RoadTrailRun's Top ROAD Running Shoes of 2022 Awards: Multiple Categories, Most Smiles, Biggest Surprises, Innovations & Top Brand- 24 Contributors, 46,000 Test Miles!

Article by RTR Team

Introduction

2022 was a great year for running as we emerged from the pandemic. We eagerly took to the roads and races while running brands made valiant efforts to deal with many logistics issues at the same time unleashing a torrent of innovations in a highly competitive market. And not only the bigger well known brands but we saw the emergence of truly top notch road shoes from very small brands as well as brands from Asia not typically seen outside of their home countries. Needless to say RoadTrailRun was at it in 2022 and we bring you our Test Team Best of 2022 for road running  here. 

Trends emerged as supercritical foams and plates  became more common in both racers and trainers for the weight and ride feel characteristics which trended softer, shoes pushed up to and exceeded the World Athletics 40 mm limit (Prime X, SC Trainer, Superblast) and new approaches to plates emerged (Xtep flexible 3D carbon, Mizuno Wave Rebellion PEBAX). 

Competition between brands was fierce and our survey results reflect that with many categories no clear favorites pulling ahead. In the Best Brand category there was however one clear and decisive winner.

Collectively the entire RTR team wrote over 250 road and trail shoe reviews as well as dozens of apparel, accessories and electronics articles in multiple languages including English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, and Polish. 

Find all RoadTrailRun reviews at our index page HERE or just Google "roadtrailrun Shoe Name" and you can be quite sure to find just about any run shoe over the last 10 years

RTR’s Best of 2022 Road Running Shoes Survey

28 RTR contributors on 5 continents ran 43,000 road miles / 69,000 km in dozens of road shoes each to arrive at the results here.

We surveyed the team for their Best of Road Running Shoes 2022 via an online form where the respondents could not see others’ answers. 

So which shoes came out on top in each of several categories, what was the top road shoe overall, top brands, and what were the big surprises of 2022? Please read on to find out.

Contributors are of all paces with two contributors Matt Crehan and Ryan Eiler going sub 2:20 for the marathon in 2022, Joost de Raeymaeker winning his age group at the Chicago Marathon with the rest of us running races up to around 4 hours with of course many half marathons, 10K, and ultras in the races mix at all paces in between. Many contributors set PR’s, helped by their training and of course also shoes! Many contributors also run both road and trail with our Best of Trail Running 2022 coming soon. Also coming soon contributors personal year in review article.

Not every contributor ran in every shoe and for some models below we had more brand provided samples than for others while some shoes were personal purchases. RoadTrailRun and its contributors were not compensated by any company to review shoes and RoadTrailRun did not do any “sponsored content” to promote brands or shoes.

If a clear preference emerges we will call a winner for each category. The categories in the survey included:

• Daily Trainer

• Workouts/Speed Shoe

• Long Run/Max Cushion

• Race Shoe

• Absolute Favorite Shoe of the Year

• Most Smiles Shoe of 2022

• Top Run Brand of the Year.

• Most mentions across all categories

As there are so many varied preferences and the lines between training shoes and racing shoes are becoming increasingly blurred we also tabulated the Top 9  “most mentioned” shoes as either top or honorable mention across all categories including shoe of the year and most Smiles. 

The list below reflects the team’s most mentioned shoes across all categories. 

1. Xtep 160X 3.0 (13 mentions) RTR Review

2. Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro (12 mentions) RTR Review

3. Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 (12 mentions) RTR Review

4. Asics Novablast 3 (11 mentions) RTR Review

5. New Balance SC Trainer (10 mentions) RTR Review

6. Puma Deviate Nitro 2 (7 mentions) RTR Review

7. Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 (7 mentions) RTR Review

8. Nike Vaporfly Next % 2 (7 mentions)

9. ASICS Metaspeed Sky+ (6 mentions) RTR Review

All the details as to where they (and many others) shined brightest, contributor by contributor, category by category follows

Daily Road Trainer

In our first category we include some mileage and contributor performance context.

Mileage/Highlights	What is your Favorite Road Daily Trainer of 2022 and why?
Peter Stuart  (Texas) 2000 road  miles	There are two. For recovery and easy runs New Balance SC Trainer for sure. A little heavy, but highly cushioned, has a great transition and rolls through hundreds of miles with ease. Reached for these more than any other shoe. For up tempo and other daily runs the Hoka Mach 5 is exceptional. Light, cushioned and a joy to run in.
Jeff Beck  (Colorado) 400 road miles	Saucony Triumph 20. Endless cushion but has plenty of spring as well, this shoe almost defies physics it's so good.
Derek Li  (Singapore) 6199 km road miles 2x 2:39:0x marathon PR’s in 2022	Xtep 160x 3.0 Pro: It’s the most versatile shoe so far. It can handle slow easy jogs and fast marathon pace workouts. It’s too much shoe for the really fast workouts, but it is wonderful for everything else. If it were just a bit lighter, I would have considered it for racing marathons too.  The Adidas Prime X Strung is a close second for me. I wear the Prime X at a half size down and both shoes are at the same weight (8.8oz) for me. The Adidas has more stack but has just a little bit more bottom heaviness and is not quite as pillowy and smooth at recovery paces.
Jacob Brady (Maine, USA) 2521 road miles	ASICS Novablast 3: Great fit, fun to run fast or slow, nice bounce and flexibility, solid traction, lightweight. It reminds me of last years winner in this category, the New Balance Rebel v2, but with a different vibe.
Bryan Lim (Australia) 2741km road  HM PB 1:22  in 2022	ASICS Novablast 3. It's not just a jack of all trades and master of none, but more of a master of many trades! It is easy to hold tempo efforts as well as log easy miles in them, all with a sense of protection and confidence. It's one of those shoes where if I can't decide which shoe to run a fast parkrun in, I'll pick it, and also one which I tend to gravitate towards when I am undecided on a shoe knowing it can do all.
Matt Crehan (UK) 3016 miles  PR 2:18:09 (2022)	On Cloudmonster - A fun shoe that was great for easy paces all the way to Tempo days and I even enjoyed it for the odd track session. Did need breaking in a little (30-50 miles) but once done this shoe was unleashed and the most fun shoe I've run in.
Joost de Raeymaeker (Angola/Belgium) 3755 miles 2:29:26  50-54 AG win at Chicago	Saucony Kinvara 13: The Kinvara has been a personal favorite of mine and is a shoe I always go back to when I feel I need to give my feet a little workout after running too many plated or max-cushioned shoes. There's absolutely nothing fancy there, just a low to the ground, flexible shoe that still has a little cushioning. It just works for me and I feel like I'm running in a more natural way when I put on my Kinvaras.
Michael Ellenberger (Chicago) 2318 miles 2:22:18 PR 2022 Chicago 14:56 post college 5K PR	ASICS Superblast. This is a really hard one - the Superblast and Novablast 3 from ASICS, the Invincible Run from Nike, 1080v12 from New Balance, and who can forget the Saucony Tempus! So many tempting choices; I found the Superblast to be a great mix of fun and comfort, and before they were whisked away so Sam could enjoy the hype, they stood as my favorite trainer of the year.
Ryan Eiler (Boston) 2600 road miles 2:19 PR Maine Marathon	Puma Deviate Nitro 2 - One of the most versatile trainers available, capable of transitioning from moderate running to hard efforts. The upper hits the sweet spot of comfort and control, and is very nicely constructed. Ample grip and a reasonable price point round out this compelling package.
Steve Gedwill (Chicago) 1000 road miles	Hoka Mach 5: It's that perfect combination of lightweight, and cushioning. The upper is super comfortable and the profly + foam is soft and bouncy. It's super versatile, can handle many paces well.
Matt Kolat (Poland/Scotland)	Adidas Boston 11: Superb combination of cushion, speed and stability. Very unique
Daniel da Silva (Brazil/ Abu Dubai) 1500 km road	Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. For being so versatile!
Markus Zinkl (Germany) 2331 km road	Puma Velocity Nitro 2, for me, is the definition of an all round daily trainer. The soft and pliable upper fits me like a glove, the outsole can be used for light and hard packed trails as well, and the midsole has enough cushion and pop for all your daily sessions.
Alex Tisley (Washington, DC) 546 road miles	Skechers GO Run Persistence: enough protection for long slow runs but enough pop in case you decide to throw in some strides. This is the shoe I throw on when I'm not sure what kind of run I'm going to do.
Renee Krusemark (Nebraska) 2100 road miles	The New Balance Rebel v3 lightweight and flexible with enough cushion for long runs for me while still being quick enough for speed workouts. And it's well priced.
Shannon Payne (California)	Brooks Launch 9. Still a lighter weight, just-cushioned-enough, responsive ride that works well for everything from a short, easy jaunt to a long run to a tempo effort.
Nils Scharff (Germany) 3360 km road 2:52:38 marathon PR in 2022	ASICS Novablast 3 - The Novablast 3 just has it all! It's soft, bouncy, light, very comfortable and reasonably stable. Especially once you pick it up a little it's as close as you can get to a non-plated super shoe feel. Runner up - Saucony Ride 15 - The new Ride arrived early and almost slipped out of sight because of all the incredible new offerings in 2022. It's not flashy - no plate, no super foam, a traditional geometry etc. But it's just very, very good. It lost over an ounce of weight while gaining stack height and therefore feels incredible light under foot. On top of that Saucony just gets every upper right and comfy. It's a pleasure to run in.
Jeremy Marie (France) 4000 km. 900 hours including cycling and swimming	Puma Deviate NItro 2. Comfortable, works at almost any pace, snappy, smooth, durable. Plated yet also  flexible.
Marcel Krebs (Germany) 1620 km 3:29 first marathon, qualified for UTMB OCC/CCC	ASICS Novablast 3 – bouncy, but also stable and extremely comfortable – even with a wider forefoot. Honorable mention: Craft Pro Endur: fun ride thanks to its PEBA midsole but stable because of its broad base. Upper and outsole also make it very versatile and therefore it also works as a fine door to trail option.
Sam Winebaum (New Hampshire & Utah, USA) 1150 road miles	Saucony Ride 15. More and more friendly cushioned than my 2020 Trainer of the Year the 14, it was in a tough competition with the Craft Pro Endur and 2023 361 Centauri both with my favorite foam of 2022, TPE with it energetic ride but both with not quite as ideally secure uppers as the Ride 15 for all around running .  Honorable mention to Craft Pro Endur Distance for its super lively TPE midsole foam (as the Xtep have) and great any surface stabilizing outsole.
Jamie Hershfang (Chicago) 2500 road miles	Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. Love the versatility from easy runs to long runs and speed work.
Mike Postasaki  (Boise, Idaho USA) 340 road /3060 trail miles. Marathon PR of 2:39 in 2022	Saucony Tempus - Combination of Saucony's best foam PWRRUN PB, and EVA carrier really works - ride feels quick yet very stable.
Sally Reiley (Marblehead, MA USA) 1558 miles 2022 PR 3:24:02 London	Saucony Endorphin Speed 3.  I reach for this shoe often, whether for short or long or fast or easy runs, and they never disappoint. Comfortable, quick, easy rolling, easy on the legs, fun to run in! Ya, probably a speed shoe or even a race shoe, but I love it everyday.
Beto Hughes (Mexico) 3162 km road	Puma Velocity Nitro 2. This daily trainer is very versatile and can go easy and then pick up the pace, enough cushion for long runs and perfect ground feel.
Adam Glueck (California) 2200 road miles	Saucony Endorphin Speed 3:  I’ve loved the Endorphin  series since the very first Endorphin Pro, and the Speed 3 continues to improve that recipe.  It’s comfortable, lightweight, fast, yet versatile at a variety of places and doesn’t carry over the harsh feeling of some other super shoes.

