The world of cushioned shoes is a tricky place for runners these days, with the category now including a wide spectrum of options designed for the specific needs of different runners.
In this video, each of the Run Testers is given the task of choosing three cushioned shoes that they’d take over anything else. Watch to find out which shoes each of us went for.
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00:00 – Intro
00:34 – Nick’s Picks
05:12 – Kieran’s Picks
09:11 – Mike’s Picks
13:54 – Tom’s Picks
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Hey Tommy from the Run testers in this Video we are talking about cushion shoes So each of the Run testers is going to Pick their top two or three cushion Shoes that they would pick at the moment As their favorite choices so we're going To talk a little bit about the type of Run we are what sorts of runs we're Doing and then explain the shoes we pick To do that type of running right let's Dive in and see what we've all picked [Music] So when it comes to my cushion shoe Piics I tend to have a couple of cushion Shoes I might use and for the most part Throughout the year I don't tend to go For an allout dedicated cushion shoe I Tend to use cushioned daily trainers Instead and that's because the training I do with my coach most of the time if I'm not doing very high mileage I will Be doing a lot of easy runs that a kind Of easy to steady progression run so I'll start nice and relaxed I'll move Through the gears a little bit still Won't be running very fast at the end But I will be pushing more towards Steady Paces just you know increasing That pace a little bit and I really Value a versatile cushion shoe as a Result that has a slightly lighter feel And can cope with those changes of pace Well so I still do have then some pure Recovery runs in the week and that kind
Of cushion daily trainer is still good For that but then when I do get deeper Into something like a marathon training Block or something like that my training Gets a little bit more polarized and There'll be a lot more just dedicated Easy runs at which point I do quite like Having a very cushion shoe to use so There's a shoe like that I've picked out As one of my three picks but for the First category those kind of of cushion Daily trainers that are comfortable but Have a slightly more versatile feel I've Got two picks here the first is the Classic the one I pick all the time Which is the Puma velocity Nitro 3 this Is a shoe just works very well for me It's got a really good fit for me CU It's quite a narrow shoe I have a narrow Foot it just ticks over very nicely and Naturally at a range of Paces for me It's got outstanding outsole which means I can use it on canal toe paths and in The forest on light Trails for most of The year and it's really good value as Well like it's got a pretty low uh RRP But then it's often in sales as well It's a shoe that I don't really ever Have to think about too much y can just Pull it on go out for a run it's great For Flatout easy runs I find good for Long runs and it's good for moving Through the gears as well the DU density Midsole on the shoe with a nitr infused
Top layer and it just means it has a Good feel at a range of Paces that top Layer does have a bit of Bounce and Response when you are moving a bit Faster but at the same time it's not an Overly soft shoe so it's reasonably Stable and durable enough thanks to that Bottom layer as well so the shoe just Just works really well for me has since The original velocity Nitro if I'm Looking at a higher drop shoe in Particular this is the one I would stick In my rotation the other shoe I picked Out here though I have found recently is Working for me even better it's not as Good value as the pummer but I do prefer The ride slightly and it's the hoker sky Flow which I've been testing out lately And I've just really loved using for my Easy runs as kind of easy to steady runs I talked about it's another shoe that Fits into the cushion daily trainer Category it's got a very high stack of Foam at the back it's 40 mm at the back So it's as cushioned as lots of the Completely cushioned shoes but doesn't Have the ride or feel of a just Flatout Easy shoe I would say because you have a Super critical EVA foam in the midsole It gives it a nice lightweight poppy Feel that is very cushioned and Comfortable you can just go for relaxed Easy runs that's mostly what I've done In this shoe is just flat out easy runs
But you can also move through the gears A bit it's got a lower drop than the pum Velocity at 5 mm and much more of a Rocker tends to be the kind of ride I Prefer in lots of shoes and that's Probably the reason I slightly prefer The ride of this over the pumer it's not As good value though you're not getting Such a good outsole but it is a great Shoe for rolling around doing lots of Runs it just disappears on the foot and Just moves very smoothly at a range of Paces like today on my easy run I was Going very relaxed in the shoe but did Pick it up a little bit at the end just Cuz I was a bit short on time and you Can just do that very easy in the shoe Without pushing too hard so again Comfort first with the shoe for sure and The pumer I do think they're really Comfortable shoes like these are my easy Day shoes as well as being a bit more Versatile but you have got that little Bit of Versatility a reasonably Lightweight shoe and all around just a Shoe that again I can pull on without Thinking about it it's just going to do A really good job I'm not going to Notice it too much on the run and that's More or less what I look for mostly in My cushion shoes and then when I do want A really cushion shoe uh that is just a Flatout design for easy runs a shoe that I love testing this year and I'd put in
