Products You May Like
Whether you’re chasing 5K or marathon PBs, these are the best running shoes for hitting your goals…
Every runner’s biochemistry is unique, which means certain shoes will be perfect for some and terrible for others. That said, there are three key things everyone needs to consider when trainer shopping.
- Firstly, the shoe should fit your foot snugly, without having to do the laces up tight.
- Secondly, the shoe should naturally flow with your stride (and make you want to run faster).
- Finally, the shoe should fit your running mechanics, meaning if you start to feel irritation in areas that have bothered you in the past, that’s a sign you’re not wearing the right pair.
To help you put your best foot forward, we put a selection of the latest running shoes through their paces – here’s the cream of the crop…
Best running shoes 2023
- On Running Cloudflow ($139.99 / £130) – Best for neutral performance
- Under Armour Velociti Elite ($250 / £220) – Best for middle-distance PBs
- Hoka Clifton 9 ($145 / £130) – Best for durability
- New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite V3 – Best for long-distance running
- On Cloudsurfer 7 ($149.99 / £150) – Best for daily training
- Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III ($160 / £130) – Best for barefoot feel
BEST FOR NEUTRAL PERFORMANCE
On Running Cloudflow
BUY IT NOW:
$139.99 / £130, on-running.com
Speed: 5/5
Stability: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
Materials: Helion™ superfoam, recycled polyester | Weight: 238g | Sizes: 6.5 to 13.5 | Colours: Nine colour options | Heel-toe drop: 9mm
‘Swiss-engineered’ is shorthand for ‘really well made’, and although Swiss brand ON is less than a decade old, it’s already established itself as a shining light in the running shoe game.
Its goal was to revolutionise the sensation of running, with soft landings and explosive take-offs, and that’s exactly what the Cloudflow does.
Whether it’s a 5k, 10k or marathon, the Cloudflow’s versatility makes it stand out from the crowd. Lightweight, reinforced and well-ventilated, the advanced traction pattern on the sole also offers superior grip on wet and slippery terrain.
The Helion™ superfoam, meanwhile, ensures a smooth ride, giving comfort, kick and more speed, and the curved heel unit means better hold, durability and comfort.
Elsewhere, the strategic taping and a new lacing configuration offers sure-footed freedom and support for high-speed goals.
BEST FOR MIDDLE-DISTANCE PBS
Under Armour Velociti Elite
BUY IT NOW:
$250 / £220, underarmour.co.uk
Speed: 3/5
Stability: 5/5
Comfort: 3/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Materials: Flow foam, WARP 2.0 mesh upper, carbon plate | Weight: 238g | Heel-toe drop: 8mm
Under Armour has released its first carbon race shoe to compete with the Nike Alphafly, Adidas Adios Pro 3 and the Saucony Endorphin Elite. The Under Armour Velociti Elite features stripped-down, lightweight uppers, a big-stack, super-foam midsole and a carbon plate.
It’s roomy across the top of the foot but still maintains a compact and secure feel on the foot with good heel hold and padding, plus reliable lockdown across the top of the midfoot. Like all Under Armour shoes, it’s firm underfoot and lacks the punch of more energetic carbon shoes. It’s still lively, but more direct – if you like more ground-feel, this could be the super shoe for you.
That firmness means it has middle-distance PBs written all over it. However, marathon runners will probably need more cushioning in the final hour of a 26.2-mile test.
Read our full Under Armour Velociti Elite review
BEST FOR DURABILITY
Hoka Clifton 9
BUY IT NOW:
$145 / £130, hoka.com
Speed: 4/5
Stability: 4/5
Comfort: 4.5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Materials: EVA midsole, rubber outsole | Weight: 248g | Sizes: 6.5 to 13.5 | Colours: 11 colour options | Heel-toe drop: 5mm
Despite sticking with the Clifton line’s compression moulded EVA midsole, Hoka has made noticeable upgrades on the old Clifton 8. There’s a 3mm increase in stack height and better structure in the engineered mesh upper – which is more breathable now too.
That pronounced heal grip now hides a deeper heal counter, giving a better locked-in sensation, and there’s more room in the toe box too. Overall it’s an ideal neutral daily trainer for logging regular miles, and it’ll go the distance too thanks to a more durable outsole. If you want a dependable, stable shoe with decent energy return, the Clifton 9 is worth considering.
BEST FOR LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING
New Balance Fuelcell SuperComp Elite V3
BUY IT NOW:
$230 / £220, newbalance.co.uk
Speed: 4/5
Stability: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Materials: EVA/TPU foam midsole, carbon plate | Weight: 216g | Sizes: 6.5 to 13.5 | Colours: Yellow and Orange / White / Red and Blue | Heel-toe drop: 4mm
The New Balance Fuelcell SuperComp Elite V3 is well worth a look if you’re hunting for a shoe that packs marathon PB potential. An impressive upgrade to the RC Elite V2, it’s light, agile and built for speed and is another excellent carbon shoe designed for guns-blazing race-day miles.
It’s lively, energetic and responsive with snappy transitions and a smooth turnover at top paces. There’s just enough cushioning too and when fatigue inevitably kicks in and form goes ragged, it’s more stable and forgiving than some carbon super shoes, and that boosts the Elite V3’s marathon credentials.
Read our full New Balance Fuelcell SuperComp Elite V3 review
BEST FOR DAILY TRAINING
On Cloudsurfer 7
BUY IT NOW:
$149.99 / £150, on-running.com
Speed: 4/5
Stability: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Materials: Helion™ superfoam midsole, rubber outsole | Weight: 237g | Sizes: 6.5 to 13.5
The On Cloudsurfer 7 is a light, lively, comfortable and well-balanced daily trainer with enough versatility to handle everything from easy miles up to faster training efforts. Its newly shaped Cloud elements collapse in sequence like dominos as you move through your transition, to create softer landings and springier toe-offs in a rolling motion.
Up top, you’ve got a soft dual-layer mesh upper that’s thick but breathable enough. It wraps the foot nicely to ensure good step-in comfort with plush but-not-overcooked padding in the heels and tongue. There’s a rolling, snappy, responsive and springy ride that’s not too aggressive. They’re noticeably softer than many On shoes with good cushioning that avoids feeling flaccid.
Read our full On Cloudsurfer 7 review
BEST FOR BAREFOOT RUNNING
Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III Recycled
BUY IT NOW:
$160 / £130, vivobarefoot.com
Speed: 4/5
Stability: 3.5/5
Comfort: 3/5
OVERALL: 3.5/5
Sizes: 6 to 14 | Colours: Obsidian / Deep Sea Blue / Molten Lava / Navy / Bright White
Another eco-friendly trainer from sustainable sneaker brand Vivobarefoot. Known for making minimal runners that allow your feet to work as nature intended, the Primus Lite III Recycled is certainly unique.
The leather-free shoe is made using recycled plastics and bio-based materials, providing lightweight and breathable movement, while treading lightly on the planet.
These will take some getting used to, but once you’re over the bedding in, you’re laughing.