Versatile trainer for new runners

Asics Novablast 5

The Novablast 5’s cushioned ride and rocker midsole make it an excellent starter shoe.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Asics Novablast 5 here.

If you want more pep in the cushioning than the Ride 18, the Asics Novablast 5 should be on your radar. This shoe is popular for a reason. The tall stack heights (41.5 mm heel, 33.5 mm forefoot) make it extremely cushioned without feeling slow. The Flytefoam Blast Max foam midsole has deep cushioning with a satisfying rebound. There’s more. The high rocker angle of the midsole assists the gait cycle by ‘tipping’ the foot forward. This blend of cushioned + peppy is what made the original Novablast successful.

A lot has changed since the Novablast 4. The Novablast 5 has a softer ride under a more spacious upper. While these updates deviate from the core Novablast formula, new runners will appreciate the soft cushioning and accommodating upper. It’s still versatile, so Asics loyalists need not be concerned.

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The said versatility includes tempo workouts as well as recovery runs. There’s also enough cushioning for a marathon – should you decide to train for one. The snug fit benefits tempo runs by establishing a seamless foot-to-midsole connection. But runners with wider feet should look elsewhere.

Best for max-cushioning

Nike Vomero 18

Soft, bouncy, and versatile, the Vomero 18 is a fun gateway into road miles.

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

The Vomero 18 is unlike any other version that preceded it. The new midsole is ultra-thick, soft, and bouncy. The forefoot has a functional rocker system. The upper is plush with plenty of room where needed. The suite of upgrades turns the Vomero into a very versatile workhorse. The level of cushioning supports everyday miles as it does marathons. The just-right midsole firmness and rocker also work well for tempo runs and speeds up to 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile).

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So what’s behind the Vomero 18’s radical redesign? Well, it’s more than just one thing. The ZoomX and ReactX foams make up the 44 mm and 34 mm stack heights. ReactX creates a supportive cushioned layer under the softer ZoomX layer. The deep transition channel adds bounciness by behaving like a trampoline when activated.

There’s enough support for heavy runners without any performance penalty for going slow. If anything, the bounciness is more noticeable at slower paces. The upper is beginner-friendly as well. The fit is true to size, and the forefoot is accommodating. The foam padding on the tongue and heel adds interior comfort.

Also consider: The New Balance 1080 V14.

Best for tempo training and long runs

Asics Superblast 2

The Superblast 2 is the high-end upgrade to the Novablast, but with the same beginner-friendly ride.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Asics Superblast 2 here.

Wait, what? The Superblast 2? Isn’t this shoe too much shoe for a new runner? Not at all. We see the versatile Superblast as a gateway drug to more advanced running shoes (like plated marathon racers). It helps that the new SB2’s looser forefoot and softer ride make it less aggressive the SB1. It’s certainly more beginner-friendly than the SB1, that’s for sure.

It has everything that most runners want and need, regardless of their experience level. New runners will appreciate the highly cushioned yet lightweight (8.8 ounces) midsole that makes all runs comfortable. Be it a marathon or an easy long run, the Flytefoam Turbo midsole has enough ride comfort on tap. There are not many running shoes that manage to feel peppy and supportive while being so cushioned. So for the Superblast 2 to manage both is a rare feat.

The midsole stability is excellent relative to its stack height and deep cushioning.

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The firmer midsole base isolates the Flytefoam Turbo’s cushioning while facilitating smooth transitions. The midsole has a distinct rocker-like quality, and that too, helps with efficient turnovers. The midsole has a heel-to-toe offset of 8 mm, so it won’t apply undue stress on the Achilles (and Calves) as some low heel drop shoes do.

The Superblast 2 is slightly different than the Superblast 1. The forefoot is more breathable because of the changed mesh, and there’s more room inside. The ride is softer than the SB1, and the outsole grips better because of the forefoot re-design and new Asicsgrip compound.

Also consider: The adidas EVO SL.

Best for 10K and marathons

Nike Zoom Fly 6

The plated Zoom Fly 6 returns to form with its fast yet user-friendly character.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Nike Zoom Fly 6 here.

When it was first released, the Zoom Fly wasn’t positioned as a versatile trainer, but a lower spec version of the Vaporfly 4%. Instead of ZoomX foam and a Carbon plate, it had Lunarlon foam and a Nylon plate. Even the Zoom Fly 4 from 2022 had a React midsole, but with a Carbon plate upgrade.

It wasn’t until the Zoom Fly 5 that this mode become a dual-purpose shoe. The Zoom Fly 5 was an excellent training shoe, as it had a durable user-friendly nature. It was fun enough to race in, but it was less aggressive than a purist’s super-shoe. The ZF 5 used Zoom X foam with a Carbon plate for the first time in the franchise’s history.

The Zoom Fly 5’s design language was confusing, so it wasn’t very successful. As shoe reviewers, we thought the shoe was misunderstood and underrated. Thankfully, the Zoom Fly 6 makes amends.

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The Zoom Fly 6’s aesthetics are aligned with the Vaporfly 4 and Alphafly 3. The midsole has the distinct scoop and even has the window from the Vaporfly exposing the Carbon Flyplate. Its on-road performance is somewhere between the Zoom Fly 4 and 5. The Zoom X and SR-02 midsole has the tamed aggression of the Zoom Fly 4, and retains the beginner-friendly character of the Zoom Fly 5.

