In this product guide:
- 1. White everyday trainer: Nike Pegasus 41
- 2. Versatile everyday trainer: Asics Novablast 5
- 3. Affordable white daily trainer: Nike Revolution 7
- 4. Cushioned white trainer for long runs: New Balance 1080 V14
- 5. Cushioned white trainer for long runs: Nike Invincible 3
- 6. Cushioned white trainer for long runs: Hoka Clifton 9
- 7. Versatile white trainer for long runs: adidas Ultraboost 5X
- 8. White trail running shoe: Salomon XT 6
- Our selection criteria
Just like the last model, the Pegasus 41’s midsole has two Zoom Air bags – one each under the heel and forefoot. The ReactX midsole is now softer because of the missing cellulose board (that the Pegasus 40 had).
Barring minor updates, the rest of the shoe is similar to the previous model. The long-lasting rubber outsole grips well, and the ride is supportive.
As an everyday trainer, it’s highly versatile. The cushioning softness feels lively and efficient for even higher speed (4:40 min/km) runs, and there’s plenty of comfort for longer runs of up to a half marathon.
Forefoot strikers should look elsewhere, though. Most of the forefoot stack is taken up by the Zoom Air bag, so the landings feel lacking in cushioning bounce and softness. This is clearly a heel-striker’s shoe.
The sleeved upper has a midfoot strapping system and spacer mesh shell for a secure and comfortable fit.
The Asics Novablast is very popular for a reason. It’s cushioned, yes – but there’s more to this shoe than its high midsole stack heights (41.5 mm and 33.5 mm). Its ride comfort doesn’t sacrifice speed.
The rocker midsole helps with quick turnovers, and the FF Blast Max foam is responsive. Except for the softer midsole, slightly improved grip, and reworked upper, the overall character is fairly similar to the Novablast 4. The push-offs take somewhat more effort due to the softer ride, but only just.
The foam isn’t overly soft, so the ride stability isn’t negatively affected. The outsole now uses better-defined lugs and improved compound for reliable everyday traction.
Asics has made slight improvements to the Novablast 5’s upper. The first two rows are now loops instead of eyelets, so it’s easier to customize the fit. Inside, the fit is secure and comfortable, thanks to the padded heel collar, internal toe bumper, and smooth exterior mesh.
So what can the Novablast 5 be used for? Well, the question should be – is there anything it can’t do? It’s cushioned enough for a marathon, is sufficiently durable for everyday miles, and has the agility for tempo runs.
It’s not recommended for sprints and trail use though.
If you’re searching for an affordable all-white shoe for short runs, the $70 Nike Revolution makes a strong case for itself.
There’s plenty of all-day comfort available in the cushy EVA foam midsole. From the outside, it’s clear that the Revolution 7 borrows its design from the Nike Infinity Run 4.
For example, the scooped rear midsole enhances the ride comfort – similar to how the Infinity 4 does it.
The one-piece rubber outsole has tiny waffle lugs for traction while being pliable. The exposed windows allow the outsole to flex together with the soft midsole.
Though the Revolution 7’s upper is pretty basic, the fundamentals are in place. The mostly mesh upper delivers a secure and smooth fit, an extra-wide fit is optional. The upper is based on Nike’s MR-10 last – the same as the Pegasus.
Our favorite long-distance cruiser is also available in all-white.
And why is the New Balance 1080 V14 our top pick as a high-mileage cruiser?
For one, it’s got a very lively midsole made of Fresh Foam X – an improved version of what the 1080V13 had. The V14 is also the bounciest 1080 to date, even more so than last year’s 1080V13.
It’s extremely cushioned and comfortable for long runs, and the articulated blown rubber outsole delivers smooth transitions.
On the flip side, the 1080V14 has a weaker ground feel than the V13. On one hand, the stronger rocker effect propels the foot forward. It’s far easier to sustain 4:00 to 4:30 min/km paces (6:30 to 7:00 min/mile) speeds than the previous model. At the same time, it’s harder to sense the ground because of the pronounced rocker and reconfigured outsole layout.
There’s more than one use case for this shoe. It’s excellent for racking up daily mileage, recovery runs, and marathon training. It’s not a bad tempo trainer either.
The 1080’s soft and comfortable upper will accommodate most foot shapes. And if it doesn’t, New Balance sells multiple widths in the 1080.
The Invincible 3 is another super-soft trainer for high-mileage cruising and easy runs. The midsole is made of 100% ZoomX foam – the same material that’s on the Vaporfly 3. It’s a soft, lightweight, and bouncy foam that works best with a stiff inner plate.
But that’s not the case here. The midsole lacks a stiff plate, so all you get is the deep cushioning from the ZoomX stack.
