Every Super Trainer Running Shoe for Sale in 2023
Super trainers fill that gap between everyday running shoes and marathon racers. Here's every one on the market today.
We were going to lead this off with the old bird, plane thing but that was too easy. No. We're going to ask you to think back to 2011, when a young lad from Auburn burst onto the NFL scene for that club in Charlotte. Chest adorned with the number 1, feet driving and dancing, head grinding through the sternum of opposing backers. Now that was super. And today, Mr. Newton's game is emulated across the league, from the heroics of Mahomes to the jukes of Lamar to the strength running of Jalen. Now how can we bring this back to center? Just as Cam's game infiltrated the league, the brilliance of super trainers has exploded in the running shoe world. Let's get into it.
What Are Super Trainers?
Super trainers fill that void between regular, non-plated everyday running shoes, commonly called daily trainers, and carbon fiber plated marathon racing shoes, called super shoes. The term was pioneered by Baltimore-based running store Believe in the Run and has taken hold as the industry term of art throughout 2023. To be considered a super trainer, shoes generally consist of three of the four the following four elements:
- A carbon fiber or plastic plate
- Sub 9 ounce weight (for US mens size 9)
- Brand's best foam, usually PEBA or supercritical
- Is designed with similar geometry and platform as brand's marathon racer
Super trainers are generally positioned as training companions to a brand's marathon racing shoe. They tend to have more durable outsoles than their super shoe counterparts and come in $50 to $75 cheaper than those models. The Nike Tempo Next% was the first super trainer to market in 2020, and dozens of super trainers have hit the market since. Here's every current super trainer on the market right now.
Every Super Trainer for Sale in 2023
Below, we've broken out every super trainer available in 2023, plus a few failures to launch and borderlines. From the expensive to the accessible, the forefoot striking to the heel mashing, there's an option for everyone. And we only anticipate the category to grow through 2024.
1. Nike Tempo Next% ($200)
While this shoe isn't the hot commodity it once was back in 2020, we had to show it some love in the leadoff spot since it pioneered the category. The Tempo Next% uses a dual-foam midsole, with firmer React in the heel for stable landings and ZoomX in the forefoot for responsiveness and weight savings. There's also a carbon composite plate for rigidity and pop, plus the infamous Nike Air unit borrowed from the Alphaly. Because of the Air Zoom pod in the front of the shoe, the Tempo Next% is best for forefoot strikers and paces around marathon effort and faster.
What Makes the Nike Tempo Next% a Super Trainer?
- ZoomX Pebax foam
- Training companion to Nike Alphalfy Next% 2 ($275)
- Carbon composite plate
- Sub 9 ounce weight (8.9)
Nike Air Zoom Tempo Next%
.png)
2. Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 ($170)
The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is a beloved super trainer that took the category from niche to mainstream. First launched in 2020, it's the training companion to the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 and uses the same bouncy, cushioned and responsive PWRRUN PB beaded PEBA foam and Speedroll geometry rocker. In the Speed, there's a nylon plate instead of a carbon fiber plate like in the Pro, making it a more comfortable option for everyday running and slower paces—though the firmer Pro 3 is more forgiving compared to other race day super shoes.
What Makes the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 a Super Trainer?
- PWRRUN PB PEBA foam
- Training companion to Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
- Nylon plate
- Sub 9 ounce weight (8.1)
Saucony Endorphin Speed 3
.png)
3. New Balance SC Trainer v2 ($180)
The first version of the New Balance SC Trainer was a monstrous stack height shoe with a heavier weight at 10.2 ounces designed to be deployed on recovery days. The most apt description I heard of running in the SC Trainer v1 (I believe from Thomas of Blieve in the Run) was that it was like running with a gravel road strapped to you feet, a comfortable and cushioned cruiser for relaxed days. The New Balance SC Trainer v2 shed half an ounce and comes in at 9.7 ounces, a bit heavier than our sub 9 ounce criteria for super trainers. However, it's designed to work with the SC Elite marathon racer and is positioned by New Balance as that comfortable carbon-plated option that's best for runners who'll finish their marathon in 3:30 or more.
