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The Top Performance Road Running Shoes From Each Brand

by Sportitude

Sportitude is celebrating the brands and shoe models that have re-imagined or evolved the running shoe category in terms of comfort, performance and innovation for 2023. 

As the year wraps up, we look back on the best running shoe from each brand and our honourable mentions to help you select the gear that could revolutionise your runs in the year to come.

From daily trainers to super trainers to racing shoes, we explore the footwear that’s helping runners like you smash their PBs or enjoy more effortless-feeling runs. These running shoes may even inspire you to chase your running goals and New Year's resolutions as you walk, jog or race into 2024.

Sportitude shoe expert Josh Willoughby covers the top running brands and reviews their best shoe in today's market, discussing Adidas shoes, Altra shoes, Asics shoes, Hoka shoes, Mizuno shoes, New Balance shoes, Nike shoes, On Running shoes, Puma shoes and Saucony shoes - so make yourself a cuppa and settle in.

Some of our best running shoe selections are impressive updates from their predecessors, while others are brand-new models that have rapidly grown in popularity, flying off the Sportitude shelves. Whether you're looking for the fastest running shoe or the comfiest running shoe - your next favourite ride could be right here.

If you're wondering 'What are the best running shoes?' or 'What brand has the best runners?', you're probably also wondering how we selected them. This wasn't a one-runner decision. It was decided based on discussions with Sportitude team members and ambassadors, podiatrists, physiotherapists, our selling data and feedback from you - our valued running community.

Check out the full review with our summary below.

Adidas

Best Of Brand: Adidas Adizero Boston 12

The Adidas Adizero Boston 12 is a natural when it comes to speedwork for mid to long distances or daily training without sacrificing comfort. With its versatility, there was no question whether it belongs among the top performance road running shoes for 2023.

This is a welcome update from the Adidas Boston 10 and Adidas Adizero Boston 11 which were popular running shoes but on a heavier and stiffer platform. Key features to note are the recycled materials for environmentally preferable footwear and airy textile upper with targeted zones of flexibility and support for a secure lockdown.

For speedsters, the combination of a Lightstrike Pro top layer, Lightstrike 2.0 and EnergyRodz effortlessly provides the energy return you crave, while the Continental outsole ensures high-speed traction.

Altra

Best Of Brand: Altra Torin 7

The Altra Torin 7 stays honest to the feel and function of the Altra Torin 6 – with Altra sticking to what works. It stands out from the pack for it’s runnability – being cushioned enough for longer runs and light enough to shift the pace up a gear.

With the Natural Ride System – providing a natural-feeling fit and pairing it with an Altra EGO Max foam, it keeps your feet feeling protected and energetic.

A zero-drop platform lives up to the Altra philosophy – offering balanced cushioning that’s consistent from heel-to-toe for a more natural running posture. 

Special Mention: Altra Via Olympus

New to 2023, the Altra Via Olympus delivers the highest stack height of the Altra family. It wards off fatigue with a Altra EGO Max midsole for a springy and shock-absorbing ride on a firmer platform. The rocker geometry helps take the pressure off during heel-to-toe transitions to glide smoothly and transfer your energy into your next stride.

Asics

Best Of Brand: Asics Superblast

The Asics Superblast is incredibly popular for a multitude of reasons. According to Josh, it “absolutely changed the way we look at super trainers, daily trainers or shoes that protect you and can pick up the pace.”

Innovation is the word to summarise this Asics running shoe – being pitched towards the super trainer category for runners seeking a race-like fit and feel, in a more versatile ride.

A fusion of speed and max cushioning, the Asics Superblast features a FlyteFoam Blast Plus midsole and FlyteFoam Blast Turbo cushioning to put the pop and responsiveness into your running workouts.

The springy outsole offers a reliable coverage of rubber to smash your running goals.

Special Mentions:

Asics Gel Kayano 30

In its 30th generation, the Asics Gel Kayano 30 has improved on this franchise while keeping loyal to the stability characteristics that Kayano runners love. Softer, smoother, more sustainable – it’s comfort without compromises thanks to a FlyteFoam Blast Plus Eco midsole.

Asics' new 4D Guidance System has changed the way runners think about overpronation control – creating adaptive stability that guides rather than restricts your movement.

Asics NovaBlast 4

The Asics NovaBlast 4 earned its hype as a soft, springy and versatile ride to inject the fun into your daily training.

