Article by Road Trail Run Contributors
Our annual survey of the year’s best road and trail running shoes, apparel and gear is compiled via survey of our contributors. 26 total contributors participated in this year's survey. Here we present the apparel, gear, tech, surprises, and run brand of the year.
In this article the team was surveyed for their 2023 favorites in the following categories but first our contributors’race and run highlights to set the scene
Favorite Run Apparel
Favorite Nutrition, Hydration, Supplements
Favorite Run Accessories-packs, lights, poles, recovery and injury aids, etc..
Favorite Run Tech
Biggest Surprises (good and bad)
Best Non Run Shoe Products
Best Run Brand of 2023
The RTR Team had quite a year on road and trail with 19 contributors chiming in with their distances and vertical. They logged just under 32,000 miles / 51,400 kilometers of running and, including our trail runners, ascended a staggering over 2,400,000 feet / 743,000 meters of vertical. And that is before we talk about their hiking, cycling and other activities. They sure put in the distance to test the gear and had wonderful performances.
Please also check out Road Trail Run’s Best of Run Shoes 2023 articles: Road Shoes HERE, Trail Shoes HERE
Not all contributors received every product and we had differing quantities provided and especially so for running shoes. Many were review samples although there are also a considerable number of personal purchases.
| Key 2023 run highlights, PR, races, etc.. |
Markus Zinkl Germany | Running wise, it was unfortunately a mediocre year for me. I ad to deal with a few small injuries, which held back my training. However, my Swiss Alps crossing on the Via Alpina Green was a real highlight for me this year. |
Nils Scharff Germany | 2023 was an amazing running year for me. After quite a letdown towards the end of last year including a 3 months break instead of my goal race, I had to start over. My coach introduced some cycling into my training which helped to develop a healthy endurance base. As a result I was able to break all my PBs from 5k to the Marathon with the Berlin Marathon in 2:46:47h, the Berlin Half in 1:17:29h and my first sub 36 min 10k being the highlights. |
Jeremy Marie France | After 3 years (three years!) of postponing my Ironman challenge, initially scheduled for 2020, I finally raced it in June in Nice, France...and despite being disappointed with how everything went, it's still something I'm proud of for the past year. |
Mike Postaski Idaho, USA | I came into the year very strong and had solid wins at Wilson Creek 50K (in the snow), ran 123+ miles at Pulse Endurance 24H (CR), won Scout Mountain 100M (my "A" race) and completed the Boise Trail Challenge (1st on foot). I was burned out by the end of the season (which I fully expected), so I'm looking forward to a fresh start in 2024. |
Ryan Eiler Boston,USA | Philadelphia Marathon PR of 2:17:16. US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. |
Jeff Valliere Colorado | Running the Pikes Peak Marathon after a several year hiatus and placing 3rd in my age group, long outings in Glacier National Park with my wife and time spent with my family visiting the highest peaks in Colorado. |
Jeff Beck Colorado | Unfortunately no races or PRs for me in 2023 as I'm still dealing with lung issues. But I'm hopeful that 2024 changes that, and in the meantime I've gotten very good at running very slowly. |
Peter Stuart Austin, Texas | Ran a nice, quick half, and then just chilled and ran for fun. |
Michael Ellenberger Chicago area | My 2023 was highlighted by the birth of my daughter, Phoebe, in October! It’s hard to remember a world before her, but I also managed a PR at the Grandma’s Marathon in June (2:21:19). |
Dom Layfield Los Angeles | Didn't race much in 2023 due to a variety of work, family, and health issues. But I just ran the Quad Dipsea race in Marin (north of San Francisco), twenty years after I ran it for the first time in 2003. Still one of the greatest races on the planet. Such a wonderful day. |
Joost De Raeymaeker Luanda, Angola | I managed to earn my 6th World Marathon Majors star at the London marathon this year and have now won 5 of the 6 in my age group. I'm currently resting my heel because of a severe case of insertional achilles tendinitis and superficial bursitis. Fed up with limping most of the day, I decided to give it a couple of week's rest and am about to rev things up for 2024. |
Marcel Krebs Germany | In 2023, I focused on road racing (half and marathon) as well as trail running (primarily UTMB World Series) after having “retired” from Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) following the Spartan Trifecta World Championship in 2022. It was a good year during which I even met my secret time goal for the OCC during the UTMB Final in Chamonix, lowering my half marathon PB (1:32h) as well as my marathon PB (3:17h). |
Sally Reiley Marblehead, MA | I continued to run USATF-NE races with my Greater Lowell Road Runners Team and to run both spring and fall World Marathon Majors marathons. I ran my 10th straight Boston Marathon, once again raising money for Mass Eye and Ear, then ran in the WMM Age Group World Championships at the Chicago Marathon. 2023 was unfortunately a year of fewer miles and injury, ugh. |
John Tribbia Colorado | In 2023, my running was defined by witnessing the first light of dawn paint the sky as I pounded the pavement, and by the surprise encounters with wild creatures that shared the trail. One unforgettable morning, a bobcat leaped across my path, its graceful movement mirroring my own sense of freedom in the early light. |
Daniel da Sliva Dubai | In February 2023 I ran the Dubai Marathon and got a PR!, while still not fully recovered from my injury (pubalgia/sports hernia). The injury unfortunately came back in full force and now I see myself forced to pull out from the Abu Dhabi Marathon this coming December 16th. 2024 will be a year to step back, recover and go back strong again! |