The result is a midsole that works best during slower training runs and marathons. The ultra-soft midsole makes it harder for quick toe-offs to happen. But that’s what the Invincible 3 is about, and it’s very good at that.
The upper isn’t bad either; it fits securely and true to size. We prefer the upper from the V1, though.
While the Hoka Clifton 9 isn’t packed with the latest and greatest tech, it is still a legitimate trainer for daily training and long-distance runs.
The 2014 Clifton was one of the original thick-stack running shoes with a rocker ride. After all these years, the Clifton hasn’t changed – at least in spirit.
Under the soft and secure upper is an EVA midsole similar to the kind used on the early Cliftons. This 8.7-ounce shoe blends everyday comfort with a transition-friendly character; the tall midsole with the rocker profile makes that happen.
Hoka’s most popular do-it-all trainer is sold in two widths and over a dozen colors – including an all-white variant.
This version of the Ultraboost is the most changed to date. It gets rid of the low-stack forefoot midsole and adds several millimeters to the thickness. The Boost foam is lighter, softer, and bouncier.
The midsole no longer has the exaggerated sidewalls under the heel. The upper doesn’t have stiff plastic bits and uses a soft, stretchy upper.
So what do all these changes mean for the wearer? The Ultraboost 5X is the softest and bounciest it’s ever been. In particular, the forefoot cushioning receives a huge upgrade. Runners who land forefoot first will discover increased softness when compared to the ultra-slim forefoot of the previous model.
There’s a slight decrease in stability because of the taller stack and the loss of tall sidewalls. But other than that, the changes are a net positive.
The new Ultraboost is more versatile. It now behaves like a proper running shoe, and covers everything from everyday miles to long runs. Even marathons are perfectly doable.
Turning the shoe over reveals a brand-new outsole architecture. The sole is still made of trusty Continental rubber with a larger coverage and a new Torsion shank.
The true-to-size upper is stretchy in all the right places. While Adidas doesn’t offer widths in this model, the elastic Primeknit upper is accommodating.
- adidas’s marketing pitch: Delivers continual energy return across the miles.
- Upper: Stretchy Primeknit upper with a bootie construction.
- Midsole: Full-length ‘Light Boost’ foam, Torsion midfoot shank. 10 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Single piece Continental rubber.
- Weight: 275 gms/ 9.7 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8.5/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 38 mm (heel), 28 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: Single, D – regular (reviewed)
- Previous model: adidas Ultraboost Light.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Daily cruiser, half-marathons, marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Orthotic compatibility: Low.
- Median lifespan: 500 miles.
- Recommended paces: Slower than 5:00 min/km (8:00 min/mile).
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Soft and bouncy comfort
- Very secure fit
- Outsole traction
- Long term durability
- Highly reflective upper
Cons
- Lower stability than before
- Shallow toe box
- No optional width(s)
- Short Torsion piece affects transitions
There’s a color pop over the tongue, and there are traces of silver on the upper, but we’ll let this one pass. That’s because the XT6 is the only outdoor shoe that’s predominantly white.
Of late, the Salomon XT6 has become somewhat of a lifestyle sneaker; it’s more likely to be found at Saks Fifth Avenue or a sneaker boutique than at your neighborhood running store. However, it’s still a very runnable shoe.
Like most Salomon trail runners, the Contragrip outsole is off-road worthy. The supportive TPU frame reinforces the foam midsole to result in stable cushioning on uneven terrain. The removable Ortholite footbed makes the ride soft just under the foot.
The lacing is quintessential Salomon – a bungee-type closure that conveniently tucks into a ‘lace garage’ over the tongue.
How we selected
In our product guide for white sneakers, we called an all-white shoe the purest expression of footwear design.
Without bold colors or contrasting patterns, a white shoe needs to succeed on its merits – like the materials, construction, and even intangible strengths like a retro backstory. Evergreen classics like the adidas Stansmith and Nike AF1 fall in that category. A white sneaker is also a fashion staple that’s loaded with style versatility.
That said, we don’t see a compelling use case for all-white running shoes. White running shoes are easy to get soiled, and even more difficult to clean.
Unlike a sneaker that’s usually made of leather or canvas, a running shoe is a mélange of meshes, synthetic overlays, outsole rubber, and foam midsoles. That makes the maintenance much harder.
A creased foam midsole is harder to clean than, say, a rubber cupsole of an adidas Stansmith or Vans authentic. A white mesh upper is also a dirt magnet.
Most white running shoes seen in the wild are often found on the feet of casual consumers. After all, the soft cushioning of foam midsoles is a lot more comfortable than firmer rubber cupsoles.