With a breathable engineered woven upper, FlyteFoam Blast Eco cushioning for smoother landings in a more sustainable ride and trampoline-like outsole geometry – runners that gravitate to the NovaBlast 4 are welcomed with comfort.

Want more Asics shoes? The Asics GT-2000 12 and Asics Gel Nimbus 25 have also earned a special mention. The Asics GT-2000 12 is an ever-reliable ride in the stability category while the Asics Gel Nimbus 25 caters to neutral foot types.

Both feature versions of FlyteFoam Blast cushioning to add spring and softness to your step. In the Asics Gel Nimbus 25, Asics add Eco to the name - FlyteFoam Blast Eco. Like in the Asics NovaBlast 4, this midsole technology lives true to its name, being made from a minimum of 20% renewable bio-based materials.

Brooks

Best Of Brand: Brooks Ghost Max

Designed to work in harmony with your biomechanics, the Brooks Ghost Max sets you up on a max cushioned platform and pressure-reducing ride. Riding on the success of the Brooks Ghost 15, Brooks Glycerin GTS 20 and Brooks Glycerin, it offers a reliable, effortless-feeling run – no surprises there.

It delivers a breathable, secure fit that stays honest to the reputation of Brooks shoes having supremely comfortable uppers. GlideRoll technology offers a smooth rocker feel through the forefoot without feeling overly aggressive, similarly to the Hoka Clifton 9. High stacked DNA Loft v2 foam provides shock absorption to make easy work of long miles.

In a short time, the Brooks Ghost Max has proved its hype was well-earned among the running community, providing a stable base and smooth release. With versatility to accommodate both walkers and runners, and a variety of width options to make it even more accessible, this certified carbon neutral ride immediately came to mind in our top running shoe list for 2023.

Hoka

Best Of Brand: Hoka Rocket X 2

The Hoka Rocket X 2 fills a gap in the Hoka family as a racing shoe – stacking mountains of cushioning into a lightweight ride. The upper has been refined for breathability, delivering competition-ready comfort.

A strategically placed carbon plate delivers a propulsive feel on toe-off while the PROFLY-X cushioning system offers soft landings without the weight to turbo-charge your performance.

The evidence for this running shoe’s success is overwhelming through its positive feedback and its podium-topping performances in triathlons around the world. It’s even been on the feet of some of our Sportitude team members when they’ve achieved PBs in 10K and half marathon distances.

Mizuno

Best Of Brand: Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro

The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro is Mizuno’s take on a modern, top racing shoe – setting you up on a high stack height of just under 40mm - staying within World Athletics requirements.

The carbon infused Wave Plate and Wave geometry provides stability at high speeds. Mizuno have shed the weight where it isn’t needed, with cut-outs in the midsole to save precious grams.

Both Mizuno Enerzy Lite+ and Mizuno Enerzy Lite work together for a fine-tuned, snappy sensation of lightweight speed. Compared to the Hoka Rocket X 2, the Mizuno Rebellion Pro offers a firmer addition to the racing world.

Check out the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 for Mizuno's newest instalment to this franchise.

New Balance

Best Of Brand: New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v13

According to Josh, the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is “one of their best 1080s to date” – taking a popular franchise and refining it to be lighter and softer for premium comfort. The upper offers a foot-conforming fit for a sleek lockdown without compromise to breathability.

However, what makes the New Balance 1080v13 truly a joy-inspiring ride is its effortless roll – whether you’re a heel striker, midfoot striker or forefoot striker. Combined with the springy Fresh Foam X midsole, it makes it a running shoe to gravitate to on your recovery days and longer runs pounding on the pavement.

Made in part with recycled materials in the upper and 3% bio-based content in the Fresh Foam X midsole, New Balance are steering the way towards more sustainable manufacturing practices.

Special Mentions:

New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6

The New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6 has undergone significant updates from its predecessor. This stability running shoe now fits the criteria of more runners – from neutral to overpronated foot types seeking an element of rigidity.

It delivers unobtrusive support with a unique honeycomb-inspired EVA plate wedged between two layers of Fresh Foam X cushioning for pure comfort and zero distractions.

Want to see what’s inside the New Balance Vongo v6? Check out We Cut Up 3 Of The Best Stability Running Shoes Of 2023.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v4

Cradling your feet in luxurious Fresh Foam X cushioning, both runners and walkers gravitate to the New Balance Fresh Foam More v4 for a springy, shock-absorbing sensation.

