The Most Expensive Running Shoes For Sale in 2023

Race day shoes used to be the only ones who could demand two Ben Franklins. But it's a new era. We've got $180 daily trainers dropping left and right, and race day shoes are creeping up to $300. Because of this, we're bargain hunters here at Supwell when it comes to running shoes (shameless plug: subscribe to the YouTube for daily running shoe deals), but we also like to keep our finger on the pulse of what's happening across the wide world of performance running shoes. To get a sense of where prices are headed, we took stock of the market and found the most expensive shoes out there today. 

The Most Expensive Running Shoes in 2023 

To find our list, we looked at the most expensive shoes across each of our five core running shoe categories: race day shoes, trail shoes, uptempo shoes, recovery running shoes and daily trainers. We only considered dedicated performance running shoes, not streetwear sneakers like Yeezys or designer shoes that kinda sorta look like you can run in them. By looking across categories, we also avoided having the list be stuffed with $250 carbon fiber road racing shoes. Without further adieu, here are the most expensive running shoes on the market today.

1. APL Techloom Zipline ($320): Most Expensive Road Shoe

The APL Techloom Zipline is a fashion sneaker that you can actually run in. It's odd that fashion brands now create shoes that look as ugly as real running shoes but without any of the performance benefits (have you seen the Asics knockoffs from Christian Dior?). The APL Techloom Zipline is not that. It's the opposite. It's a sneaker by a fashion brand that looks better than a running shoe—and has legit running chops. The Techloom Zipline doesn't have any particularly fancy tech that justifies the $300 pricetag, but it does have an EVA-based midsole that's gotten positive reviews from the folks at Believe in the Run.

2. Speedland GS:TAM ($310): Most Expensive Trail Super Shoe

The Speedland GS:TAM is a max cushioned trail racing shoe shoe. It costs $275 without a carbin forber plate and $310 witha $35 Carbitex plate included. The monstrous price is explained by the full PEBA midsole, which is bouncy, lightweight and responsive similar to Saucony PWRRUN PB.

3. Adidas Prime X Strung ($300): Most Expensive Max Cushion Recovery Running Shoe

The Prime X Strung is one of the tallest shoes on the market with the heel sitting over 50mm. It has a massive stack of Lightstrike Pro foam and a unstable platform from having such a high height combined with a thin heel. It's a bit of an experimental shoe for Adidas, but it looks to be a success—as v2 is slated to release later this summer.

4. On Cloudboom Echo 3 ($290): Most Expensive Super Shoe

Most carbon fiber road racing and marathon shoes are priced at $250, with a select few we included here priced at $275. On's bucking that price paradigm with the Cloudboom Echo 3, launching it at $290. It has no real differentiating features from any other super shoe on the market—other than that its from the Swiss running brand that likes to apply a 15% to 30% price premium on all their models. We will see how that strategy works out here, as race day buyers are different from buyers of daily trainers like the Cloudmonster and Cloudsurfer.

5. Norda 002 ($295): Most Expensive Non-Plated Trail Shoe

Norda is a boutique Canadian running brand that focuses on creating high-quality shoes for the trails. The 002 is their second release and it's designed to have a more nimble, lower profile feel. The reason for the high price here is Norda's higher relative development costs due to their position as a small brand and also from the use of Dyneema—a material stronger than steel—in the midsole.

6. Norda 001 ($285): Second Most Expensive Non-Plated Trail Shoe

The 001 was Norda's first entry into the running shoe game and their first product as a company. It has a thicker stack of Vibram foam midsole and is designed for ultra efforts. We've started to see this go on sale here and there with the introduction of the 002, but Norda claims the 001 isn't getting replaced by the new model.

7. Nike Alphafly Next% 2 ($275): T-2nd Most Expensive Super Shoe

The Alphafly Next% 2 is the same shoe model that Eliud Kipchoge wore when he set the marathon world record in Berlin. It uses a full carbon fiber plate combined with the soft and bouncy ZoomX foam that changed the race day shoe game—and the cherry on bottom is an Air Zoom unit in the forefoot that helps with pop. With most race day shoes sitting at $250 and below, and Nike's own Vaporfly at that price point, it makes sense that the Alphafly is $25 more with the added tech.

8. Saucony Endorphin Elite ($275): T-2nd Most Expensive Super Shoe

The Endorphin Elite was introduced earlier this year as king of the Saucony road running range. It has a new foam in it called PWRRUN HG, which is a supercritical PEBA similar. It also has a more aggressive forefoot rocker than the Pro 3 and uses a slotted carbon plate. With the new foam added, the $50 price point is justified—the shoe has also gotten many reviews that it feels faster than the Pro.

9. Asics Superblast ($200): T-Most Expensive Uptempo Shoe 

The ASICS Superblast has an illegal stack height of 45.5. It uses ASICS FF Turbo superfoam to provide a responsive ride, forgoing the plate that many uptempo use. The price point is justified from the inclusion of that super foam.

10. Nike Tempo Next% ($200): T-Most Expensive Uptempo Shoe

The Tempo Next% was released by Nike to be the daily training companion to the Alphafly. It never reached its feel popularity potential with runners, but it lives on as an expensive uptempo shoe (that will likely see deep discounts soon. This is an OK option for Nike loyalists, but there are other more comfortable, versatile and lightweight shoes for $40 or more cheaper.

11. Brooks Aurora-BL ($200): Tied for Most Expensive Daily Trainer

The Aurora-BL came out in 2021 as Brooks attempt to reinvigorate their brand image and push tech forward. The shoe had a new midsole foam, DNA Loft v3, plus a futuristic design with a two-piece midsole. This price premium here likely isn't justified anymore as new models and foams have flooded the market that can accomplish the same thing at a cheaper price (Saucony Triumph for $160, Novablast 3 for $140, Altra Vanish Tempo at $170)

12. Tracksmith Eliot Runner ($198): Tied for Most Expensive Daily Trainer

We're going to call this one a tie since there's a $2 price difference. The Tracksmith Eliot is the Boston boutique's first shoe and is built with a dual-Pebax midsole. That choice to include a premium running foam—and the name brand version, at that—is what's driving up the price. Plus, Tracksmith tends to price their items higher than other brands.

Bonus: Brandblack Kaiju (MSRP $235)

The Brandblack Kaiju is a max cushioned trainer from trendy LA-based footwear proprieters. While the looks skew fashion, the construction and materials have serious performance running chops. The upper is a lightweight material that provides a solid lockdown, and the midsole is a supercritical EVA compound that's bouncy and cushioned. The team behind the brand is formerly from Skechers run unit, which pioneered supercritical shoes, so they certainly know what they're doing. The reasion this is a bonus and not included in the main list is that while MSRP is $235 but price at most places has been discounted below $200.

Final Thoughts

We typically look for the lowest deal, but there's also value to be had at the high-end of the spectrum. The shoes on this list are packed with the last tech, experimental foams and unique running experiences. You won't be doing your wallet any favors, but it might be fun to run in one or two of these if you have the chance (or the money).

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