Some people may call it a speed day shoe, a tempo shoe, or just a plain out workout shoe. For us, performance trainers go a bit beyond just pushing the pace, offering a versatile ride that tackles everything from tempo runs to intervals to race-pace long runs. These can race, but are not quite as aggressive as racing flats or maximal super shoes. These can have features of super shoes, but are often either non-plated or non-carbon plated, and typically are relatively light.
HOW WE CHOSE
In this year's Best Of, we decided
to NOT have consensus picks as we couldn't come to terms with just
picking one shoe as the best daily trainer, or stability shoe, or
racing shoe of 2022. With so many variances and specifications for
runners, we decided to leave it a bit broader due to the differences in
many of the picks and let the shoes do the talking. For our Best Performance Trainer feature, our contributors considered shoes that suited them best for their workouts and goals for this past year. With many of us falling
into different situations, we hope our picks capture a wide scope of
runners with varying needs.
WRITER'S PICKS
CONTRIBUTOR RYAN FLUGAUR
For me, The Adidas Adizero Boston 11 was the shoe that I kept going back to. It was the shoe that I wished I could be wearing when testing out other shoes. Many people will likely be surprised I chose the Boston 11 but it fits my foot perfectly and works very well with my running mechanics. The Boston 11 is a shoe that gets better with mileage needing the first 70 miles for the “break in” period. However, this is an extremely durable shoe. I fully anticipate my pair to last 500 miles plus as I currently have around 250 miles on my pair and they display very little wear. As far as performance, the Boston 11 is fast, firm, and just keeps rolling forward. I would frequently forget about running as the shoe kept my foot moving forward thanks to the well-rockered sole and stiff carbon plates. I think an important aspect of the shoe is the well done lateral heel bevel integrated nicely into the firm energy rods. This provided a stable landing platform and guided my foot forward for push off. Another reason the shoe performed so well for me was the well fitting upper. The upper on the Boston 11 is not stretchy or forgiving, in fact, it is fairly stiff. When first putting on the Boston 11, I felt as though I was slipping my foot into a glove, the contours of the shoe fit me perfectly. This helped create a comfortable ride and really added to the enjoyment I experienced while runners. For those individuals where the Boston 11 does not fit quite right, they will likely experience the opposite effect as there is little play in the material and they will likely have an unpleasant fit. This is just another one of those reasons why each shoe will feel unique for different runners and signifies the importance of trying them on before buying. The Boston 11 is and will continue to be my go to shoe for tempo, fartlek, workout and daily mileage. It also stresses the importance of individuality and that runners and running styles are different. One shoe that works well for someone may not work well for others.
Don't be afraid to try something new. Running should be fun and shoes are a way to explore the sport and keep it fresh. The Adidas Adizero Boston 11 is not a shoe I would typically choose but it turned out to be a shoe I loved. I understand this becomes challenging with the rising cost of shoes and makes it even more important to find a great local running shoe store where you are able to try on shoes before purchasing. .
Honorable mention: ASICS Tri Noosa 14
Don't be afraid to try something new. Running should be fun and shoes are a way to explore the sport and keep it fresh. The Adidas Adizero Boston 11 is not a shoe I would typically choose but it turned out to be a shoe I loved. I understand this becomes challenging with the rising cost of shoes and makes it even more important to find a great local running shoe store where you are able to try on shoes before purchasing. .
Honorable mention: ASICS Tri Noosa 14
AUDIO ENGINEER BJ MCGEEVER
Saucony took one of the best shoes of the past two years and made it even better. Versions 1 & 2 were bouncy, snappy, and fast, but somewhat unstable in the heel. In version 3, they’ve widened the base throughout the midsole which gives a more cushioned yet more stable platform. It may have lost a little bit of the aggressiveness of the first couple models but it gained the ability to be used for a wider variety of runs. I can take these shoes all the way from easy pace to 5K pace with ease. Saucony’s PWRRUN PB foam is one of those that gives back more the harder & faster you run. They’re comfortable enough for long runs, but snappy enough for quick intervals.