My top three is the sakon Huracan 24 This is a shoe that has a lot of Stability as well as a lot of cushioning Under Foot it's got a frame of s power Run foam and a very wide base which Gives it that stability despite the fact The main foam used is power run PB which Is s p based foam and that foam just Feels really soft and comfortable on This shoe but still has a little bit of Bounce back as well so we've seen power Rpb used on a range of shoes and so Range we've liked it a lot in things Like the Endorphin speed and pro didn't Like it so much in the Triumph 22 but The hurricane feels pretty special under Cuz it is so comfortable underfoot like It's an extremely comfortable shoe Really cushion just designed for just Protecting the legs and helping you roll Through runs on recovery days on easy Run days but that foam does have a Little bit more pop back to it than some Of the really soft Foams on the market That I've tested so I don't tend to just Love running in all out soft shoe for Example I find the 1080 v13 from new It's just a little bit too soft for my Taste I find that I'm a high Cadence run Out I find I'm just pushing through that Soft foam and it starts to kind of Undermine the enjoyment of my run a Little bit compared to a phone like Power rpb which is soft and comfortable
But just seems to bounce back and work Better for my gate again you've got a Lower drop shoe with a rocker that moves Very smoothly despite the fact it is a Really big and pretty heavy shoe it Doesn't feel like that on the foot so Just feels like a comfortable Cruiser And the one I would use like if I was Doing that more polarized training where You know my easy runs just flat out easy With the time just recovery runs Basically hon 24 is a shoe I pick out For [Music] That okay so before I get into my picks I thought I'd just point out there are Some shoes in this area that I've not Tested from the likes of pummer mauno And aex so despite there being some Really good cushioned options from those Brands those were never in contention For me also to put my best cushion shoe Choices into context I tend to prefer a Shoe that balances cushion with response I don't like my shoes to be too pillowy And too sinky I want my cushioning to Take the edge off the road but return Quite quickly so there's Comfort but Also a little bit of snap and roll Through from that cushioning now often That comes from a rocker or from a Stiffer out soole that helps you get Through with that nice kind of snap now The reason for that is that I've always
Been able to run my easy and long slow Miles and shoes that are slightly firmer Than some Runners might might like and I Like a bit of ground feel so with that In mind here are my top picks now I'm Kind of recommending two shoes here I've Got the ghost Max and the ghost Max 2 Which is the just updated version I like The ghost Max and I think the max 2 Largely offers more of the same ride Though it is tuned slightly softer than The first generation with that changed Up foam this shoe has all the Hallmarks Of a plush cushion shoe you've got big Padded heel collar big padded tongues Hugging but soft and flexible uppers Plus a sizable stack of soft and marbly Springy DNA Loft V3 Pham it does a great Job of canceling out the impact but it's Not too mushy and sludgy you get quite a Quick return from the midsole Essentially this is Brook's answer to The aex Joe Nimbus 26 though it's Slightly lower stacked with a lower drop Too but more importantly it's Significantly cheaper as well and I Think it represents really good value For money it's a durable Beast as well Overall I probably prefer the Brooks Ghost Max over the two for being Slightly lighter and a bit stiffer in The roll through but I think other Runners might actually enjoy the softer Edge that comes to the ghost Max 2 but
Either of these shoes I think are great For easy plotting now with the explosion In Max that cushion shoes I now put the Ride 17 into the medium stack bracket a Few years back this probably would have Been considered quite a big cushion shoe But now that we've got those kind of Midsole stacks that look Max Max Max This looks pretty conservative overall It's one of my favorite shoes and when I Just want guaranteed effortless Comfort This is one of the shoes that I reach For I talk a lot about balanced rides And when it comes to the ride 17 that's Exactly what you get this shoe will soak Up the road without feeling sluggish It's a midwe midrop versatile option That can handle a really wide range of Runs it offers excellent instant Disappearing step- in comfort as well There's a nice roomy fit which is roomy Enough the tongues and heel collars sort Of stride that middle ground between Kind of being padded but sort of Balanced they're nicely padded for Reliable Comfort but not overdone you Know the tongue's kind of wrapped really Nicely sort of medium padding I've put Heavy mileage into mine as well and Durability has been great they're still Mainly going strong and like the ghost Max the ride 17 are also really well Priced I think for the range and Versatility it offers it's one of the