What Makes the New Balance SC Trainer v2 a Super Trainer?
- Fuel Cell supercritical foam (blend of TPU and EVA)
- Training companion to New Balance SC Elite v3
- Carbon plate
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2
.png)
4. Asics Magic Speed 3 ($160)
The Asics Magic Speed 3 is a snappy and responsive trainer designed to tackle speedwork and also function as a budget racer. While many runners found the first two iterations much too firm, the Magic Speed 3 softens things up by using the FF Blast Plus foam found in other Asics heavy hitters like the Novablast, Gel-Nimbus and Gel-Cumulus. That foam isn't considered as a super foam, but it provides a more comfortable and forgiven ride given it's paired here with a carbon plate. The Magic Speed is a great all-rounder that will work for most runners as a speed shoe and for VDOT 50 and lower runners as an alternative race option.
What Makes the New Balance SC Trainer v2 a Super Trainer?
- Training companion to the Asics Metaspeed Edge and Sky
- Carbon plate
- Sub 9 ounce weight (7.7)
ASICS Magic Speed 3
.png)
5. Puma Deviate Nitro 2 ($160)
The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is a super trainer that uses a dual-foam midsole and carbon composite plate to accomplish its mission of speed and versatility. There's one layer of supercritical PEBA close to the foot, paired with a standard EVA bottom layer at the heel for durability and stability. The Deviate Nitro 2 also has a copious covering of PumaGrip rubber on the outsole for grip over wet and varied terrain—plus it'll protect the foam more over hundreds of miles, unlike shoes like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 which have skimpy rubber coverings. The Deviate Nitro 2 is a great option for faster daily miles and for long runs with pace during marathon training.
What Makes the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 a Super Trainer?
- Dual foam midsole with partial use of supercritical PEBA Nitro Elite
- Training companion to the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2
- Carbon composite plate
Puma Deviate Nitro 2
.png)
6. Hoka Mach X ($180)
The Hoka Mach X is the most recent super trainer to hit the market, and it borrows elements from all of the existing popular options. Like the Endorphin Speed 3, it has a plastic plate (thanks, Saucony!). Like the Deviate Nitro 2, it has a dual-foam midsole (thanks, Puma!). It doesn't bring anything entirely unique to the table, but it's a much needed addition to the Hoka lineup, a brand that's stagnated in the innovation department for a few years. Fans of the Mach 5 will appreciate the addition of the plate with the shoe still retaining the soft, cushioned and smooth feel that's great for marathon paced efforts and long runs. It weights in a bit heavier than our 9 ounce super trainer threshold at 9.4 ounces for US mens sample size 9.
What Makes the Hoka Mach X a Super Trainer?
- Dual foam midsole with partial use of Pebax
- Training companion to the Hoka Rocket X 2
- Plastic plate
Hoka Mach X
.png)
7. Adidas Boston 12 ($160)
The Adidas Boston 12 is another new entrant to the super trainer world. The Boston series—which nods to that hilly marathon in Massachusett; you know the one—is Adidas' long running performance training shoe that had a previous, much loved life when it used Boost foam. The last few versions were on the firmer side and loved pretty much only by the Tinman Elite guys and other folks putting out serious pace. The Boston 12 is a return to roots, serving casual runners a comfortable, cushioned and responsive uptempo option. It has a dual-foam midsole, with the heel using EVA-based Lightstrike for stability (and cost savings) and the midfoot and forefoot using a thick stack of supercritical TPE Lightstrike Pro. The Boston 12 is great for midfoot strikers looking for a snappy long run shoe or cushioned track day shoe. Like the Mach X, the Boston 12 also weights in heavier than 9 ounces at 9.5.
What Makes the Adidas Boston 12 a Super Trainer?
