7 Best Running Shoes in 2023

The third iteration of the Novablast marks a revolution in the all-rounder game. This lightweight marvel ticks all boxes with unmatched grace and boundless energy, rightfully claiming its throne as the ultimate running shoe.

Indulging in the Novablast 3 was an absolute thrill. It felt superbly balanced regarding stiffness, ensuring a remarkably bouncy and vibrant ride, capable of handling even the most intense tempo workouts. How natural and weightless it feels on foot is nothing short of mindblowing! Based on the measurements from our lab, it sits at a feathery 228 grams (8.0 oz) while the average running shoe weighs 271 grams (9.6 oz).

The underfoot foam became our dream’s fuel, oozing divine levels of comfort for double-digit miles. Pushing our durometer against this silky colorful midsole confirmed our sensations, as it emerged as 52% softer than average. It’s a long-lasting nectar whose wonderful flavor remained the same even after 150 miles of hitting the road, setting new standards for what a versatile trainer should be. On top of this, it is very stable (finally). The platform of Novablast 3 is wider than the average, at the forefoot that difference is 4.2 mm and at the heel it is 5.3 mm wider.

However, while the Novablast 3 can easily handle quick paces, we felt it lacked the explosive power required for this era of racing shoes. For those seeking a PB obliterator, exploring other options might be the way to go.

The 40th birthday of the Pegasus series dropped the ultimate daily trainer. With the reliability of a Toyota, it balances fresh cushioning and tireless responsiveness, all while remaining unfazed by the mileage.

As polyvalent as it gets, one of the highlights of the Pegasus 40 lies in the midsole design. Boasting two Air Zoom units nestled within the React foam at the forefoot, it stormed our toe-offs with ease while ensuring a fair amount of energy return. Also, this shoe is crazily bendable in all directions, feeling awesomely natural on foot. In fact, using a force gauge to measure the Pegasus' resistance to our 90º bending test put it among the top 6% of most flexible shoes we ever dissected in our lab.

We threw everything at this Pegasus and it stood tall and untouched. We fixed the shoe to our lab benches and applied a rotary force of 3.2N to its upper at 10k RPM for four intense seconds - the upper is virtually unbreakable! It resisted with unwavering resilience, as the abrasion wasn't enough to break through the upper as happens with most shoes. We also pushed our durometer against the outsole to check its firmness. Harder rubbers last longer, and with a score of 86.0 HC, the Pegasus boast one of the toughest outsoles we have ever tested, delivering exceptional durability.

Did the Pegasus 40 give us that winged horse feel? Not quite. Runners seeking a quick and exhilarating all-rounder to pump the adrenaline levels up might end up utterly disappointed.

Our number one pick for speed training is the PUMA Deviate Nitro 2. This speedster is a specialist in overcoming all sorts of fast workouts, seamlessly combining power and comfort in divine harmony.

There’s no other way around it, the Deviate Nitro 2 exudes pure speed. Its midsole houses a stiff carbon plate that acted as a powerful propeller, constantly urging us to push the boundaries of our pace. In our lab, we locked it by its tip and bent it to 90º: it resisted with an impressive 58.8N, emerging as 42.1% stiffer than the average.

Surprisingly enough, unlike other plated shoes, the ride of this PUMA feels super natural and buttery smooth, taking it easy on the feet. The delightful underfoot foam offers a sweet spring-off without making comfort pay for it. We used our durometer to test the midsole softness and discovered it is indeed 35% softer than the average, enhancing the overall versatility of the shoe across a variety of speed sessions.

However, we were underwhelmed and utterly disappointed with its somewhat bulky feel. Weighing 260 grams (9.2 oz), it falls on the heavier side for a tempo kick (speed running shoes in our database average at 240g).

If performance is what you’re after, look no further. As the rawest brother from ASICS racing kicks, the Metaspeed Edge+ furiously ignited our every stride without overlooking the comfort required for longer races. All things considered, no wonder this is our #1 pick for racing days.

This wild beast really came alive out in the streets, brutally unleashing energy like no other. With its 8.1 mm drop and full-length carbon plate working in devilish harmony, each toe-off propelled us forward with unbridled energy. The insane stiffness of plated shoes is where their power lies, and the Edge+ is no different. In our attempt to bend it to 90º, it fought back with a massive 63.0N, showcasing 97.5% more stiffness than the average.

