2023 Road Running Shoe Review

Lace up and hit the road in the top road running shoes for this season

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Graham McKerrell

We’ve teamed up once again with our top runners from across Canada who tested the best road-running shoes to help you make your selections this year. Let’s face it, running always begins with a great pair of running shoes. Have a scroll through the pages for some of the upgraded classics, and new technology that will help you find inspiration for the sole.

What’s the ‘Drop’ You Say?

This is the difference between the heel and the forefoot measurements, or in other words, how much your toes ‘drop’ below your heel. Why is this important? Because a higher drop can lead to more heel striking and also transfers some strain away from the lower leg and up towards the knee. A lower drop will shift the load further down to your calf. Check with an expert, choose what feels comfortable to you and take into account your running mechanics and history of injuries.

Altra

$180 W

Altra

$170 M

Outroad

8.9 oz. | 0 mm Drop www.altrarunning.com

I almost always run a combination of road and trail, so it was nice to have a shoe that was good on both types of terrain. While I can’t wear zero drop very often due to Achilles issues, it was nice to run in Altras again, which are great for people with toe-joint issues who need extra space in the toe box. They were somewhat stiff to start but relaxed as the run went on, and felt light and responsive.

AMY PUZEY, Invermere, B.C. – 2x Team Canada member at the World Mountain Running Championships, mother of six.

Asics

$210 W

9.17 oz. | 8 mm Drop www.asics.com/ca

GEL-NIMBUS® 25

I barely recognized this 25th edition of the Nimbus. I immediately noticed the knit tongue and heel tab and how well the shoe hugged my foot. The upper is not nearly as overbuilt as earlier versions of this model, which adds to the lightness of the shoe. I was impressed with its cushioned, plushy ride. The toe box fits on the narrow side so consider going up half a size. This is a great everyday trainer for easy mileage and recovery runs.

CAT YOUNG , Calgary, AB – Competitive runner and life-long endurance athlete.

VIA Olympus

11 oz. | 0 mm Drop www.altrarunning.com

These have all the features you’ve come to expect from Altra: a roomy toe box, zero drop heel-to-toe offset, and an appropriate amount of cushion for longer runs. The shape of the maximalist sole has a more aggressive rocker, which may help with promoting a proper toe-off on each stride. The shape of the rocker encourages proper mechanics from heel-strike to toe-off but less comfortable when I started running with more of my typical mid-foot strike.

SEAN ALLT, Squamish, Chilliwack, B.C. – A 15-year veteran of the fitness industry, experienced ultrarunner, founder & head coach at BackcountryStrength.com, and one of IMPACT Magazine’s Top Trainers in 2022.

Asics

$210 M

GEL-NIMBUS® 25 10.3 oz. | 8 mm Drop www.asics.com/ca

Asics has redesigned the Nimbus 25 to appeal to male and female moderate- to high-mileage, neutral runners. Asics removed the forefoot gel but created a larger pureGEL pad in the heel-strike area. This change with the ultra-soft Flight Foam Blast Plus provides a soft touch down and gentle forward rock. The knitted stretchy tongue and perfectly padded heel cup provides a super comfortable but secure upper. I love this shoe for track session, tempo efforts and long slow-paced runs.

CAL ZARYSKI , Calgary, AB – Professional active lifestyle coach, 10x World XTERRA Triathlon Champion, 2021 Ironman 70.3 World Champion and holds the most Multisport world titles in Canada at 12.

Brooks

$220 W

Hyperion Max 6.7 oz. | 8 mm Drop www.brooksrunning.com

These shoes literally rock! The ‘rapid roll’ rockered sole promotes a swift and smooth transition, impact to toe-off. This neutral trainer aptly delivers performance on peppy outings. The nitrogen-infused midsole provides a lightweight and soft cushion underfoot, without excessive compression to lose road feel. An upper that allows a snug fit, a cleverly flared sole, and a grippy outsole all instill confidence in a secure ride. A smart choice for a runner that logs many zippy miles.

SYL CORBETT, Calgary, AB – World Cup and World Championship competitor in triathlon , duathlon, mountain running, snowshoeing and marathons. Private consultant to pro-athletes.

Brooks

$220 M

HOKA

$180 W

7.3 oz. | 5 mm Drop www.hoka.com

CLIFTON 9

When I first stepped into these shoes, I immediately noticed the stack height, but quickly adapted as I was cruising in ultimate comfort. The fit is well-designed with a snug heel and roomy toe box. The heel pull tab is quite significant but doesn’t detract from the shoe. My only issue was chafing caused by the top eyelet, easily resolved by lacing down a level. The lightweight cushioning is great for easy runs. They’re not the most responsive for faster-paced runs, but they hit the mark for comfort.

SABRINA WILKIE , Surrey, B.C. – Physiotherapist, Mom of four, avid road and cross-country runner, 2:45 marathoner.