Jamie Hershfang Chicago | The Speed Project and Hood to Coast were 2 relays I ran this year, and happened to be the only races I completed. |
Beto Hughes Mexico | Focusing on a hybrid method to improve my running has been my 2023 highlight. |
Alex Zvezdin Montreal, Canada | I ran two 10km races this year. The 10km Tour du Lac Brome (QC) was my first timed effort running. Very happy to get away with a 10km and 5km PR time. In October I ran the 10km Bromont Ultra Trail and got a first place finish for a super muddy race. Despite racing twice, my true highlight of 2023 was to run farther than ever alone in technical terrain. I randomly ended up in the Austrian Alps and covered 63 km with 6300m of vert in a week, which I'm super proud of. Back "home" I discovered so much more of the Adirondacks and Giant Mountain became an instant favorite for an uphill grind. All of this makes me want so much more out of the 2024 trail race season ;) |
Steve Gedwill Chicago | Chi-Town Half Marathon PR.Finished my first major marathon (Chicago) |
Adam Glueck California | I moved to California for work and have really enjoyed exploring the new trails and racing circuits here. Highlights are finishing second in the Pacifica Foothills 30km and 3rd male in the Marin Ultra Challenge 50 km in under 5 hours. |
Sam Winebaum New Hampshire | A relatively light year of racing with some age group podiums.My 52nd year of competitive running and training and I still love it like the first day! We trekked across Tuscany seeing the sights and enjoying wonderful hill towns (and food) at each day's end. In early November, I broke my kneecap in a fall trail running which, of course, had me canceling my goal half which I was rounding into shape for. On the mend and really enjoying longer and longer walks at slower paces than usual |
| What is your favorite apparel of 2023 and why? |
Ben David Pennsylvania | The Tracksmith Strata collection is sensational. I love the Strata Tee. Although expensive, it's light, breathable and exceedingly comfortable. |
Markus Zinkl | ASICS Actibreeze lineup, Fractel Hats, ZPacks Vertice Rain Jacket |
Nils Scharff | Soar Racing Vest - I can't rave enough about this masterpiece. It's amazingly light and breathable and has the best cut I've ever worn in a singlet. Yes it's very, very expensive, but I have two of them already and don't want to wear anything else on race day ever again. |
Jeremy Marie | ON Ultra (RTR Review): tee-shirt and shorts. Light, top-notch material, thoughtful features, understated looks |
Mike Postaski | Fractel Bucket Hat. Love a good bucket hat and the RoadTrail Run Fractel is the most comfortable one I've used so far. I use it for most runs and have raced in it. Brooks High Point WP jacket (RTR Review)- Love the front/rear ventilation. The double snaps up front are great for letting some extra air in without excess flapping. |
Ryan Eiler | Tracksmith Reggie Half Tights — High quality fabric, always comfortable and chafe free. |
Jeff Valliere | Rab VapourRise Summit Jacket and Pants (RTR Review) for cold weather activities (extremely cold runs or moderately cold hiking/snowshoeing/skiing). ON Ultra Shorts for theirblend of carry capacity, fit, comfort and style. Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket and Capa Hybrid Insulated Hooded Jacket, as both pieces ride that line pulling double (triple) duty between function/performance, quality and style. |
Jeff Beck | I'm still on team TASC Performance, logging virtually all of my runs and workouts in their bamboo shirts. |
Peter Stuart | Tracksmith lined Reggie tights and half tights. I don't know why anyone makes un-lined tights. Tracksmith Harrier Long-sleeve. Truly stink free. I've gone weeks of daily runs without washing and it doesn't smell at all. Bandit Socks. |
Michael Ellenberger | The Janji “Repeat Merino Tech Tee” is an absolute staple in my wardrobe; I wear them (mostly) for running or exercise, but also casually - they’re a no brainer item and I’d own three times as many if I could. Soft, comfortable, goes with anything. |
Dom Layfield | Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell Warm jacket. Not really a running jacket unless conditions are really frigid. But an incredibly flexible garment that can function both as a shell and a midlayer. Fantastic for almost any outdoor activity in cool temps. |
Joost De Raeymaeker | Tracksmith Although they seem to be going on a bit of a tangent with casual wear lately, they are still my favorite brand for half tights, shorts and singlets. |
Markus Zinkl | Asics Actibreeze lineup I was a lifesaver during the hot summer months. Incredibly breathable and airy. Fractel Caps My favorite caps to date were Ciele. Fractel and our RoadTrailRun edition cap really surprised me having a slightly better fit for me. The adjustment strap is attached to the cap with a short elastic band, which makes that more comfortable to wear. ZPacks Vertice Rain Jacket By far the lightest rain jacket, which does not compromise on water-proofness . Yes, there are lighter rain jackets out there, but if I need an ultra light, reliable jacket this is the one I would pick. |
Marcel Krebs | Salomon Bonatti Waterproof Jacket: Breathable for a waterproof jacket, great fit and useful details (like the button to keep the jacket closed even with an opened zipper) make this my go-to jacket in really wet conditions. Arc'teryx Norvan Windshell Jacket: My favorite choice when it is windy; does not adhere to the skin like some very thin jackets and still very light (90g). Also keeps you dry during light rain showers. The North Face Summit Pacesetter Run Brief Shorts: Excellent fit, breathable and many well positioned pockets make this a great choice for the trails. Works well together with the Summit High Trail Run T-Shirt from The North Face. ASICS Metarun Split Shorts: Very light weight, nice fabric and several pockets make this my first choice especially for fast runs. To complete the outfit, I like to combine it with the ASICS Metarun T-Shirt. It is made with their Actibreeze technology - probably the most breathable and lightest fabric on the market for running shirts. |
