Shoes reviewers rate for tempo runs, intervals and other faster sessions: light and responsive, but durable enough to train in week after week.
29 current models, ranked by their average score from published reviews (how we rank). Updated October 2026. Want a personal pick? Try the shoe finder.
A good tempo shoe feels light and gets more responsive as you speed up. Lively foams such as PEBA or supercritical TPU help, and a plate (nylon or carbon) adds snap at toe-off, but plenty of plateless shoes do the job brilliantly.
Most runners don't need a dedicated race shoe for training. A super trainer or uptempo shoe covers tempo runs, intervals and long runs with pace, and saves your race shoes' foam for race day.
A plateless max-stack trainer made entirely from ASICS' bounciest FF Turbo² foam. Very light for its size and great fun over long miles, but it costs as much as many race shoes.
A plated super trainer that takes over from the SC Trainer, pairing Infinion foam with a carbon-infused Energy Arc plate. Quick and bouncy for workouts and long runs, with a snug, race-style fit.
207 g4 mm dropPlate / rodspropulsivebouncy£180 RRP
A plateless take on the Deviate, around 30g lighter than the Deviate Nitro 4, with a balanced NITRO foam ride. It copes with everything from recovery jogs to steady long runs and progression sessions.
A plateless shoe built entirely on Lightstrike Pro, so it feels light, agile and fun at almost any pace. It is one of the best-value do-it-all trainers going, as long as you don't need any stability.
A carbon-plated trainer built for tempo work and long runs with pace. Durable and versatile enough to double as a budget race shoe, though the ride is firmer and less bouncy than newer rivals.
A dual-layer Cloudmonster with a Helion HF top layer over a firmer carrier, giving huge, protective cushioning with a bouncy forefoot. Stable for its height, it suits long runs and easy mileage more than racing.
A high-stack, non-plated trainer with PWRRUN PB foam and a SpeedRoll rocker, built to handle everything from easy miles to steady long runs. Stable and good value, though the ride is on the firm side.
Carbon EnergyRods and more Lightstrike Pro make this a durable, versatile trainer for tempo work and long runs with pace. Lighter and better locked-in than the Boston 12, with a narrower toe box.
254 g6 mm dropCarbon platepropulsiveresponsive£140 RRP
A 50mm, non-race-legal stack of Lightstrike Pro with a carbon plate and EnergyRods for big, bouncy long runs at pace. Huge fun for the right runner, but heavy, stiff and very expensive.
A light, low-key trainer with a firmer, ground-connected ride and a DNA Flash forefoot. Great value for quicker days if you don't want a max-stack shoe.
A carbon-plated speed trainer that now looks like a budget Metaspeed: lower, much lighter and bouncier thanks to FF Leap foam. A versatile pick for workouts and races without the super-shoe price.
A cheaper carbon-plated On with Helion HF foam on both sides of the Speedboard. It is comfortable and protective for training and steady racing, but lacks the pop of top super shoes.
210 g5 mm dropCarbon platestableresponsive£190 RRP
A plated super trainer that pairs FF Turbo² foam with a forked Pebax plate for a stable, rhythmic ride at tempo pace. Smoother and lighter than the original, though stiff at easy speeds.
230 g8 mm dropPlate / rodsresponsivepropulsive£170 RRP
A carbon-plated trainer with a dual-layer NITRO foam midsole that handles tempo work and long runs equally well. Less aggressive than a race shoe, which makes it an easy one-shoe option.
247 g8 mm dropCarbon platepropulsivebouncy£150 RRP
A light, affordable trainer with more Lightstrike Pro than before, happy at a range of paces. Breathable and grippy in the wet, but not very stable for heel strikers.
A big-stack trainer pairing DNA Gold PEBA foam with a nylon SpeedVault plate. Cushioned yet controlled for long runs and steady tempo work, though heavy for an uptempo shoe.
286 g6 mm dropNylon plateresponsivepropulsive£170 RRP
A low-stack, zero-drop speed shoe with Altra's new FAST PCE foam and a breathable knit upper. It suits short, quick sessions for runners used to minimal shoes, but offers little protection for long runs.
A Pebax-plated super trainer that pairs a PEBA top layer with an EVA base for long workouts. Deep cushioning and a quick-rolling rocker make it a fast-but-forgiving partner for tempo and long runs.
264 g5 mm dropPlate / rodspropulsivebouncy£170 RRP
Saucony's classic low, light and flexible trainer, with a 4 mm drop and plenty of ground feel. Great for quicker, shorter runs, though the firm PWRRUN foam and exposed midsole limit cushioning and durability.
On's light, snappy trainer now sits on a taller stack of Helion HF foam over a nylon-blend Speedboard. It comes alive at faster paces but feels firm and a little clumsy when jogging slowly.
A glass-fibre-plated performance trainer aimed at everyday marathoners rather than elites. Lively but forgiving, with a widened heel for late-race stability.
265 g8 mm dropPlate / rodsresponsivestable£165 RRP
A light, low-drop tempo trainer with supercritical FAST TRN foam over a flexible split PEBAX plate. It is comfortable for threshold and marathon-pace work rather than all-out speed.
A light, low-slung speed shoe with VFOAM for intervals, track repeats and short races. Firm and connected underfoot, it rewards fast running rather than easy miles.
A light, snappy and fun daily trainer with a bouncy optiFOAM² midsole at a friendly price. Truly neutral and narrow, so it suits efficient runners more than those wanting support.
ASICS
New Balance
PUMA
adidas
Nike
On
Saucony
Brooks
HOKA
Altra
Kiprun
Salomon