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 (RTR Review) ties the ASICS Novablast 3 (RTR Review) as our contributors’s daily trainer of the year with 4 votes each. 

Find all RoadTrailRun review at our index page HERE or just Google "roadtrailrun Shoe Name"

	What is your Favorite Workouts Speed Shoe of 2022
Peter Stuart	Surprise of the year. I loved doing workouts in the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro. Heavily cushioned, fast and comfortable.
Jeff Beck	Xtep 160X 3.0 Pro. Lots of fast shoes out there today, this is the one that feels like it's from a few years from now. Makes a slow guy feel really fast.
Derek Li	ASICS Metaspeed Edge+. It has a more traditional type of geometry with still good forefoot bounce and good outsole traction. It is not quite as special as the top supershoes, and that’s why I like to use it for workouts.
Bryan Lim	Xtep 160X 3.0 Pro. Not a workout shoe per se, but it has to be mentioned somewhere as it falls only just short of my shoe and race shoe of the year, the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro. The Xtep is a fantastic shoe also for tempo sessions and intervals as its geometry works well for both acceleration and holding speed alike.
Matt Crehan	Adidas Takumi Sen 8 - My go to track day shoe, continental rubber gives perfect grip on wet and slippy tracks and lower profile gives a grounded feeling on the bends, while the carbon rods give that fantastic spring for hitting top speeds.
Joost de Raeymaeker	New Balance SuperComp FuelCell Pacer: Another one I really like because it's fairly nimble. It works great on the track and the Energy Arc plate gives you just the amount of pop you need, while still feeling like a traditional flat os sorts.
Michael Ellenberger	ASICS Magic Speed 2. I’m going to give this one a large caveat in that, if you follow me on Strava or have read closely into my reviews, you know my Achilles tendon is always bothering me, and I have to give the disclaimer that this shoe did NOT help it - it has a really stiff heel counter, and I had to back off wearing it for a while because of that… but it’s just so good. A beautiful blend of propulsion and bounce, the Magic Speed 2 is a winner.
Ryan Eiler	Asics Magicspeed 2 -  A nearly super shoe experience at a very approachable price, for folks like me who can't always afford to bust out the super shoes! While it doesn't have the explosive midsole of the related Metaspeed, its snappy and stable ride have served me well through many workouts this year.
Steve Gedwill	Adidas adizero Pro 3: This shoe is just a ton of fun. It is one bouncy ride! When pushing the pace, they are just absolutely wild.
Daniel da Silva	Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. Amazing option for speed workouts. Nylon plate is more flexible but also very responsive.
Markus Zinkl	Adidas Takumi Sen 8. The very lightweight shoe, combined with Lightstrike Pro and Energy Rods, truly makes this the almost perfect workout speed shoe. Only the upper could be improved, which makes it the perfect shoe.
Alex Tisley	UA Flow Velociti Wind 2. I didn't do a ton of speed work this year, but the Flow Velociti Wind 2 had enough protection and enough responsiveness to help me ease my way back from injury to speed.
Renee Krusemark	For cost and usage, the New Balance Rebel v3 because it doubles as a daily trainer. The Brooks Hyperion Max is growing on me though because it's light, fast, and does not have a carbon plate (my preference for training).
Shannon Payne	I don't know if my answer to this will ever not be the Saucony Kinvara! In this case version 13. This version didn't change much from the 12 and retained its no-frills, lightweight, fast ride but this time with an improved upper. It's no fancy super-shoe, but it's a jack of all trades lightweight trainer and will probably always be #1 in my heart. Now if they'll just consider resurrecting the Kinvara Trail...
Nils Scharff	adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8 - The completely revamped Takumi is very light and nimble - a bit lower to the ground and more flexible than other super shoes. This makes for a very distinct toe of - exactly what I am looking for for my interval sessions, tempo runs and even shorter races. Runner up - Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite - I know this one is meant to be a racer. But it's just so damn comfy and at the same timer very, very efficient (for forefoot strikers) that I reached for it almost every time I had to do longer workout sessions. It's just made for things like 4x5k at MP. This way I've collected over 250k in this shoe this year, which makes for the most miles I've run in any shoe this year!
Jeremy Marie	On CloudBoom Echo. This one leans on the firm side of the spectrum, but it's ideal for speed workouts. The upper is thin, soft, pliable and very conforming.
Marcel Krebs	Plated (Nylon): Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. Propulsive, light and more stable than the last version because of a broader base and a second lateral plate. Non-plated: HOKA Mach 5. More traditional ride with a rocker but without a plate; light and propulsive with an accommodating fit.
Sam Winebaum	ASICS Magic Speed 2. Not too many "workouts" for me in 2022 but the Magic Speed ticked all the boxes: light, stable, quick and with a not totally rigid carbon/TPU plate.  Honorable Mention: Nike ZoomX Streakfly. All fantastic ZoomX foam with a small midfoot plate the Streakfly is all fast fun with a quick turn over and plenty of cushion at incredibly light weight.
Jamie Hershfang	Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. Speed is in the name for good reason, it goes fast!
Mike Postasaki	Nike Streakfly - Love the soft, cushioned, and responsive feel without relying on a plate. Perfect for fast training - save the super shoes for race day!
Sally Reiley	ASICS Metaspeed Sky +.  This should be a race day shoe, and has been for me for 5Ks and the like, but I like to lace them up for quick tempo workouts. They make you feel fast and in flight as your foot rolls forward naturally with just the right amount of bounce. Fun!
Beto Hughes	Newton Gravity+. The gound feel and very energetic feel of the midsole and while it still can be considered as a racing flat for me there is something special about them for  speed workouts. Fast turn over, perfect ground feel, flexible, lower drop and natural toe off.
Adam Glueck	Brooks Hyperion Max:  although I love doing many of my workouts in plated super shoes, I found the Hyperion max a refreshing experience.  Without any plate, and with a firmer but still responsive foam, I feel like it helps me focus on turnover and works my calves and intrinsic muscles without beating me up as much as a flat or spike.  This shoe is also a bit more stable which I appreciate on the track or when I’m really pushing the pace.  I probably wouldn’t pick this shoe to race in over an Endorphin Pro, Metaspeed Sky, or Vaporfly, but it’s a great workout shoe.