Sally Reiley | Tracksmith Brighton and Harrier LS, Tracksmith Session Speed Short, Lululemon Speed Up Short 4" and Fast'n'Free tight, Oiselle mitten and Wazzie Wool LS Top |
Jamie Hershfang | New Balance and Oiselle. Pockets, enough said. |
Alex Zvezdin | Arc'teryx Essent 6" short. The back pockets fit a 500mL flask and the side pockets my phone + 1-3 gels. That's all I need for 1-3h efforts and I can leave the silly waist belt behind. Finally a pair of shorts for women that makes sense. The Patagonia Houdini Jacket changed my life. This is such a compact layer that offers instant warmth in a ton of scenarios from winter to spring. The wind takes away so much heat and the Houdini stops that. The next item on the list is Crazy's Light zip-on/off pants. Pants like these are on the mandatory gear list for ISMF skimo races, but now I bring these with me during both skimo sessions and trial runs. Sometimes the downhill is colder or conditions change and these are like a hug for your cold legs. They take no place in a backpack and are great to have in case of emergency too. |
Steve Gedwill | Soar Race X singlet, lightest I own, comfortable, High Quality |
Adam Glueck | I’ve really enjoyed the Hoka 7” short (I got the fun rainbow color), as well as the Salomon Sense Aero Seamless T-Shirt. They both have soft constructions, feel light and breathable, and don’t chafe over long distance races. |
Sam Winebaum | On Ultra Shorts have all the storage I need and enough style to also wear outside of running. That said my short of the year the last 2 years the Salomon S/Lab 6” is still a favorite for its lighter weight and yet more storage. Soar Trail Top (RTR Review) is super breathable and quick drying, full zip when needed and discreetly styled and relaxed fitting for a cycling style run top with S/Lab Speed T just as functional and a bit more traditional in unlike. Unlike some of my fellow reviewers I think Tracksmith shines brightest in the colder seasons with their multi purpose Rapid Transit apparel, Brighton long sleeve and this early winter with their do anything luxurious soft yet high protective NDO Jacket and Bislett Pants. Shyu Socks brighten up any run and fit wonderfully. |
The team really likes their Tracksmith apparel and especially Reggie Half Tights. On makes a strong showing with their Ultra Shorts.
| What nutrition, hydration, supplement product(s) were most significant for you in 2023 and why |
Ben David | Maurten Gel 100 CAF are (and have been) my go-to on long runs and in races |
Markus Zinkl | MoN Gels. Great natural taste and pack 40g of carbs into one gel. |
Nils Scharff | Minstry - This relatively new German brand focuses on a very scientific approach to sports nutrition paired with natural ingredients. They work with some pro triathletes and the cycling Team Bora Hansgrohe for a while now and are currently finding their way into the running world. German record holder Amanal Petros just signed with them and I can totally see why. All their products are really thought through and easy on the stomach. |
Jeremy Marie | Endur'Activ Hydration powder during activities/races. Simple ingredients, ethically made, efficient. My go-to brand of choice for energy. |
Mike Postaski | Precision Hydration - As in 2022, I again stuck with Precision Hydration for my training and racing in 2023. Their gels and energy chews pack a carb punch and it's easy to keep track of how much you're taking in when racing. |
Ryan Eiler | John's Killer Protein — Taken after nearly every run in smoothie form, I swear it helps me recover more quickly. |
Jeff Valliere | GU liquid energy gels (personal purchase), as I love that they go down fast and easy without gumming up my mouth and I am less likely to get sick of them. Also, Skratch Labs products (also personal purchase) really work well for hydration and energy. |
Peter Stuart | Hammer Endurolytes Extreme. Kept me functioning during the Texas summer. |
Dom Layfield | HVMN Ketone IQ. Brings cost of ketone supplements down from astronomical to merely expensive. |
Joost De Raeymaeker | I don't really do any supplements and try to keep a healthy diet as much as possible (with some notable exceptions). At the London marathon, I used gels for the first time ever. The standard Maurten stuff worked well. |
Marcel Krebs | Gels: Spring Energy Awesome Sauce Bars: Maurten Solid Bars Drinks: Tailwind Berry and Raspberry (caffeine) Meal: Spring Energy Wolf Pack All these products offer maximized carb intake and can be digested even at higher doses if your stomach is trained accordingly (highly individual, of course) |
Sally Reiley | Maurten 100 gels make race day nutrition mindless for me - the Maurten 160 drink pre-race followed by a regimen of the gels every 4-5 miles works for my stomach and keeps my energy level consistent throughout a marathon. I won't go back! Athletic Brewing CO NA Beer - I am a beer lover, but ABC has made abstaining from alcohol in peak training periods easy and satisfying. We athletes can drink real craft beer but not suffer the negative effects of alcohol. Win win. |
Jamie Hershfang | Ketone IQ. Not sure if it's a placebo effect or not, but this stuff increases my overall energy and endurance. |
Beto Hughes | Nuun Hydration are my go to everyday. Maurten Bars before my long runs. Honey Stinger Waffles easy to carry and fuel on the run. GU Roctane gels for long runs. Maurten Gels for race day. |
Alex Zvezdin | Maple syrup "gels" (any brand) and Maurten are amazing without causing GI issues during hard efforts or having tastes that you can get tired of. Both became a go-to. Precision Nutrition electrolytes are also great, not overly sweet and you can pick the strength based on your needs. Great way to customize hydration based on varying needs. |
Steve Gedwill | Spring Energy-Awesome Sauce, great Flavor, High Carbs |
Sam Winebaum | Big fan of Maurten:gels and bars |
Maurten Gels and Bars lead the pack for nutrition at RTR.
