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Tom's Guide
09-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
My job is to run marathons — here's the 7 pairs of running shoes I'd buy this Prime Day
My job is to test running shoes, so I know exactly what I'm looking for when Prime Day rolls around. No, it's not the cheapest shoes on the market — forget what Amazon tells you, these often have lacklustre midsole foams, and just won't last you as long. Instead, it's usually last season's shoes that make the best deals. Running shoe brands tweak some of their most popular shoes each year to refresh them and keep you spending (kind of like Apple with iPhones). Sometimes these changes are worth shouting about, but more often than not, they are minor, making last season's pair cheaper while still being just as good. To save you scrolling, I've hand-picked the best running shoes on sale right now: Best for: Easy runs, long runs, fans of On! The On Cloudmonster 2 is a cushioned, everyday running shoe, that looks fantastic. It's a heavily cushioned daily trainer, so the aim is to protect your legs from regular impact, especially over longer distances. For $180, it's probably a bit too expensive, but at $135, it's worth buying. It's on sale in several different colorways from On directly. Not sure? Read our On Cloudmonster 2 review here. Shop the men's On Cloudmonster 2 at On for $135 Best for: beginners The Ghost 16 is one of Brooks' best-selling running shoes, and for good reason — it's seriously cushioned and comfortable, and is a fantastic running shoe for easy miles and long runs. The Brooks Ghost has a cult following, thanks to its comfort and cushioning, and the 16 is our favorite version yet. It's the first to feature Brooks' nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 midsole foam, and as a result, it's a major upgrade on the Ghost 15. It's a reliable daily trainer that's perfect for beginners. Read our Brooks Ghost 16 review here to find out more. Shop the men's Brooks Ghost 16 for $99 on Amazon right now Best for: those looking for a comfortable all-rounder If you're looking to buy one running shoe that'll cope with all of the different runs on your training plan, the Asics Novablast 4 is a good place to start. It's bouncy and lively enough to help you pick up the pace on your tempo runs and speed sessions, while still being cushioned and comfortable on long runs and easy days. It's bouncy, responsive, and the slightly firmer midsole gives the shoe a lot more versatility. Shop the men's Asics Novablast 4 for $99 at Amazon here. Best for: daily runs, long distance This one is slightly more unusual, as it's Nike's current model, so you're getting a good deal! The Pegasus 41 is Nike's popular daily trainer, and the 41st version of the shoe is probably my favorite yet. The new ReactX midsole and higher stack on the Pegasus 41 gives it a softer ride that its predecessors, but it's not so squishy underfoot as to be unstable in any way. It's a balanced midsole that is comfortable for easy and long runs, but has a little bounce to it when you want to up the pace. Read our full Nike Pegasus 41 review here to find out more. Shop the men's Pegasus 41 on sale for $119 at Amazon. Best for: speed sessions and long runs I've been reviewing running shoes for the past decade, and was impressed with the FuelCell Rebel V4, which I used as my tempo and long run shoe when marathon training. You don't want to wear your carbon fibre running shoes too much ahead of race day, as they typically have a shorter shelf life than most running shoes, so these are a good alternative. The shoe is bouncy and responsive underfoot, and copes well with slower miles, as well as faster sessions. Shop the women's New Balance FuelCell Rebel V4 for $87 at Amazon. Best for: those looking to spend less than $60 I know what you're thinking, wait — Skechers make running shoes? But they do, and these are a pair of comfortable, max-cushioned shoes, best suited to easy miles and long runs. They are hailed as cheaper dupes for the Hoka Clifton 9 trainers, without the price tag. Best suited to beginners, or runners looking for a plush shoe to wear for easy miles and long walks, these are a decent option, and for less than $60, now is a good time to buy. Read our Skechers Max Cushioning Elite 2.0 review here. Best for: runners looking for a max-cushioned shoe Last, but by no means least, the Nike Invincible 3. It's my favorite Nike running shoe of all time, and it's been discontinued, so now is a great time to buy if you're looking for a super comfortable, max-cushioned running shoe. The magic in the Invincible 3 lies in the midsole foam. It has Nike's premium ZoomX foam, which you'd normally find in its faster carbon fibre racing shoes. Here, however, instead of propelling the foot forward, the bouncy, responsive foam reduces the impact of each step for a more comfortable run. Read our Nike Invincible 3 review to find out more. The men's Nike Invincible 3 is also on sale at Nike.