And it’s a 3 way tie at 3 votes each for speed and workouts shoe of the the year between ASICS Magic Speed 2 (RTR Review). Adidas Takumi Sen 8 (RTR Review) and Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 (RTR Review). They represent for RTR Editor Sam a continuum from most aggressive Takumi Sen 8 to most flexible and relatively mellow speed shoe the Endorphin Speed. Slow old Sam’s personal pick, the ASICS Magic Speed 2  was also Ryan Eiler’s with a fresh 2:19 PR in 2022 and Michael Ellenberger a 2x  2:22 marathoner in 2022 and sits right in the middle.

Find all RoadTrailRun review at our index page HERE or just Google "roadtrailrun Shoe Name"

	What is your Favorite Training Long Run or Max Cushion Shoe 2022 and why?
Peter Stuart	New Balance SC Trainer. Endless comfortable miles. The plate keeps them from feeling too soft or robbing energy.
Jeff Beck	Mizuno Wave Neo Ultra. Incredible comfort in all facets, top notch midsole and upper.
Derek Li	Xtep 160x 3.0 Pro. Loads of soft bouncy foam underfoot and good traction make it a no brainer for anything from steady pace (for me ~7:00-7:30/mile)long runs to long runs with marathon specific pace sections. You never feel like you are fighting the shoe at marathon pace, which can be the case for some other soft shoes.
Jacob Brady	ASICS Superblast: For long runs, the Superblast is the non-plated but light and bouncy shoe I've been waiting for. Unplated high cushion options have historically been heavier than max-cushion racers and often sluggish. The Superblast is easier going than a plated shoe and also requires a bit more work, for training days where I don't want the plate advantage. It is comfortable and stable with a durable outsole.
Bryan Lim	Asics Glideride 3. The Glideride 3 has evolved to be more like the Novablast 3 and than the Glideride 2, but with a rocker and added stack at 42mm, making it my default choice for long runs  this year.
Matt Crehan	Altra Vanish Tempo - A lot of my long runs this year where marathon paced sessions of 20-25 mile of mixed intervals so the Vanish Tempo was just a beautiful shoe for these long runs.
Joost de Raeymaeker	New Balance SuperComp FuelCell Trainer: If it wasn't for this shoe, I wouldn't have been able to log 125 mile weeks in preparation for the Chicago Marathon this year. Lots of cushioning, a perfect rocker and they keep you going mile after mile after mile.
Michael Ellenberger	For max cushion, I’m loving the Invincible Run from Nike, which is loud, squishy, and darn comfortable to wear mile-over-mile. You really can’t go wrong. Saucony Triumph 18 is also a very honorable mention.
Ryan Eiler	Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 - A highly protective and energetic PWRRUN RB midsole has proven great at handling the long training runs. Durability has been a concern, but that aside, this has been a fantastic performer for some of my more memorable marathon training runs this year.
Matt Kolat	Adidas Ultraboost 22. Not a serious running shoe but very comfortable for longer runs and that’s what matters to me.
Daniel da Silva	Saucony Endorphin Pro 3. Carbon plated shoe good for long runs!
Markus Zinkl	New Balance Fresh More v4. Think running on clouds, and you have the More v4. Very soft and also bouncy foam with more stack you could ever need, makes all long runs easy on your legs. In addition, it can also pick up the pace a bit.
Alex Tisley	Brooks Glycerin 20. The Glycerin really grew on me for its soft and inoffensive ride. This is a shoe you don't really think about over the long miles, and I mean that in a good way!
Renee Krusemark	The ASICS Novablast 3 might work well as a daily trainer for some, and it works best for me during easy days or long runs. The shoe is light and cushioned and retails at a good price. Second place to the much pricer ASICS Superblast, which is even better for long runs than the Novablast 3 (but expensive!).
Shannon Payne	Tie between Hoka Rincon 3 and Craft CTM Ultra. It could be argued that these shoe fall more into the lightweight/speed shoe category, but they both strike a wonderful balance between light weight with ample cushion.
Nils Scharff	New Balance SuperComp Trainer - The SC Trainer was kind of a surprise. Due to its relatively high weight it's not a long run shoe per se, but it's bouncy cushioning, high quality, stretchy upper and especially it's leg saving qualities make it stand out compared to the competition. Runner up - Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 - The new Shift rolls just as smoothly through the gait cycle as its predecessors. But the softer and lighter PWRRUN formula makes for a little more fun and bounciness and an incredible cushion-to-weight ratio.
Jeremy Marie	XTep 160x Pro. Probably the most cushioned shoe I've ever run, yet very bouncy, energetic. The Craft Pro Endur is a very close second.
Marcel Krebs	ASICS Novablast 3 – for the same reasons why it is my favorite Daily Trainer; it also offers plenty of cushion for longer endeavors.  Honorable mention: Saucony Triumph 20 Runshield: Versatile, highly improved midsole, plenty of cushioning and a water-repellent upper
Sam Winebaum	New Balance SC Trainer: Friendly landings on a giant stack of FuelCell, high drop to with an effective carbon plate to roll along no matter the pace. Honorable mentions to the ASICS Superblast a gigantic stack of FF Turbo at light weight with surprising stability in the mix and Craft Pro Endur Distance
Jamie Hershfang	Saucony Triumph 20. Soft but not overly soft, and enough responsiveness to keep the legs feeling fresh.
Mike Postasaki	I didn't test many road shoes, but the Saucony Tempus is definitely the best if that qualifies for a long run shoe.
Sally Reiley	New Balance SC Trainer. I Love this shoe, and lace it up whenever I can. It is comfortable, bouncy, fun, and very easy on the legs after many miles. runs much lighter than it is!
Beto Hughes	Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 Perfect amount of cushion with a propulsive ride and a nice and bouncy feel. Perfect for those long runs with some speed in between.
Adam Glueck	Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 Runshield:  This was actually the first endorphin shift I’ve tested.  I appreciate that despite the taller stack height, these are relatively stable with a soft step in feel, a helpful but not overly aggressive rocker, and comfortable upper.  They will go fast if you push them, but feel good at a variety of longer and slower paces.

At last we have a clear (er) category winner! The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer (RTR Review) gets 5 votes with the similarly soft and plated but considerably lighter Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 (RTR Review) getting 3 votes in this category.

