When it comes to Salomon, there was plenty to talk about in 2024. And if the brand’s presence at The Running Event (TRE) last week is any indication, consumers and insiders alike will have a lot more to discuss in 2025.

The outdoor brand was on fire in 2024, specifically racking up wins with fashion-focused footwear consumers. Specifically, the brand’s collaborations with the likes of Sandy Liang, MM6 Maison Margiela and Aries, as well as influential retailers Sneakersnstuff and Nordstrom, had people hitting the streets in looks that were made for technical terrain.

What’s more, to capitalize on the momentum among the style-savvy that it has stateside, Salomon opened its first U.S. Sportstyle concept store in New York City in October.

The company has also recently made major leadership changes. This month, Amer Sports — the brand’s parent company — announced it had elevated Guillaume Meyzenq to the role of president and chief executive officer of Salomon. Meyzenq, a 28-year veteran of Salomon, will replace Franco Fogliato, who stepped down from the role in April for personal reasons, effective Jan 1, 2025.

And for the past year, Salomon’s business in the Americas has been led by Steve Doolan, an industry veteran who notably spent 13 years at Hoka, having been its first sales rep in the U.S. Doolan assumed Salomon’s president of the Americas role in October 2023.

During last week’s TRE trade show and conference in Austin, Texas, Doolan sat with FN and offered several insights into Salomon heading into 2025.

What relationship do you have with Guillaume Meyzenq, Salomon’s incoming CEO? And why is he the right person to lead the company?

“He was one of the first people I met during the interview process. He is an insightful, thoughtful, really curious individual, and those are characteristics that I value in a leader. Those are characteristics that are incredibly positive. Ultimately, a leader needs to both set strategy and help people develop their own thoughts while understanding what that functionality trying to do. He certainly welcomed me in, over the last year, and he has an understanding of what it is going to take to succeed in the U.S. With 28 years of experience at Salomon, his understanding of the brand combined with the last seven to eight years leading the footwear business, which is where our growth is going to come from is invaluable. For me, these are all clear positives. I’m really excited about how we are going to drive footwear globally, and specifically for our team here in the U.S. and across the Americas over the next few years.”

You left one hot brand, Hoka, for another in Salomon. What is the biggest difference between them?

“This [Salomon] is an incredibly complex business. It’s a business that’s 75-years-old and has been driven by innovation. If you look at every category we play in — ski, snowboard, nordic, protectives, apparel, snow, run, a plethora of footwear categories and then hydration packs — it’s been driven by the desire to create things that make the experience better. That is incredibly pure. That, to me, is why the equity in the Salomon name is so real. That is one of the reasons that I came here. We are a storied, legacy, heritage outdoor business. We know there’s a core group of Salomon users, whether it’s in winter sports or it’s in running, and what we want to do is grow that core.”

What made taking the Salomon job so attractive?

“It wasn’t a singular thing. I think it was a component of having the opportunity to lead the business. I certainly had an important and critical role at Hoka within the Deckers environment, but this was really mine to drive and steer. There are a multitude of lessons that I’ve learned, from demand planning to go to market strategy to how it is that we make sure that our teams are dialed to the supply chain side, that can apply and ultimately really accelerate and drive this business over the course next couple years. There’s certainly a component of the tie back to the winter sports side, which is where I grew up working in specialty retail. I have a deep passion for mountains and winter sports. I would tell you, it was not an easy decision to make or let alone to tell my peers [at Hoka] and people that I really value, but I’m genuinely excited about the group, the team, the culture that we’re building here.”

What was your relationship like with Salomon before joining the company?

“My dad was skiing in SX92s, a rear entry ski boot from the ’80s. Driver bindings were bindings I skied on through my teens, and there’s a ski called the 1080 that really changed, I believe, how skiing was thought of, or was influenced by snowboarding. It really changed this idea of freedom. There’s a series of connectivities with Salomon that certainly, when I was approached, made the conversation very real.”

