Best Super Trainers 2023: Nine Versatile Daily Trainers Compared

Introduction

Super trainers have become one of the most interesting categories in running shoes. Broadly speaking, they are daily training shoes that borrow technology from a brand’s top carbon racing shoes, whether that is premium midsole foams, carbon or nylon plates, or rods in the case of Adidas. The result is a shoe that performs well beyond what you normally expect from a daily trainer.

They come with a higher price tag than standard daily trainers, but this category includes some of the very best shoes on the market in terms of versatility. These are shoes that can handle everything from very easy runs all the way through to race day if you are not going to use a carbon super shoe.

Here are nine of the best super trainers available, with key design details, pros and cons for each, and a few buying pointers at the end.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 3

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is in many ways the poster child of this category and has been for several years. It is the training partner to the Endorphin Pro 3 and shares much of the same technology, including PWRRUN PB midsole foam, a nylon plate through the midsole, and Saucony’s SpeedRoll rocker geometry. Together these create one of the most versatile rides of any shoe on the market: comfortable for easy runs, quick enough for speed sessions and racing, and light on the foot.

Other strengths include durability, with long-term testers reporting no real signs of deterioration well past 600 miles, and the fact that as a slightly older model it is often available at a discount, making it strong value when you find a deal. The fit runs a little wide for some, the outsole is only average on greasy surfaces, and it is a fairly soft, speed-oriented shoe that some runners may find slightly wobbly.

Puma Deviate Nitro 2

The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 tends to fly under the radar, but the second version has grown in popularity for good reason. It uses a dual-density midsole with a bouncier nitrogen-infused PEBA layer (Puma’s Nitro Elite foam) on top and nitrogen-infused TPU foam below, plus a plate made of 70 percent carbon and 30 percent TPU plastic, a thick outsole, and a well-padded upper. It is a versatile training shoe that still carries plenty of speed.

The standout pro is the outsole: a thick layer of PUMA Grip that bites fantastically well in the wet and can even handle light trails. It also usually comes in a bit cheaper than rivals at RRP, and Puma’s frequent sales make it easy to find at a good price. On the downside, it is heavier than some alternatives in this category, and it feels slightly more like a trainer than a trainer-racer at times.

Asics Magic Speed 3

The Asics Magic Speed 3 is arguably the fastest super trainer here. It is built along very similar lines to Asics’ MetaSpeed racing series: two layers of FF Blast Plus foam, a full-length carbon plate, the same Motion Wrap upper material as the MetaSpeed Sky, and a lightweight outsole geared toward grip without adding weight. It comes in genuinely light and works very well for speed sessions and as a cheaper racing alternative to full-price carbon super shoes.

The main pros are its speed: it feels quick and aggressive on the track and in long sessions. The cons are that it is not as comfortable or versatile as the best all-rounders in this category, feeling much more like a pure speed shoe, and it uses FF Blast Plus rather than Asics’ best FF Turbo foam, so it is slightly less bouncy and exciting than the brand’s carbon racers.

Saucony Kinvara Pro

The Saucony Kinvara Pro is an all-new shoe for 2023 with a really big stack. It layers PWRRUN PB on top of the midsole over a firmer, more durable PWRRUN foam underneath, adds a three-quarter length carbon plate, a comfortable padded upper with good heel support, and a stack height above 40 millimeters. There is no separate outsole; the PWRRUN foam is moulded to grip well on its own.

It is pitched as a cushioned, protective daily trainer or a comfortable alternative for runners who find traditional super shoes or some super trainers too unstable or squishy. The pros are comfort, stability, and a nice rolling ride that works well for longer efforts. The cons are that it is heavy, not that fast, not as exciting as shoes using their brand’s top foams, and the lack of an outsole could affect durability over time.

Asics Superblast

The Asics Superblast is unusual in that it has no plate at all. Instead it stacks Asics’ best foam, the FF Turbo found in the Meta series, over a thinner layer of FF Blast Plus that adds some durability. Despite a very high 45.5-millimeter heel stack, it remains light at around 250 grams, lighter than most of the other shoes here in the same size.

It is a phenomenal cruiser that can handle a huge range of runs: comfortable easy long runs, but genuinely fast too thanks to the bouncy foams, and it holds fast paces over long distances even without a plate. The cons are the price, which is very high, the absence of a plate limiting top-end punch, and the sheer size of the shoe, which will not suit runners who prefer more ground feel on fast runs.

