The Running Channel
The Running Channel has reviewed 10 shoes in the Next Pair catalog. Below: their verdict on each, with a source link to the full review on their own channel.
Daily training 6
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"Bonkers that the shoe is able to be at that price point" — The Running Channel
The Running Channel notes: Picked as Best Value winner — a fantastic daily trainer at a price point that the hosts say must be hurting Adidas's margins, with Lightstrike foam that can handle race days.
Best for: Excellent-value daily trainer that can also race; gateway to Adidas's plated racers
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"enlarged toe box" — The Running Channel
Best for: Runners curious about Altra's foot-shaped design without committing to zero-drop
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"aggressive cool" — The Running Channel
The Running Channel notes: Audience's overall trainer-of-the-year pick — a stable, aggressive-looking daily trainer in its fifth iteration with the new FF Blast Max foam.
Best for: Solid daily trainer; viewers' pick for trainer of the year
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"one shoe that could do everything" — The Running Channel
The Running Channel notes: Picked as Best Cushion winner; a single shoe that handles daily training, long runs, and race day, though priced very high.
Best for: A do-it-all daily trainer that can also race
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"a whole different shoe" — The Running Channel
The Running Channel notes: A standout daily trainer with dual-density foam giving both cushion and snap; the host's controversial pick for trainer of the year.
Best for: Plush daily training with snappy ride; also Tom's overall trainer-of-the-year pick
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"really nice comfortable shoe" — The Running Channel
The Running Channel notes: Picked as Best Support winner — a comfortable, dual-density stability shoe that convinced testers who didn't think they needed support to give the category a try.
Best for: Stability-leaning recovery and long-run option that changed minds about needing support shoes
Road racing 2
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"they felt great" — The Running Channel
The Running Channel notes: Second-most-efficient shoe for this reviewer in lab testing (3.7% VO2 reduction vs baseline at marathon pace); peak experience came at race-effort paces.
Best for: Marathon racing where bounce and pop matter most
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"didn't feel as comfortable for me" — The Running Channel
The Running Channel notes: Surprised this reviewer in lab data — VO2 was nearly identical to the New Balance 1080 baseline at marathon pace, despite being a top-tier racer; he stresses individual fit/mechanics drive super-shoe benefit.
Best for: Runners whose mechanics match the Alphafly's tall stack and pod feel — strong all-out 1k feel in prior testing
Speed work 1
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"it is so Snappy" — The Running Channel
Best for: Snappy, simple daily trainer at a lower price than the plated racer sibling
Easy / recovery 1
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"chunkier" — The Running Channel