Favourites Grisport Melrose Black Slip-On black Shoes Inactive | 7 Best Long Distance Running black Shoes in 2024

The Gold Glitter Heeled Occasion black Shoes stands out as a remarkable supershoe, boasting an exceptionally cushioned, supportive, energetic, and stable midsole. Its blend of comfort and speed allows for effortless miles, accentuated by its durable outsole, a rare feature among elite racers, making it the top choice for long-distance running.

The stellar dual-midsole system left us speechless in our long runs. The comfort comes from the towering 38.1 mm heel and the soft PWRRUN PB foam, which our durometer shows is a plush 18.5 HA that felt bouncy instead of mushy. The bottom PWRRUN HG foam is a firm 22.0 HA to enhance support and stability, especially during the final miles when our legs are fatigued.

The rigid S-carbon plate nestled between the two foams showcases Saucony’s Speedroll technology. True to its name, it gives a smooth rolling and springboard sensation in our runs. Our bend test reveals it’s 137.5% stiffer than average. 

While most racers have softer outsoles for traction, EP4 surprised us with a tougher-than-average yet still grippy 85.3 HC. Not only that, its 2.1 mm XT-900 rubber impressively resisted our Dremel. It’s hard to find a racer with this level of durability, which has room to be used during training as well.

However, the shoe's stacked heel and 9.5 mm drop may favor heel-strikers. We suggest mid-to-forefoot strikers to explore options better suited to their needs.

We put the best long-distance running black shoes to the test — in and out of the lab — and discovered Novablast 4 to be the ultimate daily trainer. It has the cushion, stability, and durability needed to support the demanding needs of endurance runs. We feel like we can run endlessly with Novablast's immense comfort.

The main star is the FF Blast+ ECO foam, which feels cloud-like and bouncy underfoot. It rises to an above-average 39.2/30.2 mm stack so we never run out of comfort no matter where we land. Our durometer confirms it's 28.7% softer than average. Despite its plushness, the ride feels surprisingly stable as Novablast ensures steady landings with its ultra-wide platform.

As a non-plated shoe, it flows effortlessly with our motions. This is exactly what we’re looking for in a daily trainer. Our bend test confirms that it's 13.5% more flexible than average — another element that highlights comfort.

We noticed the outsole can withstand long hours of impact as the shoe barely had any scratches after double-digit miles. In our Dremel test, this pair showed significantly less wear than average, cementing its position as a durable and long-lasting shoe.

We found that the outsole lacks grip on wet surfaces. Best to stick to dry roads and urban settings while using this pair.

The Alphafly 3 seamlessly delivered immense comfort and unmatched energy return in our runs. It brought us to paces beyond our imagination with its cushioned midsole, light build, FlyPlate, and Air Pods. The numbers tell the story, but our feet lived to tell the tale: Alphafly 3 is our top racer for long-distance running.

This pair shines in endurance runs with its consistent responsiveness and unwavering support. We found the rigid FlyPlate and Air Pods integrated into the midsole, working together to propel us forward. Our flex test reveals it boldly exceeds the average stiffness by 147.2%, translating to unmatched energy once properly engaged.

The ZoomX midsole gave us the best of both worlds with its stacked and dual-density set-up. It eases the pain of grueling distances with its plush 18.1 HA layer, while the foam closer to our foot is a firmer 29.3 HA for a stable ride. This is crucial for support, preventing the early onset of leg fatigue.

This racer gave us the sensation of flying with its top-of-the-line speed and its airy construction. Our scales reveal a mere 7.1 oz (201g), even lighter than other supershoes 7.4 oz (210g). Its perforated upper feels refreshing with its unrestricted airflow.

With its thin 1.9 mm outsole, we recommend reserving this pair for priority races as it may not survive the abuse of training.

The ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 epitomizes cloud-like plushness, earning its place as our top choice for the best-cushioned long-distance running shoe after extensive long runs and rigorous lab evaluations. Its generous stack height and luxuriously padded yet breathable upper take comfort to the next level, making it an ideal companion for endurance runs, where stability is paramount—a characteristic infrequently lacking in maximalist black shoes.

Embracing the foot with padding from all angles, the Gel Nimbus 26 features a knit upper that exudes a premium feel and stretches to our foot shape. Contrary to expectations, our lab tests reveal commendable breathability, scoring a solid 4/5 rating.