Best value cushion shoes going now this One isn't a shoe that I run a lot in Because I don't often feel the need to Reach for soft soft cushion but if you Want a super plus ride that feels really Well cushioned and generally quite Balanced and stable just in a lighter Shoe the new Balan 1080 v13 delivers on That overall it's an incredibly Comfortable shoe with a slipper-like Feel what I really like about the New Balance 10 v13 is it doesn't overdo the Padding and the plushness some cushion Shoes really saloon car up the heel cers And tongues to sit you in a really comfy Seat but I find that can make the shoes Heavy and sometimes too bulky for my Liking I don't feel like I've got too Much shoe on my foot but in the New Balance 108 v13 I don't feel like I've Got too much shoe on my foot this shoe Avoids that it's a a great shoe for Tires feet and tired legs the kind of Shoe I'd pick for my first run back After an allout Marathon or Ultra on Lazier days where I'm out to move low And [Music] Slow so before getting into my kind of Top cushion shoe picks at the moment the Shoes I really kind of go back to on a Regular basis a few kind of pointers on What I kind of look for in a good Cushion shoe I think everyone looks for
Something that's going to be very Protective and very comfortable Particularly over kind of longer runs And that's kind of the same thing for me I think definitely there are some key Things that I look for I think Particularly from a kind of midell point Of view I do like something that's a Little bit on the plusher side I don't Like it to be too overly plush too Overly wild I do like that kind of Wildness to be tempered a little bit for Me in terms of the ride I do like there Being a little bit of a rocket doesn't Have to be a super aggressive one but Something that is giving you something That kind of just is going to roll you Through those kind of runs in a in a Gentle but very purposeful way I think That's a nice feature to have as well And then I think about the weight as Well I would definitely prefer a lighter Cushion shoe but also on the flip side Of that I think if it is a big shoe Ultimately does handle that weight in a Way which you know doesn't get in the Way of the experience of running in that Shoe so those are the key things that I Really look for in a cushion shoe I Think mainly so in terms of those Cushion shoes I have found myself going Back to after we have tested I think the First one that's really stood out for me Uh kind of this year has been this the
Hawker skywood X now this is a Max Cushioned shoe this arrived I think Around about the time that I had the clo X1 or maybe just after that is a great Shoe enjoyable fun shoe it's great to go And do long runs in I think this is a Great long run shoe to use as well You've got that kind of Max stack there You've got that peo and you've got that Eva kind of frame as well and I think as I mentioned I like that kind of wer feel That kind of more kind of lively bouncy Feel but as long as it's very controlled And you know kind of rained in a little Bit because I think ultimately Particularly if you're running longer You want that liveliness that enjoyment But ultimately you don't want it to Cause any kind of aggravation I feel Like that's what I've got with the skyex Every time I've kind of thrown it back On it's just felt like a really nice Shoe comfortable shoe first and foremost A really nice upper really hugs and is Very snug in the right places doesn't Cause any kind of irritation and there's Some bounce there but I think as I said It's very very controlled and stable and I you know it's just a shoe that I've Really enjoyed running in as I said Every time I put this shoe back on I've Never really kind of regretted it and I Think it definitely does sit in that Category of shoe where it is a heavy
Shoe but I think it handles that weight Very well I think another one that has Been around for a little bit longer than Skyward X and actually I think you know Again it's another one I've never Regreted putting it on and it's a very Different it's a Max cushion shoe but It's a slightly different um kind of Proposition it's this New Balance 1080 V13 this is a shoe that does feel a Little bit more on the plush side but as I mentioned it does have a little bit of Kind of rocker or a nice rocker feeling There as well which makes it nice to Kind of run a little bit longer I think You know it's a shoe where I would Probably want to be doing kind of Max Kind of 10 11 miles in out I think and Below that it feels really comfortable To do that and I really like the Combination of the weights what you're Getting in terms of that mids Soo the Little Rocker kind of feeling you're Getting that's just enough there and Generally just feeling a very doable Shoe to you know eat up a lot of your Running time so that's a new balance 1080 v13 and then the last op option I've gone for it's a slightly different Cushion shoe not a Max cushion one but I Think one that offers a little bit more Maybe versatility compared to those two Other shoes and that is the pum velocity Nitro 3 now I could probably put the
