Shoe Reviews

When it comes to conquering the trails and exploring the great outdoors, having the right footwear is essential. For trail runners seeking comfort, protection, and top-notch performance, we've compiled a list of the best-cushioned trail running shoes 2023. These shoes have been put to the test and have proven themselves on various terrains and challenging conditions.

(c) Runner’s Tribe Sick of hearing about “Energy Return”?   Wondering what it is? Read on. Shoe companies are always up to something.  The trends that marketing...

The design of the ACTIBREEZE™ HYBRID SANDAL has been revamped from its predecessor to offer even better preparation from one performance to the next. It now features a 3D printed footbed, parametrically designed in an extra-thick lattice structure to provide advanced breathability and zoned comfort. 

The most famous daily trainer of them all, the Nike Pegasus, is back with their 36th edition. For those who loved the Peg 35 then you can rejoice, as the 36 has only some very minor tweaks.

Nike are the kings at marketing, among other things. And few shoes exemplify this more than the Infinity React. Nike’s marketing machine had people spinning with talk about injury risk reduction. They cited an external study by the British Columbia Sports Medicine Research Foundation (BCSMRF) on 226 runners using the Nike React Infinity Run as well as the Nike Structure 22. It indicated that runners using the former had a 52% lower injury rate. It’s an area in which more research is required. So, is this all complete BS, or are the shoes legit? Runner’s Tribe took them through 310kms and below is our unpaid for review.

Under Armour are a company on the rise – quite literally, its stock price is rocketing, and their running shoes too – are on the up. The UA HOVR Machina 2 is a high-tech running shoe. With a propulsion plate made from Pebax, it also ‘coaches you in real-time’ via a Bluetooth chip that  connects to UA MapMyRun™. A neutral high mileage trainer, the Machina is a durable, safe shoe for crunching out those long runs. We whacked 110K into our pair, below is the rundown.

The On Cloudflyer is designed for runners who enjoy a decent amount of support, ON refer to it as 'supreme support'.  Without being a maximally cushioned shoe (check out the Cloudstratus or the Cloudace for a little more cushion), with stack heights of 20mm (forefoot) and 27mm (heel), it packs enough cushioning for most runners, but is still ways off the max cushioned shoes such as the HOKA Bondi or Asics Glideride. Runner’s Tribe were lucky enough to put a pair of Cloudflyers through their paces. Below is our review.

ASICS today announces the launch of the latest stability running shoe, the GT-2000TM 11. The highly versatile and reliable trainer offers outstanding cushioning, support and stability, for a comfortable run.  

The Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind – that is one long name – is a fun, lightweight trainer. Designed for those who enjoy some ground feel. With no outsole rubber, just a one-piece midsole (with a rubberised bottom), it saves weight, and is fun. A shoe in the same class as say the Saucony Kinvara or the New Balance Beacon; awesome for tempo runs, thresholds and shorter training sessions.

Another year, another Hoka Clifton, perhaps Hoka’s most popular shoe. A highly cushioned, neutral high mileage trainer. A workhorse for endless miles.  HOKA called it their ‘Ultra comfortable go to daily runner’ – it’s hard to argue with that Not designed for speed, but for long distances or easy runs. The Clifton 7 is very similar to the Clifton 6 – a nice, soft, lightweight, cushioned ride. The only significant changes are a new upper (mesh) and various minor changes to it’s last/upper/heel counter. The differences between the 6 and 7 are pretty much negligible, some minor tweaks, but hardly noticeable. Runner’s Tribe took these shoes through 110km of mostly road and light trail running, and below is our unpaid for analysis.