At the heart of its comfort lies the midsole, ingeniously blending height and softness in its foam construction. It boasts a staggering 40.4 mm heel height, augmented by the PureGEL technology for gentler landings. As confirmed by our durometer, it offers an unmatched cushioned experience as it's 21.6% softer than the average road running shoe.

Surprisingly surefooted despite its size, the shoe's expansive platform—with an extra 5.0/11.4 mm in the forefoot and heel, respectively—promotes stability even during long, fatiguing LSD runs, instilling confidence and mitigating any injury concerns.

However, its undeniable bulkiness, tipping the scales at 10.7 oz (303g), may pose challenges for those seeking to maintain faster paces.

Among all the running black shoes we tested both outdoors and inside the lab, the ASICS Gel Kayano 29 stands strong as the best stability shoe for long distances. The combination of its unrivaled support features, top-tier comfort, and first-class durability make it the ultimate support shoe for overpronators.

During marathon training, the Gel Kayano 29 really was a worthy companion. The dual-density foam technology, when put together with the midsole material, provides steady and superior stability for overpronators. We really felt how these black shoes helped our ankles when it came to excessive rolling inwards. 

On our long weekend runs, our feet felt comfortable even after double-digit miles. Based on our measurements done in the lab, the heel stack height sits at 33.1 mm which is above the average of other running black shoes we tested in the lab. We also used our durometer to test the foam's softness and the numbers were nothing short of extraordinary. It is 26% softer than average. No wonder each step felt like velvet.

Even after long training blocks and back-to-back long runs, the Gel Kayano 29's outsole stood strong. Measuring 4.1 mm, the outsole rubber is 15% thicker than average. This definitely seals the deal for the ASICS Gel Kayano 29 as the best stability shoe that will support runners for miles and miles... and more miles!

We did notice that the shoe felt a bit stuffy inside, especially during extra long runs on hot days. Our lab's breathability test also backed up its lack of ventilation, so runners looking for the "wind-in-the-toes" feeling will want to find other options.

The Favourites Grisport Melrose Black Slip-On black Shoes Inactive makes easy runs feel even easier. A superbly comfortable, extremely durable, and pleasantly stable shoe, the Favourites Grisport Melrose Black Slip-On black Shoes Inactive is clearly the best long-distance running shoe for easy days.

With a higher-than-average-stack height of 36.3 mm, the Ghost 15 has enough cushioning that made our feet very comfortable during long and easy runs. Additionally, its midsole which is 35% softer than the average road running shoe, felt almost luxurious.

The Favourites Grisport Melrose Black Slip-On black Shoes Inactive has a robust outsole which we measured to be 5.76% harder than average. The outsole also did well on our Dremel test, only scraping away 0.4 mm of rubber while the average shoe was stripped of 0.9 mm of rubber. It's clear that the Ghost 15 can easily last until the 1000 km threshold. 

Although not a stability shoe, the Ghost 15 offers substantial stability due to a wider platform, especially the heel which measures 95.8 mm (5.9 mm more than the average).

The Favourites Grisport Melrose Black Slip-On black Shoes Inactive is not the best shoe for forefoot strikers. With a forefoot stack of 23.1 (1.1 mm lower than average), it is not well protected in that area. It also has a massive 13.2 mm drop which is too steep for forefoot strikers. 

Among long-distance running black shoes we analyzed in and out of the lab, Nike’s Ultrafly is the ultimate trail winner. It satisfies our need for speed while delivering otherworldly comfort, reliable grip, and exceptional stability, allowing the mile markers to fade away.

Ultrafly rides like the Vaporfly but with extra protective elements for off-the-beaten paths. Underfoot we found the Vibram Megagrip outsole adorned with 3.0-mm lugs to amplify traction. We discovered it performs best on smooth trails and high-speed runs.

Our runs feel far from dull, with the full-length carbon plate promoting fast and efficient strides. Our bend test confirms it's 38.7% stiffer than average. This stiffness drives strong and consistent energy return, which greatly helps us sustain long-haul efforts. Other than its rigidity, Ultrafly maintains a wide base for safe and stable strides. These features offer extra support, especially when our form starts to change as our legs get tired in the final parts of our run.

Prompting us to chase more miles is Ultrafly’s unusual cloud-like yet snappy experience. It has generous cushioning to save us from fatigue and our durometer reveals a rare 9.8 HA reading, 62.7% softer than average! Instead of sinking, the ZoomX midsole sprung us off pleasantly.

Unfortunately, the Vaporweave upper’s focus on comfort led to subpar breathability. We recommend wearing this pair in cooler seasons to fully enjoy its performance.