Disclaimer: The Run Testers sometimes use affiliate links. This means that we may receive payment if you buy products on our website or YouTube. Our use of affiliates supports the channel and does not affect how we review shoes, tech or gear.
The Kiprun Kipride Max is one of the best cushioned running shoes we’ve tested, and in the UK it’s also exceptionally good value. It’s a max-stack shoe with a comfortable and bouncy ride, and a great option for beginners and experienced runners alike.
There are only a couple of cushioned shoes that rival or outperform the Kipride Max, in our view, like the Nike Vomero Plus and New Balance 1080v15. If you’re in need of a max-cushioned cruiser that isn’t overly heavy or mushily soft, the Kipride Max is one of the best running shoes you can get.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £120/$160
- Weight: 300g/10.6oz (men’s UK 9.5 / US 10.5)
- Drop: 8mm
- Stack: 42mm heel, 36mm forefoot
- Upper: Warp-knit upper
- Midsole: Softtech+ foam – blend of EVA, PEBA, and OBC materials
- Outsole: Rubber on forefoot, heel and lateral midfoot
Kiprun Kipride Max review
How’s The Fit
Nick and Kieran tested the Kiprun Kipride Max for our review and were unable to test their normal size, with Nick going half a size up and Kieran half a size down. Overall we’d recommend sticking to your normal size, or maybe even going half a size down with the shoe. The upper is comfortable and for a cushioned shoe it’s also enjoyable flexible, especially around the heel – no unpleasantly rigid heel counters here.
Check out more of the best marathon running shoes
The Run Test: Likes
One thing that we’re not a fan of with many max-cushioned shoes is that the midsole is just designed to be soft and protective, which can create a mushy ride that saps energy. That’s not at all the case with the Kipride Max, which has an enjoyable energetic feel underfoot, and provides a lot of energy return even at slow paces.
It’s still a highly comfortable shoe as well, thanks to the big stack of foam underfoot, but that foam has been shaped well so the Kipride Max doesn’t feel overly large or cumbersome, with a smooth rocker and what feels like an almost nimble design compared with other max-stack options.
While it’s at its best when ticking along at easy paces, the Kipride Max is a bit more versatile than many cushioned shoes and you can speed up in it quite comfortably. Its main role would be as the cushioned daily trainer in a rotation, but one-shoe or new runners who want a comfortable option to do everything in will find it works well.
It also feels like a very durable shoe, something that Kiprun is renowned for, and it’s excellent value in the UK where it undercuts most max-cushioned shoes by £30-70. It’s decent value in the US as well, where it will go on sale in April.
The Run Test: Dislikes
Truthfully there’s very little we didn’t like about the Kipride Max, though we’d have liked its US price to be as god value as its UK price. It is worth noting that this is still a fairly heavy cushioned shoe, so not the fastest on the market, but that’s the case with all cushioned shoes.
There are some cushioned options that do have a bit more bounce in their midsole, though none vastly outperform the Kipride Max on this front. The R.A.D UFO and Nike Vomero Plus are both exceptionally springy options though.
The fit is a bit confusing too, and if you can try the Kipride Max on in store to ensure you get the right fit then that would be good. Nick found it didn’t quite line up with the sizing on other Kiprun shoes he’s tested.
Verdict And Alternatives
The Kiprun Kipride Max is an excellent max-cushioned running shoe and one of the first big hits of 2026. It’s a shoe that should help Kiprun reach a wider audience, since it delivers a high level of performance at a great price, and should prove very durable as well.
Kieran rates it as his favourite cushioned shoe for eating up the miles during marathon training right now, while Nick slightly prefers the Nike Vomero Plus, but has the Kipride Max above pretty much everything else, including well-established cushioned shoes like the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 and Saucony Triumph 23.
Get the sizing right and the Kipride Max is a great option for your rotation for logging long and easy runs, and if you’re a new runner, we rate this among the best beginner running shoes thanks to its enjoyable, comfortable ride.