While some runners are happy to go on lengthy runs in lightweight trainers, for most of us, big mileage means big shoes. Coach’s round-up of the best running shoes always includes several cushioned options – footwear with a stack of cushioning on the bottom that protects your body from the impact of road running and ensures the shoes themselves are durable.
Cushioned running shoes can be used in rotation with lighter, faster options for speedwork and races, or as your only shoes if you use running to stay in shape and just want to enjoy the miles as much as possible.
Those training for a marathon will benefit from having a cushioned shoe to handle the long runs and easy miles on their training plan. It’s a great feeling to enjoy the protection of a cushioned shoe in training and then pull on one of the best carbon plate running shoes on race day itself for a lightweight, speedy ride. That’s why our selection of the best marathon running shoes features both cushioned and racing options.
But if you just want that bounce, here are the best highly-cushioned running shoes available.
The Best Cushioned Running Shoes For Long Distances
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The Brooks Glycerin line has long been the last word in comfort and the latest edition of the shoe maintains that heritage while adding more bounce to the ride through its new nitrogen-infused midsole foam. Thanks to this, the Glycerin 20 devours long easy miles, protecting the legs and keeping them fresh for harder runs – although it still has enough pop in it to be used for a range of paces.
Read more in our Brooks Glycerin 20 review
The Velocity Nitro 2 is versatile with a speedy enough ride to use for a greater variety of training runs than most cushioned options – which makes it a good pick for longer races as well. It’s terrific value at its RRP, is frequently reduced, and also works well as a road-to-trail shoe thanks to the excellent grip provided by its outsole.
Read more in our Puma Velocity Nitro 2 review
If you’re craving a soft, bouncy ride, the Invincible is the shoe to go for because of the huge stack of ZoomX cushioning in the midsole. It’s a shoe that makes racking up big miles even more fun (or slightly less punishing, depending on how you view running), and is perfect for those who need a comfortable option for long runs as part of their marathon training. The Invincible 3 is now available but is heavier and a bit less fun than the Invincible 2, so we suggest bagging a deal on the older shoe, which is often in sales.
Read more in our Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 2 review
There has been a bit of a sea change in the cushioned shoe category in recent years, with traditional cushioned options like the Brooks Glycerin 20 now joined by a new breed of max-cushioned shoes with even bigger stacks of foam.
The Gel-Nimbus 25 is a great example of a max-cushioned shoe, especially when contrasted with the more traditional Gel-Nimbus 24 – it has a significantly higher, softer and wider midsole than its predecessor.
It’s terrific for easy and long runs, and while the Gel-Nimbus 25 lacks versatility compared with a shoe like the Glycerin 20, it’s as comfortable as it gets for cruising and still feels fairly light on the foot.
Read more in our Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 review
The Puma Magnify Nitro 2 comes in cheaper than most max-cushioned shoes without any drop-off in performance. It’s a comfortable shoe that’s great for racking up easy miles, and versatile too thanks to the bouncy Nitro foam in the midsole. I particularly enjoyed cruising through long runs in the shoe and, unless you prefer a smoother, more rockered ride (which you’ll get from the Asics Gel-Nimbus 25), the Magnify Nitro 2 is as good a cushioned shoe as you’ll find.
It also has an ace up its sleeve in the Pumagrip outsole, which is durable and grips well on wet paved surfaces. I personally prefer the lighter, lower Velocity Nitro 2 as my cushioned shoe, but if you want to max out the foam underfoot on your runs, the Magnify Nitro 2 is an excellent option.
Read more in our Puma Magnify Nitro 2 review
The Bondi is the most comfortable shoe in Hoka’s range, which is saying something given that the brand’s other shoes are hardly short of cushioning in the midsole. It’s impressively stable given the large stack of cushioning, helped by the fact your foot sits in the foam rather than on top of it. The ride isn’t all that bouncy, and other shoes on this list are softer, but the Bondi 8 protects the legs well and will last you many hundreds of miles of easy running.
Read more in our Hoka Bondi 8 review
As with all the best cushioned shoes, the Saucony Triumph 21 puts comfort first, with a high stack of PWRRUN+ foam in the midsole that does a great job of protecting your body during runs. However, it’s not just built for easy cruising, and the Triumph 21 is a more capable pick for faster daily training and long races than other cushioned shoes.
It’s a great all-round option for newer runners and if you have a running shoe rotation it makes for an excellent cushioned daily trainer that can handle easy, tempo and long runs with a lighter, speedier option for workouts and race day. The price is high, though, and while the Triumph 21 has a better upper than the Triumph 20, the two shoes are otherwise similar, so grabbing a deal on the 20 may offer better value.
Read more in our Saucony Triumph 21 review
The Asics Gel-Kayano 30 has a similar set-up to the Gel-Nimbus 25, with a huge stack of FF Blast+ foam underfoot to create a comfortable ride. Unlike the neutral Nimbus, however, the Kayano incorporates several stability features as part of Asics’s 4D guidance system. These include a wide base (especially in the midfoot), sidewalls of foam to cradle the foot, and a softer, bouncier foam section on the medial side to spring your foot back into a neutral position.
These features create stability in a subtle way, so any runner will enjoy the cushioned, supportive feeling of the Kayano 30 on easy and long runs. As with the Nimbus 25, the Kayano 30 is fairly heavy and large so it’s not the most versatile option, and experienced runners training for events will probably prefer to use it in a rotation with faster shoes. For beginners and fitness-focused runners who need stability, however, it’s an excellent, if expensive, shoe that you can use for everything.
Read more in our Asics Gel-Kayano 30 review
The More v4 is purpose-built for easy run cruising, with a big stack of Fresh Foam X cushioning and a rocker design that helps you to roll through runs of any length smoothly. Despite the size of the shoe it has a natural ride when moving at slow speeds. Only if you try to push the pace does it become a bit cumbersome.
There are more versatile cushioned shoes like the Brooks Glycerin 20 if you’re looking for more of a daily trainer that can handle a range of runs, but if you just want a comfortable workhorse for easy outings, the More v4 should top your list.
Read more in our New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 review
The Cloudmonster is the softest and most cushioned shoe On has produced, while still a firmer option than most max-stack shoes. That’s no bad thing, though, because it makes the Cloudmonster more versatile, without removing the protection it offers your legs during long and easy runs. It’s also a bit lighter than most cushioned shoes, another aspect that increases its versatility, and is better-looking too, so you can wear it when not running.
Read more in our On Cloudmonster review