| What is your favorite accessories of 2023- Packs, lights, poles, recovery and injury aids, etc.. |
Markus Zinkl | UltrAspire Basham Vest (RTR Review). Never tried a vest with a bottle on the back and was pleasantly surprised how well it works. The weight distribution is great and does not affect me during the run at all. |
Nils Scharff | Theragun Mini 2.0 - I used a Theragun Prime for the last few years, but my wife couldn't stand the noise while we were watching TV etc. Therefore I looked out for a quiet but powerful alternative and found it in the new Theragun Mini. It's dead silent and features almost the same punch as my big Theragun Prime. I'm finally allowed to treat myself with a massage on the couch and that it's even small enough to pack for a business trip is a big plus as well. |
Jeremy Marie | Rest ! The most underrated accessory to a good running life :) And maybe PILATES lessons |
Mike Postaski | UltrAspire Lumen 600 waist lamp (RTR Review) - I used this lamp during my win at Scout Mountain 100M. Large bright, single lens up front with an integrated battery is perfect for dark nights and long runs. The waist strap does not bounce at all - a waist lamp is an absolute necessity for an overnight ultra. |
Ryan Eiler | Knog Quokka Run 150 Headlamp — Affordable, and the merely 1.7oz silicone band is durable, comfortable, doesn't bounce around or slip at all. |
Jeff Valliere | Cotopaxi Allpa 42 travel pack (RTR Review). Converts from backpack to duffle to shoulder bag, the Allpa series (42L, 35L and 28L) is a great way to organize running gear or any sort of travel, with numerous and well laid out pockets/build in storage compartments, laptop/tablet sleeve and even a rain cover. They are burly and durable. |
Jeff Beck | PR Gear Bridge Soles (RTR Review) I've been dealing with a neuroma for years and have tried all kinds of metatarsal pads with varying results. The Bridge Soles are lightweight, reusable, easy to swap between shoes, incredibly inexpensive for $20 - and best of all? They work better than anything else. |
Peter Stuart | Nathan Vapor Air. Nathan Glove/mitten. |
Joost De Raeymaeker | I've kept things to the very basics and even my percussion massage gun and Powerdot have been gathering dust. |
Marcel Krebs | Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 3 Running Vest: (RTR Review) It is very breathable, light and my go-to vest for almost all training runs (3l). It comes with 2x 250ml soft flasks and an option to carry an additional 500ml soft flask as well as a jacket. Honorable mention: Arc'teryx Norvan 7 Running Vest: Great alternative for longer runs and with enough storage for mandatory gear. It comes with two 500ml soft flasks and a volume of 7 liters. Poles: LEKI provides top notch poles for training and racing. Their Shark system offers excellent power transition. For racing, the ULTRATRAIL FX.ONE SUPERLITE are the perfect choice at a very low weight. The LEKI ULTRATRAIL FX.ONE are more robust and therefore the perfect training partner for the more fragile LEKI Superlite poles and also a very good racing option on its own for races on more technical terrain. |
Sally Reiley | Shook Open Run Mini - I never run with music, but as I spent a lot of time walking rather than running to rehab a hamstring injury, I found listening to podcasts and music very enjoyable. These mini bone conduction headphones allow me to hear ambient sounds such as traffic, fit my smaller face perfectly and I don't have to worry about AirPods slipping out of my ears. |
Beto Hughes | SPI Belt a very simple belt design that it is durable, no bounce, and light that can carry a lot. |
Adam Glueck | I’ve really enjoyed the Oakley Encoder Strike Vented Sunglasses. They don’t fog, are super light, and have excellent clarity and field of view. I’ve really enjoyed the Salomon Sense Pro 10 running vest, it’s been great for carrying everything I need for racing Ultras. |
Sam Winebaum | Julbo Density Reactiv 0-3. Best sunglasses ever for me. Very light with a very broad field of vision and rapid change from almost clear 87% light transmission down to 12% in bright sun. Best of all they sit lightly and securely over my regular prescription eyeglasses and even look decent doing so! |
| What is your favorite tech of 2023 and why? |
Ben David | Loving my Garmin Forerunner 255, no nonsense, user-friendly, long battery life |
Markus Zinkl | Garmin Enduro 2 (RTR Review). Still my favorite piece of tech. It is amazing what this little watch can due. Simply the best feature set and battery life for me. Did the whole TMB in 5 days without recharging once with full GPS. Amazing. |
Jeremy Marie | Suunto Race (RTR Review). Battery life, screen, curated features, reliability. |
Mike Postaski | Stryd Next Gen pod - I started using the Stryd pod this year, and I never leave home without it. Running based on power is very valuable, especially on varying trail terrain. Also the distance accuracy and not having to rely on GPS signal is a game changer. |
Ryan Eiler | I've had my Garmin 245 for many years now, and it's still going strong. Super lightweight, great battery, and all of the stats that I want without the frills I don't need. |
Jeff Valliere | Garmin Epix Gen 2 Pro 51mm (RTR Review) - This IMHO is the best watch out there, with bright 1.4" AMOLED screen, incredible battery life, best GPS available with dual band/multi band, accurate optical heart rate, infinite configurability, excellent health and training metrics, easy widgets, rugged durability, unrivaled maps/navigation and unmatched style, I could go on and on. Runner up is the new Suunto Race with comparable 1.43" AMOLED screen, comparable battery life, equal GPS accuracy, perhaps even more reliable altimeter, easy scroll dial and 3 button design, and roughly half the price as the Epix Pro (though not as configurable nor is its optical HR at all accurate and perhaps a few other minor nitpicks). |
