The sport of running unlike a lot of other sports does not require a lot of equipment, however, really good equipment can help. In the sport of running today, one of the most controversial topics is shoes. So, today I'm going to be talking about the three most innovative and possibly controversial shoes in the world and one pair that could change the world of running.

Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%

The first shoe on this list is the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%, one of Nike's premier distance running shoes. This shoe is controversial because it was banned from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Eliud Kipchoge, the World Record Holder in the marathon, ran the first ever sub 2-hour marathon in a prototype of this shoe. This shoe features a 39mm stack height in the back and 35mm in the front, it also has two zoom air pods in the front, the first of its kind. Since the creation of these shoes, the second iteration of this shoe the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% 2 has been produced, and it is even better than the first. 

On Cloudmonster

The On Cloudmonster is the innovative running brand On's long-run shoe. This shoe is a representation of innovation as all of the other On shoes do, this shoe features On's CloudTec. CloudTec is as said on, On's website "Created for soft landings and powerful take offs... (It) makes every step effortless. It's the special power in every On shoe." This shoe is a max cushioned shoe, with a 6-millimeter heel to drop, and it only weighs 275 grams, 13 grams less than Nike's daily trainer the Pegasus 40. This shoe and the rest of On's lineup are innovating the world of running shoe technology and On in the future will be marked as a brand of innovation.

Nike ZoomX Dragonfly

The Nike ZoomX Dragonfly more commonly referred to as just "Dragonflies" are the most popular track spikes in the world. If you go to any track or cross-country meet in the world and look around you will most likely see these spikes all over. These spikes have changed how people view spikes in the running world and now they are synonymous with World Records, Olympic, and World titles. These shoes are very light and provide a great amount of energy return, they also include a forefoot plate that according to Nike "helps ensure a smooth transition from toe-off to heel strike." These spikes have changed the running world and going forward they will continue to do so.

Adidas Pro Evo 1

This shoe has the potential to change the world of running, the Adidas Pro Evo 1 is according to Adidas News "40% lighter than any other racing super shoe Adidas has ever created." This shoe also features a forefoot rocker which is placed at 60% of the length of the shoe. According to Adidas News "This innovation is lab-tested to trigger forward momentum and improve running economy." This shoe will change how Adidas makes their running shoes and it has already worked with the World Record for the women's marathon already being broken by Tigist Assefa in this shoe.