Softest everyday trainer

Nike Vomero 18

The 44 mm tall ZoomX and React X midsole delivers plenty of usable softness.

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The Vomero 18 isn’t Nike’s softest shoe. That distinction goes to the Invincible 3. So why have we featured the Vomero instead?

A soft midsole is only as good as its usability. While the Invincible offers little else than an uber-soft ride, the Vomero 18’s softness is more versatile.

Let us explain. The Vomero’s soft ride is the product of two foams working in tandem. The cushier ZoomX foam is available closer to the foot. A firmer ReactX foam cradles the ZoomX foam and defines the midsole rocker.

A 44 mm heel stack may seem like a lot – and it is. However, you don’t sink into the midsole. The ZoomX layer and foam footbed add step-in comfort while the ReactX midsole produces a springy response. A deep transition groove behaves like a trampoline, and the rocker midsole helps propel the foot.

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The Vomero 18’s softness has a nuanced quality which is missing on the Invincible 3 or even the New Balance 1080V14. The new Vomero is cushioned yet surprisingly peppy. It is a multi-role shoe capable of everyday training, tempo runs (up to a certain speed range), and marathons.

The midsole softness is matched by an equally plush upper that is spacious and true to size.

Softest shoe for overpronators

New Balance Fresh Foam 860V14

The reworked Fresh Foam X midsole makes this the softest 860 ever.

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Never has the 860 been so soft. It always had a firm ride, and with good reason.

Earlier versions of the 860 had a firmer medial post – a foam wedge that made the arch side more supportive. If the rest of the midsole was too soft, the mismatch between the two foam densities would have upset the cushioning balance.

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The 860V14 doesn’t have a medial post, so it doesn’t have the performance limitations of the previous model.

The new 860 has the same parlor trick as the Vongo.

Inside the Fresh Foam X midsole is a ‘stability plane’ plate. Not to be confused with plates found in marathon racers, this plate features a supportive inner side with a flexible outer half. The 860 achieves this by punching holes into the outer plate while keeping the inner half solid.

The solid half adds support to the arch side, whereas the perforated side is more responsive to loading pressure.

The goal of any pronation-control shoe is to prevent the arch side of the midsole from collapsing and re-direct the loading towards the outer side. The 860’s and Vongo’s novel plate design achieves that better than any currently available pronation-control measure.

In typical New Balance fashion, the comfortable and true-to-size upper is available in multiple widths.

Softest recovery trainer

Brooks Ghost Max 2

The new DNA Loft 3 foam adds a bouncy feel to the ultra-cushioned midsole.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Brooks Ghost Max 2 here.

We love what Brooks has done with the second version of the Ghost Max 2. It’s gone from a very cushioned and boring trainer to a very cushioned and fun trainer.

It’s greater fun in the sense that there’s better feedback from the new DNA Loft V3 foam. The original Ghost Max was soft but somewhat flat in its cushioning delivery. Here, the foam is soft and delightfully bouncy – things that make recovery training fun.

Recovery runs and walks are what the Ghost Max 2 should be used for, nothing more, nothing less.

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Mind you, this is an 11-ounce shoe, so tempo runs and spirited workouts of a similar nature can be ruled out. It’s perfect for slow days (ideally, 5:30 min/km or slower) when cushioning comfort, and not a speed-hungry midsole, is the need of the hour.

Brooks has done a stellar job with the upper redesign. The spacious interior surrounds the foot in plushness. Additional widths are available for purchase.

Also consider: The adidas Ultraboost 5X.

Softest half-marathon shoe

Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris

The curved Carbon plate and soft Flytefoam Turbo cushioning offers speed and comfort during a half.

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Both the Metaspeed Paris variants are on this guide. We recommend the Edge Paris for a half-marathon, and the Sky Paris for a full marathon.

If both models have identical uppers and similar midsoles, why recommend them for different use cases?

The Carbon plate inside the Metaspeed Edge Sky and Edge Paris have different profiles.

On the Edge, the forefoot plate has a sharper downward taper than the Sky. From a performance viewpoint, the sharper curvature creates a stronger snap under the heel. The plate design also enhances the rocker effect.

The Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris makes short work of 10K runs.

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The stronger springboard and rocker effect are better suited for shorter distances. On the Sky Paris, the plate curvature isn’t as pronounced. There’s a thicker FF Turbo stack between the forefoot plate and the outsole. This makes the rocker effect milder, but with the benefit of softer forefoot landings.

Other than that, both the Metaspeed models offer similar performance benefits. The Flytefoam Turbo is soft, bouncy, and adds comfort to all run types.

The ultra-breathable upper has an accommodating fit that feels just right for a long-distance race shoe.

Softest marathon racer

Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris

The Metaspeed Sky’s midsole and plate design make it softer than the Metaspeed Edge.

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Some readers may want to know why we picked the Metaspeed Sky Paris over other popular racers like the Nike Vaporfly 3 and Saucony Endorphin Pro 4. And also, why the Sky Paris in particular, and not the Metaspeed Edge?

The answer to those questions can be found in the foam material and midsole architecture.

The Flytefoam Turbo+ softness is of a different kind than Nike ZoomX and Saucony Pwrrun PB. The PEBA foam that Nike uses is soft, but could do with more resilience. The current generation Saucony Pwrrun+ is firmer than FF Turbo, and so is the adidas Lightstrike Pro.

The FF Turbo is quick to respond to footstrike and snap back to its original shape. It’s also bouncy, and works seamlessly with the Carbon plate.

The stack heights are up there, just skirting under the regulation limits.

The Sky Paris has a 39.5 mm tall heel and a 34.5 mm forefoot, so the wearer doesn’t need to be concerned with cushioning comfort. There’s plenty of that to go around during a marathon, so the runner can focus on the race and not the shoe.

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Though the Metaspeed Sky and Edge share an identical upper, their midsoles function differently. On the Metaspeed Sky, the Carbon plate has a flatter profile from the heel to toe, and doesn’t curve downwards under the forefoot as the Metaspeed Edge does.

The Sky’s outsole is softer because of the cutout under the forefoot – which the Edge lacks. The Carbon plate is placed higher inside the midsole, so the forefoot is noticeably softer than the Edge.

The Edge’s placement of the Carbon plate delivers a stronger rocker effect, so we recommend it for a half-marathon and shorter races.

Softest tempo trainer

New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V4

The tall and wide Fuelcell midsole offers plenty of soft cushioning during runs.

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1. Read our detailed review of the New Balance Rebel V4 here.

Here’s a hypothetical question. Is the Rebel V4 objectively a better tempo shoe than the Hoka Mach 6, Brooks Hyperion 2, and adidas Boston 12? We’d say no, but that’s not what this buyer’s guide is about. The Rebel V4 may not be the best tempo trainer, but it’s certainly the softest.

This year’s Fuelcell Rebel isn’t the same as before. The new midsole is wider – much wider than the Rebel V3, as it adds 10 mm of width to the base.

The stack heights are nothing to scoff at either; the heel and forefoot are 34 mm and 28 mm respectively. The wide and tall midsole adds cushioning comfort to the entire gait cycle, be it landings or mid-stance.

The shoe weighs 7.5 ounces (212 grams) for a US 9, so this is a lightweight tempo trainer with a high cushioning-to-weight ratio. The Rebel V4 delivers its best performance between speeds of 4:00 ~ 5: 00 min/km (6:30 ~ 8 min/mile). If you want to go quicker, consider the firmer Brooks Hyperion 2 or Hoka Mach 6.

Unlike the Rebel 3, the V4’s upper has a spacious forefoot. The breezy mesh does a good job with ventilation.

Softest 5K-10K racer

adidas Adizero EVO SL

The EVO SL’s cushioning makes it possible to go quick without punishing your feet.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Adizero EVO SL here.

