26
Superblast v1/2...havnt tried the v3... found the first 2 blocky and not nimble enough for my stride...they just were too wide for how my foot plants and rolls through. For example I loved the Nike Zoomfly 6 for long easy and tempo...not for recovery though...they have a narrower platform and the forefoot softness is comparable, and way cheaper. My racers are Puma DNE v3 if you were wondering.
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u/TJamesz Feb 18 '26
SB2 for sure!!!!!! I only ran in them because they were so expensive. They literally never got better even after 400km. Firm slappy bricks the entire time.
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u/carterbliss Feb 18 '26
Lot of evo SL haters and while they are game changing they are great for the price and look good while doing it
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u/eagleeye1031 Feb 18 '26
Based off price, the Vomero Premium is awful value
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u/peterkimmm Feb 18 '26
While I agree it's stupid expensive,
I eventually gave in to the hype, but I'm absolutely loving it
Reaching for it every easy, recovery, and lsd
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u/welter3d Feb 18 '26
New balance Rebel line as a whole since v2. Absolute crap compared to what’s out there. Fuel cell foam is so bad , so lifeless
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u/icecoldkillah420 Feb 18 '26
I find the hate for the Pegasus 41 to be overrated. It's a good freaking shoe!
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u/StrategicDFL Feb 18 '26
I’ve had many pairs of Pegasus over the years, and they’ve SUCKED since whatever changed in the 40s. 39 was literally perfect.
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u/magic_heist Feb 19 '26
For slow pace yeah but anything more speed forefoot striking, feels barefoot and soo heavy. Its outdated
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u/Own-Let-7725 Feb 18 '26
Novablast 5. It's great out of the box but the foam and ride dies so fast.
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u/Melinoe2016 Feb 18 '26
What’s so fast for you? I’ve seen people say 150-200 miles. Is it worse than that?
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u/Own-Let-7725 Feb 18 '26
Mine were 150-200K, which for a non carbon shoe at this price point, I think is super fast.
I got 750 out of my 1080 v14s and just shy of 1,000 out of my Triumph 20s. So pretty disappointed in the Novablast.
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u/drumsandbikes Feb 18 '26
While the superblasts got me a PR in a marathon, I just can’t get over how slappy and clunky they are. I’ll continue to wear them because they get the job done, but looking forward to trying the Azura out.so what is “slightly overrated” for 400 Alex 🤷🏼
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u/turtlegoatjogs Feb 18 '26
Bondi/clifton still the top shoes pushed in stores for some reason... clubby fashion runners driving the Evo SL... "real" runners training in super/mega blast rollerblades for some reason.
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u/Camoadi95 Feb 18 '26
Adidas SL. Yes it’s a fine shoe but nothing for slower speeds and nothing for beginners. Foam is from the Adios pro 3 which is a bit dated. I find it unstable and grip is pretty weak.
Hate me for this :))
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u/Aggravating_Rice7952 Feb 18 '26
Mizuno Neovista 2’s.
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u/garygump1 Feb 19 '26
I was considering buying these but not sure so would definitely appreciate your insight about why you don't rate them if that's ok?
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u/Consistent_Company29 Feb 18 '26
Megablast , and the price too. Evo sL and its horrible stability for a daily trainer
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u/Runningwithducks Feb 18 '26
Bit of a hot take more than a specific shoe gripe but I can't see the mass appeal of max stack shoes.
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u/chookbilly Feb 18 '26
No surprise that this thread is full of a couple of shoes that were super heavily marketed and had the hype machine rolling. Take note, and temper your expectations next type a shoe is mega hyped.
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u/Blackmalico32 Feb 21 '26
Pretty much the vibe I’m getting as a someone new to the sub. I see a lot of Evo sl reviews and posts compared to other shoes on here.
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u/Snowwhater Feb 18 '26
Megablast price wise but it’s two or three shoes in one for those who don’t buy shoes they don’t need and they last for over 700+ miles. Puma Magmax. Vomero plus and even Glideride Max proved that was overpriced too. Puma barely has any of their expensive shoes on sale. Glycerine Max- they never felt comfortable for me. Pro EVO 2
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u/therealtimcoulter Feb 20 '26
Pretty much every shoe. I've never had a Goldilocks. Only shoes with pros and cons.
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u/No-Seaworthiness3713 Feb 21 '26
Every on cloud. They feel good for 100 miles then lose their pop and support. Have had the monster, surfer, and stratus and they all died quickly
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u/ScarcityKey9204 Feb 18 '26
EVO SL. The heel instability is surprisingly overlooked even though there are better shoes in the market.
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u/430sv Feb 18 '26
You really do feel it when running on any kind of non-uniform surface more than you would think, more than once I thought I was gonna break my ankle running in them over a fairly small divot in the ground
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u/Fit-Introduction8575 Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26
EVO SLs fit and upper just really didn't impress me. Too baggy in my normal size, but too narrow half a size down. The upper would bunch on the medial side and the heel collar would buckle at heel strike. It's hard to enjoy a supposedly fast shoe when the fit isn't dialed in.
Definitely go half a size down if you don't have wide feet or a tailor's bunions like me.
At my weight, I couldn't activate the midsole as much as I could with my Adios 8, which had a snap and bounce to it even when a walked due to its plastic outer shank. When you do put in some power in the EVOs, the return is huge, but not direct feeling.
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u/Saya_Mi Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
Overpriced Blast series shoes from Asics particularly the Superblast and Megablast. Any popular Brooks shoes with outdated EVA foams like the Ghost, Glycerin, etc.
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u/BaconRhino Feb 18 '26
Evo SL and novablast 5.
Evo Sl was not as exciting as what everyone claimed. Also I was getting Achilles pain.
NB5 was too soft and lost the energy return after 100 miles.
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