Jeff Beck | Still loving my Garmin Fenix 7x, with it's monster battery and the onboard flashlight. |
Peter Stuart | Apple Watch Ultra. I love the ease of use, ability to be in contact with family and to listen to podcasts/music |
Joost De Raeymaeker | Stryd and Apple Watch Ultra 2 I've been a Stryd user since the very beginning of the brand and it continues to be the single piece of equipment that I would substitute in the blink of an eye if it were to become damaged or lost. The new dual Stryd I've been reviewing has been great as well, in spite of some launch issues. |
Marcel Krebs | Garmin Epix 2 Gen 2 (Pro): Garmin offers the best navigation functions on the market. The Epix 2 (Pro) also features a brilliant display and countless training features. It also offers various options to store music on the watch and provides the runners with countless activity profiles and health reports. |
Beto Hughes | SPI Belt a very simple belt design that it is durable, no bounce, and light that can carry a lot. |
Adam Glueck | I’ve really enjoyed the Oakley Encoder Strike Vented Sunglasses. They don’t fog, are super light, and have excellent clarity and field of view. I’ve really enjoyed the Salomon Sense Pro 10 running vest, it’s been great for carrying everything I need for racing Ultras. |
Sam Winebaum | Garmin Forerunner 265 Light, accurate from GPS to heart rate, the 265 stands for its brilliant AMOLED screen which remarkably doesn’t impact battery life as much as one might expect. That said and closing fast for serious run training the Apple Watch Ultra is now a true contender. Best feature? Answering phone calls without worrying about taking out the phone (or even taking a phone) and without needing AirPods in. |
Garmin watches (Epix 2 Pro, Enduro 2, Forerunner 245, 255, 265) lead the way with Apple Watch Ultra increasing its presence on our wrists.
| What are your biggest run/hike/cycle product surprise(s) shoes gear etc..of 2023 |
Markus Zinkl | Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1. Just innovation wise, this is it for me. It's amazing to see how the competition pushes the technology more and more. |
Nils Scharff | Topo Cyclone 2 (RTR Review) |
Mike Postaski | Topo women's sizing - I was sent a test pair of the Fli-Lyte 5 in a women's 11 (equivalent to men's 9.5), and I really liked it. Still a comfortable wide toebox, but a bit slimmer and seems to work well for me. I made a personal purchase of the Cyclone 2 in a W11, and it has been amazing. Something to consider if your feet are on the narrow/low volume side and/or you're looking to shave a little weight. |
Ryan Eiler | Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 — Not that I've run in them, but its hard to believe that Adidas was able to make a shoe this light, despite the ridiculous price. |
Jeff Beck | PR Gear Bridge Soles (RTR Review). I didn't expect lightweight and inexpensive 3/4 length inserts would resolve the neuroma I've seen multiple podiatrists and other specialists for - but they did. |
Michael Ellenberger | The Garmin Forerunner 265S is, for me, a step backwards for Garmin. I found the AMOLED very hard to read in daylight. I know there are conflicting opinions, but for me, I was consistently unable to read the display at a glance, and more than once had to stop just to see how far I was. And this with the always-on display “on,” which means it was illuminated even when not “active.” I’ve heard that the 965 is an easier display to read, but I’d be slightly wary of Garmin’s AMOLED options, for now. Compare that to the always-on screen of the Apple Watch Series 7 (let alone the now-brighter Ultra models and Series 9), and I have to think Garmin needs to rethink it’s approach in this regard. |
Joost De Raeymaeker | The biggest surprise for me was that I found out I really enjoy cycling and I've been looking into replacing the very noisy first generation Kickr. It's a welcome surprise that the base models have become quite affordable. |
Markus Zinkl | Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 Just innovation wise, this is it for me. It's amazing to see how the competition pushes the technology more and more. |
Marcel Krebs | Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2 (RTR Review): With the S/Lab Phantasm 2, Salomon made its way to the first league of supershoes almost out of nowhere. It's a totally new shoe compared to the Phantasm CF. Its midsole is soft and bouncy; the fit in the toebox is generous and the heelhold excellent. It looks awesome and works also pretty well as an tempo and interval shoe. Honorable mention: adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra (RTR Review): It is a great long distance racer with plenty of cushioning. It features Energy Rods for stability and propulsion. The aggressive rocker works especially well over long distances on runnable terrain. |
Beto Hughes | Stryd now using two pods to measure better metrics with power/watts. Muscle Runners. They are a tool that really helps to improve the form and lower legs muscles. |
Alex Zvezdin | Just discovered and am testing the Norda 001 G+ Spike (RTR Review) and I think the non-spike version will become a favorite. Amazing cushion. Super fun ride & a versatile shoe that you can push (or not) from roads to trails. Looks great too! I avoided these shoes for a long time because of the price and the jury is still out on the need of a Dyneema upper.... Also greatly surprised by the Arc'teryx Norvan 7L vest. The Salomon destroyed all of my clothing and that was solved with the inner fabric of the Norvan. Lots of work needed to make it a better piece of gear though. The pole "straps" situation is horrendous. |
