The SHOES of 2023
Every year our Podiatrists give footwear advice to thousands upon thousands of patients. We make it our business to understand shoes, who makes them, what shoes work for whom, and what shoes don’t work.
2023 was a year of major changes for the footwear industry. HOKA have a major dominance in the running shoe market with an ever increasing gain in the casual or walking shoe market. As a result, it would seem that footwear companies are all (for the large part) attempting to emulate the look and function of HOKA based footwear. You do not need to look any further than the changes made to the BROOKS GHOST MAX and ASICS GT 2000 for excellent examples of this.
In our opinion, 2023 will be remembered as the year that footwear companies softened all shoes as a general rule - which increases comfort, however that also sacrifices durability and support, as the current softening trend causes shoes to wear more quickly on general daily use.
Walking/Running Shoes:
THE WINNER FOR 2023: ASICS GT 2000-12 - after what can be described as a major turn around, the difference between the GT-11 and GT-12 is seemingly night and day. 2023 seen a return to form for this shoe, even though the price tag did increase a small amount. The new GT 2000-12 is largely a HOKA BONDI clone - although the stability “Z” bar has not made a return, ASICS has stabilized the shoe with great medial and lateral support rails and a technical neutral style rearfoot/heel position. It is well padded, (verging on slightly too soft), however the shoe itself is a delight to wear and run in. Since its release we have noticed minimal injuries in our walkers/runners who use this shoe, and the shoe takes an appropriately made custom foot orthoses extremely well. Its a great all round shoe for daily walking, exercise and shorter runs sub 14kms. The price point is a little higher retailing for around $230, however you can often find it on sale for as low as $180 at certain times of the year.
Runner Up: Brooks Ghost - 15 - Runner up yet again, the Brooks Ghost cant seem to nab the top spot! The Ghost 15 is a significant improvement on last years 14 model. It remains largely aesthetically similar, with better colour ranges (with the digital camouflage being amongst our favourites). It is still built for the slightly narrower foot, however it also comes in multiple width fittings as well as an OFF ROAD version which is waterproof using GORTEX. The Ghost 15 is still slightly soft, and the medial and lateral rail systems could again be made more stable. It is still very suitable for orthotics of all sorts (from custom to off the shelf), has plenty of cushioning and again is a good middle distance shoe for runners and comfortable day to day shoe for the rest of us. Suited to walkers and runners of normal weight/mass this shoe is NOT BUILT for the more hefty amongst us, and if you are above 80kgs, there are far better options for you.
Achievement Award - VIMAZI (https://vimazi.com) - literally this shoe came out of left field in 2023. With a medical advisory including the legendary Podiatrist Dr Simon Bartold, this shoe has an extreme amount of potential. With a unique business supply model, and a very unique perspective of which shoe is right for which patient, the Vimazi may be a force to contend with in coming years. It will either rise to the top and cement its place as a real competitor in amongst the major footwear players, or it will fizzle out like a $5 firecracker on new years eve, going as fast as it came. Either way, if you are a competitive runner, competitive walker or even a casual walker/runner who wants to try something other than the usual big players - you should give VIMAZI and look. We can order these shoes direct for patients at very competitive prices, so please speak to our Podiatrists if you are a patient and this may interest you.
Worthy Mentions - The good old BROOKS BEAST, ARIEL and ADDICTION - something has to be said with regards to longevity and with Brooks introducing the BROOKS ADDICTON NEUTRAL WALKER to their line up, these shoes still impress. These are for the patient that requires maximum stability and they have a larger mass than normal. Multiple width options, multiple depth options and still in 2023 a top performer.
How could we not menton the BROOKS GHOST MAX - seriously, what a shoe. Its early days with this stunning piece of footwear, but at the clinic we have tried it, and everyone who wears it says WOW. Is this a contender for the top shoe of 2024? Its definitely worth a look if you like a softer ride that is stable. It also comes in wider fittings and I can personally attest that it has been a joy to wear over the last 8 weeks or so. Time will tell how it holds up.
Please be aware - this list does change - and not every shoe is suitable for each individual. he advice above is generalized, and it is always worth having an appointment with one of our Podiatrists to make sure what will and will not work. Remember the average lifespan for a SHOE is 800kms of wear time.