The BEST Running Shoes Of 2023 | The Running Shoe Awards 2023

[@PaulHolmesy]

Kudos to Puma for putting themselves amongst the big boys. For me the Best Value shoe of the year is the Velocity Nitro 2. I picked them up for £45!!

[@TheFODRunner]

Yeah they are brilliant arent they, great shoes and great price!

[@teguhsuryadi5387]

@@TheFODRunner so far I haven't been lucky with the new soft EVA; regardless the brand NB, Asics and Hoka. TPU seems to be much more suited in term durability and performance. We don't have to worry about the foam being too hard on lower temperature. Can't wait to give a try on the Saucony Ride 17.

[@seanmac80]

Love my VN2s. About 300km in them so far, just a joy to run in.

[@clairesweter-millar260]

Thanks for the great content. Wishing you and your family a merry Christmas and a fantastic new year.😃

[@TheFODRunner]

Thank you so much Claire, that is so kind!

[@JackD87]

Petition to make Asics construct Andy a pair of Superblasts!!

[@TheFODRunner]

Haha I am all for this buddy!

[@Manuel_712]

Excellent review, Andy, ¡¡¡¡¡Good job!!!!!. Here is my Like. My vote goes to: 1-The hyperion max: daily trainer, half marathon .2- The kinvara 14: intervalls, uphill, farleks. 3- The saucony triumph 21: Long/easy distance. 4- The hoka carbon x3: Race day. A nice day for everyone.

[@tkwasik]

One of the most honest shoe reviewer on you tube - no bias no paid for advertisement - highly recommended chanel

[@TheFODRunner]

Thank you!

[@Trailrunner1978]

Very informative list! The Hyperion max and Kinvara 14 is on my buy list for 2024. My favourites were Takumi Sen 8 , Adios Pro 2 and Salomon Ultraglide. The versatility and durability of having for example Takumi Sen 8/9 together with Adios Pro 2/3 is unmatched I think.

[@TheFODRunner]

Awesome!

[@bev9708]

Yep, I knew the Hyperion Max would take it for you, but so many great great shoes that I thought well you never know something else could challenge it!! Yeah Saucony has been killing it for a few years now, every time I slip on my Triumph 20s or Speed 3s I can't help but say out loud how awesome they feel!! Yet STILL after all these years and soooo many awesome shoes coming out, my most trusty go-to shoe for pushing distances and volume and heading out on running adventures is my old favourite Hoka Clifton!!! The Invincible Run just makes me wanna go running, and Boston 12 too!! And gotta give a shout out to Puma for that awesome excellent outstanding Pumagrip outsole AND outstanding value for money!!

[@TheFODRunner]

Puma definitely wins for outstanding grip and value for money! Thanks for commenting Bev!!

[@StefanWbkk]

Great selection. I really like your reviews and training videos, helped me a lot in my running, really jealous of your trails, live in Bangkok with zero elevation and zero trails. I agree with you on Hoka, had the clifton 7, great until 100 miles, then the magic was gone because the foam was dead, never bought another Hoka again.

[@TheFODRunner]

Thank you! Yes we are so lucky here, I do not take them for granted at all

[@al_conroy]

Another shout here for the Boston 12, as a self confessed nike fan boy this has been a fantastic shoe for me. One category you don't have is budget shoe of the year. Mine would be the True Motion Solo, the performance matches the takumi sen for me and the price was €50 from sports shoes. Definitely worth a punt at that price.

[@darrensyzling4395]

I've just bought my second pair of Boston 12s - they've been the first adidas for a while that I can actually buy true to size. I've been surprised how often I've reached for them - for all kinds of daily runs and sessions. Also the Superblast - that is like a trampoline at times, pretty much the what the Invincible wants to be. The Superblast is a fast shoe, but I tend to find the Boston a little more stable/predictable even if it's not quite as reactive.

[@TheFODRunner]

Budget shoe... I like that... I shall note that down for next year! Cheers!

[@path2running]

Thanks

[@TheFODRunner]

Wow, thank you so much, this is very kind!

[@willmarshall4685]

I wish Saucony shoes fit my foot, but they don’t. I tried on the triumph and man did it feel lively….but it just doesn’t work for my foot. Now the Cumulus, that’s a different story it fits me like it was made for me….great shoe!

[@Bodhished]

Boston 12 is my shoe of the year. Also new balance elite v3 is up there. 2024 should be a great year for shoes and agree saucony in particular along with new balance and adidas look to have exciting line ups next year. 😁

[@TheFODRunner]

They do look to have exciting lineups, I cant wait! I must try more NB next year...