Honorable Mention: Asics Tri Noosa 14
Honorable Mention: Asics Tri Noosa 14
This is going to be a bit of a controversial one being a sustainable $220 performance trainer. It’s a huge price tag for a shoe that features an upper that’s not going to sit well with everyone. However, if the fit is comfortable for your feet and you are looking for a non-plated performance trainer with a lot of aggression and versatility, this has been one of my absolute favorite shoes of 2022. It’s got amazing grip for the roads and does a really great job of tearing into the ground and letting you rip everything from easy to faster mileage. Being a firmer sole (though still cushioned) and an aggressively grippy outsole with wide forefoot, it leaves a good feeling of stability underfoot which I tend to need, especially for hill work and sharp turns I often have in my running spaces. I've put a lot of happy miles in the shoe and wouldn't hesitate to pull it out any day of the week. Mizuno did a really good job making a highly sustainable shoe that’s got huge performance to it. If they can work on bringing that price tag down big time, they are on the path towards something really special.
Honorable Mention: Saucony Endorphin Speed 3
CONTRIBUTOR ANDREA MYERS
The Specter checks so many boxes for what I look for in a performance trainer. I actually prefer to do workouts in non-plated shoes and I am constantly looking for more shoe options in this category. The fit of Topo shoes for me is unparalleled, with the wide toe box and higher volume upper providing enough space for comfortable toe splay without allowing foot translation inside the shoe. The Specter’s late toe spring works well with my mechanics, particularly for threshold and marathon pace intervals. The magic of the Specter is in the combination of the firmer midsole and the rocker geometry. The shoe rolls so smoothly at tempo-ish efforts and the thick, responsive midsole has a mild propulsive feeling at pushoff. I have done runs up to 15 miles in the shoe and I am consistently impressed by its ride and fit.
SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR DAVID SALAS
The performance trainer category was so good this year and this decision took me a bit to make. The Rebel 3 won the performance trainer of the year for me because of how well it turns over in road situations. The shoe is really lightweight and nimble while still providing good underfoot cushioning. The shoe maintains some flexibility up front while still giving some bounce from the FuelCell. The shoe could have been a little better on the track for me, but on road was one of my go-to shoes to grab for tempo runs, fartleks, and intervals. This is a shoe I could take upwards of about 15 miles with no issues and consistently warm up/workout/cooldown in.
Honorable mention: Topo Specter
Honorable mention: Topo Specter
SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR NATHAN BROWN
There’s something so nice about a simple shoe. The Tri Noosa has a fully Flytefoam midsole sculpted into a moderately stiff, moderately rockered forefoot. It’s a shoe where I feel connected to the ground for harder workouts yet it feels protective and rolls along really well due to the rockered forefoot. On top you get, in my opinion, ASICS most comfortable upper that locks down well. They provide both regular laces and bungee laces so you can select which mode you prefer (I go with bungee for easy on and off). It also is on the lighter end, making it easy to turn over quickly.
Honorable Mention: Saucony Endorphin Speed 3
Honorable Mention: Saucony Endorphin Speed 3
CHIEF EDITOR MATT KLEIN
This shoe was a surprise for me given how much I disliked the first version. However, Puma was able to really turn things around and make a fantastic performance trainer in version two. The Deviate 2 fits me true to size with a slightly snug but secure upper that was surprising given how light it is. The new midsole features a large amount of Nitro Elite foam combined with rearfoot Nitro foam, making for a responsive and fast ride when the pace picks up. The carbon plate is extremely stiff and initially gave me some forefoot pain after longer and slower efforts, but once it broke in, it was a comfortable shoe I could use for uptempo efforts and faster workouts. The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is a great companion shoe to use to save your super shoes for race day that brings the best of racers and trainers together.
Honorable Mention: Asics Superblast
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for our next Best Of feature on Stability and Stable Neutral shoes, coming soon.
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