It was a much-needed update and we love what New Balance have delivered to help runners to fly through daily training and offer their feet supreme plushness .

In fact, the New Balance More v4 sets you up on the largest midsole rocker of the Fresh Foam family to make your runs feel incredibly fun and effortless.

Want more New Balance shoes? The New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 also is deserving of a special mention - a popular super shoe with a race-inspired feel. The lighter weight and subtle adjustments in the geometry and EnergyArc carbon plate positioning put it on the radar for runners craving extra responsiveness.

Nike

Best Of Brand: Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3

Nike are known for engineering the pinnacle of racing shoes – and the Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 has made its name known across the world. From half marathons to marathons and half Ironman to full Ironman on the feet of elite athletes like Steve McKenna, this shoe frequently makes it to the top 10 on race day.

Why? In one word, performance. The ZoomX midsole sits at the 40mm stack height to meet legal racing specs of World Athletics, while packing a punch of propulsion underfoot.

A Flyknit upper provides incredible breathability and a pressure-reducing tongue for comfort during long runs. With the full-length carbon fibre flyplate, it meets all your criteria for race day, being fast and responsive. The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3 has flown off the shelves – and it’s definitely a shoe to watch in the racing world in 2024.

Special Mentions:

Nike ZoomX Invincible Flyknit 3

Softness and responsiveness rolled into one, the Nike Zoom X Invincible Flyknit 3 continues to make itself known and respected in the running community.

It's not just max cushioning - it's stable cushioning, it's rocker-shaped cushioning, and it's ready to crush long runs on hard road surfaces.

The Flyknit upper gives you the next generation of breathability in heat-prone zones. Underneath. the Nike ZoomX midsole provides shock-absorbing protection to flow into each stride.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40

Four decades of helping runners commit to their daily training, the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40 remains consistent to its purpose while being refined with Nike's eye for detail.

The fit is more precise, the comfort is enhanced and Nike React technology - well, it's as responsive as ever for that energy-returning feel.

A waffle-inspired outsole pattern gives a nod to Nike's legacy of introducing the Waffle Trainer to the world, while offering road-ready, high-speed traction.

Want more Nike shoes? We also love the Nike Vomero 17 that's also worthy of a special mention. On another day it may have even taken the crown from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3 with its premium comfort that allows you to run on autopilot.

As it's relatively new to the market, we have not yet been able to gain enough data and feedback from runners to confidently say that the Nike Vomero 17 is the #1 running shoe from Nike for the year... although it absolutely could be in the running.

On Running

Best Of Brand: On Cloudstratus 3

The feedback has been consistent with the new On Cloudstratus 3 – runners are excited to have this Swiss-engineered ride on their feet with its cloud-soft cushioning. From generation to generation, there has been improvements in On Running’s signature cushioning technology CloudTec, and the On Cloudstratus 3 is no different.

The 100% recycled upper offers a heel collar that hugs softly to your foot and spacious toe box to allow your foot to splay naturally while staying on track of On Running’s sustainability goals.

The On Cloudstatus 3 has had significant updates to the midsole while offering the Helion superfoam and double layered CloudTec you love – warding off fatigue to keep your feet feeling fresher and more energised.

A nylon speedboard helps you flow smoothly and swiftly between strides, creating that rolling sensation that modern runners are seeking out.

It stays true to the Cloud elements of previous generations, while re-imagining the outsole, filling in the vertical decoupled line that was a stone catcher in the past. This translates to less distractions for better focus on your runs. 

Special Mentions:

On CloudFlow 4

The On CloudFlow has a history of being incredibly popular among the On Running family - delivering that signature feel-good, cloud-soft ride.

The On CloudFlow 4 is versatile to meet a variety of running goals - from committing to your daily training for fun and fitness, to cutting seconds off your PB on race day. Adaptable is the best way to describe it, and we love what it's doing for a multitude of runners.

In fact, the upper is inspired by On's fastest shoe, the On Cloudboom Echo with its thin weave and lightweight support. It's complete with Helion super foam that provides trustworthy cushioning while keeping you feeling connected to your running surface.

On CloudEclipse

The On CloudEclipse is a personal favourite for Josh right now - "I'm absolutely loving the effortless roll this shoe offers".

It only just missed out on being crowned the best shoe in the On Running family, simply due to the fact that it's brand-new and we're holding to our due diligence to preserve the winning place for shoes that have had the opportunity to be tested by the running community inside and out.

