New Running Shoes: Kiprun, Nike, and Skechers Releases
Models feature innovations ranging from midsole wear sensors to ultralight carbon plates for long-distance racing.
The running shoe market saw major announcements this week from Kiprun, Nike, and Skechers. Explore the newly unveiled technologies, technical specs, pricing, and how each model fits into training and racing rotations.
The running shoe market continues to heat up with releases blending connectivity, high-energy return foams, and new materials engineered for performance gains. On Radar Stemma, Fabio Bessa and Cado Santos broke down three notable releases that captured the running community's attention with their technology and market positioning.
Kiprun Next Connect: The Shoe That Monitors Its Own Wear
Kiprun, Decathlon's running brand, unveiled the Kiprun Next Connect, a shoe co-developed with Movimenta featuring a groundbreaking approach to durability tracking. The shoe includes a built-in sensor weighing just 3 grams that measures continuous foam compression, tracking the gradual loss of cushioning in real time.
To check the midsole's condition, runners simply tap their smartphone against the shoe to scan it via the brand's official app. The goal is to provide an objective metric for when it's time to retire a pair, moving beyond visual outsole wear or manual mileage logs. The model is slated to arrive in the European market in late 2026 with an announced price of €219.
Nike Pegasus Plus 2: Daily Tempo and Speed
Nike expands its iconic daily trainer lineup with the Pegasus Plus 2. The shoe combines acclaimed ZoomX foam with a curved, visible Air Zoom unit in the forefoot, borrowing design cues directly from the American brand's race-day prototypes.
Targeted at tempo runs and speed sessions, the Pegasus Plus 2 is engineered for runners seeking quick acceleration and dynamic response on the road without the stiffness of a carbon plate. In Brazil, the model launches with a suggested retail price of R$ 1,299.99, reinforcing the versatility of one of the longest-running and most talked-about franchises in athletics.
Skechers Aero Elite: Extreme Lightweight with Quantum Plate
A Skechers reinforces its technical presence with the rollout of the Aero Elite, a racing shoe built for distances ranging from 5Ks to full marathons. The core highlight of its construction is the Quantum Plate, a web-shaped carbon-infused plate engineered to deliver propulsive snap without sacrificing the natural flexibility of your stride.
With an uncompromising focus on lightweight design, the brand lists the shoe at just 167 grams in men's size 40 and 142 grams in women's size 36. Available in Brazil with a suggested retail price of R$ 1,646.99, the model marks a new phase of expansion for the manufacturer in the high-performance running category.