Cardio is one of the best ways to promote great cardiovascular health and an activity that can turn into a rewarding hobby. Whether you’re a seasoned distance runner or a beginner in the sport, StockX has a wide range of running shoes perfect for your individual needs.
Here is a list of the best running shoes available now on StockX — a mix of silhouettes for general cardio use, beginners, and even those looking for training for your next big city marathon. 
Hoka Clifton 8
From the runway to the street— the Hoka Clifton is perhaps the most popular runner on the market right now. The chunky midsole and diverse color palette offerings allow you to wear the Hoka Clifton as a fashion statement or a training shoe. On the street, however, the Hoka Clifton is a great performance runner.
The thick midsole is meant to protect your shins and legs while running the distance on hard surfaces like concrete. Runners can record up to 400 hours of running in the Hoka Clifton, so there is a lot of value for money with this silhouette.
There is a learning curve with the Hoka Clifton 8. The curve of the midsole instinctually changes the way your foot wants to move. You may be sore the first couple of runs, but after a few sessions and adjustments, the shoe feels natural and bouncy.
If distance running isn’t your speed, the Hoka Clifton is also a great walking and light jogging shoe. It’s truly the jack of all trades.
ASICS Novablast 2
Runners and reviewers have universally described the ASICS Novablast 2 with one word: fun. The shoe features an over accentuated midsole with rigid pieces of foam protruding around the design. Compared to the v1, the ASICS Novablast 2 features more foam on the medial side of the foot to protect the shoe from collapsing inward as you train.
Like the Hoka Clifton, the ASICS Novablast 2 is a perfect workhorse training shoe for the street. The thick midsole adds a trampoline-like effect to your stride, protecting your legs from hard concrete while also giving you that extra kick you need during training.
The shoe is fun, energetic, and will make a great companion for your daily runs. There are over 20 colorways of the ASICS Novablast 2, all of which are available now on StockX.
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38
Like the Pegasus that pulled the chariot accompanied by Zeus, the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 is a workhorse runner that is made to take you the distance. Featuring Nike’s React technology, the Pegasus 38 is built for long runs and a beating. Nike has also improved the design of the upper, giving runners a roomier toe box and tighter heel cups for comfort and safety.
While React isn’t as good as ZoomX which is featured on the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%, the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 costs over $100 less than Nike’s other more “premium” offerings.
Runners have called the initial breaking-in period the only real setback of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38. After some miles under your belt, the shoes will mold to your feet, ready to take you on a journey that could span hundreds of miles.
New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v12
The new kid on the block is the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v12, a versatile runner that is both stylish and made to run the distance. Reviews call the Fresh Foam 1080 v12 a great shoe for beginner and advanced runners, made for distance running, shorter jogs, and great for workouts as a daily driver.
The New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v12 is all about comfortability. The shoe is lightweight, flexible, and features a thick midsole that will protect your feet as you get miles under your belt. The Hypoknit upper makes the shoe soft and comfortable on your toes, while the thick midsole supports your legs and feet on longer runs. The v12 also features an improved heel counter compared to the v11, adding more cushion and support.
Released in May 2022, the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v12 is the newest runner on the list, a perfect cop for the summer running season.
Nike Vaporfly
The story of the Nike Vaporfly begins in October 2019, when Eilud Kipchoge ran a marathon in under two hours, completing a feat that was thought to be previously impossible. Kipchoge’s sub-2-hour marathon is arguably one of the greatest showings of human athleticism ever, but the shoes he was wearing added a level of controversy to the run.
The prototype Nike Alphafly, which was worn by Kipchoge during the marathon, was banned by World Athletics (the governing body for track and field) in January 2020, meaning the shoe would not be allowed by athletes at the Tokyo Olympics. The first Vaporfly 4% was released in 2018 and within no time, records were being broken in the shoe. Scientific journals have found the shoes give a competitive advantage, leading some to call the design technological doping.
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge during his record-breaking sub-2 hour marathon run. Photo by Lisi Niesner/REUTERS
Now, the new rules by World Athletics state a shoe cannot have a midsole exceeding the height of 40mm, and no more than one carbon-fiber plate. The current, “legal” version of the shoe, the Nike Vaporfly NEXT% 2, is widely seen as the greatest running shoe on the market. The shoe weighs only 141.7 grams (6.9 oz) and features a midsole design that Nike says increases energetic efficiency by at least 4%. The shoe quite literally makes you faster and more efficient, thanks to the sole’s fused layer of foam and carbon fiber.
The Nike Vaporfly NEXT% 2 is perhaps the most iconic runner on the market today. The history of the shoe, spanning broken records, controversy, and overall performance makes it one of the best runners for those looking to take their workouts to the next level.
