Best Running Shoes for Road Ultras: Top Running Shoes for Long Races Like the Comrades Marathon

In less than month, Run Tester Kieran heads back to South Africa to take on one of the original and most iconic road ultras, the 55-mile Comrades Marathon 2026. And that means there's a big decision to make: what shoes do you lace up to tackle a 9-hour plus run up and down the roads from Durban to Pietermaritzburg? In this video, Kieran gets into the nitty gritty of how to choose the best running shoes for road ultras, what he's taken into consideration when shortlisting his options, and reveals which shoe he's selected to conquer this year's Comrades Up run.

JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
0:00 - Intro
0:129 – What is the Comrades Marathon?
2:44 – How to choose road ultra running shoes
5:45 – Speed & Comfort: ASICS Megablast
6:44 – Speed & Comfort: Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
7:47 – Speed & Comfort: HOKA Mach 7
8:58 – Cushioned Comfort: ASICS Novablast 5
10:08 – Cushioned Comfort: Kiprun Kipride Max
11:05 – Cushioned Comfort: New Balance 1080 V15
11:59 – Cushioned Comfort: Brooks Glycerin Max
13:01 – Carbon Race Shoes: Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4
14:12 – Carbon Race Shoes: HOKA Rocket X3
14:59 – The winner....