[@ljharman2541]

Great video Andy!! I'm also a big Saucony fan, the Ride 15 is my go-to everyday trainer (I have 2 pairs). Can't wait to try out the 17 once it's been out for a bit and there are some reduced prices... and the Endorphin Speed 3 was my marathon shoe for London this year. But I have also found that the Adidas Adezero Adios Pro 2 is the perfect 5K/10K/Half Marathon race shoe for me

[@TheFODRunner]

Awesome feedback, yes the Ride 17 is definitely one to grab when you can!

[@JackD87]

Big fan of Saucony too. Never thought I’d switch from Vaporfly for racing but now I’m on to the Pro 3 and have a fresh pair in the cupboard… stockpiling! Very tempted by the Elite tbf.

[@kuriosites]

I just did my first run in the Hyperion Max. It's unusual because the foam is very firm but, at the same time, it felt plenty cushioned to do any amount of mileage that I need. The light weight and firm ride makes the shoe feel fast. I'm going to run in it the rest of the week to really formulate my opinion. I will also be looking out for your 100 or 200 mile reviews of the Ride 17 as that one is heavier than what you usually favor.

[@TheFODRunner]

Yeah surprisingly fast arent they! And yes stay tuned for that, another run in them since recording this and loving them... I think they will reach 100 pretty soon!

[@aristodiga82]

quite surprised that you categorise the Cumulus 25 as a max-cushioned shoe. For Asics, the Cumulus is their traditional daily trainer, like Nike's Pegasus or Saucony's Ride series. The Nimbus is the max-cush lineup from Asics.

[@TheFODRunner]

Yeah I can understand this... I classed it as anything 37mm or over... and they are so soft and squishy... they very much feel like a max cushion shoe for me. But I appreciate I am size 13 and it might not feel the same for others!

[@gerhughes6854]

Always buy asics gel quantum 360 as I'm 98kg at 6 foot tall and any other runners ive bought altho alot cheaper than the 360s caused me calf cramps, Can you recommend another runner to suit on par with the 360s for the heavier runner?

[@MarkSmith_Best-Athletics]

Best long run and max cushioned shoe for me has been the Wave Rebellion Pro, as it really protects my calf muscles and lower legs (which can take a beating in some of the shoes that I wear for workouts) while they also help to strengthen my quads, hips and glutes. My legs always feel relatively fresh the day after long runs in them, but they can make you work on stability when hitting uneven patches on country roads (again helping strengthen the legs for race day). I find that you can just bounce along in them or pick up the pace and that they give you a real workout. They also have an amazing outsole grip (one of the best on any shoe) and they are amazing in the wet. I bought two pairs at £160 each. With approx 300 miles on my first pair they are still going strong. I have seen deals on the newest colourway in some sizes for just £125 in recent weeks which is an absolute steal. I don't think that you are able to get them in your size at all which is a real shame 😞 Saucony Endorphin Elite is definitely the race shoe of the year 💚💚 nothing else comes close to it. My third favourite new shoe that I have tried this year goes to the 361 Futura which is a really comfortable trail or road to trail shoe that I think would interest trail runners doing long ultra events on non tech terrain. A really comfortable shoe and the foam in it does have a little life. It's a shoe that also feels like the foam and outsole will last for ages. Only other shoes that I uave tried that were new to me this year left me a little disappointed. The adidas Pro 3 which I only wear as a workout shoe and will never race in is okay but far from what you hear in many revoews in my opinion. The New Balance Rebel v3 which was a nice enough shoe but a dumbed down version of the v2 with not as much get up and go (not sure if these two shoes were 2022 or 2023 releases but were both shoes which I hadn't previously tried until thos year). The Brooks Hyperion shoes have interested me but I never end up trying them.

[@TheFODRunner]

Brilliant feedback, thank you for sharing! Great to hear your thoughts... I agree on the adidas pro 3, I did one race in them and didnt find them as exciting as my other races, but they are a solid training option!

[@jonathantimm4645]

I have been loving the Hyperion Max as well. It fits for many of the types of runs that I do.

[@derekrunsagain]

Great video! I don't normally do reviews but as I bought a pair of carbon plated shoes for £45 recently, I couldn't resist.

[@swmhill]

Well done, Andy! Thanks for your awards video with your valuable insights with representation in so many categories. I am very intrigued about the Hyperion Max. Cheers, Steve🎉

[@TheFODRunner]

Thanks Steve!