Steve Gedwill | Shyu Socks, super comfortable, great fit, very stylish |
Sam Winebaum | Adidos Pro EVO 1 was clearly the run shoe surprise of the year with its incredibly light weight for any shoe, never mind a highly cushioned one, Its world record first race out and its pricing! Now to actually run it and see if it is more than just for tip top elites. I think it might be due to its long, long rocker something utterly different than the abrupt rocker of its Adios Pro 3 sibling. Personal surprise: I finally got hurt bad enough to have to stop running for a while after breaking my knee cap trail running. It was the first hard stop for more than a week or so due to injury in over 40 years! |
Clearly the shockingly light world record setting and expensive adidas Adizero Adios Pro EVO 1 (RTR Preview) was the biggest surprise of 2023
| Best non run shoe product of 2023 and why. Including honorable mentions. |
Markus Zinkl | Shokz OpenRun Mini. I never understood why the bone conducting headphones have such a large band. I always found getting it in the way. Finally, Shokz heard my prayers and launched the mini version. Comes on every run for me. |
Nils Scharff | Soar Racing Vest, MoN-Sports Nutrition, Theragun Mini 2.0 |
Mike Postaski | Rollerblade Twister 110 - I picked up some skates again after not having a pair for a decade or so (I used to inline speed skate back in the day). Inline skating is a great cross training modality - due to the full body nature of the motion, it's easy to get your HR up with virtually no impact. |
Jeff Beck | PR Gear Bridge Soles for proving that quality and great design don't have to cost a fortune. |
Peter Stuart | Hoka Transport. My overall favorite everyday shoe. |
Michael Ellenberger | Coros Pace 3 - at $229 ($249, if you want the Kipchoge Edition, which I very much do!), it’s hard to imagine a watch being packed with more tech for the price (I will note that, on sale as it was during Black Friday, the Garmin Forerunner 255 is a perfectly suitable alternative, but not at MSRP). Is the Coros perfect? No, we picked a lot of nits in our review - but there’s a ton of value here. |
Joost De Raeymaeker | Tracksmith Allston lined half tights. It's the best half tight I've ever worn and my iPhone fits in the back pocket. Handy for those local races where we end up standing around for a couple of hours after the race, chatting and taking pictures. |
Sally Reiley | Wellness In Motion Boston - the one stop shop for all things wellness, from chiropractic care to PT to strength training to dry needling to shockwave therapy to sports massage to nutrition counseling to podiatrists to sports psychology to.... everything a runner needs to keep running. Dr Ian Nurse, founder of WIM and elite runner himself, is a magician who can quickly assess an injury and get you on the road to recovery ! |
Jamie Hershfang | New Balance Impact Shorts have been my favorite. The pockets are more than enough to fit anything you need, while the 5 inch length and overall compression are ideal. |
Beto Hughes | RTR Fractel Cap is very lightweight and breathable. |
Steve Gedwill | 1. Soar Singlet 2. Shyu Socks 3. Ciele hats |
Adam Glueck | I’ve really enjoyed the Apple Watch Ultra, runner up would be Oakley Encoder Strike Vented Sunglasses and Darn Tough r unning/Hiking socks |
Sam Winebaum | Of course! RoadTrailRun Fractel hats with my favorite the Bucket! Plenty of shade, plenty of breathability and never fly off the head even in strong winds. |
| What is your overall favorite Run Brand of 2023 Run shoe or otherwise. |
Ben David | Hoka continues to deliver and evolve in ways that not every company is right now |
Nils Scharff | ASICS - Superblast, Fujitrail and Nimbus were all big hits for me. The new Novablast probably adds to this list. Honorable mentions: adidas - great updates on Adios and Boston, brave attempts with Prime X and EVO 1! |
Jeremy Marie | ON, for their evolution from firm and harsh running shoes to something really nice now, and their top quality garments |
Mike Postaski | Topo - A very diverse lineup for road/trail that covers all the bases. Perhaps they're only lacking in the top-end racer category. Honorable mention - Merrell Trail, Saucony Trail |
Ryan Eiler | adidas continues to push the envelope and deliver superb products, competing with Nike at the highest level. Saucony - Their shoes are always on the mark, and are usually tough to critique. ASICS - I find myself using their shoes several times a week, whether it's a Nimbus, MagicSpeed, or Metaspeed, they always fit and perform well. |
Jeff Beck | Saucony, Honorable Mentions: Topo and ASICS. Saucony continues to fire on all cylinders for both road and dirt - and I didn't even test their plated race shoes that everyone raves about. Topo made a massive turn for the best with the Atmos, and ASICS was very similar to Saucony, when you're that good at road and trail, it's a great thing. |
Peter Stuart | New Balance, ON, Topo Athletic |
Michael Ellenberger | Nike returns to the top for me this year, with standout options across training and racing. Honorable mentions of Atreyu, which really rounded out its lineup by adding the Race Model late in 2023 (and maintaining the Daily Trainer and - my favorite - Base Model), and Craft who (once they figure out sizing) can be a major player in road runner. |
Joost De Raeymaeker | adidas For getting their Adios line on the right track again. I enjoyed the Adios 8 and the PrimeX 2 Strung is a fantastic shoe. Honorable mentions: Topo Hoka |
Markus Zinkl | Strong year for adidas this year. Evo Pro 1, Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra, Boston 12, Adios 8. Strongest updates/releases imo. Runner up: On. Seem they finally getting their and accepted to rethink their midsole design Puma. Solid updates and for me personally the Fast-Trac Apex was a real pleasant surprise. |
