The softest running shoes on the market

Best for neutral runners seeking a highly cushioned shoe with more traditional geometry

If you are looking for a plush, highly cushioned daily trainer that can go the distance, you’ll love the new Triumph 23. Much of this cushioning performance comes from the updated PWRRUN PB midsole, which delivers a surprisingly soft, yet bouncy, underfoot feel (plus it’s lighter than the previous iteration of the shoe). This midsole is now mated to a new and noticeably lighter outsole that encourages a more fluid and natural ride. Looking at the numbers, the Triumph 23 carries over its more traditional geometry by offering a 10 mm drop (37 mm heel and 27 mm forefoot stack). These versatile dimensions will work for most runners, and will be appreciated most by traditional heel-strikers. Up top, Saucony has spec’d a new engineered upper with a plushly padded tongue and heel collar. This combination delivers a solid and secure fit while retaining adequate ventilation. This is an excellent update to a classic cushioned shoe and should be on the list for any runner looking for a light, highly cushioned shoe for daily training and longer runs.

Best for runners seeking maximum cushioning and responsiveness

With its dual-cell, nitrogen-infused foam midsole, the Glycerin Max delivers exceptional cushioning without compromising the responsiveness you need when you pick up the pace. The shoe achieves these seemingly contradictory qualities with its unique dual-sized cell construction in the midsole. Larger cells are used in the heel for better cushioning, while smaller cells in the forefoot provide surprisingly responsive toe-offs. The addition of a Brooks GlideRoll Rocker geometry adds to the overall responsive feel by encouraging smooth and fast transitions. For the upper, Brooks has employed a tried-and-true engineered triple jacquard textile that securely hugs your foot while allowing for excellent breathability. As you would expect with a maximal shoe, the Glycerin Max has a very generous 45.25-mm heel stack and a 39.25-mm forefoot stack, resulting in 6 mm of drop. If you are in the market for a maximalist training shoe that does not sacrifice responsiveness, check out the Glycerin Max.

Best for runners seeking a proven, highly cushioned daily trainer

The Gel-Nimbus 27 continues its legacy as one of the best cushioned shoes on the market. The latest version adds 2 mm of Asics’ FF Blast Plus Eco foam in the midsole, resulting in even more cushioning. Asics has also updated the upper with a new, lighter and more breathable jacquard mesh textile for greater comfort in warm conditions. The 2 mm increase in the midsole has obviously upped the stack height numbers, with the men’s registering at 43.5 mm in the heel and 35.5 mm in the forefoot. (The women’s version is 42.5 mm in the heel and 34.5 mm in the forefoot.) Runners familiar with the numbers will instantly understand that the Gel Nimbus 27 is a maximalist shoe and, not surprisingly, delivers an exceptionally plush, shock-absorbing ride. If you are logging long, easy recovery miles or are just looking for a supremely cushioned daily trainer, check out the Gel-Nimbus 27.

Best for neutral runners seeking a highly cushioned and bouncy ride

Constructed with a unique Enerzy NXT midsole that consists of nitrogen-infused supercritical TPU foam, the Neo Zen delivers shockingly low weight (240 g, or 8.5 oz., or for men’s size 9), exceptional cushioning and a highly bouncy ride. The result is a shoe that offers excellent protection for daily training while delivering plenty of energy return to help you maintain your pace during more spirited runs.From a numbers perspective, the Neo Zen features a 40-mm heel stack and a 34-mm stack in the forefoot, resulting in a 6-mm drop. These numbers clearly place the shoe in the maximal cushioning category, with a bias toward midfoot- and forefoot-striking runners. Mizuno has also incorporated its Smooth Speed Assist rocker geometry, which encourages a faster turnover and complements the shoe’s bouncy ride. For the upper, Mizuno has used a one-piece stretch knit textile with a seamless integrated tongue that delivers excellent breathability and a unique sock-like fit. As with many other Mizuno shoes, the Neo Zen employs an X10 carbon rubber outsole, which has proven to be durable and offers solid grip. If you are in the market for a maximal cushioning shoe that feels bouncy with sufficient energy return for faster training, check out the Neo Zen.

