SHOE GUIDE
The RW test team put in the miles to evaluate the latest shoes on the market, selecting the 22 pairs most worthy of your attention and the best of the best as our award winners. Time to find your perfect fit
AUTUMN/ WINTER 2023
01 Saucony Kinvara Pro
TYPE Neutral
PRICE £200
WEIGHT 269g (M), 240g (W)
HEEL-TOE DROP 8mm
THE KINVARA ALWAYS USED TO BE Saucony’s lightweight, low-profile racer. The Kinvara Pro is none of those things. Instead, it’s an everyday training shoe with next-generation maximal cushioning and a carbon plate. Though the 42mm stack in the heel is so high, it’s technically over the legal limit for racing.
Yet the surprising result is a genuine all-rounder. This is a shoe you can run fast or slow in, and still get the same lovely pep and bounce. The 3/4 length carbon plate and the gentle rock towards toe-off that the curved midsole brings make them feel good during a speed session, yet also kind on tired legs. The key is that unlike some plated shoes, you don’t have to work too hard to get that snappy transition, which helps enormously at those slower paces. That big wodge of Pwrrun midsole also helps give a plush but responsive ride.
The weight of the cushioning does mean they’re not the lightest shoe – but they’re fantastically comfortable. Our testers reported no hotspots at all, and they had no reservations about reaching for these on their longest runs. They fit true to size, with plenty of room in the forefoot, a plush tongue and a precise lacing system allowing for a tailored fit.
RUNNER'S WORLD 2023 EXPERT TESTED UK
02 Mizuno Wave Rider 27
TYPE Neutral
PRICE £140
WEIGHT 280g (M), 235g (W)
HEEL-TOE DROP 12mm
IF YOU WERE JUDGING A SHOE on looks alone, you’d be forgiven for assuming the Wave Rider 27 would feel a touch heavy or a little flat underfoot. But you’d be wrong, because this is a deceptively good and lightweight trainer you can use every day.
The ride is smooth, stable and springy, with enough cushioning to keep you comfortable on easy runs and longer efforts. The latest update of an already popular shoe also has a new heel counter that locks your foot into the platform better than the previous model, with no slippage or irritation around the heel.
Another key update is in the upper material, which again helps create a more locked-in fit – though on the other hand, the robust and thicker material does feel slightly on the hot side in warmer weather.
The shoe’s X10 carbon rubber outsole has good grip on slippery surfaces. That being said, the high 12mm drop won’t be for everyone – this is definitely a shoe for the slower end of your runs as picking up the pace
