Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes has reviewed 33 shoes in the Next Pair catalog. Below: their verdict on each, with a source link to the full review on their own channel.
Easy / recovery 11
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"loads of room in the toe box" — Ben Parkes
Best for: Runners wanting a comfortable, foot-shaped daily shoe with a roomy toe box.
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"insanely comfortable shoe" — Ben Parkes
Best for: Easy and recovery jogs, all-day wear, and heavier runners or those with large feet.
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"really great padding" — Ben Parkes
Best for: A reliable, comfortable, soft long-distance cruiser built to last.
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"one of the very softest, squishiest, marshmallowy shoes" — Ben Parkes
Best for: The most plush, soft easy and recovery run shoe, plus all-day wear.
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"the sheer amount of versatility on offer" — Ben Parkes
Best for: Long runs and marathon-pace blocks, and a good option for heavier runners.
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"high stack, do-it-all daily" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: A solid high-stack daily option that is firmer and more reactive than the MagMax 2, with better stability from its full outsole but a less plush long-run feel.
Best for: A high-stack do-it-all daily shoe for runners who are not racking up the longest long runs.
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"good allround daily shoe" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: Nike are back with an easy-to-recommend max-stack daily that delivers Invincible 1/2-style fun with better heel lockdown and stability, though the 45mm stack is arguably more than needed.
Best for: Runners looking for the spiritual successor to the Nike Invincible 1/2 — a fun, plush, do-it-all daily shoe with enough versatility to race in.
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"really only suitable for jogging" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: A wild, pillow-soft, ultra-bouncy max-stack jogging shoe that nails its niche brief but is extremely heavy, expensive and offers no versatility beyond easy and recovery runs.
Best for: Recovery and very easy jogging miles for runners who want maximum softness and bounce in a wild, novelty-feel shoe.
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Ben Parkes notes: Best max-cushion recovery shoe in the NB lineup — soft and stable but bulky and not built for speed.
Best for: Dedicated easy and recovery-day shoe; good for walkers and people on their feet all day.
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Ben Parkes notes: Stability fixed vs v2 and the cushioning is great, but lockdown issues kept Ben from running his usual mileage in it; he's awaiting v4.
Best for: Easy and recovery runs, second-of-the-day soft cushion
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Ben Parkes notes: A solid update that fixes the v2's lateral instability and keeps the soft, bouncy ZoomX ride, but the bulk and weight remain so v2 owners can stay put.
Best for: Easy and recovery runs, long runs, and fartleks for neutral runners who want max cushion
Daily training 7
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"Brooks really know how to make a comfortable daily shoe" — Ben Parkes
Best for: A reliable, versatile, stable daily trainer for wide-footed runners.
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"lightweight, fast, and fun" — Ben Parkes
Best for: Faster paces and shorter races up to the half marathon for wide-footed runners who don't want a plate.
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"lightweight and surprisingly nimble" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: A lighter, bouncier and slightly roomier evolution of v1 that nails its brief as a plush long-run mileage monster, though the GBP 170 RRP is a touch high versus competitors.
Best for: Long runs, easy mileage and marathon training for neutral or heavier runners who want a soft, durable mileage monster.
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"very much in that Max stack category" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: Easy recommendation — a high-cushion daily trainer at a bargain price (cheaper than V17) that excels for marathon-training mileage; not the right pick for 5K/10K speed.
Best for: Half-marathon and marathon training where most miles are at easy/long-run paces; runners who want one shoe to do most of their training and pair with carbon racers.
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Ben Parkes notes: Likely his favorite shoe of the year and the wholehearted top recommendation in this max-stack roundup — the lightest, most versatile option even if it's the most expensive and hardest to get hold of.
Best for: One-shoe-does-everything runners who want a lightweight, responsive trainer that races, trains and travels equally well.
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Ben Parkes notes: Unbeatable value daily trainer with premium Lightstrike Pro foam at the £100/$130 price point; staying in his rotation. Best for narrow-to-standard feet who want a traditional unplated ride.
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Ben Parkes notes: Unbeatable value daily trainer with premium Lightstrike Pro foam at the £100/$130 price point; staying in his rotation. Best for narrow-to-standard feet who want a traditional unplated ride.
Road racing 5
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"the only wide-fitting carbon plate shoe" — Ben Parkes
Best for: Wide-footed runners wanting a comfortable, stable carbon racer.
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"The lightest shoe I've ever tested in this category" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: Ben Parkes considers the Deviate Nitro Elite 4 a fantastic, user-friendly race shoe — the lightest he has tested in this category — and plans to race in it, though the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo Edge still narrowly edges it out for pure speed.
