Step 02 — The lineup
6 shoes scored across eleven metrics · Any purpose
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Nothing further afield worth the detour from this lineup.
Sizing note
Most of this lineup runs roomy in the forefoot — stay at your usual size.
Durability
Expect roughly 333 miles before the midsole flattens out.
Step 03 — Every metric
| Metric | Nike Free RN Motion Flyknit | Nike Flex Experience Run 12 | Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 6 | On Cloudaway 2 | Topo Athletic ST-6 | Topo Athletic Magnifly 6 | Altra Experience Flow 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 235 g / 8.3 oz | 240 g / 8.5 oz | 210 g / 7.4 oz | 230 g / 8.1 oz | 190 g / 6.7 oz | 255 g / 9.0 oz | 246 g / 8.7 oz |
| Drop | 4 mm | 6 mm | 3 mm | 8 mm | 0 mm | 0 mm | 4 mm |
| Stack (heel) | 20 mm | 26 mm | 23 mm | 28 mm | 18 mm | 26 mm | 32 mm |
| Cushioning | |||||||
| Flexibility | |||||||
| Stability (5 = most guidance) | |||||||
| Rocker geometry | |||||||
| Energy return | |||||||
| Responsiveness | |||||||
| Toe-box | Wide | Standard | Very wide | Standard | Very wide | Very wide | Very wide |
| Plate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Intended pace | 8:00–10:30 /mi | 9:00–12:00 /mi | 7:00–9:30 /mi | 9:00–12:00 /mi | 7:00–9:30 /mi | 8:30–11:00 /mi | 7:30–10:00 /mi |
| Purpose | Daily | Daily | Tempo, Daily | Daily, Trail | Tempo, Daily | Daily | Daily, Long run |
| Sizing | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size |
| Durability | ~350 mi | ~350 mi | ~300 mi | ~300 mi | ~300 mi | ~350 mi | ~400 mi |
| Price | $120 | $75 | $110 | $140 | $125 | $140 | $150 |
Your reference shoe is shown first for context. Cushioning, flexibility and stability are rated 1–5, where 5 stability means the most guidance and 1 means fully neutral.