Softest everyday trainer

Nike Vomero 18

The 44 mm tall ZoomX and React X midsole delivers plenty of usable softness.

Buy from Nike.com

1. Read our detailed review of the Nike Vomero 18 here.

A 44 mm heel stack may seem like a lot – and it is. However, you don’t sink into the midsole. The Vomero’s soft ride is the product of two foams working in tandem. The cushier ZoomX foam is available closer to the foot. A firmer ReactX foam cradles the ZoomX foam and defines the midsole rocker. A soft midsole is only as good as its usability; the Vomero 18’s soft ride is also versatile. The ZoomX layer and foam footbed add step-in comfort while the ReactX midsole produces a springy response. A deep transition groove behaves like a trampoline, and the rocker midsole helps propel the foot.

1 of 19

The Vomero 18’s softness has a nuanced quality which is missing on the Invincible 3 or even the New Balance 1080V14. The new Vomero is cushioned yet surprisingly peppy. It is a multi-role shoe capable of everyday training, tempo runs (up to a certain speed range), and marathons. The midsole softness is matched by an equally plush upper that is spacious and true to size.

Softest shoe for overpronators

New Balance Fresh Foam 860V14

The reworked Fresh Foam X midsole makes this the softest 860 ever.

Buy from New Balance

Never has the 860 been so soft. It always had a firm ride, and with good reason.Earlier versions of the 860 had a firmer medial post – a foam wedge that made the arch side more supportive. If the rest of the midsole was too soft, the mismatch between the two foam densities would have upset the cushioning balance.

1 of 14

The 860V14 doesn’t have a medial post, so it doesn’t have the performance limitations of the previous model. The new 860 has the same parlor trick as the Vongo. Inside the Fresh Foam X midsole is a ‘stability plane’ plate. Not to be confused with plates found in marathon racers, this plate features a supportive inner side with a flexible outer half. The 860 achieves this by punching holes into the outer plate while keeping the inner half solid. The solid half adds support to the arch side, whereas the perforated side is more responsive to loading pressure.

The goal of any pronation-control shoe is to prevent the arch side of the midsole from collapsing and re-direct the loading towards the outer side. The 860’s and Vongo’s novel plate design achieves that better than any currently available pronation-control measure. In typical New Balance fashion, the comfortable and true-to-size upper is available in multiple widths.

Softest recovery trainer

Nike Vomero Plus

If you’re looking for a max-cushioned trainer for recovery runs, your search ends here.

Buy from Nike.com

1. Read our in-depth review of the Nike Vomero Plus here.

It’s hard to coax quicker miles out of the Vomero Plus, but that’s not what this shoe is meant for. Consider what we have here: the Vomero Plus ultra-tall midsole is made of 100% ZoomX foam. With stack heights of 45 mm (heel) and 35 mm (forefoot), soft and bouncy landings are guaranteed regardless of the footstrike pattern. The thick bed of foam is perfect for recovery runs and low-intensity running. Just keep the Vomero Plus out of tempo runs, intervals, and mile repeats – the midsole is too soft and thick for those workouts.

1 of 19

The upper also receives the plush treatment. The tongue and heel don’t skimp on the foam padding, and the midfoot feels soft and smooth due to the satin-like lining material. Unlike previous Nike models, the Vomero Plus doesn’t have an inner sleeve. While the upper fits true to size with a secure fit, there’s slightly more room in front of the toes than in legacy Nike running shoes.

Softest marathon racer

adidas adios Pro 4

With a notably softer midsole, the Adios Pro 4 now serves fast forefoot strikers better than the others.

Buy from adidas.com

1. Read our detailed review of the adidas Adios Pro 4 here.

Runners who swap their Adios Pro 3 for the Adios Pro 4 are in for a surprise. The newest Adios Pro is noticeably softer with a changed character. Unlike the versatile and user-friendly Pro 3, the Pro 4 favors fast forefoot strikers over the generalist. If you’re a heel striker, overpronator, or someone who runs slower than 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile), it makes more sense to consider alternatives such as the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 or Saucony Endorphin Pro 4.