Salomon is red-hot in North America, specifically with its Sportstyle footwear, but where does the brand need to improve the most? 

“The reason people feel strongly about Salomon, is that they know the brand as always being product-and innovation-driven. We certainly never want to do anything to put that at risk. But I think where we will succeed is by really identifying those winners, those key items that are critical, that are going to resonate with consumer earlier and do a really good job of building a clear go-to-market strategy.”

How will outdoor-inspired fashion play out in 2025?

“I think it would never go away. If I reflect back in my life and think about my dad, the guy wore a suit to work every single day, but the second he got home, literally every single day from work, he went for a run. I think he would have been much happier not to wear a suit and be wearing things that were more reflective of the passions that he had in being outside. The world we live in today, there’s more freedom in terms of what you wear. There are very few places where you wear a suit into work. If I just extrapolate that, why would outdoor-inspired fashion go away? I think the question in my mind is what does outdoor fashion become? How does it evolve? There still is a functionality component. If we think about Gore-Tex, there’s a functional benefit to how Gore-Tex operates, there’s a breathability and waterproofing that is advantageous, and people are probably going to want to have those same characteristics. And I think there’s a styling element as well.”

What story is Salomon looking to tell in North America with its spring and fall 2025 ranges?

“There’s two stories that are completely intertwined. I would describe Salomon as a running brand. The secondary piece is it is absolutely true that the trail is where we came from, and we’ve dabbled in road over the years. We have made a very clear push, taking the learnings that we have from some of these super shoes, and bringing them in packages that are much more commercial and have a much broader appeal. So that would be the first piece. The second is we also recognize there are more surfaces than a pure technical trail in the Alps and a road, so we take those same road midsoles in our Aero Glide 3 and Aero Blaze 3, and we do a gravel version of each of those — slightly more durable upper with a toe cap and then a very minimal lug through the outside. You can go from concrete to pavement and to a gravel surface or even a mellow trail. We’re pushing into road with a new silhouette and then a gravel version of that as we drive into ’25 and ultimately beyond.”

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 peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Lane Eight, the sustainable performance sneaker brand founded by brothers James and Josh Shorrock, is closing down by year’s end.

“We wanted to let you know that unfortunately we have had to make the difficult decision to close down Lane Eight at the end of this year,” the brand wrote in a message shared on social media. “While we’ve had a great run creating some of the best sustainable workout shoes, all good things must come to an end.”

FN has reached out to Lane Eight for comment.

Prior to launching Lane Eight, the Shorrock brothers were already well-versed in all things footwear. Josh Shorrock had worked for Adidas in Vietnam and James Shorrock was a footwear editor at Hypebeast. They founded Lane Eight in 2017, and the brand’s first shoe, the Trainer AD 1 — which blended lifestyle appeal with performance characteristics — debuted a year later.

Over the years, the brand continued to deliver stylish, sustainable looks for the fitness fanatic, including the Relay Trainer running shoe in 2023 and the reworked Trainer AD 1 in 2020 that was made without animal-derived materials and featured algae-based Bloom material midsoles. Lane Eight also never strayed from its sustainability mission, and in 2022, it revealed its mission to have a global net zero carbon footprint by 2030.

The brand’s journey, however, was not without challenges. For instance, Lane Eight announced in September 2021 that it was putting its U.S. business on “pause” amid supply chain challenges the broader industry experienced during COVID-19. The brand relaunched its U.S. website in April 2022.

Before closing for good, Lane Eight announced a final sale, with discounts of up to 70 percent off all of of its footwear via Laneeight.com.

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 peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

If you’re looking to prove that nurturing talent leads to success, there is arguably no better example in the running industry than Brooks.

After longtime chief executive officer Jim Weber announced his retirement in March, his role was filled by Dan Sheridan, a company veteran of 25 years. What’s more, Matt Dodge, whose career at Brooks started in 2013, was elevated to president and chief operating officer.

