The best max-cushion daily trainers

The Bondi 9 is not only lighter and more durable than its predecessor, but it now also offers even more cushioning. Hoka has updated the Bondi 9 midsole with an additional 2 mm of supercritical EVA foam, resulting in a supremely plush ride that’s perfect for long, easy runs and logging daily training miles. As a max-cushion shoe, no one will be shocked to know that the Bondi 9 has a substantial stack height (42 mm in the heel and 37 mm in the forefoot for the women’s model, while the men’s clocks in at 43 mm and 38 mm). That’s a lot of cushioning! Hoka has also updated the upper, which now features a 3D moulded heel collar that provides a more secure and comfortable fit. Speaking of fit, the Bondi 9 is ideal for runners with more slender feet, but may feel a bit snug for those who require more room in the forefoot. If, however, you have a narrow forefoot and are looking for an extremely well-cushioned shoe for training and recovery, the Hoka Bondi 9 may be perfect for you.

The problem with some max-cushion shoes is that while they offer exceptional cushioning and protection, they also tend to lack responsiveness. With Ghost Max 2, Brooks addresses this dilemma. Starting with a DNA Loft v3 nitrogen-infused midsole foam and GlideRoll Rocker system, the Ghost Max 2 delivers the plushness you need for daily training and recovery runs while offering a responsive toe-off when you feel like picking up the pace. The midsole measures in with a 39 mm heel stack and 33 mm in the forefoot (for a 6 mm drop), which clearly positions it in the max-cushion category. For the upper, Brooks specs a very breathable, foot-conforming textile that features 54.9 per cent recycled content. The Ghost Max 2 also has a slightly wider base that delivers some mild and unobtrusive stability. Finally, a generous amount of outsole rubber ensures you’ll get maximum life out of the shoe.

If you are looking for a plush, highly cushioned stability shoe, you need to check out the Hurricane 24. Built with a unique dual-cushioning midsole that features soft PWRRUN PB foam surrounded by a firmer layer of PWRRUN foam, the Hurricane 24 delivers a wonderful blend of cushioning and stability. This construction also avoids the somewhat obtrusive traditional medial post found in more conventional stability shoes. From a numbers perspective, the Hurricane 24 is clearly a max-cushion shoe; it has a 38 mm heel stack, 32 mm forefoot stack, and a 6 mm drop. In other words, very tried-and-true dimensions. Looking at the upper, Saucony has spec’d a durable and highly breathable engineered mesh that does an admirable job of hugging your foot. Finally, carefully placed rubber outsole pads provide excellent durability and traction, while avoiding excess weight.

The Gel-Nimbus 27 continues its legacy as one of the best cushioned shoes on the market. The latest version adds 2 mm of Asics’ FF Blast Plus Eco foam in the midsole, resulting in even more cushioning. Asics has also updated the upper with a new, lighter and more breathable jacquard mesh textile for greater comfort in warm conditions. The 2 mm increase in the midsole has obviously upped the stack height numbers, with the men’s registering at 43.5 mm in the heel and 35.5 mm in the forefoot. (The women’s version is 42.5 mm in the heel and 34.5 mm in the forefoot.) Runners familiar with the numbers will instantly understand that the Gel Nimbus 27 is a maximalist shoe and, not surprisingly, delivers an exceptionally plush, shock-absorbing ride. If you are logging long, easy recovery miles or are just looking for a supremely cushioned daily trainer, check out the Gel-Nimbus 27.

With its dual-cell, nitrogen-infused foam midsole, the Glycerin Max delivers exceptional cushioning without compromising the responsiveness you need at faster paces. The shoe achieves these with its unique dual-sized cell construction in the midsole. Larger cells are used in the heel for better cushioning, while smaller cells in the forefoot provide surprisingly responsive toe-offs. The addition of a Brooks GlideRoll Rocker geometry adds to the overall responsive feel by encouraging smooth and fast transitions. For the upper, Brooks has employed a tried-and-true engineered triple jacquard textile that securely hugs your foot, while allowing for excellent breathability. As you would expect with a maximal shoe, the Glycerin Max has a very generous 45.25-mm heel stack and a 39.25-mm forefoot stack, resulting in drop of 6 mm. If you are in the market for a maximalist training shoe that does not sacrifice responsiveness, check out the Glycerin Max.

The Triumph 22 delivers a surprisingly engaging and responsive ride for such a plush max-cushion shoe. These highly desirable traits primarily stem from Saucony’s PWRRUN PB foam midsole, which delivers noticeable energy return (it’s bouncy) without compromising the plushness and cushioning you need during long training runs or when you’re logging easy recovery miles. The midsole sports a 37 mm heel stack and 27 mm forefoot stack, resulting in a 10 mm drop. Heel strikers should take particular note of this last dimension, as the Triumph 22 is clearly optimized for your needs. Like most Saucony shoes, the Triumph 22 employs a breathable engineered mesh upper that is comfortable and does an excellent job of locking in your midfoot. Underneath, a generous amount of durable rubber creates an outsole that is not only wear-resistant but also provides excellent traction in a variety of conditions. This is a great option for anyone looking for a plush and bouncy daily trainer.

Looking for a daily training shoe that has plenty of cushioning while retaining enough pop for faster training? Then check out the Asics Novablast 5. Asics has updated the midsole (FF Blast Max foam), resulting in a bouncy ride that you’ll appreciate on runs of any distance. The upper has also been updated with a unique jacquard mesh that is noticeably more breathable while providing a secure, foot-conforming fit. Asics has maintained the height from the previous model: 41.5 mm in the heel and 33.5 mm in the forefoot for the men’s, while the women’s is 40.5 mm/32.5 mm. These numbers nudge the Novablast 5 into maximalist territory, which contributes to the shoe’s plush ride. It’s also worth noting that the outsole uses the same geometric, trampoline-inspired shape as the previous model, which was a hit with many runners. If you are looking for a well-cushioned daily trainer with a bouncy ride, check out the Novablast 5.

With its Fresh Foam X midsole compound, which now uses 3 per cent bio-based content, the 1080 v14 delivers the plush cushioning runners have come to expect from this neutral shoe. New Balance has employed some minor tweaks to the midsole geometry to provide a bit more stability without impeding the shoe’s bouncy and cushioned ride. The upper has also been updated with a new mesh that provides noticeably better ventilation, which will be appreciated by runners training in warmer conditions. Things that have not changed are the shoe’s stack height and drop, which come in at 38 mm in the heel and 32 mm in the forefoot, for a 6 mm drop. These are solid numbers that provide predictable performance for many runners. Finally, the X 1080 v14 now sports even more NDurance rubber in high-wear outsole regions for improved durability. If you are looking for a plush neutral shoe for daily training, check out the 1080 v14.

Products reviewed in this article: