The year is nearly half over and that means I’ve tested a lot of running shoes. I’ve tested trail running shoes built for rugged adventures and big, bouncy road running shoes meant for springing off the tarmac with each step. At one point, the pile of boxes in my bedroom filled with shoes waiting to be unleashed towered almost as tall as me. I’ve tested a few pairs that I really didn’t like and a lot that were good enough to recommend to others for various reasons, while just three stand out as contenders for best of 2023 so far.
For reference when deciding whether any of these shoes is the right pick for you, I will run on tarmac but prefer not to. I love running on trails, be it gravel, dirt, mud or grass. I do a little mountain running, but prefer to hike on the steep stuff and find rolling hills to pick up the pace on. I tend to run for around 10k at a time, though I’m not averse to adding a couple of kilometers if there’s a lovely loch or viewpoint worth seeing. I’m a heel striker and I take my time, running roughly three times a week.