Months after the changes atop the leadership ranks, Brooks remains a leader in the ultracompetitive running marketplace. Notably, in its most recent reported quarter, Brooks surpassed $1 billion in global revenue year to date through September. This is the first time the Seattle-based brand has hit this milestone before the start of Q4.

And if its presence at The Running Event (TRE) last week was an indication, 2025 could also be a winning year for the brand. Aside from the influx of specialty run retailers, media members and more at its booth, Brooks revealed several can’t-miss styles for the year. These included the marathon-ready Hyperion Elite 5 that will debut in July, the highly-anticipated Glycerin 22 daily trainer in February and the responsive Catamount 4 trail running shoe that arrives in January.

While at TRE, both Sheridan and Dodge sat with FN and spoke about Brooks’ keys to consistency and offered an outlook for 2025.

You both have been promoted several times at Brooks over the years and now you’re leading the company. What does this say about Brooks and how the company nurtures and values talent?

Dan Sheridan: “It’s not an accident. This doesn’t happen without intention in how we set our values for our organization and how we live those values consistently. Jim Weber set those values for this organization 20-plus years ago. They were real. They aren’t words on a page. We tell stories about our values to all of the new employees so they’re activated regularly at Brooks. And the click down from that are the programs in our organization that people can plug into. We have a connect management program that every manager at Brooks goes through to make sure there’s consistency in how we treat people, accountability, our processes and what they’re expected to do. The other thing is our culture is one that rejects arrogance. We’re a humble organization that has incredible confidence in what we’re doing. We’ve got this long tenured group — Matt is an example, [senior vice president, chief marketing officer] Melanie [Allen] is an example. Tom Ross is our CFO of 20-plus years, Carson Caprara [SVP, footwear] at 20 years and [SVP, chief human resources officer] Katie Carlson is 13 years. You set the values, you have a system that reinforces it, you treat people fairly and equitably and you grow. You’ve got to grow. We’ve grown almost 15 percent over a 24-year period compounded. If we hadn’t grown, it would have been hard to these people because there wouldn’t be a lot of opportunity.”

Matt Dodge: “Dan and I, we’ve taken very different paths. Dan grew up in the business from the ground up. I came in from a completely different industry. What has been true for both of us, and what our job is, is for people to have access to leaders and that there isn’t a hierarchical or stratified vibe or culture in the building. We both benefited from having access to leaders when we were not in these positions, and that’s unique in my experience from different companies that I’ve worked at. We try to be intentional about giving people opportunities to shine and show their work.”

One word that comes to mind when thinking about Brooks is consistency. It’s there with leadership, it’s there with product and sales growth. What is the key to consistency?

DS: “A bit of it goes back to those values. First, you’ve got to have a culture that’s consistent, and having long time leader like Jim created the  foundation before you can do anything. The second is focus. We say at Brooks, ‘sharp focus creates mass appeal.’ Our focus on this category, and the investment focus we have on run specifically, creates consistency in how you build product, where you source it, how you get it to market, how you market it. You got to start with the strategy first, and that’s been a strategy that we’ve been on for 24 years. We want to create a system where everybody shows up as the best version of themselves, and we’ve been able to do that, and what that does is it creates great results all the way down through the organization, which is super fun to watch. It’s an empowerment model. We’re not making the decisions. We’re helping people make decisions, and that’s a coaching mentality. We love it when we see other brands spending hundreds of millions of dollars on other categories. It means they’re spending less on run, and we don’t have to make those decisions. We get to spend every dollar on running.”

MD: “That focus on running and the run lifestyle, it creates both space for us to be deeply committed to solving problems, but also it creates healthy pressure for us because we don’t have a safety net underneath that or something different to fall back on category-wise. It keeps us highly motivated. It keeps us in the right mindset of avoiding arrogance. We know that we’ve got to stay close to that consumer, so we keep them right at the center of everything and we are maniacally focused on that.”

You hit $1 billion in sales just nine months and appear to be firing on all cylinders. But where are you the most challenged?

DS: “We’ve had a journey in the last five-and-a-half years where we’ve been working on a lot of the challenges that we had. Coming out of our distribution challenges in ’19, we knew we had to professionalize the supply chain, and we did that. The reason we’re able to supply all of our products around the world is the work we did on our distribution network and our supply chain all the way up. That’s been intense work. Our opportunity moving forward is to diversify this brand in terms of product mix. We have a fantastic apparel business, but it’s a small percentage of our overall business, so we’re focused on that. Gaby Rodriguez just came to the company in January, and he’s maniacal on the focus for apparel. What you’re going to see in fall and spring is a new, refreshed look of Brooks. We’re going to diversify globally. We’re 80-plus percent in the North America region. We launched in China last year, we got our first store in China and we’re having incredible success — and China’s growing 70 percent in the third quarter. We continue to see that being a growth initiative. And then Europe, Matt just came back from Europe where he was leading the European business. We’ve doubled that over the last five years, and we see another double coming for us. We’ve got a diversification and expansion strategy, still anchoring on performance and runners, but really expanding this brand from a product assortment, category and regions.”

MD: “Operationalizing that and scaling it, while we remain very focused on our culture, creating opportunities for people and making sure that the overall business model is still very high service, that’s our opportunity.”

You’ve revealed several new partnerships in 2024, including Run Disney and the Seattle Kraken professional hockey team. What is Brooks’ sponsorship strategy?

DS: “When we look at sponsorships or partnerships, we start with the consumers we’re going after. Core endemic run is still the white-hot center for us in terms of executing our strategy. Where are runners showing up locally in the community? And how are they engaging in the sport? Events are back. Look at the race registration for all the major marathons all the way down to 5Ks and 10Ks. When we started to talk to Run Disney, it was the perfect overlap in a Venn diagram of the consumers that we were going after and the consumers they were engaging with. It’s a perfect scenario for us because it’s a consumer that absolutely we should be winning every day — not to mention it’s a pretty great brand for us to be engaged with. And there’s product opportunity for us. We’re going to have exclusive Run Disney product, and I can’t wait for you to see it. It blew us away when we saw it. The Kraken deal is a little different. Running is central to every high performing athlete’s training regimen. What we’re trying to do is find these communities where running is super important to them and you wouldn’t think about Brooks. We are the off-ice performance brand for the Kraken and we’re working directly with NHL athletes because running super important to them in their training. And guess what? People who watch sport are usually more active and more healthy, and they’re purchasing performance products. Where we have these opportunities outside of endemic run that really makes sense on the athlete and the consumer, we’re going to go after them and expand this brand to more people. It’s also a like-minded local brand. They’re community based, they’re charitably active and Brooks is also like that in the community.”

You’ve focused more on style with your footwear in 2024, including fashion-friendly colorways and collaborations. What opportunity does this present Brooks?

DS: “The data points that we know, we have roughly 16 million unique customers — runners, walkers and the like. I think all of them love Brooks, otherwise they wouldn’t choose us. We have an opportunity to expand our brand in the lifestyle of all those people. We know based on the engagement and the brand love that we get from that community, they’re asking for more products and more solutions from Brooks. That can be on the run, but it’s also broader than that, it’s off the run, and lifestyle footwear is an area that Brooks absolutely has permission to play for a lot of reasons. People care about this brand, they’re passionate about this brand, but we have a heritage of product that’s sitting in the vault that people would love to wear. That is an opportunity for us. And then the sneaker culture is one where an authentic brand — we’re 110 years old — has another permission to play there. It’s a big market for us. Are we going to be the biggest in lifestyle? No, but we’re starting to work on a strategy to roll that out, and I’m excited to show it to you next time we talk because I think it’s going to be fun.”

What story is Brooks looking to tell with its spring and fall 2025 footwear?