Marcel Krebs | ASICS: The product lineup from ASICS was already decent and continuously improved during the last couple of years. In 2023, ASICS ramped up especially their trail game with the introduction of the Fuji Speed 2 for faster mid distances races on technical terrain and the very comfortable Trabucco 11. The Fuji Lite 4 combines the accommodating fit of a road shoe with a grippy outsole and a well balanced midsole which make it an excellent door to trail shoe. If rumors hold true, a trail version of the Metaspeed will round up the lineup with a light carbon plated long distances racer which should be a quite interesting shoe too. On the road, the lineup is almost complete and flawless. While I would wish for a little more responsive midsole in the Nimbus, it is still a very comfortable recovery shoe. The Novablast 4 is an excellent daily trainer which also works well for longer distances. The Superblast features the same midsole foam as the Metaspeed and is therefore a great option as an uptempo trainer and also works well as a long run option for faster runners. When it comes race day, the ASICS Metaspeed Sky+ is still my favorite even though it is a 2022 model and I can't wait for the Metaspeed Sky 2. Honorable mentions: Saucony: While Saucony switched to a 2 year update cycle for some of their most popular shoes like the Endorphin Speed 3 and the Endorphin Pro 3, the brand still has a great line up in 2023. That's because shoes like the Speed 3 and the Pro 3 are still top notch shoes in their categories. In addition, the Saucony Triumph is one of the most comfortable and versatile shoes on the market even though it had "just" an upper update. With the Saucony Endorphin Elite the brand also added an excellent race day option for ambitious runners to their lineup. It will be very interesting to see how the major update will perform in 2024, especially the Endorphin Speed 4 and the Endorphin Pro 4 as well as the re-designed Triumph 22 which was shown recently at the TRE in Austin, Texas. HOKA: Similar to Saucony, HOKA did not update some of their most successful shoes in 2023 like the Mafate Speed 4, the Speedgoat 5 or the Mach 5 which are still awesome choices in their categories. In addition, with the introduction of the Rocket X 2, HOKA made a huge statement in the super shoe game for road racing. Their 2024 outlook also seems promising: A more aggressive outsole for the Tecton X3, a more energetic midsole of the Mach X 2 and an updated Mach 6 with a supercritical foam midsole promise an exiting running shoe year 2024. |
Sally Reiley | Saucony. I haven't found a Saucony shoe I did not like. Endorphin line continues to be an absolute favorite for fast! |
Daniel da Silva | New Balance has really surprised me in 2023. The duo of SC Trainer v2 and SC Elite v3 worked great for me! I really enjoyed running in them. Honorable mentions goes to Adidas for the innovation and its amazing Adizero Adios Evo 1 and to ASICS for the innovation with the Kayano 30 and Nimbus 25! |
Jamie Hershfang | New Balance. The tech and shoe updates have been amazing, while the apparel is functional and versatile. 2. Saucony 3. Oiselle |
Beto Hughes | Saucony always delivers good updates each year that work for most runners. New Balance making versatile shoes for training and racing. On is going in the right direction, getting better and better with their new line of shoes and foam updates. |
Alex Zvezdin | Brooks continues to amaze me with great shoes for both road and trails. Great effort to also make shoe selection easy for consumers ont he website with the shoe finder, but above all I love seeing how they continue to focus on making comfortable and durable shoes without getting wrapped up in the gorp/fashion trends like some other brands. |
Steve Gedwill | 1. New Balance 2. Hoka 3. Nike, New Balance put out my favorite long run and race shoe this year! |
Adam Glueck | I’ve been really impressed with Saucony. They’re tried a lot of cool shoe ideas and technologies from the Plated Endorphin Edge (which is really fun for shorter trail races), to the amazing Sinister, and trainer/racers like the Endorphin Speed 3. Saucony’s willingness to try putting PEBA in everything and experiment with geometries and outsoles is really impressive. Honorable mention to Hoka for bringing new foams and ideas to their shoes, I love the Zinal and Mach X and have heard great things about the Rocket X 2 |
Sam Winebaum | Tiny Topo is my brand of the year for 3 fantastic road shoes in Cyclone 2, Atmos, and Specter, none with plates and none needed, and for the continued evolution of their trail line. Dynamic underfoot with genuine PEBAX in the mix and always with the best fitting truly anatomical uppers. adidas finally moved away from over aggressive Adizero shoes with Boston 12, and the beyond bold Prime X 2 Strung and the lightest racer ever in EVO. Supernova Rise finally gave them a modern, more mainstream daily trainer. ASICS took big risks with their legacy and business vital Nimbus and Kayano trainers and introduced the max max cushioned Superblast and it all worked in the market. Saucony for consistent gradual improvement although they haven’t quite nailed the top end race shoe for me, yet…but Endorphin Pro 4 is on the way. And late in 2023 our tests of 5 different Merrell trail shoes have them in an early lead for 2024. |
Saucony and New Balance tie for Overall Run Brand of the Year with four first place votes each with Saucony edging out New Balance at the next level with 2 more honorable mentions. adidas follows with 3 first place votes with Topo and ASICS tying with two first place votes and 3 honorable mentions each.