Best for: Midpack marathon runners seeking a stable, comfortable, and lightweight race shoe without the aggressive geometry of top-tier super shoes
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Ben Parkes notes: Massively improved over v1 as a race shoe — completely reinvented as a road track-spike for short-distance racing. In the right hands at mile-to-5K distances, it could do amazing things.
Best for: Mile, 3K, 5K road races and short speed sessions for forefoot strikers with strong calves.
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"damn fast" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: A radically lighter, lower-stack Vaporfly that is as fast as ever and excellent at 5K to half marathon, but no longer the obvious marathon pick for most runners due to firmer ride, narrower midfoot and rear-foot instability.
Best for: 5K, 10K and half marathon racing for lighter, midfoot/forefoot-striking runners; usable as a marathon shoe only by stronger or elite-leaning runners.
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Ben Parkes notes: Best-for-speed pick of the NB lineup; great entry-level all-out carbon racer for someone who hasn't run in a super shoe before.
Best for: Best all-out racing shoe in the NB lineup for half marathon and marathon distances.
Long run 5
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Ben Parkes notes: Ben says Skechers are 'back in form' but he'd still pick a Brooks Glycerin Max over the Aero Burst because the Glycerin Max foam is a touch better — still a solid recovery-day shoe.
Best for: Easy runs, long recovery days, and heavier runners wanting a max-cushion, stable daily.
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Ben Parkes notes: The biggest, most extreme stack on the list — bulky but really fun, with a plate that lets it pick up the pace better than the other max-stack shoes; a fan favorite of his channel.
Best for: Heavier runners or runners who want max-stack cushion that scales up to half/marathon racing thanks to the plate.
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Ben Parkes notes: Despite a hefty ~13oz weight and a price he calls steep, Ben rates this as the best HOKA on the market right now and a top-tier long-run cruiser — bouncy, smooth, and comfortable, but pace-limited.
Best for: Heavier runners who want max-cushion long-run protection, marathon trainers logging easy/marathon-pace miles, and runners who prioritize comfort over speed.
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Ben Parkes notes: A fantastic long-run cruiser that loses some of v2's pop in exchange for stability — recommended at the US $180 price, but the UK £230 pricing makes it nearly impossible for Ben to recommend over a Vaporfly 3 or Endorphin Pro at the same number.
Best for: Mid-pack runners training for half/full marathons who want a comfortable, dependable, plated long-run trainer over an all-out lightweight racer.
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Ben Parkes notes: One of Ben's favourite shoes of the year — the most comfortable plated training/race shoe on the market for him; only knock is the price.
Best for: Mid-pack and back-of-pack marathoners who want comfort and a plate for long marathons; great entry-level carbon-plated shoe.
Speed work 4
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"good budget race day option" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: A solid, versatile carbon-plated daily trainer with a good grip and wide enough use case range from easy jogging to 5K pace, though its lower stack limits it for longer runs over 90 minutes. Good value at £150 but not a standout bargain.
Best for: Runners wanting a versatile plated daily shoe for uptempo paces and budget race day use, particularly those training for 4+ hour marathons or 1:45+ half marathons.
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Ben Parkes notes: Ben Parkes calls this one of his best running shoes of 2024 that he is continuing to use through 2025; great value at £155 for tempo, long runs, and budget marathon racing.
Best for: Tempo work, longer training runs, and budget-friendly marathon/half-marathon racing
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"old school racing flat experience" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: An excellent old-school racing flat brought up to date with full-length Lightstrike Pro — best for 5K/10K speed work, not a do-it-all shoe. Good value at GBP 120.
Best for: Lightweight 5K/10K racing and speed sessions for runners who want ground feel and a traditional racing-flat experience without a plate.
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"a brilliant comfort and speed ratio" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: A genuinely strong return to form: ~10% lighter, more responsive ZoomX/EVA midsole, comfortable, durable and competitively priced — easily one of the best value carbon-plated do-it-all shoes available.
Best for: Mid-packers wanting one do-it-all carbon-plated shoe at a competitive price — workouts, tempo, long runs and even race day, especially good for heavier runners who need protection.
trail light 1
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"this shoe is extremely wide" — Ben Parkes
Ben Parkes notes: A fast, wide and stable carbon-plated trail racer with excellent Vibram Megagrip on smooth trails, but it is heavy, stiff on steep climbs, lacks lug depth for muddy conditions and is very hard to recommend at this price.
Best for: Fast, smooth, non-technical summer trail and ultra racing (think Western States, South Downs Way, Thames Path), or mixed-terrain park run-style efforts.