Nevertheless, we love this luxurious ride that creates a floating feeling in every stride - providing max cushioning for max comfort with shock-absorbing Helion superfoam.

The midsole is thicker than all other On Running shoes to date, the Speedboard offers a smooth transition throughout your gait cycle and the CloudTec Phase cushioning delivers shock absorbing compression.

We also want to tip our hat to On Running for their progress in the sustainability space - with 100% of the polyester in the upper be made with recycled yarns while also preserving water with their environmentally preferable dyeing methods.

Puma

Best Of Brand: Puma Deviate Nitro 2

The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 running shoes are your lightweight daily trainer, complete with a PWRPLATE (carbon composite plate) to generate speed more effortlessly when interval runs are on the agenda. Nitro Elite foam in the midsole is engineered for energy return while offering an element of softness.

The mesh upper features a thin tongue to complement the overall breathability, and PWRTAPE elevates support in key zones, particularly on the medial side to achieve a locked-in fit when smashing your PB. The PUMAGRIP outsole delivers traction to ensure control and stability even at faster paces.

Special Mention: Puma Fast R Nitro Elite

The Puma Fast R Nitro Elite is unique in its engineering as a super shoe designed to rule on race day - from 10K events to your next marathon.

A two-piece midsole with resilient, energy-returning Nitro Elite foam in the forefoot and propulsive PWRPLATE provides competition-ready speed.

It didn't gain as much momentum as was anticipated, however in March next year we'll welcome the Puma Fast R 2 which shall be a running shoe to lead the pack on race day.

The new model will change the pace with a midsole that's consistent the whole way through the running shoe, which will potentially be more inviting to a broader spectrum of runners. Puma will also do a fresh take on the carbon plate in that newest iteration of the Puma Fast R Nitro Elite.

Saucony

Best Of Brand: Saucony Triumph 21

According to Josh, the Saucony Triumph 21 is “One of the best performing shoes of any brand in reference to its application to market”, fitting its function perfectly as a high mileage, neutral cushioned shoe.

Versatility is where this ever-reliable Saucony shoe shines for daily training. The PWRRUN+ midsole pairs softness with resiliency – allowing any distractions to melt away for feel-good kilometres.

Up top, a flat-knit upper wraps your feet in lightweight and breathable comfort, and underneath strategically placed durable rubber reinforces this running shoe in high-wear zones to extend its lifespan.

Special Mentions:

Saucony Endorphin Elite

The Saucony Endorphin Elite has ridden on the wave of the Endorphin family, with some similarities to the Saucony Endorphin Pro but on a more refined and more aggressive rocker through the forefoot.

On paper, this running shoe caught the eyes of many runners, and in the real world it offered a fantastic output in regards to performance. For some, it missed the mark in terms of the fit or lockdown around the heel counter.

However, for runners that found that the Saucony Endorphin Elite worked for them, it was a success story - putting Saucony's fastest shoe on their feet and plush comfort during race day or speed workouts.

The PWRRUN HG super foam is exclusive to the Saucony Endorphin Elite, providing a snappy rebound. Teamed with a carbon plate and Speedroll technology, this racing shoe is equipped with advanced tech, with the potential to put faster finishing times in your future.

Saucony Kinvara Pro

The Saucony Kinvara Pro offers an appealing concept although it hasn't yet fully discovered where it belongs in the market. With Pro in the name, you may first think that this is reserved for elite runners, but it is surprising versatile for runners of all abilities.

From easy-going jogs to tempo runs, you can find your ideal pace in the Saucony Kinvara Pro. Performance technologies like a 3/4 carbon-fibre plate and Speedroll geometry provide a propulsive and effortless-feeling ride.

A max stack of cushioning with PWRRUN PB cradles your feet in comfort to chase your running goals.

The Wrap Up

Thanks for joining us on this journey to bring you the top performing road running shoes of each brand for 2023 all in one place.

What did you think of our choices? Whether you agree or disagree, we'd love to hear from you. Contact our Sportitude shoe experts to kick-start a discussion on everything running shoes and let us know your personal favourite for the year.

If you haven't already, please subscribe to the Sportitude YouTube channel to be first in on our shoe reviews and other running related content.

Happy running!


For a more in-depth shoe fitting experience, you can book a free 15 minute video chat in a Live Fit session or make an appointment to discover your RunDNA at Sportitude Running@Hindmarsh or Sportitude Running@Fullarton.

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