| What races, routes, run discoveries, training methods, challenges of any kind were most significant in 2023 for you and what are your 2024 goals. |
Ben David | Looking forward to running Berlin in September, where so much of my family is from |
Markus Zinkl | My goal 2024 is to get my running legs back up to speed, after a mediocre 2023. Goals this year are a spring marathon and a first mountain ultra. |
Nils Scharff | For 2024 I want to take a little break from the Marathon distance and focus on my speed in the first half of the year. I plan quite a 10k - racing season in March and April and hope to improve on my base-speed by cutting maybe 1-2 minutes of my 10k time. In my mind I then can build onto this new speed and hopefully chase down another PB during a fall marathon. |
Jeremy Marie | I can now relax a little bit and stop putting useless pressure on my training, going back to the simple joy of doing sport after having fallen in a rabbit hole with the Ironman thing. But for now, I need to heal an injury which I hope won't be too serious so that I can enjoy 2024...the first goal will be a mountainous triathlon around Annecy (Alpsman) and I'll probably try the CCC lottery ! |
Mike Postaski | In 2023 I was really able to dial in my overnight running for very long distances. I also upped my training volume quite a bit and was able to get super fit. The Boise Trails Challenge was an eye-opener for me as my body responded very well covering a big distance and time (221M over 3.5 days) with very little sleep. Perhaps multi-day events are on the horizon for me, but for sure I'm already looking at making a return to Backyard Ultras. |
Ryan Eiler | Finding new rail trails outside Boston has made workouts more enjoyable, predictable, albeit with less elevation! Hoping to run a solid time at the 2024 Boston Marathon in April. |
Jeff Valliere | There are really too many great runs and discoveries of new routes on local mountains here at home in Boulder, mountains of Colorado, Utah, Washington, Montana and Wyoming to count. This year I also surpassed 2,000 recorded summits of Green Mountain here in Boulder and have taken up Backcountry Skiing/Ski Mountaineering which has been a fun addition to running. |
Michael Ellenberger | 2024 will be very much a “wait and see” year for me, as I navigate parenting, work, and a return to training (two weeks completely off, and four weeks very nearly off, around Phoebe’s birth did set me back quite a bit!)… but I may be coaxed out of retirement for at least a few small races. My new hometown has a 5K/10K double race that I’d like to win. Whether I return to the marathon and chase down a sub-2:20 remains to be seen! |
Dom Layfield | Planning to do a lot more weight training, cross-training, and plyometrics to try to improve my injury resilience. |
Joost De Raeymaeker | Having finished my USATF Level 2 Endurance certification, I've been coaching a bunch of local elites and also couch potatoes. People from all sorts of walks of life. I try to mix them for our weekly group training session and that has had the most amazing results, most of all in terms of non-running matters like outlook on life, work/training philosophy. One of the most important aspects of coaching is the support and life lessons you can teach and learn at the same time. Goals for 2024 (although this all depends on how my heel will feel): going for an age group victory in Boston, Comrades ultra marathon and the Wanda age group World Championships in Sydney in September, but don't hold me to any of it. |
Sally Reiley | I had possibly my best year competitively speaking in 2022, but 2023 was plagued with injury. I limped through the Boston Marathon in April with my first ever achilles tendinitis, possibly caused by too much time downhill skiing and not enough long run buildup on roads. Then I suffered another injury in another sport: tore my hamstring at the top ((literally a pain in the butt) playing tennis. I had to defer the Berlin Marathon but I went ahead and "ran" the WMM Age Group World Championships at Chicago Marathon at an easy pace rather than a race pace (and actually had a blast taking that relaxed approach!) Will work on getting my speed back by adding strength training so as to improve my injury resilience. After my 11th straight Boston in 2024 and then the weddings of two of my five kids, I plan to start training more seriously for racing success in a new age group. |
John Tribbia | A busy schedule meant more frequent runs from home in 2023, but I hope to find more variety in mountain peaks, trails, and roads outside of my familiar radius in 2024 |
Daniel Da Silva | In the 2023 Dubai Marathon I ran my marathon PR of 3:42:46, improving about 4 minutes from before. Not a major improvement, but given I was not fully recovered from my injury, I’ll take it. In 2024 I’ll focus on recovering and fully healing my injury to get back to marathon training later on. Will focus on shorter distances after my recovery. |
Jamie Hershfang | This year threw me more curveballs than I could swing. After struggling through 2 stress reactions in my femur in 2021, this year was about regaining confidence and trust in my body. However, I struggled with mono and hormonal imbalances at the start of 2023 that forced me to take another step back in my training. I reduced my intensity and focused on building volume and consistency for the rest of the year. I was signed up for a 50k at the end of this year, and got struck with covid leading into race week. I'm eager to get to starting lines in 2024 and looking to line up for a few big races, including a 100k in the spring. Cheers to health and learning from experience. |
Beto Hughes | Hybrid method will be my 2024 focus to improve my marathon times and prevent injuries. For 2024 I want to recover speed and gain muscle so a lot of work has to be done for this coming 2024!!! |
Alex Zvezdin | Running is my off-season cross training, so it's hard for me to mentally push and sign up for races. I truly need a reset after the skimo race season (January-April), but I'm also a bit competitive and definitely struggled with the feeling of missing out on great trail events in 2023. The contrast was harder to navigate; I ended up comparing myself a lot, especially with road runners, which doesn't really make sense (since I train for vertical efforts). Trail running in technical terrain helped me get over that by bringing my mid back to paying attention to the terrain and the adventure side of trail running. In 2024 I'd like to race a short trail distance and feel the same joy that fast solo efforts in the mountains bring me. |
Steve Gedwill | Will focus on more speed work this year, and longer tempo runs as I prepare for the Chicago Marathon in 2024. Will also run less flat routes in training. |
Adam Glueck | I’ve really enjoyed exploring all the trails in the Bay Area, racing my first timed Ultra, and look forward to racing more ultras and exploring more trails in 2024 |
Sam Winebaum | By early 2024 I should be back running after my knee injury. Darn, I missed the running but made up for it (somewhat) with long walks (by time) in my brace. During my rehab I also learned some “useful” non run PT exercises which I will continue, I promise, as I have never been much for anything other than running, hiking and nordic skiing! I hope to remain consistent week in week out with my training at about 35 miles per week as I was most of 2023 building back gradually focusing on shorter road races, an Alps trek this summer and my usual fall half marathons. |
Wishing everyone Wonderful Holidays and a Fast and Fun 2024 on all your Roads and Trails!
Thanks for following RoadTrailRun in 2023!
Please also check out Road Trail Run’s Best of Run Shoes 2023 articles:
Trail Shoes HERE
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