Tom's Guide
30-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Tom's Guide
My favorite On running shoes are 20% off — plus 6 other deals I'd shop in the early Prime Day sales
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me which running shoes to buy, I'd be a hell of a lot richer. I've run five marathons and reviewed the best running shoes as my day job for the past decade, so I know what I'm looking for when it comes to shopping for new sneakers. If you've been waiting for the Prime Day deals to roll in to upgrade your running shoes, I've got good news — the sales have started early, and I've hand-picked the deals worth shopping today. Remember, the cheapest pair isn't always the best for you and your feet — they often have less substantial foams and won't last as long. The best option is normally an older, last-season pair of shoes, and I've found some of my favorites below. I'm a huge fan of the On Cloudmonster 2, and not only because that huge stack height makes me look taller. They are soft, cushioned, and comfortable, best suited to long runs and easy runs. You'll also probably want to wear them to the office after your run commutes, as they look cool enough to do so. Right now, the shoe has 20% off in select colorways from On directly. The Cloudstratus 3 is my next favorite shoe from On. It's slightly softer and more cushioned than the Cloudmonster 2, and again, it's best designed for easy runs. It's On's everyday running shoe, but it's super plush and comfortable underfoot. The best part is, you can save $70 on the shoe right now in men's and women's sizes over at On. The Brooks Ghost 16 is last season's model, as Brooks has now released the Ghost 17, but don't let this put you off. It's still an excellent, cushioned everyday running shoe, best suited to easy miles and long runs. There's no reason why this shoe couldn't get you around your first marathon, and it's a popular shoe for a reason. At under $100 on Amazon in the early Prime Day sale, now is a good time to buy. You can read our Brooks Ghost 16 review here to find out more. Shop the women's shoe for $99 on Amazon here. The Nike Pegasus frequently takes the top spot in our roundup of the best running shoes, and for good reason. It's a classic. A decent all-rounder that'll cope with most training sessions well, and a reliable workhorse that'll last for miles. The Pegasus 41 is one of the best versions of the shoe we've seen in years, and is the current version, with the Pegasus 42 expected to drop this summer. At $88, it's a fantastic shoe at a fantastic price. Read what Tom's Guide's fitness writer and 2:25 marathon runner, Nick Harris-Fry, had to say in his Nike Pegasus 41 review here. This is a fantastic training shoe, designed to be paired with one of New Balance's faster race-day shoes. It's fast and bouncy, and will help you pick up the pace during tempo sessions and speed runs. It's currently on sale for less than $100 on Amazon, so now is a great time to buy if you're looking for a speedy shoe without a carbon fibre plate. Shop the women's version of the shoe for $109 at Amazon now. Note: Click the on-page digital coupon to get this price. The Triumph 22 is last season's shoe, but it's a cushioned everyday shoe designed to keep you comfortable on long training runs and easy miles. It's a very different shoe to the Triumph 21 and it's a high-cushioned trainer. You can read more in our Saucony Triumph 22 review here, but if you're a fan of a plush running shoe, you can't go wrong with this. Shop the men's Triumph 22 for $119 at here. Looking for a super plush pair of running shoes without the high price tag? Look no further. The Brooks Ghost Max 2 is extremely comfortable and bucketloads more responsive than the original Ghost line and the original Ghost Max. Compared to the original Ghost Max, the big update to the Ghost Max 2 is that the midsole is now made from Brooks' DNA Loft v3 foam, a nitrogen-infused EVA material that's softer, lighter, and more responsive than the DNA Loft v2 foam used on the first Ghost Max. Read more in our Brooks Ghost Max 2 review. The women's shoe is also on sale for $119 at Amazon here.
Tom's Guide
14-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I ran 40 miles with the Cloudsurfer 2 vs. On Cloudmonster 2 — which shoe should you buy?