1 of 22

On the other hand, the Adios Pro 4 is ideal for forefoot strikers who run fast. The reformulated Lightstrike Pro foam is softer and bouncier than before, making landings springier upon impact. The heel midsole now has a deep groove that makes the ride softer but vastly decreases stability. The upper is narrower than the last model and does a better job of locking the foot down over the midsole. The interior offers greater comfort over the Adios Pro 3 without compromising the locked-in feel.

Also consider: The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5, Hoka Rocket X 3.

Softest tempo trainer

New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V5

The Rebel V5 is a versatile trainer with a rubbery-soft ride.

Buy from New Balance

We don’t view the New Balance Rebel V5 as the ideal tempo trainer. Running shoes such as the adidas Boston 13 and Brooks Launch 11 are superior choices, except that they are not as soft.

To us, the Rebel V5 lines up with New Balance’s claim, which is being a steady-state trainer. The Fuelcell midsole has a wide base with an outsole that covers the entire forefoot for maximum contact. The midsole formula has been tweaked to make the foam softer and livelier than the Rebel V4. Like the previous model, the rocker effect is minimal, letting the foot take charge of the transition. Forefoot and heel landings are rewarded with a rubbery-soft cushioning, protecting the foot from harsh impact forces. This isn’t a shoe that actively promotes fast runs, but it also doesn’t get in the way when speeding up.

The softer ride isn’t the only change on the Rebel V5. The upper fit is tighter around the forefoot with less room (lengthwise) versus the Revel V4. While that is partly due to the thicker mesh used for the upper, most of the sizing difference is due to the extra heel padding. The additional foam padding pushes the foot forward towards the narrower section of the toe box. A narrow fit is useful during faster runs, since it establishes a stronger connection between the foot and the midsole for power transfer.

Also consider: The adidas Adizero EVO SL.

Softest trail running shoe

adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra

The Agravic Ultra’s Lightstrike Pro midsole brings soft cushioning to long-distance trail runs.

Buy from adidas.com

It was a matter of time before road-based supershoes were adapted for trail use. The Saucony Endorphin Edge had limited success, but it doesn’t get the credit it deserves for being the first of its kind. On the other hand, it’s fair to say the more successful Nike Ultrafly set the precedent for this new class of trail footwear. Trail shoes in this category borrow high-tech foam and Carbon bits from road-going marathon shoes and repurpose them into a trail-worthy package. Hoka has sold cushioned trail shoes for long, but has so far relied on conventional midsole materials.

The Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra has similar stack heights as the Nike Ultrafly, but it has a performance edge in a few important ways. The Carbon ‘Flyplate’ inside the Ultrafly is smaller as it only extends from the midfoot to the forefoot; it’s shaped like a fork with two rounded prongs under the forefoot. Adidas uses the Energy Rods system inside the Agravic Speed Ultra, but it’s longer and better articulated than the Nike Flyplate. Under the forefoot, the Energy rods have four ‘fingers’. Under the heel, the Energy rods have a two-prong design. The Energy Rod design and outsole layout give the Agravic a better proprioceptive feel than the Ultrafly.

The Continental rubber outsole has a groove under the forefoot, something that the Ultrafly’s Vibram outsole lacks. The Nike Ultrafly scores better on protection, but there’s a weight trade-off and a weaker connection with the trail. The Agravic is an ounce lighter, and has a softer forefoot than the Ultrafly.

Finally, despite comparable specs, the Agravic Speed Ultra is $40 cheaper than Nike. So while both trail shoes are comfortable choices for ultra trail distances, there are limits to such a design. These high-stack trail shoes are excellent on gentle gradients and trail-road transitions, but are best kept off technical terrain.

The terms soft, cushioned, and padded are often conflated. A cushioned shoe needn’t be soft. A padded shoe could be cushioned, but without being soft. There are two qualifiers for a running shoe to be truly soft. At least, that’s how Solereview defines it. Firstly, the foam material should compress the moment it is loaded. Secondly, the midsole made of the said foam should be a high-volume kind.

That’s why the Nike Vomero Plus features on this list. The plump midsole uses a similar midsole material as the Invincible 3, thus giving it a soft and bouncy ride despite its 10-ounce weight. Softness comes in various forms, with some better than others. The adidas Adios Pro 4 and New Balance Rebel V5 demonstrate that ride softness and quick transitions can happily co-exist. Also included is the Nike Vomero 18 – a versatile trainer with an ultra-high volume midsole made with ZoomX and ReactX foam.