The 2026 New York City Marathon is here and there is a secondary race between brands to emerge as the best super shoe in the market.

Nike led the revolution in 2017 with the original Vaporfly, before rivals caught up and, in the case of Adidas, and specifically the Adizero Adios Pro EVO 3, took over, after helping Sabastian Sawe become the first sub-two hour marathoner at this year’s London Marathon.

It is now established that the margins between brands and super shoes is slimmer than ever, with runners being afforded more options and, usually, better value as a result, even if the latest Adidas super shoe will retail at £450, should you even be able to get your hands on a pair.

But Nike’s latest top racing option, the Apex, has turned heads and should provoke curiosity on the streets of the five New York boroughs and at the finish line in Central Park this Sunday .

The shoe.…