Solereview’s personal pick for a 5K racer is the adidas Takumi 10. It has a relatively harsher ride than the EVO SL with a much tighter fit. A purist would appreciate these traits, but the general population prefers a more forgiving shoe. That’s where the adizero EVO SL comes in.

To us, the EVO SL is like the Adios Pro 3, but without the Energy Rods. What’s left is a 100% Lightstrike Pro midsole without stiff components. As with most things in life, that has its upsides and downsides.

5K and 10K runs are made comfortable by the deep LS Pro cushioning. The stack heights are generous, as evident in the 39 mm (heel) and 32 mm (forefoot) tall midsole. Every footstrike and transition is cushioned by the soft and bouncy LS Pro, so the foot doesn’t get beat up during a race.

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Like the others in the adizero line-up, the EVO SL’s forefoot rocker helps build up speed. Sure, there’s slightly more work involved because of the missing Energy Rods, but the bouncy Lightstrike Pro foam and rocker keeps it peppy enough.

The forgiving nature of the EVO SL also applies to the upper fit. It’s not as narrow as the Takumi, leaving more room for the toes to splay.

Softest trail running shoe

adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra

The Agravic Ultra’s Lightstrike Pro midsole brings soft cushioning to long-distance trail runs.

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It was a matter of time before road-based supershoes were adapted for trail use. The Saucony Endorphin Edge had limited success, but it doesn’t get the credit it deserves for being the first of its kind.

On the other hand, it’s fair to say the more successful Nike Ultrafly set the precedent for this new class of trail footwear.

Trail shoes in this category borrow high-tech foam and Carbon bits from road-going marathon shoes and repurpose them into a trail-worthy package. Hoka has sold cushioned trail shoes for long, but has so far relied on conventional midsole materials.

The Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra has similar stack heights as the Nike Ultrafly, but it has a performance edge in a few important ways. The Carbon ‘Flyplate’ inside the Ultrafly is smaller as it only extends from the midfoot to the forefoot; it’s shaped like a fork with two rounded prongs under the forefoot.

Adidas uses the Energy Rods system inside the Agravic Speed Ultra, but it’s longer and better articulated than the Nike Flyplate.

Under the forefoot, the Energy rods have four ‘fingers’. Under the heel, the Energy rods have a two-prong design. The Energy Rod design and outsole layout give the Agravic a better proprioceptive feel than the Ultrafly.

The Continental rubber outsole has a groove under the forefoot, something that the Ultrafly’s Vibram outsole lacks.

The Nike Ultrafly scores better on protection, but there’s a weight trade-off and a weaker connection with the trail. The Agravic is an ounce lighter, and has a softer forefoot than the Ultrafly.

Finally, despite comparable specs, the Agravic Speed Ultra is $40 cheaper than Nike.

So while both trail shoes are comfortable choices for ultra trail distances, there are limits to such a design. These high-stack trail shoes are excellent on gentle gradients and trail-road transitions, but are best kept off technical terrain.

How we selected: What to look for

The terms soft, cushioned, and padded are often conflated. A cushioned shoe needn’t be soft. A padded shoe could be cushioned, but without being soft.

There are two qualifiers for a running shoe to be truly soft. At least, that’s how Solereview defines it.

First, the foam material should compress the moment it is loaded. Two, the midsole made of the said foam should be a high-volume kind.

The Asics Cumulus’s midsole is soft but not mushy.

That’s why the Brooks Ghost Max 2 features on this list. The plump midsole uses a similar midsole material as the Brooks Glycerin 22, thus giving it a soft and bouncy ride despite its 11-ounce weight.

Softness comes in various forms, with some better than others. The Asics Metaspeed Sky and New Balance Rebel V4 demonstrate that ride softness and quick transitions can happily co-exist.

Also included is the Nike Vomero 18 – a versatile trainer with an ultra-high volume midsole made of PEBA and ReactX foam.