- Dual foam midsole with partial use of supercritical TPE, Lightstrike Pro
- Training companion to the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
- Carbon fiber EnergyRods
Adidas Boston 12
.png)
8. Saucony Kinvara Pro ($180)
The Saucony Kinvara Pro is Saucony's second contribution to the super trainer landscape. Whereas the Endorphin Speed 3 is the fast and nimble plated trainer that can be used as a budget racer, the Kinvara is a bit more cushioned, toned down and accomodating for all types of runners. The Kinvara Pro has a top layer of PEBA foam and a three quarter length carbon fiber plate. A bottom layer of firmer EVA, PWRRUN, adds some stability. It has a less aggressive feel than some of the other options on this list, and it's most at home for everyday miles, long runs and marathon pace efforts. Rather than adding speed and pop, the plate and super foam in the Kinvara Pro promote liveliness in a comfort-oriented shoe that would otherwise be a downtempo crawler.
What Makes the Saucony Kinvara Pro a Super Trainer?
- Dual foam midsole with partial use of PEBA, PWRUN RB
- Three-quarter length carbon fiber plate
- Same upper as Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
Saucony Kinvara Pro
Bonus: Hoka Bondi X, the Failed Super Trainer ($215)
Hoka attempted a super trainer–type shoe with the Bondi X, but it failed for a few reasons. First, they chose to plate-ify one of their heavier, most cushioned shoes, which was a recipe for disaster. They also used the same EVA foam from the Bondi, which is heavy and not the most responsive. The whole package weighed in at 11.0 ounces, a behemoth of a shoe that's heavier than many performance trail shoes out there. The ride was muted and cumbersome, with the plate getting buried in the heavy foam. The shoe is still for sale, but it doesn't really have a place in the market with the much superior Mach X now out. We anticipate the Bondi X will not be getting a second version.
Hoka Bondi X
.png)
Bonus: Atreyu The Artist, A Racer Priced Lower than a Super Trainer ($100)
If you're looking for a plated training shoe and don't want to shell out $160 to $180, consider Atreyu's The Artist. It's a marathon racer priced at $100, less than half the price of competitors. Atreyu is a performance running brand with the mission of honoring simplicity, which they do by serving consumers with simple, high-perfomring shoes at an affordable price point. The Artist uses a supercritical foam similar to Hoka's ProFly+ found in the Mach 5, and adds a full-length carbon fiber plate. If you want to save your Vaporfly for race day, the Artist can slot into your lineup as that plated track day and long run shoe which is versatile enough for all types of speed work.
Atreyu The Artist
.png)
Borderline Super Trainers We Left Out
We left out non-plated uptempo shoes like Altra Vanish Carbon, ASICS Superblast, Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 and Brooks Hyperion Max. While many of these are training companions to their respective brand's marathon racing option, have a sub 9 ounce weight and accomplish the same mission as the shoes we classified as super trainers, the inclusion of a carbon fiber of plastic plate is a key element to the super trainer equation.
We also left out plastic plated shoes from On like the Cloudmonster and Cloudstratus, as the plastic Speedboard on attaches to their CloudTec pods function to provide stability rather than pop and energy return. The Reebok Floatride Energy X is also priced like a super trainer at $170, but it's actually the race in Reebok's lineup—priced to be affordable because Reebok doesn't have the tech or brand cachet right now to compete in the two Ben Franks range. Finally, we left out the Adidas Prime X Strung, a 50mm illegal stack height behemoth. It falls outside of the super trainer category because its mission is slightly different—it's meant to be a souped up racer rather than a stripped down trainer.
Final Thoughts
While we're bearish on running in plated shoes everyday—it's good to vary your shoe types to build strength and reduce the risk of injuries—we're bullish on the idea of super trainers at their core. They exist to bring fast running to the common man, a running shoe category for the people. Super trainers are the champion of the running middle class, inspiring the mediocre among us to rip and roll. So grab a super trainer and go do your best Cam Newton on your next track day.
Find your next running shoe
Answer a few questions to find the best shoe based on your preferences and goals