Best for runners seeking maximum cushioning and support

If you are looking for a plush, highly cushioned stability shoe, you need to check out the Hurricane 24. Built with a unique dual-cushioning midsole that features soft PWRRUN PB foam surrounded by a firmer layer of PWRRUN foam, the Hurricane 24 delivers a wonderful blend of cushioning and stability. This construction also avoids the somewhat obtrusive traditional medial post found in more conventional stability shoes. From a numbers perspective, the Hurricane 24 is clearly a max-cushion shoe; it has a 38 mm heel stack, 32 mm forefoot stack, and a 6 mm drop. In other words, very tried-and-true dimensions. Looking at the upper, Saucony has spec’d a durable and highly breathable engineered mesh that does an admirable job of hugging your foot. Finally, carefully placed rubber outsole pads provide excellent durability and traction, while avoiding excess weight.

Best for neutral runners seeking a plush and durable daily trainer

With its dual-cell, nitrogen-infused DNA-Tuned midsole, the Glycerin 22 provides a plush ride while still having enough bounce for faster-paced runs. Brooks achieves much of this balanced performance with its unique dual-sized cell midsole construction. The design uses larger cells in the heel for better cushioning, while smaller cells in the forefoot deliver efficient and responsive toe-offs. The Glycerin 22 retains a 10 mm drop (38 mm in the heel and 28 mm in the forefoot), a dimension that works for many runners and will be especially appreciated by heel strikers. For the upper, Brooks has employed a new double-jacquard air mesh textile, which offers a comfortable, foot-hugging fit while providing excellent ventilation when running in warm conditions. If you are a runner looking for a durable, well-cushioned yet responsive shoe for daily training, check out the Glycerin 22.

Best for neutral runners seeking a highly cushioned shoe for daily training

With its Fresh Foam X midsole compound, which now uses 3 per cent bio-based content, the 1080 v14 delivers the plush cushioning runners have come to expect from this neutral shoe. New Balance has employed some minor tweaks to the midsole geometry to provide a bit more stability without impeding the shoe’s bouncy and cushioned ride. The upper has also been updated with a new mesh that provides noticeably greater ventilation, which will be appreciated by runners training in warmer conditions. Things that have not changed are the shoe’s stack height and drop, which come in at 38 mm in the heel and 32 mm in the forefoot, for a 6 mm drop. These are solid numbers that provide predictable performance for many runners. Finally, the X 1080 v14 now sports even more NDurance rubber in high-wear outsole regions for improved durability. If you are looking for a plush neutral shoe for daily training, check out the 1080 v14 (and note, the shoe’s midsole is noticeably softer than the version that came after).

Best for runners seeking max cushioning for training and recovery runs

The Bondi 9 is not only lighter and more durable than its predecessor, but it now also offers even more cushioning. Hoka has updated the Bondi 9 midsole with an additional 2 mm of supercritical EVA foam, resulting in a supremely plush ride that’s perfect for long, easy runs and logging daily training miles. As a max-cushion shoe, no one will be shocked to know that the Bondi 9 has a substantial stack height (42 mm in the heel and 37 mm in the forefoot for the women’s model, while the men’s clocks in at 43 mm and 38 mm). That’s a lot of cushioning! Hoka has also updated the upper, which now features a 3D moulded heel collar that provides a more secure and comfortable fit. Speaking of fit, the Bondi 9 is ideal for runners with more slender feet, but may feel a bit snug for those who require more room in the forefoot. If, however, you have a narrow forefoot and are looking for an extremely well-cushioned shoe for training and recovery, the Hoka Bondi 9 may be perfect for you.

Best for runners seeking a responsive, cushioned shoe for fast workouts and longer runs

The new Hyperion Max 2 manages to hit a compelling running sweet spot by delivering enough responsiveness and propulsion for fast workouts while retaining the cushioning necessary for longer daily runs. Brooks has achieved this by updating the Hyperion Max 2 with a new midsole construction that features a PEBA SpeedVault plate for additional propulsion. The midsole also uses Brooks’ DNA Flash v2 foam, which is 10 per cent more responsive. These updates, combined with the shoe’s RapidRoll rocker geometry, deliver exceptional cushioning, increased responsiveness and faster heel-to-toe transitions. The stack height has also been increased by 4 mm in the heel and 6 mm in the forefoot, for extra softness and protection. While midsole updates may get most of the attention, it would be unfair to ignore the Hyperion Max 2’s new upper. Constructed with an engineered mesh, the new upper offers exceptional fit and breathability. If you are looking for a versatile shoe for fast workouts and longer runs, look no further.

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