Find all RoadTrailRun review at our index page HERE or just Google "roadtrailrun Shoe Name"

	What is your Favorite Race Shoe of 2022 and why?
Peter Stuart	I raced the NB FuelCell Elite V2 this year. It's a reliable and fun distance race shoe.
Jeff Beck	Xtep 160X 3.0  Pro. It works with my biomechanics perfectly, and has thespeedy blend of cushioned and bouncy.
Derek Li	I used the Nike Alphafly 1 for both my A marathons this year. Both were my 2 fastest lifetime marathons.  That said, I am quite set on using the new Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro for my A races next year. Alphafly 1 still is the most cushioned racer and has the best mechanical assistance through the forefoo for mt with no fit or stability issues.. It’s a shame it got replaced with a very different type of shoe.  I also want to mention the OG ASICS Metaspeed Sky which is technically a 2021 shoe. A lot of pros still prefer it. I ran a 1:14 half-marathon PB in that shoe this year (and a 5000m PB in the same shoe last year). It has the best forefoot response for me at fast paces and if it weren’t so hard to source, I would probably use it more for key workouts as well. The reason I don’t use it for the marathon is because during one 38k run in the shoes, I got a hotspot on the inside of my left big toe towards the end and that steered me toward the Alphafly for marathon race day.
Jacob Brady	Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% 2 ('Alphafly 2'): I had two great 'race' experiences in the Alphafly 2, a road marathon and a road-trail mix 50km FKT. The stability and apparent easygoing feel combined with the well-directed rebound leads to it being both comfortable and fast.
Bryan Lim	Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro. I thought the Xtep was undefeatable this year, but enter the Rebellion Pro, the last shoe I reviewed before this survey. Whilst radical, it just works so well. Without getting technical (see our review of it!), it is the consummation of good design and technology, and brings the idea of race day assistance to a new level. It is high stacked but stable and extremely responsive with good implementation of a full length plate and dual density foam. Its uniqueness in design and user experience has to be commended.
Matt Crehan	XTEP 160X Pro 3.0 : I got a 7 sec 2:18:11 PR in them at California International
Joost de Raeymaeker	Xtep 160X Pro 3.0: As I wrote in my review: I hadn't been this pleasantly surprised since I put my first pair of Vaporfly 4% on my feet in 2017. Everything about the way this shoe feels is exciting. And it's fast, too! The only reason I didn't use it to run the Chicago marathon is that they felt a little small in my usual size 9.5 and I didn't want to risk a blister or a black toenail.
Michael Ellenberger	ASICS Metaspeed Sky+-In 2023, I’ll have a more diverse racing portfolio (this year I raced primarily in the SC Elite v3 and the SC Pacer, which both deserve commending in their own right), but if I had to choose one shoe for all distances, I think it would be the Metaspeed Sky+. It’s bouncy and springy, but undoubtedly just fast - and I never had a bad long run, tempo, or track session in it - and I’m sure the same would have been true for racing. It’s a winner. I will award the SC Elite v3 “most-improved” award.
Ryan Eiler	Adidas Adios Pro 3 - Its raw speed and energy efficiency is hard to beat over longer distances. The heel collar could be slightly improved, but other than that, I find it hard to critique this shoe. I may be partial to the AP3 as it has served me well in racing, but after running an 8 minute marathon PR to 2:19: 19 this year with no soreness the day after, I'm thoroughly impressed by what Adidas has turned out this year.
Steve Gedwill	Nike Alphafly 2-More comfortable and stable than V1. Fast, well cushioned, responsive. I believe this version is underrated.
Daniel da Silva	Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro. Very cushioned, responsive and fun to run in.
Markus Zinkl	Nike VaporFly Next %2, still my favorite race shoe. Haven't had the chance to test any recent super shoes. Compared to the AlphaFly it feels more natural to my stride and also more versatile for shorter distances.
Alex Tisley	Salomon S/Lab Phantasm CF...but probably because it's my first/only carbon plated shoe! Hard for anything else to compete.
Renee Krusemark	I still favor the NIKE Vaporfly Next%, but the ASICS Metaspeed Sky+ was my winner amongst the new 2022 marathon race shoes. The Sky+ feels comfortable at a variety of paces while still being fast for sustained speed.
Shannon Payne	Saucony Kinvara 13. I love the multi-purpose use of this shoe. Cushioned enough for medium long runs, light enough for fast miles.
Nils Scharff	Xtep 160X 3.0 Pro - This new offering from Xtep is the closest thing to my all-time-favorite, the AF1, I’ve ran in so far and through its more controlled style it might even be better (for some). The upper fits great, the outsole is very, very durable and the TPE foam is maybe the most bouncy stuff on the market right now. It's hard to get your hands on it over here in Europe - don't miss your chance if you can get it! Runner up - adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 - The Adios got a complete overhaul this year and while I'm not the biggest fan of the upper, the extremely angled midsole geometry just hit the sweet spot for me. Especially at fast, but controlled paces like marathon- or half-marathon-pace the shoe just cruises along effortlessly.
Jeremy Marie	If I'm honest, I should say the Vaporfly here...I've yet to try a shoe that beats this one. But for 2022 releases, I think the Puma Fast-R Nitro takes the nod over the Endorphin Pro 3. It  might not be as efficient for longer races, but I feel...fast with them!
Marcel Krebs	Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 because it’s a state-of-the-art carbon racer which works for a lot of pace-ranges thanks to the very well balanced rocker (SpeedRoll Geometry). Honorable mention: ASICS Metaspeed Sky+ (Stride Runners) + & Edge+ (Cadence Runners), which are well done updates to already great shoes.
Sam Winebaum	All my races were 10K or Half this year. I raced Adios Pro 3, Endorphin Pro 3, Alphafly 2, Takumi Sen 8, Xtep 160x 2.0, Streakfly and Endorphin Speed 3. The winner is the Xtep 160X 2.0 for its impeccable stability and flexible carbon plate. Very close behind Endorphin Speed 3. I did not race in my Vaporfly Next % 2in 2022 but if I did I think they would still be on top.
Jamie Hershfang	Nike Vaporfly Next% 2. Of all the carbon plated shoes, these still take the cake. They just feel like natural springs on my feet.
Mike Postasaki	I've been racing in Vaporfly NEXT% 2's and those continue to work well. I've even seen them on other fast racers for some trail races. I haven't tried that myself yet.
Sally Reiley	Nike Vaporfly Next % 2. Okay, maybe I am superstitious and not open to change, but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! I ran four Marathon Majors in a 12 month period and ran 3 all time personal bests in a row (ending with London in 3:24:02 for 6th pace in the Age Group World Championship at age 63). The Next % 2 works for me! I was testing the Alphafly 2 and want to love it, but wasn’t brave enough to change it up. Maybe this spring in Boston?  There are lots of great plated racers out there, but I will stick to my magic slippers for my marathons.
Beto Hughes	Metaspeed Sky+ this new version works perfect at faster paces but still versatile when slowing down on trainings or races, I really enjoyed FF Turbo very responsive and protective, the new location of the plate makes the transition a bit more aggressive but more smooth in every step.
Adam Glueck	This year I continued racing in the ASICS Metaspeed Sky, which still feels fantastically fast

Racing shoes and especially the increasingly specialized (to stride type) plated shoes are very personal choices. The OG plated racer the Nike Vaporfly Next % continued to hold down the top spot with 6 votes but competition was biting at its heels. 

The Xtep 160X 3.0 (RTR Review)  considerably harder to get a hold of with fewer pairs in the mix, delighted all our fastest and slower racers with its superb TPE foam, stable plate arrangement and great upper got 4 top votes as did the radical and effective late 2022 Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro (RTR Review) with 3 votes. ASICS Metaspeed Sky and newer Sky+ totaled 5 votes between the two versions.

Find all RoadTrailRun review at our index page HERE or just Google "roadtrailrun Shoe Name"

