Best New Road Running Shoes of 2023: Seven Models Worth Watching

Introduction

2023 is shaping up to be another strong year for road running shoe development. The trend is unmistakable: soft, deeply cushioned, bouncy midsoles and go-faster carbon fiber plates dominate almost every big release on this list. If that is not your thing, fair warning, but there are still a couple of refreshingly plate-free options here.

This roundup covers seven road shoes that caught our eye, spanning carbon-placed super shoes, versatile daily trainers, and one of the most hyped marathon racers in years. Here is what makes each one interesting, along with what is still unknown.

Saucony Endorphin: A New Carbon Racer

Saucony has been one of the most consistently strong running shoe brands of the last few years, and their new carbon-placed model for 2023 is a head-turner. Saucony describes the plate as a carbon “craylen”, though details on the construction are scarce for now.

What is visible is a very deep stack of PWRRUN+ and PWRRUN PB cushioning and an aggressive rocker geometry, which suggests it may be aimed squarely at shoes like the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer. There is no confirmed price or release date yet, so interested runners will need to keep an eye out for further news.

Saucony Kinvara: The Daily Trainer Goes Maximal

Saucony is also taking its popular lightweight daily trainer, the Kinvara, in a bold new direction. The updated version adds a serious dose of cushioning, with a 34mm stack height under the forefoot and a substantial 42mm under the heel.

The midsole uses a dual-compound construction: a standard PWRRUN base layer topped with the performance-driven PWRRUN PB foam, plus a carbon plate thrown in for good measure. With several deeply cushioned plated shoes already in Saucony’s road lineup, it will be interesting to see where this one fits and how it feels underfoot once it launches.

Hoka Rocket X2: A Serious Super Shoe Push

Hoka helped start the deep-cushioning movement, and the Rocket X2 looks like the brand’s most serious attempt yet at the high-performance racer market. This is a thorough update: a much deeper full PEBA midsole with a 40mm stack height, a 5mm heel offset, and a full-length carbon fiber plate.

The shoe weighs in at a light 226g in a men’s UK 8.5, and it is clearly aimed at rivals like the Nike Vaporfly and Alphafly Next%, the Asics Metaspeed Sky, and the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro. It releases in March and retails for $250, which is a significant jump from the excellent value of the original Rocket X. Still, it is good to see Hoka fielding an out-and-out super shoe of its own.

Salomon Aero Glide: The Trail Brand’s Road Push

Salomon is better known for trail kit, but the brand has been pushing hard into road running over the last few years, and the Aero Glide looks like another step in the right direction. It forms part of the new Aero range and is designed as a lightweight, deeply cushioned, versatile daily trainer.

The midsole uses Salomon’s Energy Foam, similar to the Glide Max, which delivered a well-balanced and genuinely cushioned ride. It runs off a 10mm heel offset with a 37mm heel stack and 27mm under the forefoot, yet still weighs a reasonable 264g in a men’s UK 8.5. It launches in February at around €150.

Puma Liberate Nitro 2: Lightweight Tempo Value

Puma is a brand worth watching this year, not least because its pricing stays far more realistic than much of the running shoe market. The Liberate Nitro 2 gets a subtly updated upper, a few midsole design changes, and a higher 8mm offset, giving a 28mm heel stack and 20mm under the forefoot.

It is built as a lightweight tempo training shoe that can cross over to the odd race, offering strong ground feel and flexibility at just 208g in a men’s UK 8.5. The nitrogen-infused Nitro foam keeps the weight low while delivering good energy return and durability. Best of all, there is no carbon plate in sight. It releases in February at a very affordable $130.

Asics Nimbus 25: A Complete Rebuild of a Classic

The Nimbus franchise has been around a long time, and many runners have logged steady miles in this neutral daily trainer at some point. The Nimbus 25, however, has had a massive update and is essentially a brand-new shoe from the ground up.

There is a redesigned lightweight, very breathable upper and a completely reworked midsole using Asics’ brilliantly soft and bouncy FF Blast+ foam, plus a new PureGel insert in the heel for a plush underfoot feel. It runs an 8mm drop with a 36mm heel stack and 28mm forefoot, and weighs around 305g in a men’s UK 10. Releasing in February, it is not the most affordable daily trainer at around $200, but it looks well positioned as the daily workhorse in a shoe rotation.

Nike Vaporfly Next% 3: The Most Hyped Release of the Year

Nike’s latest version of its marathon speed machine may be one of the most hyped road shoes of 2023, and as usual the brand is keeping its cards close to its chest. What is known: the upper has been tweaked with a slightly softer engineered mesh and perforations throughout to boost airflow, and the midsole gets a squarer profile with substantial midfoot cutouts that save weight and add a bit more stability to the platform.

Two colorways have been spotted so far, both looking sharp, with the white, black and red option a particular favorite. No confirmed price yet, though it is a safe bet this will not be cheap, and no release date either. Securing a pair early may be the challenge, given how quickly Nike’s plated racers tend to sell.

Overall Buying Advice

With this much carbon and foam on offer, the smartest approach is to match the shoe to the job. For daily miles, the Salomon Aero Glide and Asics Nimbus 25 offer generous cushioning without a plate, while the Puma Liberate Nitro 2 is the standout lightweight tempo option at a friendly price. For race-day speed, the Hoka Rocket X2 and Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 sit at the sharp end, with the Saucony releases offering intriguing alternatives once pricing and availability are confirmed.

Worth noting too: brands like Reebok, Mizuno and New Balance also have interesting road offerings arriving this year, so this list is a snapshot of a very competitive market rather than the final word.

Conclusion

2023 looks like a genuinely strong year for road running shoes. Deeply cushioned midsoles and carbon plates dominate, but there is real variety here: max-cushion daily trainers, affordable tempo shoes, and full-fat marathon racers. Whichever way you lean, keeping an eye on release dates and pricing over the coming months should pay off.