Top 5 Running Shoes of 2023: Five Road Shoes That Earned Their Place in the Rotation

Introduction

Picking a top five from a full year of launches is never easy, and 2023 made it harder than usual. Most major running brands had a strong year: several lines were reinvented, often for the better, and there was genuine innovation across the board, with even more promised for 2024. This list focuses on road running shoes, reflecting the kinds of runs and racing that filled the year, and on the shoes that stayed in the rotation long after testing ended. If you are looking to add a shoe to your own rotation, these five are all worth a close look.

Best Racer: Hoka Rocket X2

The Rocket X2 proved itself in real race conditions, including a half marathon and a 5K, plus track and general speed sessions. It is a different shoe from the original Rocket X, but different in a lot of good ways. It feels more comfortable over longer distances than its predecessor, and the midsole feels more in line with other top-tier carbon racing shoes while still offering something distinctly Hoka. There is an explosive quality to the ride, the outsole performed well throughout, and the upper is nicely light. When you step onto a start line, it genuinely feels like a racing shoe.

It is expensive, but most top-tier carbon shoes are, and unlike the original Rocket X, which divided opinion, the Rocket X2 should appeal to a much broader group of runners. It stands as a strong alternative to the leading racing shoes from Nike, Adidas, and other major brands, and it is one of the most standout racing shoes of the year.

Best Uptempo Daily Trainer: On Cloud Eclipse

On had one of the standout years among running brands, reinventing lines that needed reinvention and simply making better running shoes. The Cloud Eclipse launched a little later in the year but quickly became a standout. It fits a sweet spot many runners look for: an uptempo daily trainer that is easy to run slow in, but with enough response to pick up the pace when you want to.

The change in the midsole is what really sold it. The CloudTec Phase midsole, influenced by the Cloudsurfer but a little firmer, makes it a more versatile daily trainer than the Cloudsurfer and brings it in line with other uptempo daily trainers. It is not built for genuinely quick sessions, but for easing off and then lifting the tempo in the same run, it does the job very well. It also looks great, and it is the kind of one-shoe-does-it-all option worth packing for a trip, since it handles walking around as comfortably as a variety of paces.

Best Plush Trainer: Saucony Triumph 21

The Triumph line has always been about plushness and comfort for slow, long, easy runs, and the Triumph 21 keeps that DNA while quietly expanding what the shoe can do. It is still a shoe for easy running first and foremost, but the ride is good enough, and the feel inviting enough, that running a little more on tempo in it is entirely realistic. You would not do hard speed work in it, but for relaxed miles with occasional tempo stretches, it covers both.

The fit is very good and supportive, the weight is reasonable, and it feels like a well-judged evolution of the previous Triumph shoes in terms of upper, ride, and the runs it suits. It edged out the Saucony Axon 3, a solid affordable option from the same year, to earn its place here, and it stands as one of the best installments in one of Saucony’s best-loved lines.

Best Race Day Weapon: Nike Vaporfly 3

The Vaporfly 3 needs little introduction, and after racing in it and running track and quicker speed sessions, the appeal is easy to understand. It is nice and light, the upper proved comfortable despite initial doubts, and once you push the pace, the midsole and foam come into their own with an explosive, unmistakably super shoe feel. It delivered a near personal best at 5K, missing a sub-20 effort by a second, and felt fantastic doing it.

This is not a versatile shoe, and that is the point. Save it for race day and quicker sessions, and you get the rewards. It is expensive, and the price is justified by what it delivers. For shorter distances and even slightly longer races, it is a shoe to reach for with confidence, and it remains a top choice for racing plans going into the next year.

Top Pick: New Balance 1080 v13

The 1080 v13 represents a genuine reinvention of a line, and while that reinvention has not been universally welcomed, it is a positive change in practice. Put previous 1080 models out of your mind: this is a totally different shoe, from the upper to the softer-feeling Fresh Foam X midsole. It is built for comfortable, easy runs with good protection and a plush, soft ride, a mold very different from older versions of the 1080.

Compared with a direct rival designed for the same runs, the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 25, it is lighter and has a nicer ride, which is what tipped the balance. This is the shoe that went straight into the rotation after the first run and stayed there, and like the Cloud Eclipse, it is the one shoe worth taking on a trip: comfortable for walking, capable across a few different types of runs. It also fits the biggest trend of the year, the softer-feeling cushioned daily trainer, and represents the best of that category. Low-key colorways are available too, if the lighter shades are not your style.

Overall Buying Advice

Each of these five shoes earns its place by doing a specific job well. If you want a race day shoe with a slightly different character from the usual super shoe suspects, the Rocket X2 is a standout. The Cloud Eclipse and Triumph 21 both cover uptempo-leaning daily training with a comfort bias, with the Eclipse the more versatile pick for travel and the Triumph the plusher one. The Vaporfly 3 remains the benchmark for race day, as long as you keep it for when it counts. And if you want one shoe to handle easy miles, walking, and everything in between, the 1080 v13 is the strongest all-rounder of the year.

Conclusion

2023 was a strong year for road running shoes, defined by reinvented lines and the rise of softer-feeling cushioned daily trainers. These five picks reflect that shift while covering the full range from plush everyday comfort to elite racing. Any of them would be a welcome addition to a rotation, and the 1080 v13 in particular shows how far the everyday trainer has come.