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 best cushioned running shoes are designed to offer protection and comfort as a priority. While some of them will also be quite versatile, the main role of a cushioned running shoe is to protect the body and provide a plush ride.
We’ve been testing the top cushioned shoe from all the major running brands for decades. Some of the most popular and best running shoes on the market fall into this category, but given that almost all running shoes now have a lot of foam in the midsole, how do we define a cushioned shoe exactly?
For us it’s not just down to the amount of foam underfoot. After all, most of the best carbon plate running shoes for racing now have as high a midsole stack as cushioned training shoes.
Instead we consider a cushioned shoe one that is built to provide comfort above all, and primarily be used for training runs. For beginners and one-shoe runners a cushioned shoe might be the only one they use, but if you have a running shoe rotation it would be used alongside faster shoes for speed sessions and race days
If you head to our YouTube channel you can find more in-depth reviews of cushioned running shoes and comparisons of popular models, as well as other gear like the best running watches and running headphones.
Who Are The Run Testers?
We are a group of journalists who have been testing and reviewing running gear and tech for decades. There’s more info on the core team here, and if you keep a sharp eye out you’ll spot our bios and bylines on articles on a wide range of website and in magazines.
When it comes to cushioned shoes there are some popular lines that we’ve tested over 10 versions of, because models like the Asics Gel-Nimbus, Nike Pegasus and Brooks Glycerin have been around for even longer than us.
All this experience means we feel confident that the cushioned running shoes we recommend below will serve you well, no matter what kind of runner you are. You can get more info on what we class a cushioned shoe and why in this video podcast from last year, then read on for our current top picks.
The Best Cushioned Running Shoes 2026
Below you’ll find our favourite cushioned shoes available right now, along with our full video reviews of each from The Run Testers YouTube channel. In each category of cushioned shoe we’ve highlighted our two top picks, plus a couple of also-rans worth looking at. We’ll also add in our thoughts on any cushioned shoes we’ve tested after we did this video that merit inclusion.
Most of these shoes are the latest version of long-running popular lines so along with info on the latest shoe we’ll give our thoughts on whether it’s worth looking for deals on the previous model, since the updates brands make to new shoes are often quite minor.
Best Cushioned Running Shoes Overall
These are the cream of the crop, the standout cushioned running shoes that we think will suit most runners well if they’re looking for a protective and enjoyable ride.
Nike Vomero Plus
Price: £155/$180 | Weight: 300g/10.6oz (UK 9) | Drop: 10mm
The Nike Vomero Plus sits in the middle of Nike’s range of cushioned cruisers, offering a lighter and bouncier ride than the cheaper Nike Vomero 18, while the Nike Pegasus Premium ramps up both the cost and the cushioning with its wild 55mm stack height.
Check out more of the best Nike Running shoes
For our money, the Vomero Plus is the best of the bunch, with the high stack of ZoomX foam in the midsole delivering both comfort and bounce on the run. It’s great for racking up the miles on long and easy runs, but the Vomero Plus can also handle faster efforts too. It’s the perfect daily trainer for runners who just want one cushioned shoe, and a great rotation option for picking up the bulk of your easy miles.
Check out our full Nike Vomero Plus review
Puma Magnify Nitro 3
Price: £260/$250 | Weight: 187g/6.6oz UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The Puma Magnify Nitro 3 is another cushioned daily trainer that uses PEBA foam in its midsole, and it delivers a comfortable ride with a little more bounce and versatility than your average cushioned cruiser.
It’s also good value, especially in the UK, and offers great grip throughout the winter thanks to the PumaGrip outsole. While the Magnify Nitro 3 doesn’t get as much hype as many other cushioned shoes, it’s a very effective option that will work well for a wide range of runners.
Read our full Puma Magnify Nitro 3 review
Most Versatile Cushioned Running Shoes
In this category we’ve picked out the best cushioned running shoes for those who want one shoe to do-it-tall. They might not be as flat out comfortable as some cushioned shoes, but these picks offer more life at faster paces, while still feeling plus underfoot.
Puma Velocity Nitro 4
Price: £110/$140 | Weight: 247g/8.7oz (UK 9) | Drop: 10mm
We’ve been big fans of the Velocity Nitro line since the original shoe, and the latest version is the best yet thanks to the new midsole which is entirely made from an aliphatic TPU version of Puma’s Nitro foam.