	What is your Absolute Favorite road shoe of 2022 and why?
Peter Stuart	New Balance SC Trainer by a hair.
Jeff Beck	Saucony Triumph 20. Nearly the Brooks Glycerin 20, any other year it'd be the Glycerin by a country mile, but the Saucony is a 10/10 shoe for me, while the Brooks is a 9.9/10. Soft, bouncy, cushioned, good traction and durability. I can't find something wrong with the shoe.
Derek Li	Xtep 160x 3.0 Pro. It is the shoe I’ve used the most, for everything from easy runs to long runs and long workouts, and this made up 80+% of my weekly mileage. The shoe is still going strong. It also happens to retail at a lower price point than most supershoes.
Jacob Brady	ASICS Novablast 3, though I strongly considered giving this title to the New Balance Rebel v2 for the second year in a row as I ran it a lot this year. In general, they are similar shoes which is why I like them both. They are lightweight, flexible, bouncy, stable, run well on light trail, can go fast or slow, and are enjoyable and generally easy to run. The Novablast 3 has a bit more refined ride and more noticeable structure, but the slightly stiffer upper and especially heel counter doesn't mesh to my foot as fluidly as the unstructured Rebel v2.
Bryan Lim	Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro. A slight edge over the Novablast 3 because of its sheer uniqueness. It's almost like picking a striker as man of the match for scoring the winning goal over a midfielder who has done it all to keep the team together. The Novablast 3 is the latter, being a staple in my rotation, and the Rebellion Pro shining bright on speed days (and soon on race days).
Matt Crehan	Saucony Ride 15 - Always a staple of my daily training routine, nothing fancy but a hard wearing workhorse of a shoe that does its job and has continued the strong trend the Ride series has offered me over the years.
Joost de Raeymaeker	New Balance SuperComp FuelCell Trainer-I've now logged nearly 1000 km (620 miles) in them and they still feel good. The same bounce and rocker and that Energy Arc plate that just seems to make it all work. I've been plugging these to all my running friends and everyone who's got them likes them just as much as I do. A clearly fantastic shoe.
Michael Ellenberger	It’s really (really!) hard to pick a favorite, but I will highlight the Novablast 3 here as absolutely nailing that one-shoe-to-do-it-all platform. It doesn’t have a plate, but the FF Blast+ cushioning is so great, you won’t miss it.
Ryan Eiler	Puma Deviate Nitro 2 - This is the only shoe I feel truly comfortable using at both 8'/mi or 5'/mi pace. The upper is impressive in every respect, the PumaGrip outsole can handle any condition, and there's enough rebound and softness to handle a fair share of mileage. And it doesn't look too shabby, either. Puma has pleasantly surprised me a couple times this year.
Steve Gedwill	Nike Alphafly 2-I've used this on easy long runs and long run tempos. My legs always feel fresh and the effort feels easy. Stable, well cushioned, soft, bouncy, fast!
Matt Kolat	Adidas Adizero Boston 11
Daniel da Silva	Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro. It brought a smile to my face every time I ran with it.
Markus Zinkl	Puma Deviate Nitro 2. Almost the same can be said as for the Velocity 2 here. Just not as versatile as I prefer to use the Velocity 2 on light trails. On the road alone, the Deviate Nitro 2 is just a really fun shoe, which provides a lot of bounce and energy return.
Alex Tisley	Brooks Glycerin 20. It's not exciting, but I needed something dependable as I spent the year trying to return to running, and the Glycerin was the answer.
Renee Krusemark	The New Balance Rebel v3 is well priced and versatile for me. I can use it for 20 milers, tempo work, and speed days on the treadmill, road, and gravel.
Shannon Payne	Saucony Kinvara 13
Nils Scharff	Puma Deviate Nitro 2 - There have been some models in the running for daily trainer of the year. What makes the Puma stand out is a) it's highly energetic ride once you push the pace and b) it's outstanding outsole. The latter has really impressed me during the beginning of the winter and grips like hell even on ice and snow. This makes the shoe just an all around confident booster no matter what type of run or conditions you throw at it. Runner up - Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 - like the Puma the new Speed can just do everything, from recovery run to race day and I personally loved every run in it so far. The just average outsole lets it slip to second place here, but there is nothing else to complain about.
Jeremy Marie	Puma Deviate Nitro 2. A perfect blend of performance and comfort. It's a "gently plated" shoe, not overly rigid, not too bouncy, not too soft nor too firm. Its upper fits like a glove and the outsole is amongst the best out there.
Marcel Krebs	Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, as it is not only an awesome racer but is also quite long lasting for a “super shoe”. It’s also more versatile than most racers and works marvelous as a luxurious speed day option. Honorable mention: ASICS Novablast 3 – incredible versatile, fun & comfortable
Sam Winebaum	Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. A bit softer, a bit wider under foot, still super light, the Speed 3 is a do anything shoe for me. I raced a super hilly half in them with giant downhills to my fastest time of the year, trained in them and every run brought a smile. And I like the RunShield version even better as its non-stretch upper really locks the foot to the platform better than the regular upper. Runner Up: Craft Pro Endur Distance for its versatile any surface ride, energetic TPE foam, and outsole. Held back by its not as secure upper from the top spot.
Jamie Hershfang	Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. If I could only wear one shoe to train in, this would be ideal for anything and everything.
Mike Postasaki	Saucony Tempus Didn't test as many road shoes though.
Sally Reiley	New Balance SC Trainer. Just FUN to run in. The mere sight of them makes me want to lace them up and go for a run! They are incredibly comfortable, bouncy, and deceptively fast. They work for any kind of run, so if I were to pack one pair of running shoes for a week, these would be the ones.
Beto Hughes	Skechers Razor Excess 2. Very versatile shoe for daily training, tempos, long runs and responsive for speed workouts. Light weight, good traction, durability and the midsole last a long time. The H-Plate works very smooth at toe off on each step.
Adam Glueck	Saucony Endorphin Speed 3:  This shoe just feels awesome and versatile, from light trails, speed days, long runs, etc.

What a stout competition! In 2022!  it wasn’t the racers that took the top spots but fast supercritical foam energetically cushioned and plated trainers. The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 (RTR Review) with 4 votes just edges out the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 (RTR Review) and New Balance Fuel Cell SC Trainer (RTR Review) with 3 votes each. They are all great!

In 2022 RoadTrailRun started scoring shoes not only on our usual metrics of Ride, Fit, Value and Style but also on how many “Smiles” the shoe delivered on the run.

Find all RoadTrailRun review at our index page HERE or just Google "roadtrailrun Shoe Name"

	What was your Most Smiles Shoe of 2022 and why?
Peter Stuart	Hoka Mach 5 is fun and fast. Honorable mention to the On Clloudmonster.
Jeff Beck	For pure smiles, it's the Xtep 160 X3 Pro. I've run in a lot of fast shoes over the last few years, this one really feels like it's the next evolution. That much more bounce, that much more spring, that much better fit. It's a monster.
Derek Li	Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro. I only just started wearing it but it definitely has more energy return off the front than the Xtep Pro and seems to be better than the Alphafly 1 too. It just has an incredible energetic spring off the toes. It’s not top shoe of the year (or the racer category because I haven’t raced in it yet) because I think it is purely a race shoe, maybe ok for fast long runs but not the softest or most springy at slower paces. So it’s less versatile than say the Xtep 160x 3.0 Pro or the Adidas Prime X Strung.
Jacob Brady	Nike Alphafly 2: I had a blast testing it and then getting to race it for the marathon. I like that it isn't as aggressive as some plated racing shoes but still effortlessly fast. It really keeps my legs fresh as well—I was in good shape later in the day and the day after both the marathon and 50km I ran in it.
Bryan Lim	Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro. The sheer uniqueness as mentioned, where as a shoe geek, advancement in design and technology bring only smiles to my face.
Matt Crehan	XTEP 160X 3.0 Pro - Was a complete unknown and surprise and knocked the Alphafly off my top race shoe spot, plus out in California I ran my marathon PB of 2:18.09 in the XTEP so top smiles for me
Joost de Raeymaeker	Xtep 160 Pro 3-I had to think a lot about this one, because the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro I just reviewed is also a clear contender, but has to do with the runner up position. The Xtep just lit up my face when I first tried them out, and that is what this category is all about.
Michael Ellenberger	Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro- It wouldn’t necessarily be my personal racer (feels a bit aggressive for the marathon - plus the sizing is worthy of a try-on, if you can manage it), but darn if it isn’t a fun shoe, from the looks to the performance. It’s been a long time since a Mizuno is just that fun (though that’s not to discount the Mizuno Wave Neo Wind, which is also a stellar performer from the brand!).
Ryan Eiler	Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro - A radical midsole design serving up ridiculous amounts of rebound energy. It's hard not to get a laugh about the way it looks and runs. While not always the most practical, it was a highly enjoyable surprise this year.
Steve Gedwill	Hoka Mach 5-An affordable shoe that can do it all! And an absolute pleasure to run in!
Matt Kolat	On CloudRunner - simply because they look so amazing
Daniel da Silva	Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro. So much fun to run in!
Markus Zinkl	Puma Deviate Nitro 2 on the roads is just a joy to run in. Slow, fast, short and long, it can do it all.
Alex Tisley	Salomon S/Lab Phantasm CF. It just feels fast!
Renee Krusemark	The ASICS Novablast 3 lost weight from the second version. I don't like it for fast efforts because it feels clunky, but at moderate to slow efforts, it's comfortable, easy, and fun. I never had a bad run with the Novablast 3.
Shannon Payne	Craft CTM Ultra. I was very pleasantly surprised with this shoe. With so many brands dipping their toes into the footwear world, sometimes one comes to expect a "knock off" of sorts from already existing shoes, just with a new logo stamped on it. Not so with Craft. I had a great time putting miles in on this unique, responsive, lightweight, cushioned and versatile trainer/racer, and I very much look forward to seeing what else Craft will do with their footwear.
Nils Scharff	adidas Adizero Prime X STRUNG - It's fast, it's fun, it's sexy! Yes, it still isn't the most stable shoe out there, so beware of tight corners. And yes, with 280€ it is straight up expensive. But you can't get better than the Prime X STRUNG in terms of bounciness and propulsion. The 50mm of Lightstrike Pro make it also very leg saving and due to the innovative STRUNG upper it's one of the most comfy shoes of the year as well. And please just look at it! It's the most gorgeous design we got to see this year!
Jeremy Marie	Saucony Endorphin Pro 3. The combination of the flashy pink color, the mermaid-like overlays, the bounce, the Speedroll tech...I had lots of fun running with them.
Marcel Krebs	ASICS Novablast 3 as it brings joy into “logging in those slow easy miles”.
Sam Winebaum	adizero Prime X Strung-A giant and explosive sensation of flight off the front from its dua layer of rods layers and huge 50mm heel  stack of Lightstrike Pro. It would also easily also be my favorite shoe of the year but for its narrow heel landing limiting its uses and its $300 price. Honorable Mentions: Endorphin Speed 3, Xtep 160X 3.0, and yes for short and fast on the road too Salomon S/Lab Pulsar SG, the ultimate any surface “race flat” for me.
Jamie Hershfang	New Balance Supercomp Trainer. So much stack height, so much cushion, so much fun!
Mike Postasaki	Skora Fit - just received at the end of the year and they just feel fun so far.
Sally Reiley	Adidas Prime X Strung. A shoe that will truly give you the sensation of flight and put a huge smile on your face! Super fun, super wild, super fast. Harness that bounce and you will fly!
Beto Hughes	Topo Magnifly 4. This shoe has been my favorite 0mm drop shoe in 2022. Lots of miles in my pair this is one of those shoes that feel natural and the zero drop doesn’t feel that much like other shoes. The shoe is soft, upper holds perfectly, roomy toe box like every topo and the best is the durability. This is my go to shoe when I want something natural for those easy or mid pace runs.
Adam Glueck	Saucony Endorphin Speed 3:  this is the simple answer, and it’s simply a good shoe. The versatility of paces over which this shoe excels makes it fun to run in regardless of if I feel like tempo and want a shoe that supports speed, or I’m sore and going for an easy run and want a shoe that makes each step a little more fun

