All the news that's fit to run
The new incrediLUX foam is just one element of what makes this shoe so special. Somehow, despite adding 6 millimeters of foam to both the heel and forefoot, the Triumph shed nearly half an ounce from the 23. Do all these updates make this the best Triumph yet?
One of only two plated shoes in the Brooks lineup, the Hyperion Max is a neutral super trainer that’s evolved significantly since the launch of the original in 2023. Back then, its paltry 34/26 mm stack height certainly didn’t fit its “Max” moniker. The first edition didn’t even have a plate! Fast forward to version 4, and there’s a gigantic 45/39 mm stack along with a nylon plate and second foam made of Peba. While the shoe has evolved a lot over the years, there are just minimal updates from last year’s v3. Is v4 the best version yet?
It’s official: The HOKA Skyward X 2 has made history. It’s the first running shoe to actually subtract stack height in an update, instead of adding a couple millimeters…or 5. Fine, it’s not the first ever, but you’d have a much better chance finding a pull tab in a hay stack than wearing a circumcised updated pair.
It’s easy to dismiss the Brooks Ghost as an unserious shoe for unserious runners. Or, worse yet, a serious shoe for serious walkers [gulp]. The Ghost is, after all, the most frequently recommended neutral running shoe for beginner runners by running stores. Source: step inside your local running store. And yet, the Ghost 18 deserves to be taken seriously; it’s a surprisingly great shoe.
The Vomero Plus sits in the middle of Nike’s Vomero trio, in terms of price. But just because it’s the middle child doesn’t mean it should be neglected like some underachieving disappointment. In fact, I make the case for why it’s my favorite shoe among the three Vomero offspring.
You would think the Ghost Max would have undergone some notable changes by now. You would be wrong. Because after three years and four editions, what you have in the latest iteration isn’t too far off from the original. It’s got practically the same midsole, weight, and stack height as the OG. That begs the question, what’s new?