Everyday neutral trainer

Saucony Ride 18

The Ride 18’s non-prescriptive midsole makes it a capable neutral workhorse.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Saucony Ride 18 here.

The Ride 18 comes with a few updates over the Ride 17. The reformulated Pwrrun+ foam is softer and lighter; the upper feels plusher yet tighter than last year.

Despite the changes, the Ride 18’s neutral character stays intact. The midsole doesn’t try to control the gait – the very definition of a neutral shoe.

The supportive e-TPU midsole is comfortable enough for everyday runs and longer runs like a half-marathon. The cushioning lacks any bias or prescription.

Rocker assist is unavailable on the Saucony Ride 18.

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In other words, both sides of the midsole feel balanced. You’d be surprised to know that not all shoes that are supposed to be ‘neutral’ behave so.

For example, the Brooks Ghost 16 is a reliable daily trainer, but it’s not 100% neutral – the groove makes it easier for the midsole to lean toward the outer side.

What is the Ride 18 like on the road? The cushioning has more life than the Ride 17, that’s for sure.

The Pwrrun+ midsole feels bouncier and responsive and doesn’t feel as flat as the Ride 17. A thick insole made of the same foam provides step-in softness.

The mild midsole rocker and firm midsole allow the Ride 18 to go as fast as 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile).

The nicely proportioned upper fits true-to-size; there’s decreased toe-box room because of the added heel collar padding. The extra material in the heel pushes the foot closer to the tip of the shoe.

On the other hand, we appreciate the plusher interior and improved forefoot lockdown.

Also recommended: The Asics Cumulus 26 and New Balance 880V15.

Versatile trainer with a bouncy ride

Nike Vomero 18

The soft and bouncy midsole is tall and supportive without any cushioning bias.

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With its 44 mm rear stack height, the Vomero 18 is the tallest and most cushioned it’s ever been. The new model also brings ZoomX with ReactX foam together for the first time, resulting in an ultra-versatile trainer.

Despite the tall midsole, the cushioning delivery is neutral. There are three factors at play here. The midsole lacks a groove on the lateral side; the sidewalls on both sides have robust Convex molding. That removes any cushioning bias.

Turn the shoe over, and you’ll see the deep transition groove. This negative space does two things – it keeps the weight centered and makes the ride bouncier through its trampoline effect.

The foam composition adds to the neutralness. Most of the midsole uses ReactX beneath the softer ZoomX topper.

ReactX is firmer and more supportive than ZoomX, so the base helps stabilize landings.

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So far, we’ve focused on the Vomero 18’s neutral ride quality. What about the rest of the shoe? Well, you’re in for a treat.

The dual-density midsole has plenty of comfort – even for a marathon. The effective midsole rocker adds a tempo-friendly pep to the Vomero, so this isn’t just a long-distance cruiser. It’s a lot more than that.

We like the new upper too. The Goldilocks zone fit is neither too narrow nor too roomy. The plush heel and tongue secure the foot inside the true-to-size upper.

For versatile neutral cushioning

Asics Novablast 5

The Novablast 5’s cushioned ride and rocker midsole has a strong neutral overtone.

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

It’s not hard to see why most runners love the Novablast. The deep cushioning of the tall midsole makes it ideal for most distances – be it a 10K or a marathon. The Flytefoam midsole is soft, but not energy-sapping – it has a lively and bouncy feel.

Part of the Novablast’s appeal is its ability to ‘roll’ the foot forward – thanks to the midsole rocker.

That being said, the rocker effect is less effective than the V4 due to the softer ride. The new Flytefoam Blast Max foam is softer and bouncier, making the forefoot less stiff. The efficacy of a rocker is directly correlated to the forefoot stiffness and upper fit.

While on topic, the upper is not as narrow as the Novablast 4. The thinner mesh and redesigned lacing makes the forefoot more spacious and ventilated.

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All that is good to know about the Novablast 5, but what makes it a good neutral trainer?

The 41.5 mm (heel) and 33.5 mm (forefoot) thick midsole also has a wide footprint. A deep transition channel under the heel keeps the weight centered during runs.

These design features make the Novablast 5 balanced, unbiased, and neutral.

Cushioned neutral cruiser

Asics Nimbus 27

The lack of cushioning bias makes the Nimbus 27 neutral.

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We chose the Nimbus 27 because it’s firmer than the New Balance 1080V14 or the Saucony Triumph 22. The Nimbus’s Flytefoam midsole hits the sweet spot between softness and firmness – something a good neutral running shoe should do.

A couple of things are new for this version. Even though the midsole is still made of Flytefoam, it’s a different kind than the Nimbus 26. The new material has a similar firmness, but with improved responsiveness. It’s quicker to spring back into shape and has better bounce.

The Nimbus 27 is also a great pick as a cushioned marathon shoe.

Standard daily trainers like the Asics Nimbus 27 use a hard heel counter.

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While the Flytefoam cushioning has a lot of depth, the balanced midsole design minimizes bias – meaning that both sides of the shoe feel equally supported. The midsole also resists compression well, even when loaded by heavy runners.

The true-to-size upper uses a thinner mesh than the 26, so the forefoot is more accommodating.

Neutral marathon racer

Saucony Endorphin Pro 4

Some plated racers are more neutral than the others. Case in point is the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4.

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It’s hard to find a carbon-plated racer with neutral ride manners. By design, most super-shoes have a slim midsole made of PEBA foam or similar materials.