The two shoes that arguably are the most radical in concept and execution garnered the most Smiles prizes. Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro (RTR Review) garnered 5 votes with the adizero Prime X Strung (RTR Review) with fewer testers trying got 3 votes. 

Both pretty much dictate faster paces and a forward roll as they eliminate the heel of the shoe, the Mizuno all together and the adidas by going with a very narrow landing out back with a giant 50mm stack. Neither goes with rigid carbon with the Mizuno having  a PEBAX nylon plate and the adidas dual layer carbon composite rods. Less rigid harsh carbon is clearly an emerging trend in faster trainers and racer. Both have explosive run rides, if you can handle them!  More “basic” fun, the Hoka Mach 5 (RTR Review) gets 2 votes.

Find all RoadTrailRun review at our index page HERE or just Google "roadtrailrun Shoe Name"

	What were your biggest run shoe and gear surprise(s) of 2022 and why? One winner and honorable mentions if you wish (Trail is included here as well)
Peter Stuart	The New Balance SC Trainer was a huge surprise. I thought with the stack height and the weight it would be unwieldy and un-fun. But it was super fun.
Jeff Beck	Mizuno Wave Neo Ultra. Mizuno, king of the firm cushion, went and made one of, if not the best, big soft cushioned shoes. Not sure where that came from.
Derek Li	Mizuno probably takes this category too. It was a really sleepy brand the past couple of years for me, and they just came out of nowhere with their new racers.
Bryan Lim	Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro and honorable mention to the Xtep 160X 3.0 Pro. As mentioned with the Mizuno, it was a great surprise to see them innovate and deliver an immensely cohesive product that strays from their usual mold.
Matt Crehan	Winner - XTEP 160X 3.0 Pro,  Honorable mention - On CloudMonster and Altra Vanish Tempo
Joost de Raeymaeker	The biggest surprise personally must be the pair of Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro I got in for review. Excitedly different, great fun and it's actually very fast too.
Ryan Eiler	Mizuno's Wave Rebellion Pro caught me by surprise, and most of my skepticisms of its beveled heel were disproven. While not perfect, I had some serious fun running at tempo pace for many miles in this shoe.
Steve Gedwill	Skechers in my opinion is a very underrated running shoe brand. They continue to make great running shoes that surprise me with each new version.
Matt Kolat	361 as a brand
Daniel da Silva	Mizuno Rebellion Pro. Big and fun surprise for me. Mizuno stepping up their game.
Markus Zinkl	Naked Trail Racer T/r: For me the biggest and best executed innovation. Honorable mention: Adidas Takumi Sen 8. They brought back the focus on short distance "super" shoes.
Alex Tisley	Karhu Ikoni Trail. I had never heard of Karhu and the Ikoni Trail was a pleasant surprise for hikes and easy trail runs.
Jeff Valliere	Garmin Epix 2 for bright readable amoled screen and battery life where you feel like you are getting away with something (for an amoled screen).  Runner up: Saucony Endorphin Edge for being a carbon plated trail shoe that actually works on the trail.
John Tribbia	Brooks Catamount 2: It feels like Brooks read our review of the 1 and heeded the feedback by improving the upper fit and security. While it is still a shoe that is best fit for rolling terrain, it now brings improved security for those times where a jaunt to the off-beaten path is required, making this shoe more multi-dimensional.
Shannon Payne	Craft CTM Ultra. Until this year, Craft is not a brand I associated with running. They did an outstanding job with this shoe, and I can't wait to see what else they come up with.
Nils Scharff	The Craft Pro Endur Distance caught me completely off guard. It strongly competed for the daily trainer of the year award and just came short because of a not very breathable, sturdy upper. But in terms of ride and fun it just is up there with the best. In addition the almost trail-like upper and well made outsole make for a great door-to-trail option, which I actually raced on at a buffed out 25k trail race.
Jeremy Marie	I'm really late to the party, but the Vaporfly, despite everything I've read and heard about it during the past years, is my biggest surprise. I really wasn't expecting being so stoked with this shoe. Every session with them  felt easier, or at least faster. I know it's an old one, but I've discovered it this year... Gear-wise, nothing really hit me this year. I feel we're hitting a plateau and despite some novelties (AMOLED screen in the Epix 2), nothing has changed my way of running.
Marcel Krebs	ASICS Novablast 3 – incredible versatile, fun & comfortable; very positive surprise after the very “tamed” version 2. Craft Pro Endur – light, bouncy, wide & stable platform – I did not see this one coming at all; very versatile too.
Sam Winebaum	adidas adizero Prime X Strung  & Naked T/r for over the top (mostly) effective innovation and fun rides with the Wave Rebellion Pro of course as well but a bit “much” for me
Jamie Hershfang	Altra Via Olympus was a pleasant surprise from the Altra family. As someone who loves the Escalante 3, the Via Olympus felt very different but very much needed
Mike Postasaki	Naked T/r - I thought there was no possible way that a trail shoe could work without laces, and I was proven wrong. It actually has amazing security and its a super fast and fun shoe in the right conditions.
Sally Reiley	Winner was Adidas with the Prime X Strung. I was an Adidas fan and ran my first few Boston Marathons (2014-2017) in the Adidas Energy Boost, then didn't find an Adidas shoe that I liked.... until now. And WOW, do I like it!
Beto Hughes	Puma Deviate Nitro 2 huge update for an amazing shoe that now is better than before. Special Mention: ON CloudGo this shoe surprise me because it works from easy runs to long runs is energetic, soft and can be casual to the gym.
Adam Glueck	Brooks Hyperion Max: I didn’t expect this shoe to feel as good as it did for any plated trainer without a PEBA based foam.  The stability, light weight, and responsive yet not harsh cushion made this shoe a delightful surprise.