DS: “Innovation is leading this industry, and we think we’re at the forefront of it. What’s happening in spring of ’25 is continued innovation in foam in performance run. We think we’re leading that in a lot of different ways. Nitrogen-infused DNA [midsole foam] is industry leading right now. We just launched the Glycerin Max in October, and I can’t tell you how impressed we are with a premium position product from Brooks at $200 MSRP, and the demand that we had behind that. What you’re going to see is that story continued to be expressed in spring. Speed, the super shoe, matters. What used to be front of the pack is now throughout the entire marathon — plus four hours, there’s people purchasing the super shoe. So Hyperion franchise for us is a huge story in the spring. And we have the No. 1 selling running shoe in the world in the Ghost, and the Ghost 17 launches in fall ’25. That will be a continued evolution of a midsole compound that’s going to win the runner. And then apparel comes in. I’m so excited about the future for apparel because this is where we can connect a category to these 16 million unique runners that we have. We’ve got incredible stories throughout the year.”

MD: “With that full-court press on the innovation front, we are getting better and we’re putting more emphasis on layering and merchandising focus to get to a place where the assortments are really attracting a wider range of consumers. That’s going to be a big focus for us also, and matching that to our distribution well. The storytelling focus around the midsoles, the performance innovations, is going to be a big priority.”

DS: “The other thing I would add, we launched a new brand campaign called ‘Let’s Run There,’ and you will see that in a very big way starting in January. It’s already out in market, but you’re going to see a bigger footprint in terms of brand awareness for Brooks. It’s an expression of our brand that I think is pitch perfect for both the new consumer that’s coming in, the Gen Z that’s choosing health and wellness, and our existing customer. This journey of your run that everybody’s on — you’re on one, I’m on one — but it tells that story of why people run and how important it is in our life.”

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 peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

It’s no secret that Nike has struggled to win in the red-hot running category as of late, and has lost ground to the likes of Hoka, On and Brooks. But with a new strategy for run revealed and a strong presence at The Running Event (TRE) last week, could Nike get back on track? Industry insiders believe the answer is yes.

In a note distributed Monday from Williams Trading analyst Sam Poser said Nike’s offering at TRE “highlighted its return to performance running.” The presence of senior Nike executives at the event was another good sign about the company’s ambitions, the analyst said.

Also at TRE, Nike revealed a new road running footwear lineup, which is comprised of three categories. Those categories are supportive cushioning (which will feature its Structure franchise), responsive cushioning (represented by the Pegasus franchise) and maximum cushioning (led by Vomero). Nike said 2025 is the year of Vomero, with the Vomero 18 arriving in February and coming in at $150.

This strategy, Nike explained, will make it easier for the runner to determine what footwear offers the correct benefits, technology and price point for them. The ultimate goal? To be more accessible to athletes entering the sport for the first time.

“The renewed focus on training footwear makes it easier to digest what each shoe delivers. It’s super clear now,” said Dan Fitzgerald, co-owner of Heartbreak Hill Running Co. The storeowner, who also is a Nike Running Coach, recalled Brooks employing a similar strategy with its shoe franchises, which was successful.

Spurwink River advisor and BCE Consulting senior advisor Matt Powell, who attended TRE last week, agrees.

“The go-to-market strategy that they outlined at the show was exactly the right one in terms of focusing on a few silos and having a three-tiered approach to that,” Powell said. “There’s a logic to it, there’s a clarity to it. Before, it felt like they had not checked all the boxes when they were coming to market. They might have had a shoe at the top end and then nothing below it, or you had to go down two levels until you found a similar shoe that related to the up market shoe.”

The insider, however, is not sold on the products Nike is set to bring to the market.

“The products around which those silos are built are a little long in the tooth, shall we say,” he said. “In order to win back run specialty, I don’t think it’s going to be an overnight sensation, unless they have a really compelling product. Right now, they don’t have that product.”

