Best Running Shoes For 10K Runs - Solereview

5.1K This article was updated on July 8, 2025, with the most current models. Solereview has no industry ties and does not accept free products. We buy all our shoes at full retail price; proof of purchase can be found here.

People running a road race.

In this product guide:

  1. 1. Cushioned racer for under 45 minutes: adidas Adizero EVO SL
  2. 2. Plated 10K racer for under 40 minutes: Nike Vaporfly 4
  3. 3. Responsive 10K trainer for under 45 minutes: Hoka Mach 6
  4. 4. Lightweight 10K trainer for under 45 minutes: adidas Boston 13
  5. 5. Most comfortable trainer for 10K: Asics Novablast 5
  6. How we selected
10K racer for under 45 minutes adidas adizero EVO SL product box

adidas Adizero EVO SL

The EVO SL’s 39 mm and 33 mm tall midsole offers speed-focused comfort for 10K races.

Buy from adidas.com

  1. Read our detailed review of the Adizero EVO SL here.

A 10K race is considered short to mid-distance. But it’s twice as long as a 5K, and certainly not a distance for novice runners. A 10K race is Solereview’s personal favorite. It’s long, but not that long. It’s also possible to set faster splits than one would during a full marathon. You’d probably have guessed where we’re going with this. A running shoe for 10K needs to do two things very well. First, it has to be comfortable enough to absorb the repetitive landing stress. Two, the midsole should be designed to go fast.

The heel counter of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The adidas adizero EVO SL on the road.
The outsole of the adidas adizero EVO SL on the road.
The side profile of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The midsole rocker of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The midsole ridge of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The interiors of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The beveled heel of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The padded heel collar of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The forefoot outsole of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The outsole of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The toe box of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The freestanding tongue of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The side view of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The top view of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The adidas adizero EVO SL on a weighing scale.
The side view of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
The Lightstrike Pro midsole of the adidas adizero EVO SL.
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The adizero EVO SL scores highly on both requirements. The 39 mm and 32 mm tall Lightstrike Pro midsole has soft and bouncy cushioning that adds an engaging flavor to the ride. Runners will also benefit from the rocker midsole. The high toe spring helps with quicker turnovers by tipping the foot forward. The grippy Continental rubber patch under the forefoot assists with quick touch-and-go. The adizero EVO Pro-inspired upper doesn’t have a narrow fit like a traditional racer. It has an accommodating forefoot in a true-to-size profile.

Expand All Collapse All FULL SPECIFICATIONS – ADIDAS ADIZERO EVO SL
  • adidas’s marketing pitch: Experience the feeling of fast.
  • Upper: Lightweight mesh, no inner sleeve.
  • Midsole: Full-length Lightstrike Pro foam. 7 mm heel drop.
  • Outsole: Continental rubber (forefoot), Clear rubber (heel).
  • Weight: 224 gms/ 7.9 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8.5/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
  • Stack heights: 39 mm (heel), 32 mm (forefoot).
  • Available widths: Single, D – regular (reviewed)
  • Country of origin: China.
  • Recommended use: 5K, 10K, half-marathons.
  • Footstrike orientation: Midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
  • Orthotic compatibility: No.
  • Median lifespan: 400 miles.
  • Recommended paces: 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile) and slower.
  • Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -0° C/32° F.
PROS AND CONS – ADIDAS ADIZERO EVO SL

Pros

  • Soft and bouncy comfort
  • Effective midsole rocker
  • Outsole traction
  • Breathable, just-right fit
  • Works well even at slow speeds and heel strikes

Cons

  • No reflectivity
  • No optional width(s)
Plated 10K racer for under 40 minutes Nike Vaporfly 4 product box

Nike Vaporfly 4

The Vaporfly 4 stays true to form with a full length carbon plate and cushioned PEBA midsole.

Buy from Nike.com

  1. Read our detailed review of the Nike Vaporfly 4 here.

The Vaporfly 4 doesn’t stray far from the original. Just like the last three versions, a full-length carbon plate is housed inside a PEBA foam (ZoomX) midsole. The stack heights of 39 mm (heel) and 29 mm (forefoot) offer cushioned comfort for all distances, be it a 10K or a marathon. The carbon plate makes the loading efficient through its stiffness and rocker shape. The midsole now exposes the carbon plate under the midfoot and heel; this makes the heel softer than the Vaporfly 3. The softer heel enhances the springboard effect of the plate since the midsole is easier to compress.