	What is your Top Run Brand of 2022 and why?
Peter Stuart	New Balance and Hoka. Both just create great shoes for runners of all abilities.
Jeff Beck	Saucony. Both their road and trail departments are firing on all cylinders.
Derek Li	The top brand has got to be Saucony for 2022. They have knocked out so many solid shoes this year across so many categories. In chronological order:  Saucony Ride 15, Tempus, Endorphin Speed 3, Endorphin Pro 3, Triumph 20. All very strong offerings in their respective categories. No other brand came close.
Matt Crehan	Altra - New foams and better fits finally put them on the map again for me and a rotation of Rivera, Torin, Provision and Vanish Tempo got from unable to walk in January to representing England Mid Feb and racing my Marathon PB at the time in April
Joost de Raeymaeker	This was a tough one, since I actually preferred another brand's shoes individually for most of the categories, but my brand of 2022 has to be Saucony. They've been releasing a series of excellent updates and new takes on their existing lines of shoes. The Endorphin Pro 3 is a great racing day shoe and you can't go wrong with any shoe of the Endorphin line, but their traditional shoes like the Triumph, Kinvara, Ride, Guide all had excellent updates. On top of that I also really enjoyed the new Tempus. Great work!
Michael Ellenberger	Tracksmith! I revamped my running lineup this year (donating or junking several shorts I had owned for more than 15 years of running!) and I’ve been impressed with each and every one.
Ryan Eiler	Saucony — From training to racing, I haven't met a shoe that I haven't enjoyed.
Steve Gedwill	Still has to be Nike here. In my opinion they have the best racing shoes. I haven't found a foam I enjoy more than ZoomX. Their apparel and designs are second to none.
Matt Kolat	Adidas. Amazing products without the insufferable (did someone say Nike) marketing.
Daniel da Silva	ASICS in my opinion. Amazing updates on previous iterations, like MetaSpeed Sky/Edge+, Novablast 3, Glideride 3, Noosa Tri 14, as well as the new Superblast.
Markus Zinkl	Saucony
Alex Tisley	I think it has to be Topo. I have always loved their fit, and every shoe I try is a little better than the last. Love that they're continuing to evolve and try new things, and I am excited to see what they come out with in 2023.
Renee Krusemark	For trail shoes, Saucony had a great 2022 line up. For road, ASICS has great shoses with the Novablast 3, Superblast, and the Metaspeed Sky +.
Jeff Valliere	Saucony, with so many cutting edge models, the new Xodus Ultra, Endorphin Edge, Peregrine 12, Peregrine Ice+ 3, Ride 15 trail.  But, Brooks is a very close runner up and probably my most recommended.
John Tribbia	Saucony
Shannon Payne	While I didn't test any of their shoes this year, On has impressed me greatly with the growth of their line, their improvements in terms of construction, the number of athletes and training groups they've begun to support, and their presence at some very prestigious trail races. They are certainly a unique brand with a unique story, and while I may have written them off as "gimmicky" a few years ago (yeah I'll own it), they've done some amazing things with their footwear, they have exciting athletes to watch, and I'm excited to watch the brand evolve.
Nils Scharff	Saucony - I'm almost sorry, that Saucony did not win a single one of the categories above for me. But they just performed so incredibly well throughout the whole lineup, which makes this vote for brand of the year not even close. All three Endorphins are amongst the best of their categories, the Tempus is probably the best stability shoe out there, the Ride, Guide and Triumph all got tremendous updates. And on the Trail side they had winners like the Xodus or the new Endorphin Edge as well. Well done Saucony!
Jeremy Marie	Puma, because it's the challenger in the middle of the big players, and because of the sheer quality of their offering, at reasonable prices for top performing and  durable shoes.
Marcel Krebs	Saucony, as they successfully continue to improve their already very fine product line for road and trail, especially their Endorphin lineup and significantly updated classics like the Xodus Ultra, the Ride and the Guide.  Honorable mention: ASICS – very fine improvements for their Metaspeed racers and a very positive surprise with Novablast 3 and a promising reinvented Nimbus.
Sam Winebaum	Saucony for overall superb execution for road and trail. Every update follows basic DNA of the model but improves and lightens, every new shoe top notch. All models fit coherently in the line up and are differentiated if sometimes subtly.   Honorable Mentions: Xtep for a wide range of tuned pace and use focused carbon plated racing and training shoes with superb TPE foam and varying plate flexes and shapes. Finding them outside of direct from China is a different story.. Puma for surging into the top tier in less than 2 years. ASICS for gradually and effectively improving and innovating.
Jamie Hershfang	Saucony as it’s a brand I’ve never primarily run in before, and the Endorphin Speed 3 and the Triumph 20 became staples in my shoe rotation.
Mike Postasaki	Saucony Trail - Hands down, top brand. Each shoe they put out was excellent and hit the mark for its respective target.  All top picks - Peregrine 12, Xodus Ultra, Endorphin Edge, Ride 15 TR.
Sally Reiley	Saucony - so many good shoes these days, notably Endorphin Speed and Endorphin Pro, Kinvara, Ride, Tempus...
Beto Hughes	New Balance. Always making shoes for all people not only fast but for us who love running, from daily trainers to race day.
Adam Glueck	Saucony maintains the high performance excellence of their Endorphin lineup while expanding with new and high quality shoes.

With 15 out of 28 contributors giving them the top spot clearly Saucony is RTR’s Brand of the Year, with their Trail vote as well included here. While they did not dominate in any single category every model, be it new or an update, was superbly executed, improved but still true to the model heritage and DNA or if all new filling a clear need. No duplications, no confusion between models, and priced fairly Saucony had superb product management and execution. 

	What are your top run shoe or non shoe but still focused on run innovation of 2022 (theme and/or actual product or component, event, or a company) and why? Honorable mentions fine as well here
Peter Stuart	The continuation of incredibly light, bouncy foams.
Jeff Beck	Xtep 160 x3 Pro feels like a massive shift in running tech. A few years ago the original Vaporfly 4% blew everyone away when Nike launched the shoe, and everyone has been paying some sort of catch up ever since. This feels like a bigger shift, while everyone else is making some really good race shoes, it feels like Xtep went and made a rocket ship.
Derek Li	Mizuno has really got my attention with their latest offerings. The Neo range is above average but not great, but their new marathon super shoe, the Wave Rebellion Pro, is sensational, which is incredible considering the shoe doesn’t use a full carbon plate. I can’t wait to see how their new racing line continues to evolve.
Matt Crehan	On Athletic Club/ Coffee Club Podcast - Though set up back in 2020, 2022 was the year they showed the real power of the team and the Coffee Club Podcast helped to further this, also showing that On a brand based in running but that has been taken up by lots of people as a fashion brand, has some real running performance shoes out there from road shoes to spikes.
Joost de Raeymaeker	As a theme, I would say back to actual racing, but that is hardly an innovation. Innovation-wise, there are very interesting things happening with new foams, plates in all sorts of shapes and sizes and radical new designs for running shoes. I can hardly wait to see what comes out of all this "experimenting".
Ryan Eiler	The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite came with a fresh approach this year. A unique, plasticky but very strong and comfortable upper performed well. Its bold, highly exposed plate wasn't as radical as expected, and differing density foams in the forefoot/heel made for a bold but impressive design.
Daniel da Silva	Adidas Prime X Strung. Upper is made of different fiber properties thread by thread. Innovation.
Markus Zinkl	Company all around: Saucony. I think they nailed it this year in the road and trail game. It is hard to find any bad shoe they released this year, if even. Company road: Puma. It is still amazing how Puma improves, considering they are only back in the running game for 2 or 3 years. Shoe innovation: laceless shoe (Naked Trail Racer). Naked proved me wrong. I didn't think they could nail the lockdown for a laceless running shoe.
Jeff Valliere	Saucony Endorphin Edge, as they are closest to figuring out fast carbon for trails.  Garmin and the amoled Epix 2, I think we will see more amoled in 2023 with big battery life improvements.
John Tribbia	La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX: Such a great product that features BOA lacing, making it easy and comfortable to wear in the worst of conditions.
Shannon Payne	Elliptigo! Hands-down no question. While my Scott gravel bike may always have my heart, the Elliptigo 8C is sure starting to steal it. I have begun to use this as a training tool to augment or sometimes replace runs, and have found I'm able to get my HR up just as high (often higher) than I can during a run--sans the impact. I've known for many years of the existence of the Elliptigo, but this was my first year beginning to use one regularly. A bit of an investment, but no regrets here.
Marcel Krebs	HOKA and the Tecton-X. It was the first carbon plated shoe which is really well balanced and brings the favors of a carbon plate effectively to the trails. My most-often go-to racing shoe even for ultras in 2022; would wish for a soft-ground version in 2023. Honorable mention: Salomon, for the awesome S/Lab Pulsar  SG and their top notch apparel and accessories.
Sam Winebaum	Flexible carbon and other more forgiving and flexible  plates, radical designs of many sorts from heel less to laceless,  TPE foams, emergence of boutique high performance shoes: Brandblack, Naked, Norda
Mike Postasaki	The parallel carbon plates of the Tecton X - the ability to harness a carbon plate on the trails and not sacrifice stability. We are also seeing more variations of split/forked/swallow-tail type plates for the trails. These refinements in combination with better supercritical foams continue to up the ante.
Beto Hughes	Stryd Pod. A device worth the price if you comming to training with power, but more important if you care about specific metrics.

