Updated April 6, 2023.
Shoes are a vital piece of equipment for every runner because it is the only equipment involved in the sport. Depending on your running goals and budget, it is easy to become overwhelmed when deciding what shoes you need. You could try to order something online, but sometimes ordering off of blind faith does not end in success. So how do you know that you’ve ordered the right shoes the first time?
Many online sources claim to have a list of the best shoes, and even those can be difficult to comb through. To aid you in your research, we have compiled our list of the best based on well-known and reputable sources. With our Run program at EW Motion Therapy, our goal is to help Birmingham and Tuscaloosa runners of any age and ability work toward their goals while enabling their bodies to run for a lifetime. We can provide some recommendations for the best shoes as physical therapists and runners, but we often send our runners to our friends at Trak Shak to get custom fittings and personalized advice. Even if you do not pursue our Run program, we still want to present this shoe list as highly-rated options for your next pair.
This article compiles a list of 15 pairs of highly-rated running shoes, with price points and links for each. With this information, you can continue your research and hit the ground running.
The Top Running Shoes of 2023
Top 5 Neutral Shoes
- Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite
Average retail price: $99-$160
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite
- Lululemon Blissfeel 2
Average retail price: $148
Available for women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Lululemon Blissfeel 2
- HOKA Clifton 9
Average retail price: $145
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: HOKA Clifton 9
- Brooks Ghost 15
Average retail price: $140
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Brooks Ghost 15
- Altra Rivera 3
Average retail price: $140
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Altra Rivera 3
Top 5 Stability Shoes
- HOKA Arahi 6
Average retail price: $140.00
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: HOKA Arahi 6
- Altra Provision 8
Average retail price: $140
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Altra Provision 8
- Asics Gel-Cumulus 25
Average retail price: $160
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Asics Gel-Cumulus 25
- HOKA Gaviota 4
Average retail price: $170
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: HOKA Gaviota 4
- Mizuno Wave Inspire 18
Average retail price: $140
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Mizuno Wave Inspire 18
Top 5 Motion Control Shoes
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22
Average retail price: $140
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22
- Asics Gel-Kayano 29
Average retail price: $160
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Asics Gel-Kayano 29
- ON Cloudsurfer
Average retail price: $169.99
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: ON Cloudsurfer
- Asics GT-1000 11
Average retail price: $100
Available for men in two colors
Buy it here: Asics GT-1000 11
- Topo Athletics Ultrafly 3
Average retail price: $130
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Topo Athletics Ultrafly 3
What should I look for in a running shoe?
Now you have a list of the top 15 running shoes of 2023. If you are a beginner to running, it is crucial first to determine what kind of running shoe best suits your feet before you invest in a pair. A few factors can influence that, including how flexible your feet are and the surfaces you most enjoy running on.
If you are ready to buy, you can order your pair of choice online, or you could visit a running shoe store to chat with an expert and get a personalized fit. We send our Birmingham and Tuscaloosa runners to our friends at Trak Shak, and we also have many other options locally. If you think you need to move and run better before buying more shoes, fill out our Run program self-assessment to see if our services fit your needs.