That decreases support under the heel, and we’ve observed shoes like the Asics Metaspeed Sky/Edge Paris, Nike Vaporfly 3, and Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 losing their structural integrity during the loading process.

The Nike Alphafly 3 and New Balance SC Elite 4 perform better in this area, we vote for the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4

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That’s because the Endorphin Pro 4 differs from most racers in two important ways. Not only is the midsole wider than most Carbon-plated racers, the transition channel under the heel splits the crash pad into halves.

The wide midsole acts as a supportive base, while the hollow space under the heel keeps the weight balanced. The Endorphin Pro 4’s midsole has better structural integrity than other sleeker racers.

Despite its unconventional design, the Endorphin Pro 4 offers all the typical benefits of a racer with a Carbon plate. The Pwrrun PB midsole has the cushioning that’s needed to power through a marathon, and the Carbon plate adds quickness and efficiency to the transitions. The lightweight upper breathes well, fits true-to-size, and is accommodating.

Neutral tempo trainer for 5K and 10K

Brooks Hyperion 2

This lightweight and speed shoe is an excellent update to last year’s Hyperion Max.

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Readers should know that the Hyperion 2 isn’t a true successor to the Hyperion. It’s rather a replacement for the Hyperion Max, because the new Hyperion Max 2 is a different shoe altogether.

The Brooks Hyperion 2 is softer than the Hyperion, and very close to the previous generation Hyperion Max. And that makes it an excellent shoe for 5K, 10K, and even a half-marathon.

We had a high opinion of first-gen the Brooks Hyperion Tempo – the form factor that the Hyperion 2 is based on. It was lightweight, versatile, and very neutral – thanks to its unique nitrogen-infused midsole foam. While the Hyperion 2 is softer than the Hyperion Tempo, its overall character is similar.

Non-EVA compounds like the Brooks DNA Flash fares well under heavy loads.

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The ‘DNA Flash’ foam is a responsive cushioning foam that’s good for several things. It delivers an efficient ride that feels comfortable at higher paces. At the same time, the stack provides adequate levels of impact protection during long runs.

Besides the speed-friendly character, the Hyperion’s firm midsole is affirmatively neutral in its cushioning delivery. The sidewall design is balanced on both sides, and the firmness has inherent levels of stability.

The upper is surprisingly comfortable for a speed shoe. The forefoot is relatively accommodating with the soft mesh making the insides comfortable.

Neutral trail running shoe

Brooks Cascadia 18

The Cascadia 18’s unique wing-like midsole plate adds a strong neutral quality to the cushioning.

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The Brooks Cascadia has always been an underrated trail running shoe, but the Cascadia 18 has a few tricks that make it stand out in a crowd.

Inside the midsole is a plate with an articulated section under the forefoot and a ‘wing’ like extensions under the rearfoot. This part is visible through the small window (Trail adapt) on the midsole.

The plate is good for three things. First, it’s great for making the transitions efficient. Second, the plate is also a rock-shield and a protective barrier. The grippy Trailtack rubber outsole is split into different segments for better handling on the trail.

Lastly, by controlling the compression, the ‘wing’ section under the rearfoot adds a sense of balance and neutrality to the ride. Not many trail running shoes have this quality, so that’s a good reason to include the Cascadia 18 in this guide.

As a stand-alone trail shoe, the Cascadia 18 excels through its versatility. While it’s not as soft as the Cascadia 16 from a few years ago, there’s enough comfort for up to 10K. And thanks to the plate, faster miles come easier as well. The performance is matched with the outgoing Cascadia 17, as both versions share an identical midsole and outsole.

The upper has a standard level of reinforcement, with protective overlays applied selectively. Like the last time, the Cascadia also sells a waterproof (Gore-Tex) upper for a $30 premium.

How we selected: What to look for

When a brand says that a particular running shoe is ‘neutral,’ it simply means that the midsole does not have a medial wedge or a similar support feature. By this broad definition, the opposite of neutral happens to be ‘stability’ – in which case you’ll need to refer to the relevant buyer’s guide.

But just like how all stability shoes are not the same, neutral running shoes are also sold in different flavors.

Generally speaking, neutral shoes are differentiated by their price bands and use cases. For every Saucony Ride 18, there is a higher-priced Saucony Triumph 22. Similarly, the Brooks Ghost 16 is positioned as the lower-priced version of the more expensive and plusher Glycerin 22.

Historically, a higher retail price has usually translated into a higher level of cushioning and upper plushness. While this generalization still holds, exceptions will apply.

For example, a mid-priced neutral shoe can have an equal or greater level of cushioning than a higher-priced model. Recent advancements in foam technology have proved to be a great equalizer.

Though the Fuelcell Rebel V4 is a soft and neutral shoe, it blends ride comfort with speed manners.

For example, the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V4 out-cushions more expensive shoes. For this guide, we went with the Brooks Hyperion 2 instead.

The level of support is another factor. Some neutral shoes are more supportive than others – even within the same price range. It is hard to tell unless you run in them.

For any running shoe to be truly neutral, the midsole should have a balanced ride. In other words, the other side should not be overly soft versus the inner midsole.

Running shoes with overly soft cushioning are excluded. For example, while the Nike Invincible 3 is an excellent shoe, the super bouncy ride affects its neutralness. A 150 lb runner may find the ride neutral; a 200 lb person will not. Instead, we recommend the rather excellent Asics Superblast for long-distance tempo runs. If you want to take it slow and easy, we recommend the Asics Nimbus 27.

Also, this guide excludes affordable trainers below $100 retail; Solereview has a separate list just for those.