HOKA · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
HOKA Skyward X 2
311 g, 5 mm drop, 45.8/40.8 mm stack, carbon plate, PEBA / Super Critical EVA foam.
311 g · 5 mm drop · 45.8/40.8 stack
$225
MSRP
Shoe guide
The best shoes for half-marathon training
Half-marathon training lives on long runs, tempo blocks and the weeks in between. The shoes that matter most are the ones that keep your legs fresh through all three.
These picks prioritise long-run protection and consistency, with enough pace capability to handle marathon-pace segments and the race itself.
New Balance · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
New Balance Fresh Foam X More 6
306 g, 4 mm drop, 44/40 mm stack, Fresh Foam X foam.
306 g · 4 mm drop · 44/40 stack
$165
MSRP
ASICS · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28
281 g, 8 mm drop, 43.5/35.5 mm stack, FF BLAST PLUS / PureGEL foam.
281 g · 8 mm drop · 43.5/35.5 stack
$170
MSRP
HOKA · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
HOKA Bondi 9
297 g, 5 mm drop, 43/38 mm stack, Super Critical EVA foam.
297 g · 5 mm drop · 43/38 stack
$175
MSRP
Mizuno · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
Mizuno Wave Sky 9
290 g, 6 mm drop, 44/38 mm stack, MIZUNO ENERZY NXT / MIZUNO ENERZY foam.
290 g · 6 mm drop · 44/38 stack
$180
MSRP
Puma · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
Puma MagMax NITRO 2
275 g, 8 mm drop, 46/38 mm stack, NITROFOAM foam.
275 g · 8 mm drop · 46/38 stack
$180
MSRP
Saucony · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
Saucony Paramount Max
302 g, 6 mm drop, 43/37 mm stack, incrediRUN foam.
302 g · 6 mm drop · 43/37 stack
$200
MSRP
Nike · Max-cushion trainer
Nike Vomero 18
Nike's plushest everyday trainer: a ZoomX top layer over ReactX makes slow miles genuinely comfortable.
309 g · 10 mm drop · 46/36 stack
$150
MSRP
Adidas · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
Adidas Hyperboost Edge
255 g, 6 mm drop, 45/39 mm stack, Hyperboost Pro foam.
255 g · 6 mm drop · 45/39 stack
$200
MSRP
Brooks · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
Brooks Ghost Max 4
292 g, 6 mm drop, 40/34 mm stack, DNA LOFT v3 foam.
292 g · 6 mm drop · 40/34 stack
$165
MSRP
Brooks · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
Brooks Glycerin 23
300 g, 8 mm drop, 38/30 mm stack, DNA TUNED foam.
300 g · 8 mm drop · 38/30 stack
$175
MSRP
ASICS · Max-cushion trainer · Not yet tested
ASICS Glideride Max 2
267 g, 6 mm drop, 42/36 mm stack, FF BLAST MAX / FF BLAST PLUS foam.
267 g · 6 mm drop · 42/36 stack
$170
MSRP
Specs and role judgements are reviewed editorially and carry a last-reviewed date on each product page. This is decision support, not medical advice.
Read before you buy
Race preparation · 6 min
Your first half marathon
Twelve to sixteen weeks of consistent running, with a long run built to about 18 km (11 mi), is the standard path to a first half marathon.
Read →Running basics · 4 min
What is a long run?
The long run is your weekly endurance anchor: slower than you think, longer than the rest, and the session most marathon training is built around.
Read →