This creates a very lively and fun ride that makes the Velocity Nitro 4 suitable for all kinds of runs. It’s very light for a cushioned shoe, but still comfortable, especially under the heel, and has a more responsive and energetic feel that other cushioned shoes at faster paces.
Some runners might not find the Velocity Nitro 4 cushioned enough for their taste, in which case check out our best picks overall, or look at the Puma Magnify Nitro 3 for another excellent Puma option that has a bit more foam underfoot.
Read our Puma Velocity Nitro 4 review
Best Value Cushioned Shoes
The price of all running shoes is rising rapidly, and that goes double for cushioned shoes, with brands putting a premium on their max-stack cruisers right now. There are still great value cushioned shoes out there though, with our top pick in this category actually being the Puma Velocity Nitro 4, more details on which are above, so we’ll dive straight into our runner-up below.
Asics Novablast 5
Price: £135/$140 | Weight: 274g/9.7oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The Asics Novablast 5 is a shoe we recommend a lot in our guides and reviews, because it’s good value, highly comfortable and pretty versatile for a cushioned shoe. In short, it’s unlikely to disappoint, and will work well for most runners either as a cushioned shoe for easy runs or a daily trainer to use for a variety of training.
If you’re a new runner without any idea of your preferences, we rate the Novablast 5 as a great place to start, as long as your budget allows for it.
Check out more of the best running shoes for beginners
It comes in cheaper than the Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 and doesn’t lose out on much in terms of cushioning and support, and the Novablast 5 certainly has a little more zip off the toes in our experience. We’re also fans of the Novablast 4, which is a little firmer than the Novablast 5 but still a great cushioned running shoe for daily training.
Read our full Asics Novablast 5 review
Best Cushioned Running Shoes For Stability
In this category we’ve picked out our favourite cushioned shoes for those who overpronate, or anyone who simply wants a bit more support on the run. Many cushioned shoes now have inherently stable designs, but our picks here have added elements to make them more supportive.
Hoka Arahi 8
Price: £140/$150 | Weight: 270g/9.5oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The Hoka Arahi 8 has been a very pleasant surprise for the whole team, offering a lightweight design and versatile ride that makes it stand out from other stable cushioned shoes. It has a very smooth rocker that makes ticking the miles off feel easier at any pace, and it’s comfortable over any distance – we enjoyed doing 30km long runs in the shoe during marathon training.
Check out more of the best Hoka running shoes
While the foam in the midsole is not the most exciting or lively material, the geometry of the Arahi 8 and the fact it’s lighter than most stability shoes helps it to make it more versatile than others. The H-frame of firmer foam in the midsole provides support on both sides of the foot without it feeling intrusive, so neutral runners will enjoy the Arahi 8 as well.
Read our full Hoka Arahi 8 review
Saucony Hurricane 25
Price: £165/$170 | Weight: 306g/10.8oz (UK 9) | Drop: 6mm
The Hurricane 25 is a stability shoe that uses a dual-density midsole to create a supportive but surprisingly lively ride. It has a firmer PWRRUN foam frame to counter overpronation, while a PWRRUN PB core adds some bounce to the ride, making the shoe feel lighter than it is.
Even if you normally steer away from stability shoes, this one is worth considering, because as neutral runners we enjoyed its smooth ride and added support. It’s not a versatile or fast shoe, but when it comes to easy and long runs there are few shoes that offer as much support in a smooth ride as the Hurricane 25.
Read our full Saucony Hurricane 25 review
Also Tested
The picks above are the standout cushioned shoes on the market right now, in our opinion, but we’ve also tested a whole load of other shoes that you might be interested in.
Brooks Glycerin Max 2
Price: £180/$200 | Weight: 332g/11.7oz (UK 9) | Drop: 6mm
Brooks has several excellent cushioned shoes in its line-up across the Ghost, Glycerin and Adrenaline lines, but we rate the Glycerin Max 2 as the pick of the bunch thanks to its max-cushioned, rockered design.
The shoe’s midsole is made from DNA Tuned foam, which has a dual-density design that allows for soft landings at the heel and a firmer, more responsive feel under the forefoot. Combined with the rockered shape of the shoe, we found this foam delivered a smooth and comfortable ride for long and easy runs.
