Our top marathon shoe pick

adidas adios Pro 4

This versatile marathon super-shoe works for most runners, including heel strikers.

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Why did we recommend the adidas Adios Pro 4 over shoes like the Nike Vaporfly 3, Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, Asics Metaspeed Sky, and the Nike Alphafly 3?

An earlier version of this guide featured the Adios Pro 3. Back then, the Pro 3’s super-versatile character made it an easy pick over the others.

The Pro 3 was a marathon shoe that worked for most runners – be it elites, intermediate, first-time marathoners, overpronators, supinators, or heel strikers. It didn’t require a certain way to run, or for that matter, a recommended speed range.

The Adios 4 isn’t as versatile as the Pro 3. Its lower heel stability and softer ride make it less than ideal for heel landing and/or slower speeds. Unlike the Adios Pro 3, the Pro 4’s heel midsole isn’t solid. A newly introduced cavity makes the midsole easier to compress. So while the overall ride is softer and bouncier, the changes do not favor stability.

Despite the changed ride quality, the Adios Pro 4 outperforms its peers. The Adios Pro 4’s rocker feels the most propulsive, and the Lightstrike Pro delivers a bounciest ride versus comparable racers.

Let’s briefly examine the performance limitations of popular plated racers, with links to the pictures of the shoe’s performance during a race. While most of these shoes work extremely well for many runners, they can exclude certain kinds of runners.

Nike Alphafly: At its best during forefoot strikers and speed quicker than 4:30 min/km. The insole placement is faulty.

Nike Vaporfly 3: Cushioned, breathable, and lightweight, but terrible for overpronators.

Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris: Excellent fit and cushioning, but average heel stability and not ideal for overpronators.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4: Has a cushioned midsole that has lower stiffness than the Pro 4, but has poor medial stability for overpronators.

The adidas Adios Pro 4 doesn’t have a ‘plate’ per se. The midsole has ‘Energy Rods’ – a set of stiff tubes sandwiched between the two layers of foam. So unlike a racer with a plate, the Adios Pro 4 gives the runner greater control over the ride experience.

The midsole takes a few runs to fully ‘break in’, as the Energy Rods become more flexible over time.

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The Lightstrike Pro foam is bouncy and resilient. The cushioning feels substantial and responsive under the foot, ensuring ample comfort for a marathon.

The improved rocker effect adds quickness to the Adios Pro 4. The dense Lightstrike Pro isn’t mushy and has a noticeable energy return. The stiff tubes make the loading process efficient. Lastly, the Lighttraxion rubber outsole under the forefoot has excellent traction under both wet and dry conditions.

The tip has a tiny Continental rubber patch for abrasion resistance.

The upper has fixed the bothersome seam (of the Pro 3) under the first eyelet, so the forefoot fit has improved. Be mindful of the heel fit, however. While it doesn’t slip, the soft heel midsole causes the foot to sink during landings. This makes the heel collar ride up (and down) by a couple of mm.

Plated racer for sub-3:30 marathons

Saucony Endorphin Pro 4

Most marathoners will appreciate the non-temperamental character of the Endorphin Pro 4.

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Unlike other super-foam racers in this category and price band, the Saucony Endorphin Pro V4 has a relatively wide midsole. Both the forefoot and heel are covered with grippy rubber lugs.

Inside the Pwrrun PB midsole is the typical setup one would expect of a $225 racer. The 39.5 mm rear and 31.5 mm forefoot stack is just 0.5 mm short of the legally-permissible regulation limit for midsole height. So not only is the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 extremely cushioned, but its relatively wider base makes it supportive and neutral.

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The stiff Carbon plate creates a rocker effect for easier roll-offs and loading.

The plate position is ‘traditional’, meaning that it’s positioned closer to the ground for a pronounced rocker effect under the forefoot and ‘springboard’ effect under the heel. Some of the newer racers – like the Asics Metaspeed Sky, Nike Alphafly 3, and New Balance SC Elite V4 have a thick layer of foam between the plate and the outsole.

The upper fit is true-to-size and breathable, and secures the foot while allowing the toes to splay.

