In this product guide:
- 1. Soft cushioning for distance runs: Asics Nimbus 26
- 2. Supportive cushioning for distance runs: Brooks Glycerin 21
- 3. Soft cushioning for distance runs: New Balance 1080V13
- 4. Softest daily trainer: Asics Cumulus 26
- 5. Versatile daily trainer: Saucony Ride 17
- 6. Versatile do-everything trainer: Asics Novablast 4
- 7. Carbon-plated racer for supinators: Saucony Endorphin Pro 4
- 8. Lightweight tempo trainer: New Balance Rebel V4
- How we selected
Despite the new midsole and upper for 2024, the Nimbus 26 is similar to the Nimbus 25.
In other words, it is a highly cushioned shoe with a supportive and neutral character. Its ‘neutral’ quality doesn’t interfere with the gait cycle and lets the foot transition naturally. For what it’s worth, the Nimbus 26 is firmer than the 25.
The Nimbus 26 is also a great pick as a cushioned marathon shoe.
The Nimbus 26 isn’t just about its balanced cushioning. The ride comfort is packaged in a transition-friendly midsole, just like how the Nimbus 25 was.
The outsole grip is a minor improvement over last year, but the upper is still a hot place to be.
Also recommended: The Hoka Bondi 8.
- Asics’s marketing pitch: Add comfort to every step.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, inner gusset.
- Midsole: Flytefoam Blast+ foam, heel Gel unit. 8 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Hybrid Asicsgrip rubber.
- Weight: 305 gms/ 10.7 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 42 mm (heel), 34 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 2E (wide), 4E (extra-wide).
- Previous model: Asics Nimbus 26
- Country of origin: Indonesia.
- Recommended use: Daily trainer for easy runs, half-marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Median lifespan: 400 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 for easy efforts
- Supportive and neutral cushioning
- Smooth transitions
- Optional wide, extra-wide sizes
Cons
- Upper is not breathable
- Low versatility
- Low reflectivity
- Printed heel loop may irritate
- Outsole grip needs further improvement
The Brooks Glycerin 21 hits the sweet spot of running shoes. With a ride that blends cushioning comfort and ride smoothness, the Glycerin’s road manners will please most runners. As a bonus, it’s very neutral and supportive as well; a quality that works well for supinators.
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.
As a result, it works as a reliable daily workhorse for most distances. This time, the DNA Loft midsole foam is noticeably softer than the Glycerin 20 – a shoe that we found to be rather firm.
Brooks has done a nice job with the upper as well. The knit mesh exterior combines rearfoot plushness with a smooth, seam-free interior.
Also see: Puma Magnify Nitro 2.
- 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
The New Balance 1080 has always been a good fit for supinators, thanks to the non-prescriptive nature of its midsole. In short, the midsole doesn’t try to control the gait, but rather helps cushion the foot naturally.
Sure, this is a very soft running shoe – more so than the 1080V12 due to the extensively reworked midsole. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the Fresh Foam midsole helps the foot roll inwards naturally. There are no raised midsole edges or stability features on the inner midsole.
Its soft cushioning doesn’t feel slow, so the 1080V13 is very versatile for what it is. It’s an excellent shoe for long runs and marathons, while being a reliable everyday trainer.
Just know that the new upper fits narrower than the 1080V12 due to the new mesh. Unlike the last time, the V13’s upper isn’t made of an elastic mesh, so the forefoot isn’t as accommodating. 2E (wide) or 4E (extra-wide) widths are optional.
The Cumulus 26 is nothing like the Cumulus 25 or any other version that came before it.
The midsole has a firm base made of foam, but with a softer Flytefoam layer on top. The cushioning doesn’t end there; the foot is comforted by two layers of plush foam. To be specific, there’s an Ortholite insole and lasting directly under the foot.
The result is an everyday trainer that’s softer than most other shoes of its class, and that includes the Brooks Ghost 16, Saucony Ride 17, New Balance 880V14 (this comes close though), and the Nike Pegasus 41.
The Asics Cumulus's midsole is soft but not mushy.
The wide midsole of the Cumulus 26 produces a neutral and supportive ride .
The Cumulus doesn’t feel mushy, as the firm base keeps the foot supported. However, given the lack of a rubber outsole, the grip is lacking on smooth floors and slushy sidewalks.
This may also be the most accommodating upper on a Cumulus. The toe-box has ample room to splay, and the knit tongue stays flush over the foot.
Now in its 17th year, the Saucony Ride gets a complete makeover. The midsole is now made of Pwrrun+ – the same material that’s on the Triumph 21.
So in many ways, the Ride 17 is like a Triumph Lite – a versatile everyday trainer with a responsive ride. The midsole has a lot more ‘life’ than the flat ride quality of the Ride 16 and 15. The expanded PU foam is durable as well as temperature-resistant, meaning that it won’t firm up during freezing winters.
The new midsole extends the Ride 17’s capabilities by making it a better long-distance running shoe than the previous model.