The On Cloudmonster 2 is a cushioned daily trainer that's a little firmer than most running shoes these days, including the Cloudsurfer 2. It's a good option for long runs, and despite being heavier than the Cloudsurfer 2, it's more responsive and similarly versatile. The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a comfortable daily trainer with a smooth, rockered ride. It's softer than the Cloudmonster 2, as well as being lighter and cheaper, but it's not the most durable shoe and also feels a bit flat on longer runs or when running at faster paces. The On Cloudsurfer 2 and On Cloudmonster 2 are both comfortable running shoes that are great for daily training, but they have different feels on the run that may make them suitable for different kinds of runners. I've done around 40 miles of running in each shoe, and below you'll find my direct comparison of their relative strengths and weaknesses. Check out our On Cloudmonster 2 review and On Cloudsurfer 2 review for a more detailed take on each shoe. The On Cloudmonster 2 is the more expensive of the two shoes, costing $180 / £170 compared to $160 / £150 for the On Cloudsurfer 2. However, the Cloudmonster 2 is also the older of the two shoes, so it's a little more likely to feature in sales — it's currently in the On last season sale for $140, so it's worth checking when comparing the two shoes. The On Cloudmonster 2 is currently available in 11 colors, while the Cloudsurfer 2 is currently available in five colors. At 10.7oz for a US men's size 9.5, the Cloudmonster 2 is the heavier shoe, with the Cloudsurfer 2 tipping the scales at 9.7oz in the same size. Part of that weight difference is down to the fact that the Cloudmonster 2 has a higher stack of foam in its midsole and a lower drop with a 6mm heel-to-toe offset — the Cloudsurfer 2 has a 9mm drop. I found that both shoes fit me well enough in my normal running shoe size, but as someone with a narrow foot, the Cloudmonster 2 did feel very wide and roomy in the toe-box — I preferred the snugger fit of the Cloudsurfer 2. The Cloudsurfer 2's upper is thicker and more padded around the tongue and collar, with the Cloudmonster 2 using a more breathable material and a thinner tongue. Both uppers flex well and support the foot securely around the midfoot and heel, but the Cloudmonster 2's upper might feel less oppressive if you're always running in hot conditions. By far the biggest difference in the design of the two shoes is how their midsoles are set up. The Cloudsurfer 2 uses On's soft Helion foam with a series of holes designed to collapse like dominoes and create a rockered feel to the ride. This CloudTecPhase design makes the ride smoother than that of the Cloudmonster 2, which has three layers of foam in its midsole. The Cloudmonster 2 uses Helion foam for its top layer, and then the bottom is On's distinctive CloudTec pods, which are made from a firmer and heavier material than Helion. There is also a nylon-blended plate, "Speedboard," in the midsole of the Cloudmonster 2, which helps stabilize the high stack of foam and speed up the transition from heel to toe. Both shoes have pods on the outsole of the shoe, with rubber covering the forefoot and heel, leaving some exposed foam in the midsole. I didn't notice a difference in the grip of the two shoes, which have both delivered reliable traction in the wet, and neither outsole is showing any undue signs of wear and tear after around 40 miles of running. I used both the On Cloudsurfer 2 and On Cloudmonster 2 for a variety of training runs, mostly at an easy pace, with some faster intervals thrown in. In my testing, I found that both shoes excelled in similar runs and had the same weaknesses — both are good for easy runs and neither feels that responsive at pace, but they have quite different ride feels. The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a lot softer than the Cloudmonster 2, and the rocker is very noticeable on the run. It has a smooth feel that feels great for ticking over at a relaxed pace. At faster paces, I found that the soft foam flattened out and the shoe didn't give a lot back in terms of energy return. It's quite a light shoe and you can run quickly in it, but it doesn't feel as good as it does for easy runs. In contrast, the Cloudmonster 2 has a firmer ride and doesn't roll through as smoothly, but the midsole setup is a bit more responsive and bouncy. I found the Cloudmonster 2 better for long runs than the Cloudsurfer 2, and although it's heavier, it was as good for faster runs as the Cloudsurfer 2 because the midsole foam provides more energy return. Overall, neither are shoes I'd describe as exceptionally versatile, but both are good daily trainers that work well for easy runs and can handle speedwork reasonably well. I'd pair either with a lighter shoe for fast runs myself, but if you want one shoe for everything, both can do the job. My preferences skew towards lighter and rockered running shoes, so I'd reach for the On Cloudsurfer 2 myself. I found it more fun to run in, and it was easy to get into a good rhythm on easy runs thanks to the rockered midsole. It's also cheaper and lighter, and the fit is a little better for me because I have a narrow foot. I love the look of the Cloudsurfer 2 as a casual shoe, too. The On Cloudmonster 2 has its strengths, though. I think it will be more durable thanks to its firmer midsole foam, and it holds up better on long runs when the Cloudsurfer 2 can start to feel a little flat. It also feels more natural when walking than the softer Cloudsurfer 2.
