2023 Running Shoe Grades: 12 Trainers Reviewed and Rated

Introduction

After a full year of testing, it is time to put scores on the board. These grades cover twelve running shoes from 2023, ranging from max-cushioned recovery trainers to carbon-plated racers. Each shoe has real miles behind it, and each grade reflects how well the shoe did the job it was designed to do.

Evaluation Criteria

The focus throughout has been fit, ride quality, midsole behaviour, durability, and whether the shoe earns its place in a rotation. A shoe does not need to do everything to score well, but it does need to be excellent at its intended purpose. Expensive shoes with poor lockdown or unsuitable ride character score lower than affordable shoes that nail their niche.

New Balance FuelCell SC Trainer: Grade D

The FuelCell SC Trainer is a big shoe, and it was picked up on a discount shortly after release. Despite the carbon plate, the plate presence is hard to feel underfoot, and the FuelCell foam never quite worked as expected. The upper lockdown falls short, which is a real problem when a shoe carries a rigid plate. It may still work for easy days, but as it stands it feels like an expensive mistake.

Asics Gel Nimbus 25: Grade C

The Gel Nimbus 25 is a very different animal. Asics reworked the Nimbus line back with the 24, adding width and height to the midsole and incorporating gel within it, moving the shoe toward a max-cushion character. The ride is firm cushioning rather than the squashier feel of some rivals, and it is forgiving on the foot. It is not the pick for faster sessions, and the upper can run a touch warm in summer, but for its specific job it works well.

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Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2: Grade A

One of the standout shoes of the year. Stable yet nimble, with a wonderful fitting upper in both materials and profile. It feels good straight out of the box with no real break-in required, and durability is better than most super shoes manage. That durability is what makes it usable for both daily training and racing. It also comes in around 50 quid cheaper than many rival super shoes, which makes the value proposition even stronger.

View more details for Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2

Nike Invincible Run 3: Grade B

The Invincible Run 3 hits 100 miles quickly and impresses with outsole durability and very little wear. The midsole compresses considerably, more of an energy absorber than an energy returner, which is exactly what you want when legs are tired and you need to bank easy miles. It does not work at pace, and without stability elements some runners may find it unstable. At 169 quid it is a commitment, and it is a rotation shoe rather than a do-it-all model.

Puma ForeverRun Nitro: Grade B Minus

The ForeverRun Nitro carries a hint of stability in the heel, where the foam caps around the back of the foot, yet it remains a neutral option because the stability elements are never in your face. The dual-density midsole, firmer on the outside and softer on the inside, is a highlight. Fans of the Nike Vomero-style plush ride will find this a little less bulky. Durability is holding up well with no visible outsole wear so far.

Nike Vaporfly Next% 3: Grade D

The Vaporfly Next% 3 was expected to be the best version yet, but it has not worked out that way. The upper is baggy and ill-fitting, and even sizing down did not fix the feel. Materials and design still look great, and the big front swoosh stretching from midfoot into the forefoot is striking, but the fit lets the whole package down. A step backwards compared to earlier versions.

Reebok Floatride Energy 5: Grade C Plus

The Floatride Energy 5 is a low-profile daily trainer with reasonable weight and a genuinely good-looking profile. It is slightly less soft than previous versions due to a plastic, torsion-like plate in the midfoot that adds torsional rigidity and stops the shoe twisting in that area. That will not suit everyone, but the fit is a little better than the v4 and there is very little to dislike overall.

Adidas Adizero Adios EZ40: Grade C Minus

The Adizero Adios EZ40 has plenty of promise and always wants to run at a faster pace. The midsole feel sits somewhere between the Adios 7 and the Brooks Hyperion Tempo, with a firmer forefoot that will not appeal to everyone. It is a tempo and marathon-pace tool rather than a daily trainer. Sizing runs closer to New Balance or Hoka, so going up a half size is worth considering. The upper is a touch bulky for warmer climates, and the insoles needed some fiddling to get comfortable.

Hoka Rocket X2: Grade B Plus

The Rocket X2 combines a soft yet springy midsole with a carbon insert that delivers genuinely good propulsion. It is very stable, and the upper simply hugs the foot. It is mega light with a 5mm drop, though a slightly higher drop would have been preferred. Hoka took their time entering the super shoe space, but they made their mark, and this one is comparable to anything from Adidas or Nike right now. It earned a place on the race calendar for 5K, 10K, and half marathon events.

Puma Amplify Nitro: Grade B

The Amplify Nitro is an amplified version of Puma’s Nitro midsole, super cushioned and comfortable. The upper makes it impossible to get a bad lockdown, hugging the foot while keeping real flexibility in the toe box. All miles so far have been enjoyable, and it profiles as a solid cruiser. The mileage count is still low, so the grade has room to move.

Under Armour Flow Velocity Elite: Grade B Minus

The Flow Velocity Elite needs a bit more time to form a complete opinion, but it is seriously fast. The ride comes from a firmer layer underneath with a crushed-up foam layer on top, and it feels quick every time it goes on. There is a lot of potential here, and the grade only looks likely to rise with more miles.

Nike Pegasus 40: Grade C

The Pegasus 40 arrived late in testing, so mileage is limited. If you liked the Pegasus 39, you will like this, since the midsole and outsole carry over with little to dislike. It is a nice, consistent C-grade performer, reliable and predictable season after season.

Overall Buying Advice

Looking across the grades, a few patterns stand out. The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2 is the clear headline pick, combining super shoe performance with durability and a lower price than most rivals. For pure recovery and easy miles, the Nike Invincible Run 3 and Asics Gel Nimbus 25 each do their specific job well, but neither belongs in speed sessions. The Hoka Rocket X2 is the racer that delivered on expectations, while the Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 and New Balance FuelCell SC Trainer show how much fit and upper lockdown can undermine even a strong platform. If you want a dependable everyday option, the Pegasus 40 and Floatride Energy 5 are safe, if unspectacular, choices.

Conclusion

No shoe tested this year was truly terrible, but the gap between the best and the rest is wide. The A-grade Deviate Nitro Elite 2 and B-plus Rocket X2 prove that fit, stability, and durability matter as much as foam chemistry. Match the shoe to the job you actually need done, and the grades above should help you spend wisely.