[@syedsaqlainshah9005]

I own Asics Superblast , nimbus 25 and saucony triumph 20. Clear winner is Superblast ❤️

[@adamfeerst2575]

Have you tried the Saucony Sinister as a speed shoe?

[@erikvaage576]

The only shoe I own that came out in 2023 is the ASICS Nimbus 25 (I also got a pair of the TR version for winter). I like them, but really only for easy/recovery days. Looking forward to trying the Novablast 4!

[@mortenfogh7228]

Curious as to why there weren't any shoes from New Balance. The 1080 v13, SC Trainer are two that should have been included in some of those categories.

[@TheFODRunner]

I just didn’t test any this year… it’s my mission to test more next year!

[@amircastilla07]

Hi Andy. I follow your videos all the time. Thank you for all the work and passion you put into your videos. What shoes cause the least inward collapse? Some shoes make it a lot worse.

[@TheFODRunner]

Thanks! The hyperion max with its firmer midsole holds my feet strong, I think thats part of the reason why I love it so much because it feels so natural!

[@damianschwartz9290]

I'm not a pronator per se, but i do collapse inward medially due to hyper flexibility, with things like the takumi, or the NB rebel i feel like my feet are collapsing inside like crazy. I'd love to try the Hyperion Max, but i'm afraid about collapsing inwards

[@TheFODRunner]

I am the same, not with the hyper flexibility but the rebel v2 and Takumi I collapsed in so badly… you won’t in the max. I don’t 👍

[@damianschwartz9290]

Thanks ! (:

[@jordanmiller5627]

Great video. Hoka Mach X is my personal shoe of the year. Very comfortable and versatile.

[@ptlewis2000]

Except for the fact I wear stability (cumulus vs GT 2000) I like your style. I already was thinking about Hyperion Max and Kinvara 14 but now I’m sold. With my flat feet I prefer responsive over squish.

[@TheFODRunner]

Thanks!

[@kerry_runs]

The Hyperion Max has been excellent, great review Andy.

[@TheFODRunner]

Thanks!

[@ThirstyPups]

Do you have any suggestions for shoes that come in US mens 16s for marathon race days?

[@buzzzam2095]

Can i suggest best shoe for less money. Like your best shoe of the year here in Malaysia retail at 799 which is half minimum wages.

[@kgenest100]

I was surprised to see the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2 in the « long run » category… then reassured when you put them also in the « race shoe » category. I bought a pair of Deviate Nitro Elite 1 at 50% off in September and plan to use them for speed work and to try my half-marathon PB. At such a price they represented amazing value. With respect to trail shoes, you could decide to skip that category altogether… because trail shoe enthusiasts would probably split that into 3-4 sub categories and you only tried ONE decent trail shoe in 2023!! This hurts your credibility a little on the trail side😉. Many thanks for the videos Andy. Cheers from Montreal.

[@TheFODRunner]

Thanks buddy! Yeah you could have a whole separate trail shoe running awards couldnt you! If I ever test that many, I would absolutely split them up!

[@claytonclaytonleme1895]

Great video mate. Thanks.

[@scotthilton5406]

Right there with the Hyperion Max with you and your reviews helped me feel confident in using it for long runs, which it is my only long run shoe right now. I have a back up pair right now and with the news of the version 2 changes, I may get another back up. My only hope is they change the hyperion (base) to be close to what the max is now

[@TheFODRunner]

Yeah I think I heard they are adding a couple of mm stack to the hyperion so I am also hoping that this might make a difference too! Like you, I am scared of the v2 changes!

[@teguhsuryadi5387]

unfortunately I didn't enjoy Asics CS25 as much as you do. It is way too soft and slippery for my liking. Maybe due to hot humid climate here the foam bottoming out after about 70km

[@TheFODRunner]

Ah maybe, sorry to hear that!

[@BarneyGuffle]

I'm about to start on my 3rd pair of Hyperion Maxes. I've been using them daily now with no rotation at all, and it's been great. A bit worried that I'll have to find something else now that the Max 2 is rather different. Any ideas if the next generation regular Hyperion would be in line with the Max 1?

[@TheFODRunner]

I gather the hyperion is moving up in stack by 2mm so I am hoping that makes a difference... we will have to see but I am holding out some hope there!

[@MelodieWashington-zu2kx]

What about doing a video on walking only sneakers?

