Best for long runs

Nike Vomero 18

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

Buy from Nike.com

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

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 foam 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.

Best for daily runs

Asics Novablast 5

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

Buy from Zappos.com

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.

Also see: The Asics Cumulus 27.

Best for soft cushioning

Asics Nimbus 27

The lack of cushioning bias makes the Nimbus 27 neutral.

Buy from Zappos.com

We chose the Nimbus 27 because it’s firmer than the New Balance 1080V14 or the Saucony Triumph 23. 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.

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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.

Best for marathons

Saucony Endorphin Pro 4

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

Buy from Zappos.com

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 and Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, losing their structural integrity during the loading process.

While the Nike Alphafly 3 and New Balance SC Elite 5 provide decent medial support, our vote goes to the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4.

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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.

Also see: The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5.

Best for tempo, 5K, 10K

adidas Boston 13

The Boston 13 update adds greater ride comfort and maintains its neutral and speed-friendly character.

Buy from adidas.com

1. Read our detailed review of the Adizero Boston 13 here.

If you found the Boston 12 too stiff and flat for your liking, you’ll probably love the Boston 13. The full-length Lightstrike Pro foam adds a consistent layer of bouncy cushioning and makes forefoot landings softer. The stiff Energy Rods add a propulsive effect during push-offs by making the midsole rocker effective. Unlike shoes like a plate (like the Nike Streakfly 2, for example), the Energy Rods doesn’t take over the ride, but shares the workload with the foot. This means that both slow and fast runners can benefit from the Boston 13. The firm Lightstrike EVA base and rubber outsole stabilize the foot with minimal bias.

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The Boston 13 trades the stiff upper of the Boston 12 with a softer exterior for greater comfort. The lightly padded tongue and heel use soft mesh linings for comfort. The lightweight and porous mesh breathes well to keep the interiors cool during speed runs and 10K races.

Also consider: The adidas EVO SL.

Best for trail

Brooks Cascadia 19

The supportive and neutral ride is one of Cascadia’s noteworthy highlights.

Buy from REI.com

The Cascadia 19 appears in many of our buyer’s guides because it’s a versatile trail running shoe. Its nitrogen-infused DNA Loft foam midsole provides cushioning, comfort, and protection without compromising stability. The sticky, articulated rubber outsole adapts well to uneven terrain, and the dense rubber lugs offer solid traction on wet and dry surfaces, though performance drops on soggy clay. A flexible rock plate adds protection and stability, while the supportive midsole design helps prevent cushioning bias – making the shoe ideal for neutral runners who prefer a predictable ride.

The upper blends road-trainer comfort with trail-specific features. Protective overlays reinforce the toe, and an elastic loop on the tongue keeps laces neatly tucked in. Padding in the tongue and heel adds comfort comparable to road-running shoes, while the forefoot delivers a secure fit that locks the foot in place. A waterproof Gore-Tex version is also available at a 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 23. Similarly, the Brooks Ghost 17 is 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.

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 Vomero Plus 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 2 for long-distance tempo runs. If you want to take it slow and easy, we recommend the Asics Nimbus 27. This guide also excludes affordable trainers below $100 retail; Solereview has a separate list just for those.