Hoka Mach X

The Hoka Mach X is another new shoe for 2023, adding a PEBA plate and a dual-density midsole (PEBA on top, EVA below) to the Mach lineup, along with a rocker geometry, a decently high stack of foam, a cushioned padded upper, and an outsole that the standard Mach does not get.

It is a versatile super trainer geared to handle a bit of everything in daily training: comfortable, quite wide, and pretty stable for a high-stack shoe with softer foam on top. It excels most at easy and steady efforts rather than top-end speed. The cons are that it is not as fast as some rivals, fairly heavy and not especially nimble when you push the pace, it is pricier than the simpler Mach 5 while feeling similar in enjoyment, and the fit is quite snug, particularly around the toe box.

New Balance SC Trainer V2

New Balance toned down the very high stack of the original with the SC Trainer V2. On paper it looks a lot like the SC Elite v3 carbon racer: a FuelCell midsole, a full-length carbon plate, and New Balance’s Energy Arc rocker with a deep midsole cutout that creates a more centered ride. It also comes in a fair bit lighter than the original, though it loses some of that shoe’s bounce.

In practice it sits firmly in the daily training camp, geared toward easy and general running with a little steady work. The pros are comfort and improved stability compared with the somewhat wild original. The cons are that it does not feel fast, with a sluggish heel-to-toe transition that limits tempo and race-pace workouts, and it is really expensive, sometimes costing more than carbon super shoes, which is hard to justify for a shoe that works best on easy runs.

Adidas Boston 12

The Adidas Boston 12 received a significant revamp for 2023, and the result is a fantastically versatile shoe. It uses a dual-density midsole with Lightstrike Pro on top and a softer, lighter Lightstrike EVA 2 below, plus Adidas’ Energy Rods under the forefoot, which act like a carbon plate in creating propulsion and helping you run more efficiently. The Continental rubber outsole offers excellent coverage, grips very well in the wet, and is durable.

The pros are its versatility, right up there with the Endorphin Speed 3, handling easy long recovery runs and fast workouts alike, plus a reasonable price for a super trainer and frequent Adidas discounts. The main con is the upper: it is very racy, almost too racy, with lace pressure and heel rub at times and an overall fit that can feel awkward, which detracts from the experience when using it as an easy-run shoe.

Brooks Hyperion Max

The Brooks Hyperion Max nearly did not make the cut, but it earns its place as a super trainer through its DNA Flash midsole foam, the same lightweight nitrogen-infused EVA found in the Hyperion Elite 3 carbon racer. There is no plate, but it is a lightweight shoe that is fast while still handling a nice variety of runs, with a smooth, rocked ride, a light upper with good heel support, and solid outsole coverage for grip and durability.

Its main appeal is a lightweight, traditional ride. If you do not like the really squishy feeling of PEBA-based super trainers or the sensation of plates, the Hyperion Max feels much more natural underfoot and works well for track workouts and everyday use. The cons are that it lacks the top-end speed of the best shoes here because DNA Flash is not up to the standard of the best super foams, and it is quite expensive for what it offers compared with better-featured rivals.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want one shoe that genuinely does everything, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 remains the benchmark for versatile super trainers, and its availability in sales makes it an easy recommendation. The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 and Adidas Boston 12 are close rivals on versatility, with outstanding outsoles and friendlier pricing, though both have fit quirks to consider.

If speed is the priority, the Asics Magic Speed 3 is the pick of the faster options, while the Asics Superblast is the luxury choice for runners who want maximum comfort and bounce across all run types, provided the price and the very high stack work for you. For maximum cushioning and protection, the Saucony Kinvara Pro and New Balance SC Trainer V2 lean firmly toward easy days, and the Hoka Mach X and Brooks Hyperion Max offer stable, comfortable, more traditional-feeling alternatives.

Conclusion

The super trainer category is packed with excellent options in 2023, and the right choice depends on what you want the shoe to do. Versatile all-rounders like the Endorphin Speed 3, Deviate Nitro 2, and Boston 12 can anchor an entire training block, speed-focused options like the Magic Speed 3 complement a racing shoe, and cushioned cruisers like the Superblast and Kinvara Pro make easy miles feel better. Match the shoe to your training and your fit preferences, and any of these can be a great pick.