Hyperion Max

7.8 oz. | 8 mm Drop www.brooksrunning.com

This shoe is light and responsive and can be used for training or racing. It is a good choice for “neutral” runners. It offers speedy heel-to-toe transitions and has plenty of ultralight DNA Flash cushioning to help absorb impact, even through the midsole. I found the fit to be extremely comfortable due to the stretch-woven upper and 3D fit print. The shoe provided a snappy, speedy feel for workouts and the rubber outsole provided decent traction. This is a great new addition to the Brooks line-up of shoes.

HOKA $180 M

CLIFTON 9

8.7 oz. | 5 mm Drop www.hoka.com

The Clifton 9 is a maximalist daily runner equipped with HOKA’s MetaRocker midsole. It provides thick cushioning with an energy-saving design. I found it fits narrow but was quite comfortable and was a great runner for long-distance daily miles. This is a great shoe for easypaced running or getting in some extra miles following higher-intensity workouts or a large-volume week. The Clifton 9 has both a softer and thicker foam midsole than previous iterations.

Mizuno

$180 W

Mizuno

$180 M

Wave Rider 26 Roxy Edition

8.3 oz. | 12 mm Drop www.mizunousa.com

A traditional, reliable and neutral daily running shoe. The Mizuno Enerzy foam midsole felt plush and stable. The recycled upper gave a nice locked-down feel and felt comfortable and supportive. A workhorse daily trainer that’s durable and cushioned, I would recommend this shoe for someone who is looking for a moderately cushioned and responsive neutral daily trainer.

EMILY SETLACK , Trenton, ON – 2:29 Canadian marathoner & mountain runner.

Wave Rider 26 10.4 oz. | 12 mm Drop www.mizunousa.com

The Mizuno Wave Runner 26 is light, responsive and ready to run right out of the box and built solid bottom to top. The durable X10 outsole sets the stage gripping treadmill, track and road equally well. The Enerzy foam and the higher heel drop makes this a comfortable shoe for heelstriking runners and controlled downhill running. This neutral shoe has a built-in wave plate, a tight heel box and a wider toe box wrapped up in a breathable and light upper throw. It’s solidly my long-run shoe this season.

PETE ESTABROOKS , Calgary, AB – One of Canada’s foremost fitness experts, ultrarunner and coach is happiest when running in the mountains.

New Balance

$299.99 W

6.3 oz. | 4 mm Drop www.newbalance.ca

FuelCell SuperComp Elite V3

These shoes had a nice feel out of the box. They’re lightweight and bouncy, and the sock-fit upper supports well. Because of the foam sole in combination with the carbon fibre plate, they’re super fast with great energy return. The internal lacing stitches protrude and can cause some rubbing. If you have high arches, the integrated tongue design could make them feel a bit too snug around the top of the foot. They’re also on the narrower side, so not the best for wide feet (like mine!).

JULIE HAMULECKI , Toronto, ON – Coached by her husband Adam Takacs. She runs on the national 100 km team and currently holds the Canadian Women’s 100 km road record.

New Balance

$299.99 M FuelCell SuperComp Elite V3 8.1 oz. | 4 mm Drop www.newbalance.ca

I was excited to try New Balance’s latest carbon-plated high-end racer. I have put in a few miles in the prior iteration and this is definitely an upgrade. The midsole foam material is firmer, with a lively and bouncy feel. The shoe is stable when cornering and feels fast and responsive, without losing any comfort. With a less aggressive rocker than many super shoes, one might expect the forward propulsion and snap to be lacking, but that isn’t the case. Highly recommended.

Nike

$235 W

Invincible 3 Women’s Road Running Shoes 9.0 oz. | 9 mm Drop www.nike.com

It’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited to try a new shoe. It practically bounced out of the box. At first glance the sole looks beefy, but once on the shoe’s max cushioning offered a soft springy landing with each step. The midfoot is narrower compared to Nike’s Pegasus and feels secure in all the right places while the toe box is roomy. After training in the Pegasus for years, the Invincible 3 might just be my new go-to trainer.

Nike

$235 M

Saucony

$180 W

7.8 oz. | 8 mm Drop www.saucony.ca

Ride 16

Call this your new daily road trainer! The Ride 16 has a fantastic lockdown fit, smooth ride, is sufficiently lightweight, and has copious cushion. This vastly versatile shoe has a secure performance-type fit and also comes in a wide option. The Ride 16 is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a shoe that can handle many efforts while still clocking in a significant number of kilometres.

Invincible 3 Men’s Road Running Shoes

11.2 oz. | 8.4 mm Drop www.nike.com

This shoe is a blast to run in. I couldn’t wait to get out the door after putting these on my feet. The ZoomX foam provides crazy amounts of cushioning without feeling bulky. The springy ride of this shoe may take some getting used to depending on what you are familiar with. I got used to it fairly quickly and wouldn’t hesitate to use this shoe as my daily road trainer.

Saucony

$180 M Ride 16

8.8 oz. | 8 mm Drop www.saucony.ca

A versatile light-weight daily trainer, the Saucony Ride 16 hits a chord combining cushion, response and fit. An accommodating toe box, snug heel counter and secure lockdown allows the foot to dictate the ride and entice the runner’s miles.