Check out more of the best Brooks running shoes
One big reason it doesn’t top our list of cushioned shoes is that the original version of the shoe is slightly lighter and we actually slightly prefer it to the Glycerin Max 2, so if you can find the Glycerin Max in sales we’d go for it.
Read our full Brooks Glycerin Max 2 review
Puma MagMax Nitro 2
Price: £170/$180 | Weight: 277g/9.7oz (UK 8.5) | Drop: 8mm
We’ve trumpeted the qualities of two Puma shoes above in the Velocity Nitro 4 and Magnify Nitro 3, but it’s actually the MagMax Nitro 2 that sits at the top of the brand’s line-up of cushioned shoes. It’s the most cushioned shoe Puma has, and is designed to offer the brand’s bounciest ride for daily training.
However, while we liked the MagMax Nitro 2 well enough for easy daily training, it didn’t prove more versatile or springy than Puma’s other cushioned options while being more expensive. It’s a good shoe, but we’d look at the Magnify Nitro 3 ahead of it.
Read our full Puma MagMax Nitro 2 review
Asics Gel-Nimbus 27
Price: £180/$165 | Weight: 314g/11oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The long-running Asics Gel-Nimbus line is loved by runners looking for comfort above all, and comfort is what the latest version of the shoe delivers in spades. The FF Blast+ foam midsole is soft without being overly squishy, and protects the legs on runs while providing a little energy return as well.
For long runs and easy daily training the Gel-Nimbus 27 will work well for most runners as a stable and comfortable option, with our only real criticism of the shoe being its slappy outsole, which does eventually soften after running in the shoe for a while.
Check out more of the best Asics running shoes
Asics also has the Novablast 5 and Gel-Cumulus 27 in its range as cheaper alternatives, and the Novablast 5 in particular is a more versatile cushioned shoe that you’ll find further down this list. Having tested both we’d also say the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 is very similar to the newest version of the shoe, so looking for the older model in sales is worth doing.
Puma ForeverRun Nitro 2
Price: £140/$150 | Weight: 314g/11oz (UK 9) | Drop: 10mm
The ForeverRun Nitro 2 is the stability shoe in Puma’s cushioned trainer line-up, but we found it runs well whether you need its extra support or not. Like the Saucony Hurricane 24 it uses a core of springy foam surrounded by a frame of a firmer material to create support, and the ride is surprisingly lively for what is a big, wide and fairly heavy shoe.
If you prefer a lighter cushioned shoe then the Puma Velocity Nitro 3 is an excellent option that we found versatile and fun to use for a variety of runs, while those who want a more responsive option might favour the Puma MagMax.
The ForeverRun Nitro 2 is a well-balanced option though, and certainly a great pick for those new to running thanks to its supportive ride. As a bonus, like all Puma shoes it offers outstanding traction in wet conditions thanks to the PumaGrip outsole, which might make it more attractive to those who regularly run in the rain.
Brooks Glycerin 22
Price: £165/$165 | Weight: 308g/10.8oz (UK 9) | Drop: 10mm
The Glycerin 22 is a higher-drop and lower-stacked shoe than the Glycerin Max, offering a more traditional approach to cushioned shoes that some might still prefer to the max-stack, highly-rockered design many brands are opting for in 2025.
It’s very comfortable when landing at the heel, and since it uses the DNA Tuned midsole design also seen in the Glycerin Max, the foam firms up a little as your transition onto your forefoot to provide a little more pop off the toes.
While the Brooks Glycerin 21 doesn’t have the DNA Tuned foam, the DNA Loft v3 foam in its midsole is similarly lively in our experience, and if you see a good deal on the older shoe we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend going for it.
New Balance 1080v15
Price: £170/$170 | Weight: 262g/9.2oz (UK 9) | Drop: 6mm
The New Balance 1080 line is one of the most popular with runners, and the latest version of the shoe is certainly a good cushioned option for your daily training, if a little overpriced for its performance in our view.
Check out more of the best New Balance running shoes
It introduces Infinion foam to the New Balance line-up, which is a lighter, more responsive material than the Fresh Foam X that has been used in the 1080 for the past few models. It’s certainly light for such a cushioned shoe, which helps with versatility, and it’s comfortable too.
While the New Balance 1080v15 is a strong option for any runner, we slightly prefer the shoes we’ve picked out ahead of it in various categories. The 1080v13 and 1080v14 are both good shoes too, so might offer more value if you find them in sales.
Read our full New Balance 1080v15 review