While the Edge+ offers a touch of that classic close-to-the-ground sensation, it’s just about lofty enough to provide a protective ride, topping the average shoe by only 0.6 mm at the heel and 1.0 mm at the forefoot. Our durometer ranked its foam at 23.7% firmer than the average, feeling quite aggressive and ensuring we kept our composure up until the end of our testing sessions.

We do not recommend the Metaspeed Edge+ for those seeking an all-rounder that can also handle daily runs, as it felt like a fish out of water at slower paces.

The ASICS Gel Kayano 30 delicately balances excellent stability, outstanding cushioning, and superior durability and creates a well-built, stable, breathable, max-cushioned shoe. After our rigorous lab tests and runs, the ASICS Gel Kayano 30 is definitely the best stability running shoe on the market.

The Gel Kayano 30 adds the new “4D guidance system,” a softer foam right under the arch that adjusts to the shape of our feet to provide consistent stability. When we tried out this shoe for easy runs and even a few tempo runs, we felt confident with each planted landing. Additionally, it has a very wide platform—its forefoot width is 124.3 mm, which is 11.5 mm wider than the average road running shoe. Its heel width is 105.4 mm, 15.5 mm wider than average. The combination of the guidance system and wide platform gives the shoe a rock-steady, stable nature despite having added significantly more foam.

We measured the heel stack height of the Gel Kayano 40 at 39.7 mm—a massive 6.5 mm taller than the average heel stack of road running shoes. Our durometer also verified that the midsole foam's softness is indeed noteworthy—33% softer than average. This softness and above-average stack height gave us plenty of comfort and cushioning during our daily runs.

Adding to its comfort is an excellent upper. We tested its toebox against the Dremel and it scored an excellent 4 out of 5. The engineered mesh upper also scored a perfect 5 in our breathability test.

The ASICS Gel Kayano 30 could be lighter. At 303g (10.69 oz), it far exceeds the 269g (9.45 oz) average weight of road running shoes. Runners looking for lighter-stability shoes can look elsewhere.

Remaining equal to itself, the 25th edition of the Gel Nimbus brought the clouds to our streets, steadily locking our feet in heavenly levels of comfort. This is why we found it the ultimate running shoe when it comes to plush cushioning.

As we marked the ground with each footstep, the Nimbus erased any notion of landing impact from our minds. The midsole melt shaped like our feet, providing a forgiving and refreshing ride that lasted for countless miles. In the lab and at room temperature, we pushed our durometer against this foam to put its softness to the test - it surpassed the average by 28.2%, confirming its gentle soul that our feet came to know so well.

This Nimbus enveloped our feet in a delightful dimension perfectly cushioned from every angle. Its midsole effortlessly fits into the max-cushioned category, boasting a stack height ranging from 38.0 mm at the heel to 30.2 mm at the forefoot. The knit upper felt stretchy and supportive, teaming up with the generously widened platform to ensure a stable and confident ride. Our trusty caliper measured the widest part of the forefoot to be 119.4 mm, an exceptional 6.9 mm wider than average.

The Nimbus 25 got its priorities straight, and performance isn’t one of them. Those looking for a do-it-all trainer to handle faster efforts might want to consider other options.

Venturing into the wild wouldn’t be the same without the Hoka Speedgoat 5. It reliably bites the ground without getting a scratch itself, delivering unwavering performance on the most technical of trails. This is why the Speedgoat 5 is our #1 pick for hitting the trails.

This Hoka trail shoe is an untamed beast that thrives in diverse habitats ranging from icy surfaces to muddy and rooty terrains. We felt the tread pattern of 3.0 mm lugs aggressively grip the ground, keeping our strides secure and confident. No matter the conditions, we couldn’t manage to put a dent in the outsole - our durometer readings confirmed its durable construction, ranking it among the hardest we ever tested with a score of 84.5.

Speed is a key characteristic of this model and it sure didn’t go unnoticed on our runs. Our toe-off movements oozed silky levels of smoothness thanks to the rockered design of the Speedgoat. Add the bouncy and sparky midsole, and this is a shoe to leave the chronometer struggling. Plus, it’s outstandingly dulcet on the legs, with our durometer revealing it to be 60% softer than average. In our lab, we've also put it in the freezer to see how the softness changes with temperature. To our surprise, even after 20mins in the freezer, the shoe did get firmer by 63.6%, but even then, it was 34% softer than most shoes at room temperature.

We do not recommend this shoe for trail enthusiasts with very wide feet, as the upper width at the forefoot is very close to the average (actually, 1.9 mm narrower than the average).