Versatile trainer for over 3:30 marathons

Asics Novablast 5

The Novablast 5’s cushioned ride and rocker midsole make it comfortable yet agile.

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The Asics Novablast 5 does two things well.

One, its Flytefoam Blast Max midsole delivers an extremely comfortable ride. Two, despite its cushioned ride, the Novablast doesn’t feel slow. These qualities make it a good fit for a marathon.

The ‘roll-forward’ effect from the midsole rocker helps propel the foot forward. That said, the Novablast 5 differs from the Novablast 4 in two ways.

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Asics has softened the Flytefoam formula, affecting the overall stability and transition quality. Heavier runners will find the Novablast 5 less stable than the 3 and 4. The softer midsole is more flexible, negatively impacting the rocker effect.

While the upper has more room than the previous model, it’s still good at transferring the power from the foot to the midsole.

The sweet spot for this shoe is between 4:30 min/km and 5:15 min/km, making the Novablast ideal for a 3:30 marathon.

Max-cushioning for over 4:00 marathons

New Balance 1080V14

Sometimes, all that you need for a marathon is a soft trainer that doesn’t slow you down. Like the 1080V14, for example.

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1. Read our detailed review of the New Balance 1080v14 here.

The 1080V14’s Fresh FoamX midsole produces a smooth blend of cushioning, responsiveness, and transition-friendly manners. There’s lots of cushioning available for marathon distances, but without any speed-limiting mushiness.

This 1080 is a brand-new model with major updates. The cushioning is bouncier, and the upper fit is tighter than the 1080V13.

The v14's 'heel spring' or bevel is higher than the norm, so there's not enough real estate available during heel landings.

The 1080v14 has a stronger 'rocker' effect.

The larger and stiffer outsole lugs alter the 1080's ride dynamics.

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The ride is comfortable enough for marathon-level runs without feeling slow; the blown rubber outsole makes the transitions smooth. The midsole rocker also helps the foot roll forward.

The split outsole layout allows it to flex together with the soft foam stack.

The knit upper is narrower than before due to its thick mesh, but without any trade-off in comfort. If anything, the tighter upper improves the lockdown as well as the overall stability. The snugger upper is more effective at transferring the power from the foot to the midsole. The better fit security also improved the rocker or ‘roll forward’ effect of the 1080.

Three optional widths are available to accommodate wider or narrower feet.

The Nimbus 26 is also a great pick as a cushioned marathon shoe.

Also consider: The Asics Nimbus 26 – a cushioned high-mileage cruiser.

Stability trainer for marathons

New Balance Fresh Foam 860V14

The surprisingly well-cushioned 860V14 is a comfortable marathon pick for overpronators

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New Balance has updated the 860V14 with a brand-new Fresh Foam X midsole and a ‘stability plane’. During a race, that translates into a comfortable ride with effective motion control.

The ‘stability plane’ is a plate that’s more supportive on the inner (arch) side than the outer-facing side.

The 860V14 achieves that by making the inner half of the plate solid and perforating the outer half. This means that the plate on the arch side of the foot is more supportive, and that minimizes the inward roll of the foot – exactly what overpronators need.

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Unlike the 860V12 and V13, the Fresh Foam X midsole is the softest it’s ever been on a 860V14, and comfortable enough for a marathon.

As always, the 860V14 is also sold in multiple widths.

Supportive ride for over 3:30 marathons

Hoka Skyflow

The Skyflow’s firm yet cushioned midsole delivers a stable and neutral ride for a marathon.

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If you want a Hoka shoe, we recommend that you skip the Hoka Clifton 9 and Bondi 8 and get the Skyflow instead. Overall, it’s just a better-designed shoe with an excellent upper fit and a firm yet comfortable ride.

The cushioning levels are midway between the Bondi and Clifton, and the ride experience is superior to both. The midsole is better in the sense that it doesn’t feel as ‘flat’ as the Clifton or Bondi. While firm, the Skyflow has a rubbery responsiveness that’s missing on the other two.

Also, the Skyflow’s midsole doesn’t have the narrow edge pressing against the arch. That makes running a marathon more comfortable.

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This is NOT a soft or super-bouncy shoe, so it’s important to temper expectations. What you get with the Skyflow is a stable and neutral ride with ample cushioning for a marathon. This is a shoe that grows on you over time.

The upper has a true-to-size fit that’s neither too tight nor too loose. The toe-box has ample room for splay, and the padded tongue and heel keep the feet secure. The added reflectivity is a bonus.

Also see: The Hoka Bondi 8.

Cushioned trainer for over 4:00 hour marathons

Brooks Glycerin 21

Nice and easy does it. The Glycerin 21’s DNA Loft midsole packs plenty of comfort for high-mileage runs.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Brooks Glycerin 21 here.

The Brooks Glycerin 21 is not a fast shoe by any means. And it’s not supposed to be one – but it excels at making everyday runs comfortable. The DNA Loft midsole is softer than the Glycerin 20, and that creates a plusher underfoot feel.

The foam isn’t the only part that’s turned softer. The rubber outsole loses some of the firmness, and that improves the grip. On the flip side, the durability appears lower than before.

Pictured here is the cushioned and neutral DNA Loft midsole of the Brooks Glycerin 21.

The added padding pushes the foot forward by a few mm.

The Brooks Glycerin 21's insole is thick enough to be replaced by a stability Orthotic.

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The Glycerin’s tall and wide midsole has a generous amount of cushioning – enough to keep the feet fresh during a marathon.

While not particularly bouncy, the DNA Loft foam creates a lively and comfortable layer under the foot. The midsole lacks any propulsive features (like a plate) or a rocker, so the foot has to do most of the work. So if your marathon completion target is over 4 hours, the Brooks Glycerin 21 is a solid pick.

You can read our review to know more, but the changes made to the upper design make it narrower and shorter than the previous model.

How we selected: What to look for

Carbon-plated racers are a recent development. In the past, elite runners broke marathon PRs in a pair of racing flats that looked like a thin piece of foam glued to a mesh upper.

So if running shoes make no difference at all, then what’s the point of this guide?

That said, if you are a non-elite athlete running a marathon in a pair of flats, wouldn’t you like more cushioning after mile 10? The kind of running shoe that goes easy on your feet? And an upper with enough room for your toes instead of squeezing them in a vice-like grip?

And unless you’re running on an exceptionally scenic route, marathons can also get boring after an hour or two. The last thing you need is a shoe that’s unexciting to run in.

Even if you’ve trained religiously for over six months before running a marathon, every bit helps – even running shoes.

While many experienced runners have no problem running longer distances in flats, most of us will appreciate the extra comfort.

The racing shoe landscape has also evolved. A decade ago, a road racer meant a racing flat – a running shoe with minimal cushioning.

In 2025, if a marathon shoe doesn’t have a plate inside a springy midsole, then it’s likely to end up on a close-out sale.

So if given a choice, why wear uncomfortable flats?

Given the context, this guide focuses on cushioned running shoes. If you prefer flats or similar road racers, try the shoes from our guides for 5K and 10K races.

If this guide was compiled in 2014, it would have looked completely different. Except for a few Hokas, there weren’t many max-cushioning shoes available. Most midsole foams were also limited to e-TPU and EVA variants.

This product guide includes several shoes with midsole plates. Our top pick is the adidas Adios Pro 4 because of its soft, springy, and quick ride. The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is our second plated-racer pick.

Not everyone is chasing a personal best, and sometimes the kind of shoe you want for a 5-hour marathon is the New Balance 1080V14. Its Fresh Foam X midsole offers almost a bottomless reservoir of cushioning comfort for long races. We’ve included the Brooks Glycerin 21 for the same reason.

Our stability running shoe pick is the New Balance 860V14 – a softly cushioned trainer with a unique stability plate. This relatively lightweight shoe packs a high cushioning-to-weight ratio, and works well for a marathon.

The Hoka Skyflow feels peppier than the Clifton or Bondi – that’s why you see it on this guide.