[@robbarnett524]

I agree about Nike. I do however still think the Tempo Next % is the fastest speed trainer out there. I fly in that thing.

[@TheFODRunner]

I dont know how mate... it was so pappy for me haha!

[@southernhillbill]

The endorphin speed 3s take the cake for me. Suprised they wernt mentioned in this video

[@TheFODRunner]

They were a 2022 release so didn’t include them 👍 but I agree they’re good!

[@robin29991]

Interesting you class the Cumulus 25 as a max cushion. I find it much more nimble than most of those. Daily Trainer of the year for me👍

[@TheFODRunner]

Yeah I suppose for me, the hyperion max is my daily favourite and in all honesty.. .a daily trainer for me has to do easy > speedwork, it should cover everything.. I couldnt do that in the cumulus.. but it is so damn comfy!

[@markoljustina]

👍🏻interesting video; you are no1 at the moment, overthrew Tim and Sagasu 😂

[@TheFODRunner]

Thanks!

[@OttoVogrincic]

I think Andy likes the Hyperion Max

[@TheFODRunner]

Not really...

[@alexlorence5227]

Los Superblast son para mi los mejores del 2023 y en segundo lugar los Hyperion Max , viva México 😉🖖🏼

[@toddboucher3302]

Well, I haven’t tested that many newer shoes this year I’m mostly a barefoot runner, but I will see if anybody likes running in sandals xero aqua cloud is fabulous for easy recovery runs on the road. It’s got a little bit of a EVA pad in there to make it feel a little nicer and it is really nice but probably the best thing that I’ve tried this year has been innovates trail fly 270 version two it’s slight changes, but where the overlays were in the front by just moving them back it really opens up the whole box makes it so much more comfortable. The shoe is locked down I think better besides, that is basically the same shoes one matter fact here in the US, we can find one out there for like US$50-US$80 and the version two is $160 so big difference but for cheapskate like me too it’s actually worth it but and I think that came out in 2023 definitely worth a run but like I said mostly I buy older shoes, and I buy a lot of barefoot stuff that last a real long time so I’m not the best judge here great videosyou had a phenomenal year and I’m looking forward to you. Knock out a hole in it in London. I get a lot out of your training it helps me thanks a lot merry Christmas bye for those who celebrate.

[@TheFODRunner]

Great to hear buddy! And thank you, merry christmas to you as well!

[@jjnrmason]

Would love a video of all shoes coming 2024

[@MrRaawrrr]

Agree Saucony endorphin Elite is 👌

[@thamid6403]

No mention of Adidas & Saucony’s lack of durability? LOL. In my part of the world the Adidas Adios was the most popular shoe among runners last year.

[@Kuanyin3]

Not most closest but closest, grammar 13.08

[@TheFODRunner]

🍻

[@garethevans2499]

Quite strange that your shoe of the year is from a company where you didn't really get on with any of the others you used. Saucony as brand of the year!

[@francescocasadei8840]

I don't think one can really judge a shoe by just one or two runs...

[@TheFODRunner]

Totally agree, thats why I didnt include my novablast... but with the ride 17 I have since put more runs in them and totally stand by what I said, they are a standout shoe

[@nikolasemmer1553]

Don't even need to watch to know The Hyperion Max is going to win best overall

[@nad2dare]

Best Long Run ShoeBest Long Run - 1st Boston 10, 2nd NB Rebel V3 Speed Day - 1st Saucony Speed 3, 2nd Adios 6 Daily Training - 1st NB Rebel V3, 2nd Boston 10 Racing - Adizero Adios Pro 2 Running shoe Flop - Adizero Adios pro 3 Running Shoe of the Year - Saucony Speed 3

[@saltydog6241]

ASICS doesn’t make this guy’s size? What size does he wear? Hard to believe.

[@TheFODRunner]

Sadly not, their daily trainers are fine but supershoes and the superblast stop at UK12

[@pete801]

Novablast 3. Exceptional shoe. Better than the 4. The 3 TR is immense. Saucony leading the way for me but ASICS have had some absolute bangers

[@BonaRunNow]

Canggarooo is running

[@tomas0525]

Too many shoes featured in this video! Should be titled recap of the year. Two shoes per category would be enough.

[@TheFODRunner]

🫡

[@davidlynch9049]

100 miles and it made your best list? Really? Odd.

[@toby9999]

Why is that odd?

[@klipk7296]

lol some of your racing shoes look like they got run over by a car

[@TheFODRunner]

I really dont look after them that well...