The rocker and Carbon plate make the shoe quick enough to set race PR’s; you can go faster than 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile) in the Zoom Fly 6. The full sleeve is back inside the upper (the Fly 5 didn’t have one) for a locked-in fit. The midsole is wider than most supershoes. The outsole coverage is wider too, and the upper has a broad toe-box. The heel collar is fully padded, just like a regular trainer. The 8 mm heel-to-toe drop doesn’t stress the Achilles. You can go slow or heel strike in this shoe. All these features make the Zoom Fly 6 the ideal starter Carbon-plated shoe.

Best for trail running

New Balance Hierro V9

The cushioned Hierro V9 is a great shoe to start your off-road runs in.

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The Hierro V9’s usefulness extends beyond the trail. For example, if you live in the countryside, your preferred surface for running could be an unpaved gravel or wood-chip path. That’s where running shoes like the Hierro and Nike Pegasus Trail prove very useful. Here, the Fresh Foam X midsole adds plenty of ride comfort – be it road or unpaved flat trails. The Hierro V9 is a road-trail hybrid, so it’s more versatile than a serious trail running shoe. For 2025, New Balance has updated the Hierro with a taller and wider dual-density midsole.

The dual-density midsole uses a softer layer closer to the foot for comfort. The base – which also happens to be the outer casing – has a firmer density for stability. There’s a noticeable upside in cushioning comfort over the V8, an upgrade that both experienced and new runners will appreciate. The new Hierro also gets a rocker-shaped forefoot to make forward rolls more effective.

A full-length Vibram Megagrip outsole offers a protective grip on uneven terrain. Thanks to the wider base, 6 mm lugs, and reconfigured geometry, the traction is an improvement over the Hierro V8. On the other hand, the thicker midsole decreases the proprioceptive feel.

The snug upper fit may be a turn-off for some, but that’s a good thing to have on a trail shoe. A better upper lockdown stabilizes the shoe and drives power delivery to the midsole. The comfortable heel and tongue secure the foot; the true-to-size mesh upper creates a soft interior. The toe-box and midfoot are reinforced for protection and durability.

Also see: Hoka Challenger 8.

Best budget trainer

Nike Winflo 11

This Pegasus-inspired trainer is an accessible way to get into running.

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The Winflo used to be priced in double digits, but it retails at $105 now. But then, the Winflo has kept up with the times. The Zoom Winflo 11 has a full-length Nike Air over its EVA foam (Cushlon) midsole. On the road, that keeps the cushioning close to the foot. When combined with the soft EVA foam midsole, there’s enough padding beneath to make the Winflo a daily beater capable of regular runs and the occasional long-distance session. These qualities make the Winflo 12 a great starter shoe.

The Winflo 11’s upper feels more substantial than the older Winflo versions. The new upper is based on the Pegasus 41, which means that there’s a plush tongue and heel along with the secure midfoot strapping system.

People become road runners for many reasons. For example, we’ve given footwear advice to readers who ran only cross-country or track and wanted to transition to road running.

At times, road running under certain external conditions such as unsuitable climate (extreme cold or heat) or infrastructure (lack of roads) may not be possible. So once a person relocates to an area with conducive conditions, road running becomes an accessible luxury. A lot of things that many runners take for granted – like paved sidewalks for example – may be a luxury elsewhere. For many first-timers, running complements their preferred athletic activity like biking or swimming.

In the large majority of cases, keeping fit is a powerful motivation to take up running. Running is a gift; it doesn’t take an expensive gym membership or fancy equipment. All you need is some apparel and a pair of reliable running shoes. This is where it gets a bit tricky. With no footwear history to guide you, the task of buying your first pair of running shoes seems daunting. Some people get a super-expensive running shoe, led by the reasoning that a higher price equates to a better product.

Don’t do that. Once the $150 (retail price) barrier is breached, the law of diminishing returns kicks in. Instead of getting the most expensive product, focus on a shoe that’s a good starting point.

The New Balance 1080 has beginner-friendly road manners.

The first running shoe should be about finding the middle ground first and then building on that foundational experience. Your footwear taste will evolve after a few hundred miles. The stamina, pace, and distance capabilities get better over time, and so does the shoe rotation. Experience will tell whether you need a soft or firm shoe, lighter or heavier, snug or relaxed, and other things – like the preference for a particular heel drop.

This curated list helps find that starter running shoe. You might not like 100% of what the shoe offers, but it’ll provide a clearer sense of what more (or less) you prefer in your future shoe. For this edition, we’ve also recommended shoes for first-time marathoners (half or full). These recommendations are for experienced runners who are going to run a marathon (or half) for the first time.

So what are Solereview’s criteria for selection here?

Versatility: What if you had just one running shoe to do it all? For example, you can run on the road, track, treadmill, and even mild trails in shoes such as the Asics Novablast 5.

Neutral ride:  This list only contains neutral shoes that do not interfere with the gait cycle. This will also help you decide if you need a motion-control shoe in the future.

Heel-to-toe offset:  The heel drop is the difference in height between the thickest part of the heel and forefoot. The suggested shoes have a 6–10 mm offset; we have not included lower drop models as they may cause initial soreness.

Cushioning:  None of these models are overly unstable nor hard. This allows a safe assessment of the comfort level while building the experience required for a high-performance shoe.

Stock availability:  Most countries will have at least one of the five models listed below. That’s why we have stuck to the popular brands and not the esoteric ones. The Asics Superblast 2 is currently an exception, so the last model will perform equally well – just in case you can’t find the V2.

As with all running shoes, buy a size that leaves a thumb’s width of margin in the front. And gradually build up your road running mileage; do not go from 0 – 30 miles in a single week!