Skechers

$205 W

6.4 oz. | 4 mm Drop www.sketchers.ca

GO RUN RAZOR 4

The GO RUN Razor 4 is a lighter-weight training road shoe with a soft ride. The toe box is narrow which may suggest going up half a size for some with wider feet. The insole provides decent support in the medial arch. Considered a performance trainer featuring a carbon-infused plate, this shoe will perform well for some quicker workouts as well as some daily runs. Overall, a decent shoe for training and potentially some races.

CATRIN JONES , Victoria, B.C. – 50 km, 50 mile and 6-hour Canadian record holder.

Topo

$135 W

7.7 oz. | 5 mm Drop www.topoathletic.com

Athletic Ultrafly 4

A super lightweight and cushy road shoe that wraps around my narrow, high-arched foot well with the superior lacing system. There’s a perfect amount of flexibility and stability in the sole, which adds more comfort. The Ultrafly 4 has a wide toe box, and they fit true to size. I wore these in a 12 km road race and was very happy with the performance. The fulllength ZipFoam cushioning reduced the impact of racing while my feet still felt light and quick! This is my go-to road shoe right now.

MELISSA ROSS , Nanaimo, B.C. – Competitor at the Canadian 10K Championships, Canadian Cross-Country Championships and World Mountain Running Championships, enjoying running all over Nanaimo with her son in the stroller.

Skechers

$205 M GO RUN RAZOR 4 8 oz. | 4 mm Drop www.sketchers.ca

The Razor 4 is best suited for the open road. It features a breathable mono mesh upper with a medium toe box. The cushioned midsole will add a whopping 1-1/2 inches to your standing height. Finishing the shoe is a durable Goodyear outsole with minimal tread. Beyond the lightweight, breathable, and highly cushioned features is most notably the HYPER ARC rocker bottom. The rocker shape is forgiving at any speed and encourages a fast turnover for your next stride.

Topo $160 M

Specter 8.1 oz. | 5 mm Drop www.topoathletic.com

This is a super light, fast-feeling shoe that could be used for all runs. This shoe is stable enough to use every day, but cushioned enough that once it’s broken in, it will be your go-to shoe for recovery runs and your long runs. The big rocker helps to keep you on your toes and assists in a fast turnover. The single-layer upper provides great breathability and flexibility in the forefoot, and the tighter weave in the midfoot and back of the shoe allows for a secure fit without feeling heavy.

PHIL HIOM , Kamloops, B.C. – After a complete rupture of his Achilles tendon in November, Hiom’s main goal for 2023 is to get back to running with the plan of being back to ultra-trail running by the end of the year.

Vivo Barefoot

$324 W

Vivo Barefoot

$324 M

Primus Trail Knit FG

8.8 oz. | 0 mm Drop www.vivobarefoot.com/ca

Comfy, stylish and versatile. One of the goals of a minimalist footshaped shoe is to allow the small muscles in your feet to activate better to contribute to stability and strength. Transitioning from more of a traditional, supportive shoe to Vivos has been surprisingly easy for me. As a casual runner, this has been a slower transition in order to get my body used to a new way of working. They are worth the price as they are also good for walking, strength training and hiking.

LISETTE CHENG , Vancouver, B.C. – A registered physiotherapist and Certified Hand Therapist mainly working in outpatient orthopaedic trauma at Vancouver General Hospital.

Xero Shoes

$180 W

Forza Runner 6.4 oz. | 0 mm Drop www.xeroshoes.com

Xero shoes have minimal cushion, a wide forefoot and a secure heel. The inside of the shoe is seamless, and the new lacing system eliminates any pressure points on the side of the foot, making the shoes comfortable even without socks. The sole has excellent flexibility while still providing adequate protection from rocks. I found the shoe a bit warm and sweaty for barefoot running, and the ankle cuff rubbed the bottom of my ankle bone during the break-in period.

Primus Trail Knit FG

8.8 oz. | 0 mm Drop www.vivobarefoot.com/ca

The all-around best barefoot shoe on the market, Vivobarefoot places the foot at a mechanical advantage to optimize biomechanics through the kinetic chain. The minimalistic design is the perfect blend of fashion meets function, promoting optimal foot health while maximizing performance. I highly recommend Vivobarefoot for anyone who is looking to take their training to the next level. It starts from the ground up.

MARK CESARI , Vancouver, B.C. – A certified Athletic Trainer and Strength & Conditioning Specialist for nearly 20 years, works with high-profile athletes and has master’s degrees in both Human Movement and Sports Health Care.

Xero Shoes

$170 M

Forza Runner 8.2 oz. | 10 mm Drop www.xeroshoes.com

At a time when max cushioning, carbon plates and super stack heights are ruling the running world, barefoot running is making a comeback of its own. Xero’s Forza Runner is a lighter, more flexible version of the company’s already trimmed-down running shoe. With a sock-like feel and a removable insole for those wanting an even more minimalist feel, it’s not for the faint of heart. But if less is more, this shoe might just be for you.