2023 Mini Shoe Reviews (including a mini rant)

Fall 2023 shoe rotation

One of the silver linings of coming back from a long-ass injury and recovery period is the opportunity to build a new running shoe rotation. Here’s what’s on my feet these days, after discarding the expired and the worn out and the troublesome. Feeling really good about the rotation and how I built it—will give some quick thoughts on each shoe.

But first, a mini rant. The state and cost and cult of running shoes is completely ridiculous today. Like most runners I had fallen into it too: ultra-cushioned, super stack height, plated and whatever, thinking I had to have the latest and greatest not only to compete but for the fashion of it all as well. And seriously, why are we paying those prices. While I’m no physical therapist, I am pretty sure that much of the latest shoe technology only weakens our feet over the long term (Born to Run was absolutely correct) in return for short-term performance and comfort. It’s a dangerous and unnecessarily expensive game to play if you have a horizon beyond the next season, and I want to keep going as along as possible, so I’ve stepped off that bus. 

Okay, back to building the new rotation. My mission was to return gradually to medium stack height and medium drop, with enough firmness that proprioception (can you feel the road beneath your feet?) returned to my running experience.  These old legs will probably never get back to the era of my beloved zero-drop Newtons, but this transition rotation is taking me from 10mm drops to a target of 4-5-6mm, with stack heights that won’t break an ankle on a sharp turn.  I also wanted a wide variety of brands and purpose, with lightweight trainers mixed in with the everyday. All of that could have ended up costing a lot of money; it didn’t, because my last filter was to avoid paying full price for anything. With two exceptions, I used heavy discount codes or sale pricing of 40% or more to buy some truly excellent shoes, waiting for season’s end, discontinuation of colorways, whatever was available for savings. You can still find most of the models in stores and online for little money.

These are all road shoes–the trails around me are wide, crushed gravel so no need for technical footwear. Research and recommendations came from standbys Kofuzi and The Ginger Runner, with assists from Doctors of Running, Believe in the Run, Ed Budd, and occasionally others. They’re all easily found on social media.

Top row, from the left:

PUMA Deviate Nitro 2
Absolutely fantastic and a tremendous amount of fun. Once you’re in rhythm and up on the plates you feel like you could go forever. All the cushioned foam is successfully offset by a full carbon plate–these are everything I wanted the sloppy Nike Invincibles to be but weren’t. The grip is outstanding especially on wet pavement.  I’ll likely move on from the plate and the drop after this pair, but they sure are a ride for now. Medium to long runs. 32mm stack, 10mm drop. 6.3oz.

New Balance 1080 v11
Legacy shoes from the old rotation that still have some miles left on them. A lot of people didn’t care for the heel counter in this version but I’ve had no issue with it. 1080s are the shoe I first started running in about 25 years ago, and I’m glad I returned: a solid distance shoe anchoring the longer distance portion of the rotation, and still with some pop. Will definitely buy v13 when they come around on sale in a few months; reviews have been been good and drop has decreased to 6mm. Long runs. 30mm stack, 8mm drop, 10.1oz.

Brooks Hyperion Max
Never cared for Brooks shoes: way too heavy, way too much drop. Hyperion Max though, just wow. These are incredible. Light, fast, versatile. Nothing “max” about these, and I reach for them more and more. Would even consider for race day for a 10 miler or half marathon. Only thing about them, because of the unusual heel they’re a little strange to walk in, but once you’re up during a run I can’t think of a shoe that’s a better or more pleasant ride. Medium to long runs. 33mm stack, 8mm drop, 7.9oz.

Middle row, from the left:

Hoka Mach 5
In my quest to get back to sane stack heights you’d think I’d cross Hokas off the list, but not these. The best Hokas I’ve ever run in since the early Cliftons and the Tracer. These evolved from a few of their mid-range shoes from a few years ago—Clayton, Cavu—and with moderate cushioning for a Hoka they are fast and light. Please don’t ever change these. Short to medium runs, especially tempo and threshold. 29mm stack, 5.5mm drop. 8.2oz.

Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature
The original Nike Peg Turbos were my favorite running shoes ever, and as every review in the world will tell you, these are not anywhere near the same shoe, you can hardly tell they’re from the same lineage. But honestly there’s nothing wrong with that, and the Next Natures are almost a throwback to the time before running shoes completely lost their minds. These are rock solid everyday trainers, period. Nothing to get overly excited about, nothing bad, they just get the job done. Half of the foam is recycled, so there’s something to be said about being responsible as well. No regrets, hoping Nike reduces the drop but not holding my breath. Medium runs. 32mm stack, 10mm drop, 8.6oz.

Adidas Adizero SL
Another no-nonsense quality everyday trainer like the Next Natures. Nothing much more to say about these except that I got them for $50. $50! Medium runs. 35mm stack, 8.5mm drop, 8.6oz.

Bottom row, from the left:

PUMA Liberate Nitro 2
The only shoes in the rotation I’ve had second thoughts about, but only because they are best suited to track workouts and I don’t have convenient access to a track. Very light and fast, not much cushioning and the road feels like a shock compared to other shoes. The heel counter is troublesome because it’s sharp and bites if you don’t have sock coverage on your achilles. Would also have preferred a lower drop in a shoe like this. Not being entirely fair because I haven’t been able to run in them enough to form a solid opinion, but I think I may transition these to walking shoes before their time. Speedwork only. 28mm stack, 10mm drop, 6.3oz.

Nike Streakfly
Another excellent shoe I bought at very deep discount when Nike was discontinuing colorways. Fun and very fast with enough cushioning to use as lightweight trainers. Also solid race day shoes for 5k or 10k when you don’t want to run in plated shoes, which, more and more, is my preference not to. Short runs, tempo and speedwork, short races. 32mm stack, 6mm drop, 6.0oz.

Adidas Takumi Sen 9
Man these are fast shoes, with fiber rods instead of full carbon plates. Like the Streakflys, I use these as lightweight trainers and they  have become my preferred 10k race shoe; wouldn’t go longer than that though. Short runs, tempo and speedwork, short races. 33mm stack, 6mm drop, 6.4oz.

This rotation should last me well into 2024, although I’ll have to update the New Balance 1080s by spring. May also add in some Sauconys next round as my legs get used to lower drops.  I do still have a pair of Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% (38mm stack, 8mm drop, 6.6oz.) with some miles available on them for racing, and I’ll have to make a decision for the half marathons on next year’s calendar because I’m beginning to believe that if you’re not an elite runner who takes extra care to build specific foot strength, plated shoes will not only weaken your feet but rip them apart.  In the meantime though, this may be the best and least expensive shoe rotation I’ve ever had, and I’m extremely happy with it. Your mileage may vary of course, but if any of these are interesting to you, please look to the online reviews and videos for more complete analysis, and look for them on sale at your favorite shoe source.