The side profile of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The upper of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
How much does the Nike Vaporfly 4 weigh?
The top view of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The midsole ridge of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The outsole of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The midsole rocker of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The side view of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The toe box of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The tongue flap of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The tongue of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The heel collar of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The carbon Flyplate of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The footbed of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The forefoot outsole of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The heel view of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
The interior of the Nike Vaporfly 4.
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The upper fit is an improvement over the Vaporfly 3. We found the previous version excessively roomy, diluting the shoe’s ability to go fast. The Vaporfly 4 returns to a locked-in and true-to-size fit that’s optimal for quicker paces.

Expand All Collapse All FULL SPECIFICATIONS – NIKE VAPORFLY 4
  • Nike’s marketing pitch: A fine-tuned shoe that’s trusted from a mile to a marathon.
  • Upper: Perforated mesh, no sleeve.
  • Upper fit: Secure, true-to-size fit.
  • Midsole: Full-length ZoomX foam with carbon plate. 6 mm heel drop.
  • Outsole: Carbon rubber in high-wear areas.
  • Weight: 190 gms/6.7 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 10/UK 9/EUR 44/CM 27.1
  • Stack heights: 35 mm (rear), 29 mm (forefoot).
  • Available widths: D – regular (reviewed).
  • Previous model: Nike Vaporfly 3.
  • Country of origin: China.
  • Recommended use: 10K races, marathons.
  • Footstrike orientation: Midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
  • Median lifespan: 300 miles.
  • Recommended paces: 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile) and quicker.
  • Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -0° C/32° F.
PROS AND CONS – NIKE VAPORFLY 4

Pros

  • Lightweight and springy ride
  • Seamless plate-foam integration
  • Ventilation
  • Secure upper

Cons

  • No innovation except for minor updates
  • No widths
  • Not ideal for heavy runners and overpronators
Responsive 10K trainer for under 45 minutes Hoka Mach 6 product box

Hoka Mach 6

The completely redesigned Mach 6 is great for 10K, thanks to its bouncy ride and secure upper lockdown.

Buy from Amazon.com

  1. Read our detailed review of the Hoka Mach 6 here.

We love what Hoka has done with the Mach 6. It’s nothing like the Mach 5 in the way it rides. While the narrow upper fit feels familiar, the rest of the shoe offers a brand-new experience. Instead of the Mach 5’s dual-density setup, the midsole is now made of a bouncy supercritical foam. This new foam feels soft and bouncy at easy speeds (6:00 min/km, 9:40 min/mile, and slower) and efficient at higher paces.

The Hoka Mach 6 in a road race.

The midsole of the Hoka Mach 6.

The new midsole foam delivers its springy cushioning no matter the speed or footstrike orientation.

At quicker paces (4:00 min/km, 6:30 min/mile, and faster), the midsole delivers a springy sensation. The mild midsole rocker tips the foot forward towards the end of the gait cycle. Equally important is the tight upper that drives the power to the midsole. There’s a good reason why most speed footwear (including ice skates and soccer boots) have a tight fit; it does a better job of transferring the power than a loose-fitting shoe. The upper is narrow, yet comfortable. The mesh is soft, and the tongue and heel are padded.

The Mach 5 outsole versus Mach 6 outsole.

Just know that the Mach 6 fits a half-size shorter than the Mach 5, meaning that a size 10 on the Mach 6 will give you the same length as a size 9.5 on the Mach 5.

Expand All Collapse All FULL SPECIFICATIONS – HOKA MACH 6
  • Hoka’s marketing pitch:Your gateway to everyday speed.
  • Upper: Engineered mesh, elastic gusset.
  • Midsole: Full-length Supercritical foam, 5 mm heel drop.
  • Outsole: Perforated Carbon rubber.
  • Weight: 232 gms/ 8.2 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
  • Stack heights: 37 mm (rear), 32 mm (forefoot).
  • Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 2E – wide.
  • Previous model: Hoka Mach 5.
  • Country of origin: Vietnam.
  • Recommended use: Easy runs, half-marathons, Fartleks, interval training, tempo runs.
  • Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
  • Median lifespan: 400 miles.
  • Recommended paces: Slower than 3:30 min/km (5:30 min/mile).
  • Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
PROS AND CONS – HOKA MACH 6

Pros

  • Versatile, speed-friendly ride
  • Bouncy cushioning
  • Quick transitions
  • Ultra-secure upper
  • Optional width

Cons

  • Less stable than the Mach 5
  • Sizing differs from the Mach 5
  • Lack of reflective elements
  • Average grip on wet roads
Lightweight 10K trainer for under 45 minutes adidas Boston 13 product box

adidas Boston 13

The updated Boston 13 has higher ride comfort while maintaining its neutral and speed-friendly character.

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