Fitness / October 26, 2023

The Best Marathon Shoes of 2023 to Run Your Next PR

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Running a marathon is an athletic achievement, there’s no denying it. It isn’t easy, it isn’t pretty, but humans have been attempting the feat for millennia. However, there’s never been a better time to gear up and go the distance, with swathes of races around the world, top of the line technical training and racing gear, and a golden era of shoe technology available to runners everywhere.

Without a doubt, the most important piece of gear to consider when attempting to run 26.2 miles is your choice of shoes. Luckily, we have you covered. Here are the best running shoes for marathons, including our top pick, the Adidas Adios Pro 3.

What Makes the Best Marathon Shoes

Are marathon running shoes really all that different from the rest? Short answer: yes. Shoes designed for marathon racing are lighter and more propulsive with the trade-off of higher cost and less durability.

However, the fastest ones are nicknamed “super shoes” for a reason. Shoes at higher price points typically come with more advanced materials and regularly updated engineering, which lead to improved athletic performance. Researchers published in the Human Kinetics Journal recently discovered that super shoes provide physiological benefits even when running at slower speeds. While some running shoes can serve dual purposes, many on this list excel at one aspect of your marathon plan.

Marathon Training Shoes

Everyday running shoes generally feature more built up midsoles and outsoles, and are therefore usually heavier and more durable. That’s important because in the course of training for a marathon you will likely log a several hundred miles. Occasionally, but not always, training shoes will feature a thin sheet of plastic or carbon in the midsole for rigidity and propulsion. Find shoes that fit your foot shape and offer a blend of comfort and performance that feels appropriate for your training. That’s to say: If you’re just starting out, opt for comfort over performance.

Marathon Racing Shoes

Shoes designed for marathon racing all follow the same recipe: Minimal uppers, considerable stack height (with some heel to toe drop), a carbon or similarly stiff midsole shank, and a slim, tacky outsole. How companies like Nike, Adidas, and Saucony employ these features vary, but the results are undeniable. All of our top picks are super fast, very light, and comfortable from mile one through 26.2.

How We Tested the Best Marathon Running Shoes

Our team of runners tested 26 pairs of shoes before choosing the 10 on our best-of list. Each of us is training for a marathon, but we’ll be completing them at vastly different speeds. Some of us are elite runners, and some (me) are not. We tested each in a variety of conditions and made sure to run both speed workouts and distance in all of our top picks to get a sense of versatility. And despite our differing abilities, this was a super easy list to create because there was so much consensus.

I broke the best marathon shoes into two categories: racing and training. In each, our team of testers found a pick for every type of runner looking to tackle running’s most famous distance. The best part about selecting two or three pairs off this list is that each should last you at least a couple seasons of consistent use. My go-to trio right now includes the New Balance SuperComp Trainer 2 for general training, the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 for racing, and the Brooks Glycerin 20 for recovery runs.

The Best Marathon Shoes of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Best Marathon Racing Shoes Best Overall Racer: Adidas Adios Pro 3 Adidas Adios Pro 3

Nathan Lemin

This was the Men’s Journal team’s top pick for racing in our 2023 roundup of best running shoes, and it remains our favorite for the marathon distance. The Adios Pro 3 strikes a brilliant balance between speed, weight and comfort. At 7.7 ounces, it is ever-so-slightly heavier than the Nike and Saucony below (6.5 ounces and 7.2 ounces respectively), but we felt that weight lent to a slightly better outsole and an excellent midsole. The EnergyRods 2.0 midsole shank is actually a sort of multi-fingered setup that creates a really subtle blend of stiffness and flex, creating propulsion that doesn’t feel overly rigid. The only real drawback our team experienced with this shoe is its “wobbliness” due to the unique forefoot void in the outer part of your toe box. Oh, and it runs narrow, so either size up or look at the Saucony below.

Pros:

Super fast, testers described them as “snappy” and “propulsive.”
Performed well in rain.
Comfortable with right foot shape.

Cons:

Outer forefoot cutout creates some wobbliness/instability
May not fit wider feet well.
Not our favorite lacing system.

[$250; amazon.com]

Lightest Shoe: Nike VaporFly 3 Nike Vaporfly 3

Nathan Lemin

Perhaps the most famous super shoe on the list, the Nike VaporFly 3 has rightfully earned its reputation. Popularized by Eluid Kipchoge’s seemingly endless string of records, the VF3 is yet another upgrade to an already elite racer. At 6.5 ounces, these shoes feel practically weightless on your feet, which empowers runners both fast and slow to pick up their pace. I’m the slowest runner on our testing team, and in these shoes it was easy to smash my typical training times. Other testers were surprised at how comfortable these were, and one is planning to wear them for the New York City Marathon this year. The ZoomX foam lends a bit more softness than other racers, which was a welcome comfort especially on long runs. One caveat: The upper material is a little stiff out of the box, but after a couple of runs the shoes loosened up.

Pros:

Extremely comfortable sole design.
Feather light.
Approachable super shoe.

Cons:

Outsole not particularly durable.
Upper materials need a break in period.

[$270; nike.com]

Best for Wide Feet: Saucony Endorphin Elite Saucony Endorphin Elite

Courtesy Image

Here’s the tricky thing about racing shoes: They often fit more snugly than other shoes of the same size by the same brands. Indeed, many times I order a half size up in racers. But not so with the Saucony Endorphin Elite. These fit our testers with wider feet super well, and those runners were grateful for a super shoe that felt designed more for their feet. Testers also noted a satisfying “pop” when running in this thanks to the PWRRUN HG foam and divided carbon plate, which felt decidedly less squishy than other racers like the Nikes. If you prefer a stiffer ride or have a wider foot, this is very likely the racer for you. One drawback was limited stability in tight corners due to a thick stack height.

Pros:

A perfect racer for wider feet.
Sharp and speedy looks.

Cons:

Testers with narrow feet found lacing difficult.
Not very stable when cornering.

[$275; amazon.com]

Best Trail Racer: Hoka Tecton X 2 Hoka Tecton X 2

Nathan Lemin

I’ve been running and hiking in the Tecton X 2 all summer and it has served me beautifully in every endeavor. This shoe, designed for trail racing, features a carbon shank like many of the road racers. This lends to a stiff feeling sole, but I found it to have plenty of flex and tread to help grip unstable terrain. One tester noted that this shoe felt pretty narrow on his feet. If I had to order again, I’d likely size up half a size for a more versatile fit. The only other hesitation I have, is that over very long distances, the lack of stack height could start to become tiresome on your feet.

Pros:

Super nimble and fast.
Very grippy tread pattern.
Durable upper.

Cons:

Narrow.
Not a ton of stack, so longer ultras or rocky trail marathons might take a toll on feet.

[$225; hoka.com]

Pure Speed: Nike AlphaFly 2 Nike AlphaFly 2

Nathan Lemin

If speed is your only need, then the AlphaFly 2 is the best of the bunch. None of our testers chose this as their overall favorite in the end, but every single one of us noted how fast these were. Because of that speed, I had a blast training in these, especially on shorter, faster workouts where I could let loose a bit. The trade off is versatility. On one recovery run, I tried these out and found them actually preventing me from keeping my pace (and subsequently heart rate) in the zone I was aiming for. I, along with another tester, also experienced some rubbing in the inner arch and forefoot areas. These aren’t for every foot, but they’re undeniably fast.

Pros: