In this product guide:
- 1. Our top marathon shoe pick: adidas Adios Pro 3
- 2. Plated racer for sub-3:30 hour marathons: Saucony Endorphin Pro 4
- 3. Versatile neutral trainer for over 3:30 hour marathons: Asics Novablast 4
- 4. Max-cushioning for over 4:00 hour marathons: New Balance 1080V14
- 5. Stability trainer for over 3:30 hour marathons: New Balance 860V14
- 6. Soft cushioning for over 3:30 hour marathons: Hoka Skyflow
- 7. Cushioned trainer for over 4:00 hour marathons: Brooks Glycerin 21
- How we selected
It was a difficult choice to pick the adidas adios Pro 3 over shoes like the Nike Vaporfly 3, Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, Asics Metaspeed Sky, and the Nike Alphafly 3.
But our goal here was to recommend a shoe that’s likely to work not just for most experience levels but also for different gait patterns and footstrike orientations. After observing shoe behavior on thousands of runners, we recommend the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3.
The Adios Pro 3 is a marathon shoe that will likely work for most runners – be it elites, intermediate, first-time marathoners, overpronators, supinators, or heel strikers. It doesn’t require a certain way to run, or for that matter, a recommended speed range.
For example, let’s look at 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 reason for the Adios Pro’s versatility – and forgiving nature – lies in its midsole design.
The adidas Adios Pro 3 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 3 gives the runner greater control over the ride experience.
A typical racer with a plate creates a distinct rocker effect. Here, that effect is milder so the foot can flex the ‘Rods’ to a certain extent. The midsole takes a few runs to fully ‘break in’, as the Energy Rods become more flexible over time.
The Lightstrike Pro foam is bouncy and resilient – it’s less mushy than softer PEBA foam, so the stability is decent. The cushioning feels substantial and responsive under the foot, so there’s ample comfort for a marathon.
This is one of the rare super shoes that works equally well for heel strikers. The Adios Pro 3 is as user-friendly as it gets.
Despite the weaker rocker effect, the Adios Pro 3 feels fast. The dense Lightstrike Pro isn’t mushy and has a noticeable energy return. The stiff tubes make the loading process efficient. Lastly, the Continental rubber outsole under the forefoot has excellent traction in both wet and dry conditions.
The upper fits true to size but be mindful of the seam under the first eyelet. We didn’t experience any discomfort, but it may potentially irritate some runners.
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.
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.
The Asics Novablast 4 does two things well. One, it delivers an extremely comfortable ride, thanks to its tall Flytefoam midsole. Two, despite its cushioned ride, the Novablast doesn’t feel slow at all.
And why’s that? We cut open the Novablast 4 in our review and showed you not only the stack heights, but the toe-spring as well. Being the highest point of the midsole, the toe spring defines the rocker angle. The higher the rocker, the easier it is for the foot to ‘roll forward’.
This roll-forward effect gives the Novablast a nice push at the end of the gait cycle.
The tight upper also does a good job of transferring the power from the foot to the midsole. We’d say that the sweet spot for this shoe is between 4:30 min/km and 5:15 min/km, and that’s why we recommend the Novablast for a 3:30 marathon.
- Asics’s marketing pitch: Add bounce to every step.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, tongue gusset.
- Upper fit: True to size, narrow.
- Midsole: Full-length Flytefoam Blast foam. 8 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Carbon rubber in high-wear areas.
- Weight: 260 gms/ 9.17 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27
. - Stack heights: 43 mm (heel), 35 mm (forefoot) – Solereview verified.
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 2E (wide).
- Previous model: Asics Novablast 3.
- Country of origin: Indonesia.
- Recommended use: Everyday training, tempo runs, marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: All types (heel/midfoot/forefoot).
- Median lifespan: 500 miles.
- Recommended paces: 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile) and slower.
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Tempo-friendly ride comfort
- Smooth transitions
- Cushioning to weight ratio
- Secure upper fit,
- Optional width
Cons
- Upper runs hotter vs. the Novablast 3
- Outsole grip is (still) average
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 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.
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.
- New Balance’s marketing pitch: Crafted for any run and premium comfort.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, gusseted tongue.
- Midsole: Full-length Fresh FoamX foam, 6 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Softer rubber under the forefoot, harder rubber in the rear.
- Weight: 298 gms/ 10.5 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8.5/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 39 mm (heel), 33 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: B (narrow), D – regular (reviewed), 2E (wide) 4E (extra-wide).
- Previous model: New Balance 1080V13.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Daily training, tempo runs, marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Median lifespan: 400 miles.
- Recommended paces: Slower than 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile).
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- High-mileage comfort
- Responsive and versatile ride
- Secure fit
- Outsole grip
- Multiple widths
Cons
- Struggles at faster paces
- Lack of reflective trims
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Brooks’s marketing pitch: Super softness with every step.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, no gusset.
- Midsole: DNA Loft V3 foam. 10 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Softer rubber (forefoot), firm rubber (heel).
- Weight: 278 gms/ 9.8 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 38 mm (heel), 28 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 2E – Wide.
- Previous model: Brooks Glycerin 20.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Daily cruiser, half-marathons, marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Median lifespan: 350 miles.
- Recommended paces: Slower than 5:00 min/km (8:00 min/mile).
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Ride comfort
- Plush interiors
- Smooth transitions
- Outsole traction
- Optional widths
Cons
- Low outsole durability
- Limited versatility
- Not as stable as the Glycerin 20
- Lack of reflective elements
- Tongue slide
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 2024, 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 3 because of its versatile and user-friendly character. The New Balance SC Elite V4 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 1080V13. 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.