He continued, “Similarly in the broader market, there are two places where Nike can win. One is in mid market, which they abandoned during the last administration and there’s an opportunity to gain back some of that shelf space with compelling product. The second around product is in the more up market, sporting goods and mall retailers. They, too, need to see something that’s really outstanding. The product part is what was the weakest part of the presentation, I thought, at TRE.”

Because of this, Powell believes it will take two or three years until Nike is back at full strength when it comes to run, but the brand has the potential for some “early wins.”

In terms of product, Poser’s believes a much-needed turnaround could already be underway.

“Nike is working with accounts to assist in moving through poor selling styles, while strategically planning ahead, a big change since six months ago,” the analyst said in his note. “Further, discussions at TRE make us more confident that there are some new products in Nike’s sample rooms that failed to see the light of day under the old administration. The potentially hidden gems may facilitate a turnaround in under 15 months.”

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 peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

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 peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Every year, The Running Event (TRE) honors the year’s best running store at its annual trade show and conference in Austin, Texas. In 2024, PR Run & Walk was recognized as the year’s best.

The Ashburn, Va.-based retailer accepted the 2024 Best Running Store Award at TRE’s industry awards dinner on Thursday night. PR Run & Walk, one of the nominees in the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic region, has nine locations in Northern Virginia and one in Richmond.

Scott Dvorak, owner of Charlotte Running Co. — a past Best Running Store winner — presented the video highlighting PR Run & Walk and what makes the store stand out.

“For the past 21 years, they’ve built a major business in Northern Virginia, and today they operate 10 stores and not only provide top-notch service to runners and walkers, they’ve become true pillars in their community,” he said. “They’ve grown their operation into something much more than a business. They’ve made it a place for runners and families alike feel welcomed, supported and inspired.”

Ray and Cathy Pugsley, owners of PR Run & Walk, offered thanks to their team and community for helping them earn this honor.

“I think life is about finding your people. We found ours, including each other, through running,” Cathy Pugsley said during her acceptance speech. “When we started the stores, we wanted to build an inclusive community and a family, and I feel like our team is our family, and that is what makes us successful.”

A week before the show, TRE revealed the four finalists, which also included A Runner’s Mind in San Francisco (from the West region), Fleet Feet Fayettville in Fayettville, N.C. (from the South region), and Up and Running Fitness Shoes & Apparel in Dayton Ohio (from the Midwest region).

These finalists were narrowed down from a list of 63, which was revealed in July. The list included several past Store of the Year winners, such as Palmetto Running Co. in Hilton Head Island, S.C. (2023), Ridgefield Running Co. in Darien, Conn. (2022), Charlotte Running Co. in Charlotte (2021) and The Runner’s Edge MT in Missoula, Mont. (2019).

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 peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Fleet Feet is now carrying footwear from Hylo Athletics.

The specialty run retailer announced Monday that it has entered into a vendor partnership with the emerging London-based performance running shoe brand. This partnership, Fleet Feet said in a statement, reflects its commitment to providing customers with the best-fitting footwear “to accomplish their fitness and movement goals.”

“Our vendor partner program has evolved over the years to align with the changing landscape of the running industry. While we’ve increasingly leaned towards mature, well-established brands in recent years, we’re thrilled to partner with Hylo Athletics in the spirit of supporting emerging, innovative brands,” Fleet Feet president and chief executive officer Joey Pointer said in a statement.

Hylo Athletics, a sustainability-driven running shoe brand, was founded in 2020 by former professional soccer player Michael Doughty. It is now part of Fleet Feet’s vendor partner program — that currently includes 19 footwear, apparel and accessory brands — that has helped showcase emerging brands in the past, including Hoka and On.

“This partnership is a great opportunity to test how we can help bring Hylo’s products, sustainability mission and unique story to life across our communities, connecting with our customers who are passionate about both performance and environmental responsibility,” Porter said in a statement.