	Anything else that really has been fine (or tough)  for you in 2022 you wish to share: races, travel, work, life events etc..
Jeff Beck	2022 has been one of those years where it seems like almost everything went well - except for my running. Work is going great, family is great, we bought a house, we started playing pickleball, I started a weight lifting program, and those are all great things (especially the pickleball! :P ), but my diminished lung capacity from Covid a year ago has really put a damper on my running. Fingers crossed more time and putting some muscle on helps the lungs out in 2023!
Derek Li	I had a really great 2022. After two years of no races, I did a ton of traveling and notched PBs at the Zurich marathon in Switzerland April, Gold Coast half marathon in Australia July, then came really close to another marathon PB in Chicago in October. Now I’m down with perhaps the worst injury I’ve ever had and have been unable to run well for 2 months, but I’m looking forward to doing more big races in 2023.
Bryan Lim	I've regained the confidence and ability to train hard and well to deliver tangible results after the pandemic and injury last year, with a HM PB being the highlight of the year. But I've struggled over longer distances such as a technical trail ultra earlier in the year and more recently over the marathon in Amsterdam due to COVID. I can only say that I'm looking forward to a better 2023, with improved training and hopefully better health!
Joost de Raeymaeker	2022 started out very difficult for me, trying to overcome a lingering injury and Boston wasn't a good race for me. I recovered in time to do well at Chicago and get back to my age group victories. Looking at it in a positive light, I now have to go back to Boston to try and win! Another personal victory is my Kufukula project and my ongoing coaching education. It's been hugely rewarding to get it all to work and start to build up Angolan talent to once again compete in international races as part of the project. On another personal note, I hugely enjoyed finally meeting Sam and Dominique and getting to spend a couple of days with them at their home where they invited me before the Boston marathon. Merci beaucoup du fond de mon coeur, Sam and Dominique.
Ryan Eiler	It has been fascinating to watch each of the brands develop and incorporate new-age superfoams across their lineups. Shoe designers continue to embrace higher stack, higher rebound midsoles. Hopefully over the long run, this will mean fewer injuries and more enjoyment for the running community.
Steve Gedwill	The last couple months have been a roller coaster of Covid, Food Poisoning and Travel. I'm happy to report that I bounced back from Covid quite quickly (I was running by day 10) but I definitely started slow and listened to my body. The food poisoning came about 3 weeks after Covid and lost another week of training, spend time rehydrating and fuel my body back properly. The Travel was great however, I went to Tennessee twice (Knoxville and Gatlinburg). Some amazing trails in Knoxville along the Tennessee River and UT campus. Absolutely beautiful trails and hilly paths around the Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg. My favorite running spots this year! I feel my fitness is starting to return to form and I'm excited about the training in 2023 for the Chicago Marathon. Right now I have the Nike Alphafly 2 as my planned Marathon shoe, but with so much innovation coming  in 2023, who knows!
Matt Kolat	The year is not over yet so I hope I’m not jinxing it but I stayed injury free all year. And to me that’s the most important matter, to stay healthy and injury free 😇
Markus Zinkl	Was able to link together a lot of short and spontaneous adventures this year: Mallorca Crossing, Madeira Crossing, Tour of Matterhorn and TMB.
Alex Tisley	I spent the year battling peroneal tendonitis, which makes testing running shoes a challenge! I'm hoping the worst is over and looking forward to getting the mileage and the fitness back in 2023.
Shannon Payne	This was a year of new race experiences as I got my feet wet in DEKAfit, an off-shoot of Spartan racing that seems to be gaining great popularity since its inception in 2020. I was initially drawn to it due to the number of runners who seemed to be gravitating towards it. I got to travel a fair amount and ultimately raced 4 of them, including in their World Championship last month.  I also made a trip to Southern California in October to compete at the Elliptigo World Championships, an 11-ish mile and 4,000+ foot climb up Mt. Palomar, and took second to former US Marathoner Tera Moody.  Running itself has continued to gradually improve after the last few years of lots of injury struggles. Those things seem to slowly but surely be sorting themselves out, and more variety in terms of activity has certainly aided the process. It's my goal to make it back to the starting lines of some of my favorite races in 2023.
Nils Scharff	Despite some major hiccups with an injury during my spring marathon build up and a covid infection which cost me my Berlin marathon, I managed to run a marathon PB of almost 4min. Even more important: I feel as fit and hea I think that wouldn't have been possible without finding tremendous physiotherapists and coaches along the way. Therefore 1000 thanks to Dirk, Timo and the team from Triamedica Sports!
Jeremy Marie	I've happily finally raced a trail this year, the Nice UTMB 60k, and despite horrendous conditions with 8h of rain and mud, it was so good to be back on the trails for a race. I wish I would have been able to write about my first IM scheduled past June, but the big C decided differently.  I had some great fun on the bike also, with two 250 kms rides and more importantly l'Etape du Tour, a 170 km/4500m+ ending at the top of l'Alpe d'Huez, which was a big challenge. The truth is:  I'm always getting lots of fun training, racing (even if not that much), and more generally speaking just doing sports and moving...and that's by far the most important thing for me this year!
Marcel Krebs	Awesome experience attending the UTMB in Chamonix! Hopefully going to race there myself in 2023!
Sam Winebaum	Not my best year of racing my 50th year of running but my training was solid, almost totally injury free with my daily paces consistently stronger than in recent years, my mileage almost exactly the same as in 2021 so I am very grateful that is for sure. I had a great time reporting on the Golden Trail Final, although the last minute call to go to Madeira kept me from my A half marathon race of the year. I was ready. It has been a pleasure working alongside all of our wonderful RTR contributors for another year. They are the Best!
Jamie Hershfang	2022 was one of the toughest years for me. After coming off such a great 2021, running the fastest 50 mile in the country, this year was humbling. 2 stress reactions and sickness made running challenging and made me miss some starting lines to big races. While I didn’t have a great running year, I discovered the sport of cycling, and logged thousands of miles I wouldn’t have gotten to see on foot. The strength and perspective I’ve gained this year makes me excited for a really great year ahead.
Sally Reiley	Coming off of the Covid break, I jumped cold turkey into running the Boston Marathon in October 2021, quickly followed by the NYC Marathon in November. I surprised myself with an all-time PR at NYC, finishing 2nd in my AG. That was followed by another Boston Marathon in April 2022, another all-time PR, and the London Marathon in October 2022, yet another all-time PR (3:24:02), this time earning me a 6th place finish in the Age Group World Championships. And in the meantime I ran all but one of the USATF-NE Grand Prix races with the Greater Lowell Road Runners, finishing 3rd overall in the F60-65 AG. SO it was a good year racing wise! Yet it was also a challenging year for running with several breaks. I lost both of my parents in January and lost my focus, almost bailing on the April Boston Marathon. Then I took the month of June off for a work assignment in Aspen, CO that did not allow for training time. And finally, I got mysteriously injured soon after the London Marathon and have been nursing a hamstring/glute/upper leg muscle injury that has hampered my running this fall and forced me to take a break. I am very much looking forward to resuming consistency and  intensity! Next year I have the Boston, Berlin, and Chicago Marathons on the schedule (Berlin is star #5 in my Six Star Medal Pursuit, and Chicago is the Age Group World Championships, similar to what London was this October). And so many great shoes to test! Let's get running!
Adam Glueck	I’ve finished grad school and moved from the east coast to the Bay Area for work.   It’s been a blast, but a totally different outdoor landscape for outdoors recreation, there are a ton of trails I’m still exploring, and the smoother, less rocky and rooted western trails where faster trail shoes excel.  I’m excited to explore a new side of the country and test some shoes and gear in the  Santa Cruz Mountains to Tahoe and Yosemite.

RoadTrailRun's Top TRAIL Running Shoes of 2022 Awards: Multiple Categories, Most Smiles, Biggest Surprises, Innovations & Top Brand- 16 Contributors, 11,000 Test Miles! Article

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