4 Ways TRE Proved the Running Market Just Keeps Getting Hotter
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The running market has been surging for the past few years, and after The Running Event, it looks like the momentum will continue to rise for the foreseeable future.
“All the data shows that running is a hot category right now, so that’s getting people’s attention. There was management from big retailers who came out just to get the vibe and see what was going on,” Spurwink River advisor and BCE Consulting senior advisor Matt Powell, who attended this week’s trade show in Austin, Texas, told FN. “It really comes back to the fact that this business is the best part of the sneaker business right now and people are trying to capitalize on that.”
In a note from Janine Stichter of BTIG released today, the analyst said running footwear will continue to outpace broader footwear, not only in actual participation, but also in the continued growth in average selling price. The latter is due to the proliferation of super trainers on the market, which feature most of the technology found in super shoes but are used for daily training rather than race day.
Stichter’s note also highlighted both the exceptional product pipelines and booth business of industry leaders On and Hoka, and that newer brands continue to disrupt the legacy players.
Here’s a look at what’s ahead for 2025.
Innovation
Both major players and emerging competitors alike are delivering innovative styles for the road and the trail in 2025.
For instance, On revealed one of the most eye-catching and compelling shoes at TRE, the Cloudboom Max, which the brand believes fills a gap in the market and described as a race day shoe made for the everyday, average runner. The shoe, which features its Speedboard underfoot that was tuned to make it a little more forgiving, will release in August and retail for $230.
Also, Under Armour showcased a shoe that would make most runners stop and stare. The athletic giant unveiled the Infinite Mega, a collaboration with Speedland, a brand founded by industry veterans Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon who both worked at Under Armour. The shoe features a massive midsole stack — with heights of 35 millimeters at the forefoot and 43 millimeters at the heel — and dual, two-direction Boa dials for a customizable heel fit. It arrives in January and will retail for $250.
Power Brands Continue to Dominate
The running industry is filled with giants, and those behemoths will remain strong in 2025. Puma, for example, has been gaining traction since reentering the category in 2021, and will deliver shoes for all levels of runners.
The highlight of its 2025 releases is an update to its rule-breaking super shoe, the Fast-RB Nitro, that debuted in August. This time, Puma is swapping out the laceless upper for one with laces, allowing the wear to have a more customized fit. It arrives in January and will retail for $350.
Also, Adidas will look to have both its elite athletes and consumers alike cross finish lines in the Adizero Adios Pro 4, which will arrive in January. The brand stated it took learnings from its extremely limited $500 super shoe, the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, that arrived in 2023 and made a $250 price point version. Highlights of the shoe include a new formulation of its Lightstrike Pro midsole tech, which is significantly lighter, and its carbon-infused Energy Rods that propel the foot forward.
And you can’t forget Nike, which has long been scrutinized for its innovation woes and focus predominantly on the elite runner. In 2025, the Swoosh will simplify its line to three pillars so runners can find the right shoe for them. The pillars are supportive cushioning (which will feature its Structure franchise), responsive cushioning (which will feature its Pegasus franchise) and maximum cushioning (which will feature its Vomero franchise). Nike stated 2025 is the year of Vomero, with the Vomero 18 coming in at $150.
Smaller Players Emerging
The small will also be mighty in 2025.
Tracksmith, for instance, revealed its Eliot Racer at TRE, a super shoe the brand stated looks like a racing flat when you toe the line. It is a plated shoe built with the same architecture as its Eliot Runner, such as its notable comfortable sock liner, but weighs just 7.5 ounces and has a plush stack of midsole cushioning underfoot (33 millimeters at the forefoot and 39 millimeters at the heel. It arrives in March and will retail for $280.
Also, Diadora — an Italian brand with rich performance history — will deliver shoes it believes will be competitive with more dominant players.
The brand’s biggest shoe of 2025 will be the Nucleo 2, a look the brand thinks rivals the Clifton, which is Hoka’s most popular road running franchise. The Nucleo 2 is in market now, however Diadora plans to release new colorways every two months starting in January. The shoe retails for $160.
The Everyday Runner Is a Big Opportunity
Diadora isn’t alone in sharpening its focus on the everyday runner, a demographic that continues to grow. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), casual runners — defined as those who run one to 49 times a year — has gained momentum in recent years, and in 2023 eclipsed core runners, who run 50-plus times. The SFIA confirmed with FN via email that since 2008, core running participation has always been higher than casual.
Asics shined a light at TRE on a new addition to one of its most beloved lines, the Gel-Nimbus 27, which arrives in January. The latest shoe in its tried-and-true franchise features single piece of FF Blast+ midsole foam with incapsulated Gel in the heel, and added 2 millimeters of cushioning to the midsole height without adding weight from the Gel-Nimbus 26. Also, it was built with knit colors and pull tabs that offer comfort to the wearer before the shoe is even on. It will retail for $165.
Saucony, too, boosted its line for the everyday runner in 2025. For the Triumph 23, which Saucony described as its premium neutral shoe, the brand added its new SRS sockliner for step-in comfort, as well as its redesigned XT-900 carbon rubber outsole to improve the shoe’s flexibility and durability. Also, the shoe includes a reformulated version of its Pwrrun PB midsole cushioning that is softer and lighter.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at [email protected].
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