With this new partnership, Fleet Feet will sell Hylo Athletics at select brick-and-mortar stores, as well as online. Today, the retailer has nearly 300 stores, and in March, Pointer told FN that he expected to add 16 locations before year’s end.

“We are excited to join Fleet Feet’s vendor partner program, furthering our commitment to the specialty running channel in North America,” Hylo Athletics co-founder Michael Doughty said in a statement. “Fleet Feet’s position as the leading run specialty retailer will allow us to continue on our mission to inspire runners to run like the world depends on it and to reduce the impact that running shoes are having on our environment.”

Hylo Impact Running Shoes

$165 Buy Now at fleet feet

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 peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Running may be On Holding’s claim to fame in the footwear market. But executives of the Swiss athletic brand are making sure to diversify its product range and marketing efforts outside of the singular sport.

“I think it’s important to not just be a one-trick pony,” On co-founder and executive co-chairman Caspar Coppetti said in a Tuesday call with analysts. “We’re no longer just a running brand. We also have significant business, for example, in training, in tennis, and of course, on the lifestyle side.”

While On is rooted in performance — and is largely focused on running products — the brand has delved into other categories as well. Tennis, as a category, is growing faster than running at On, even though it is a much smaller category by comparison. On has also gained favor among non-athletes as well who have opted to buy the brand for its “cool” factor.

When it comes to innovation, On’s goal is to focus on product development within strong franchises that live within each sports vertical, Coppetti said. For example, after a successful launch of the Cloudsurfer Next road running shoe in Q3, On is now gearing up to launch the Cloudsurfer 2 in Q1 of 2025. On is also planning to launch the Cloud 6, an update to the Cloud 5 that is priced $10 higher to “capture more of that willingness to pay a premium price for a premium product that we see in the market,” Coppetti said.

And addition to evolving and growing successful existing franchises, On is also creating new lines from scratch.

“We’re also not just resting on the laurels in terms of existing franchises,” Coppetti said. Next spring, the brand is planning to launch a brand new franchise, the Cloud Zone, that will kick off with a campaign featuring On partner Zendaya.

According to Coppetti, this new lower silhouette shoe will be “very much on trend, but not from a retro perspective, like some of our competitors do it.” Instead, he said this new franchise will have a “futuristic take” and be “performance inspired.”

When is comes to marketing efforts, On still plans to build up its presence in the competitive performance running category but is leaning into adjacent categories, such as tennis and training, and is also building up the brand’s presence in outdoor.

“[We’re] much looking forward to also bringing On to the trail much more and communicating On as an outdoor brand,” On co-chief executive officer Marc Maurer said in a call with analysts.

On Holding outperformed in the third quarter and achieved a record in both net sales and profitability. As a result, On raised its full-year projections as it approaches what it expects to be a strong holiday season. Maurer told FN sister publication WWD that the company is well on its way to reaching its previously announced goal of doubling its 2023 revenues by 2026.

Craft Sportswear started in the super shoe race last summer with the release of the Nordlite Speed. However, with its all-new Kype Pro, the Swedish performance brand is now sprinting at full speed in the ultracompetitive category.

“The Nordlite Speed had those super shoe components — supercritical foam, nitrogen-infused EVA, a carbon fiber plate, a fast feel. But the Kype Pro is the HD version, the 5G version,” Craft Sportswear athlete and footwear tech rep David Laney told FN. “We definitely took it to a new level.”

Eric Saren, footwear designer at Craft Sportswear, revealed to FN the varied and remarkably different design inspirations behind the Kype Pro (which is pronounced “ship-ay”). The inspirations include the independent suspension of automobiles (“The shoe is almost adaptive in the sense that it moves back and forth”), catamarans and other split hull design vessels (“Why are they so much faster and more efficient?”) and peregrine falcons (“They are so fast in water”).

Saren also revealed how collaboration was critical in getting the Kype Pro across the finish line.