The Ride 17's insole is made of Pwrrun+ E-TPU foam. It's thick enough to be replaced by a stability Orthotic.
The Ride 17's insole is made of Pwrrun+ E-TPU foam. It's thick enough to be replaced by a stability Orthotic.
The upper fits true-to-size and is available in an optional wide.
- Saucony’s marketing pitch: A truly versatile shoe, from warm up to tempo runs.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, internal gusset.
- Midsole: Expanded Polyurethane (Pwrrun+) foam. 8 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Carbon rubber in high-wear areas.
- Weight: 282 gms/ 9.9 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 35 mm (heel), 27 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 2E – Wide.
- Previous model: Saucony Ride 16.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Daily training, tempo runs, half-marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Recommended paces: 4:30 min/km (7:30 min/mile) and slower.
- Median lifespan: 500 miles.
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Just-right upper fit
- Neutral and supportive ride
- Smooth cushioning
- Versatile ride character
- Optional widths
- Comfortable interiors
Cons
- Upper runs warm in summer
- Low reflectivity
- Heel loop needs to be bigger
The Asics Novablast 4 is a daily trainer, tempo run shoe, and half-marathon running shoe all rolled into one.
The soft Flytefoam midsole adds cushioning comfort for everyday miles and distance runs. Working in tandem are the rocker profile, springy Flytefoam, and snug upper – they make the Novablast 4 versatile enough for tempo workouts. The 8 mm heel-to-toe drop doesn’t stress the Achilles.
It also feels a lot different than the Novablast 3. And that’s not surprising, considering the taller and wider midsole uses reformulated Flytefoam.
The Saucony Endorphin 4 differs from a typical carbon-plated racer in two ways. For one, the midsole is much wider with more outsole rubber. In performance terms, that translates into more foam under the foot and a better grip.
The Carbon plate inside the Pwrrun PB is stiffer than the Nylon plate of the Endorphin Speed 4, and that gives the midsole better structure. While the plate directs the transitions along the midsole length, the midsole isn’t prescriptive in a traditional sense.
Meaning that the inner midsole isn’t more supportive than the outer side, and vice versa. That makes this plated racer a good fit for supinators.
The soft and breathable upper is accommodating without being excessively roomy. The secure fit helps the neutral midsole perform better.
So far, most shoes in this guide are mid-weight trainers. But what if you wanted a lightweight and efficient running shoe with a low heel-to-toe offset? One that is also comfortable for up to 10K distances?
The New Balance Rebel 4 fits that description. It’s worth noting that the Rebel V4 is nothing like the Rebel V3. The updated midsole foam and geometry make it a very different shoe than the V3.
For starters, the Rebel V4’s foam is firmer. Also, it has a wider midsole with a rocker forefoot, something that the Rebel V3 lacked. Most importantly, the foot had to do most of the work on the Rebel V3. That’s not the case here, as the rocker midsole helps the foot roll forward.
The balanced midsole sidewalls produce a neutral ride without any bias, and the responsive Fuelcell foam makes the shoe comfortable enough for up to a half marathon. This neutral-supportive character makes the Rebel 4 suitable for most gait types and foot strikes.
The lightweight and breathable upper is secure-fitting and true to size.
How we selected: What to look for
Shoe brands make a killing selling products for runners who were supposed to be ‘over’ and ‘under’ pronators.
There is no scientific evidence to support the theory that runners should be matched with shoes based on how their foot pronates. Even today, many running shoe stores and brands will ‘analyze’ your gait and suggest a ‘suitable’ running shoe – all based on how your foot rolls during a run. This is such a flawed process.
For example, if the ‘gait analysis’ indicates that the extent of inward foot roll was minimal (supination/underpronation), then a neutral running shoe is likely to be recommended.
Conversely, a person with excessive foot roll (overpronation) would be paired with stability running shoes.
We’ve been saying for years that all this is hogwash. If you want proof, just look around. Brands are replacing traditional stability shoes with supportive neutral shoes.
The ‘Guiderails’ of the Brooks Adrenaline GTS.
Be it the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 or Nike Structure 25, the switch to supportive neutral shoes didn’t take long. The same logic applies to supinator-friendly running shoes.
Conventional wisdom states that a person with a supinating foot (with a limited inwards roll) should be matched with a soft, neutral shoe. In industry parlance, a neutral shoe lacks ‘stability’ features like a medial post.
Does this approach work? If the shoe is cushioned, supportive, and fits well, then most runners should have no problem. Having said that, a running shoe is not going to have a significant effect on your gait – unless the shoe is extremely soft or doesn’t fit the way it should.
If you want to head down this rabbit hole, let us help you. Our guides for the best neutral shoes and runners with high arches cover a similar category of shoes.
High arches and supination are often used interchangeably, so why do two different buyer’s guides exist? Well, even high-arched runners can over-pronate, so both circumstances shouldn’t be conflated.
Based on our experience, all supportive neutral running shoes are a safe bet. This is regardless of whether you classify yourself as someone with supination or over-pronation.