“We use a mix of internal and external talent from the design and engineering sides, probably a wider group than we’ve ever used because it was technically so much more of a challenge and there were so many things we wanted to accomplish,” he explained. “It was important to bring other minds into the mix.”

He continued, “Being small, we accomplished something well beyond our capability by utilizing collaboration with a lot of other entities.”

The most noticeable design element of the Kype Pro is the split heel design, employed to reduce the contact surface area between the shoe and the ground in order to enable quicker toe-of. However, the highlight of the shoe is the carbon fiber plate. The plate, which was created in collaboration with carbon fiber component manufacturer Arris, weighs just 14 grams and was added to offer improved energy return, stability and propulsion.

“The carbon plate is categorically different. Other components of the shoe are similar to other brands, but this really does change the game,” Laney said. “Having the fork in the heel and this lattice work in the carbon allows so much more engagement. From a technology standpoint, the carbon plate is categorically better.”

The midsoles are another a critical component to the performance of the Kype Pro. They feature the brand’s Xx Foam, which are made with a Pebax material from chemical manufacturer Arkema. The midsoles, Craft Footwear explained, were added to offer the wearer a responsive, smooth ride in order to both enhance speed and comfort and minimize energy use.

The collaboration continued with the outsoles, which were created in collaboration with Italian bicycle tire manufacturer Vittoria, and were specifically inspired by the Open Corsa Pro Control tire. They are both lightweight and durable, and made with all-weather grip and stability in mind.

Craft Sportswear continued its innovation story of the Kype Pro on its uppers, which feature its Aero Mesh technology. These uppers are constructed with mono yarn knit, a durable and breathable material that Craft Sportswear added specifically for runners on the road for long distances. The material, according to the brand, moves with the wearer’s foot, allowing for a natural running feel.

The Kype Pro wouldn’t have been possible without the insights of its athletes, which were employed from the early stages of the creation process until fruition. Saren recalled Laney taking the first prototypes and running with them on site between meetings.

The result is a shoe that is made to perform, regardless of how the wearers run.

“In the beginning we asked our runners, ‘Aren’t all you fast marathoners toe strikers?’ And they said, ‘No, that is absolutely a farce.’ To run efficiently over 26-plus miles, you need to heel strike, toe strike, mid-foot strike and move your gait around. We built this with the idea of optimizing all three of those foot positions,” Saren explained.

Craft Sportswear released the Kype Pro in limited quantities at a pop-up shop during the TCS New York City Marathon this month, and will have a broader global launch of the shoe both online and at specialty run retail in March 2025. Retail price is $300.

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 peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Asics reported results for the first nine months of the year that showed solid growth across several regions and channels, including in North America.

According to the Japan-based athletic brand, gross profit increased 26.7 percent to 290 billion yen. Net sales for the first nine months of 2024 jumped 17.3 percent to 525 billion yen, driven by strong sales across all categories.

By category, sales in performance running increased 13.7 percent, core performance sports increased 6.3 percent, apparel and equipment sales increased 4 percent and Onitsuka Tiger net sales increased 52.7 percent. Sportstyle sales increased 63.4 percent, driven by strong sales in all regions.

In North America, revenues were up 18.7 percent to 104 billion yen, driven by strong sales in the performance running and sportstyle categories, the latter of which achieved a sales increase of over two times in the region.

Asics has recently ramped up its efforts to claim a top spot in the competitive running market in the U.S., a strategy that largely depends on deepening its connection with the run specialty retail channel. In June, Asics increased its share in the run specialty channel in North America by 13.1 percent while reducing the number of entry models. Asics also tightened its owned retail store count to 72 stores in the first half of the year.

Asics president and chief operating officer Mitsuyuki Tominaga told FN in an April interview that the company is doubling-down on its investment into run specialty, creating innovative products and thinking about its broader role in the running ecosystem, which could include additional services and experiences outside of its core products.

Outside of the U.S., sales in the first nine months of the year also increased double digits in Japan, Europe, Greater China and the Southeast and South Asia regions.