Velocity Nitro 2 in here as well too Because I think it still really stands Up and it really is about the kind of Slight upper changes which I think the Velocity Nitro 3 maybe hugs a little bit Closer feels a little bit more Supportive around your foot but Ultimately in terms of that experience What you're getting in the ride in terms Of that kind of tough kind of durable Out so that allows you to probably kind Of run a little bit Offroad with it as Well too but that Nitro foam and you're Getting that kind of again a bit like The sky would X you're getting something To kind of cradle in that kind of Eva There as well too it just works as a Good combination I think crucially for Me the versatility but also versatility Within a run if you start off you're Doing a slower run or slower elements And then you want to up the tempo a Little bit this is a shoe does a very Good job of doing that I think with the Skyward X I think absolutely it is easy Paces up to moderate and can handle a Little bit of uptempo pace as well I Think the it's a similar story for the New Bon at13 but I think velocity Nitro 3 it definitely has that slightly more Up Tempo Edge to those two shoes and That would be a shoe that I would grab If I wanted to do a mixture of kind of Paces from a kind of Highly cushioned
Shoe or very cushioned shoe so yeah That's my final pick the Puma velocity Nitro [Music] 3 so cushion shoes is my main area of Interest uh most of the runs that I do Tend to be relatively easy when I am Training outside of marathons I Generally just do lots of runs at my Base Pace or easy pace so that's about 5 Minute kilm to 5 minute 30 km um and as A result most of the shoes that I really Really like tend to be quite soft Cushioned uh comfortable shoes that are Just really nice to wear when you're out And you're just ticking off the miles When I am marathon training I do have a Wider selection shoes so um I would say That my marathon training I normally Train six days a week and three of those Days are probably going to be easy days The other days will be uh interval Sessions farle sessions Tempo sessions All those sorts of things so I do have a Wider range of shoes that I use when I'm Marathon training and I'm doing a lot More speed work but the bulk of my Training throughout the year does tend To Veer towards the more easy Comfortable stuff where I'm just going Out maybe 10K maybe 12K and I'm just Enjoying a nice run so uh I really have A lot of cushion shoes I'm a big fan of Cushion shoes and what I really look for
When I'm using cushion shoes is a nice Soft Mido and a nice bit of bounce as Well I like those easy runs to be fun I Like them to be cushioned and I just Like them to be uh it's enjoyable as Possible so um if we were doing this Video a year ago I probably would have Picked the New Balance Mo V4 if you Watch the channel you know that I'm a Big fan of the mo range but the mo V4 is Not uh it's bit of a old shoe now so I'm Not going to pick the mor4 the M 5 is Coming out soon and hopefully I'll get To test that soon and if we were doing This video later in the year I might Pick that shoe but I'm not going to pick The more V4 because it's a bit of an Older shoe now recently we've been Testing the sakon Hurrican 24 now this Shoe is it's always came out of nowhere Um and I hadn't known a lot about the Hurricane series before there's Obviously quite a lot of versions of This shoe now um it's very similar to Mori 4 in how it delivers uh a Comfortable cushion ride um think about The shoe is that it's a stability shoe Um but if you don't need stability you Don't really notice that it's a Stability shoe and that's what I really Like about it uh it rides very similar To the more V4 it's got a really wide Base on it this power on PB foam in the Midsole is really comfortable you get a
Little bit of Versatility off the back Of it as well um and it's just a Fantastic cruising shoe it works really Well for easy runs Works quite well for Longer runs as well and it's just very Very enjoyable to wear for ticking off All of those miles I really enjoy Running the shoe and I didn't think I'd Do that when I saw uh the stats on paper And what the shoe was designed to do the Other thing about the shoe is that Stability so uh if you don't need Stability then you don't really notice It's it's a stability shoe um but if you Do need stability it's pretty good as a Stability shoe so when um I've been Running in it my legs have got tired I Do notice that stability kicking in when I start to pronate a little bit uh when I try to pronate while I'm testing the Shoe I do notice that it does have a Very stable ride nice thick um Mid sole But also it is got these high walls that Really hold the foot in place very Comfortably but it rides like a Cushioned efficient shoe so it's at the Moment it's probably the best option I've tested for those easy recovery Longer runs where you want to have nice Comfortable run uh so the hook K 24 is My top pick at the moment for cushion Shoes my next pick at the moment uh is a Shoe that uh there's a new version Coming out soon um the 1080 v13 now this
Shoe very very much is skewed towards Easy sessions that Midol foam is very Different than what was in the previous Uh 1080 uh v11 V12 uh that shoe those Shoes were very balanced they they were Quite a a Workhorse shoe they they Weren't too soft you could use them for Lots of different types of training but Also because they weren't very soft they Weren't that enjoyable to run in I never Really enjoyed training in those shoes I Very rarely Ed them um this it Completely changes the design of the Shoe and it has this really soft Fresh Foam X mids soft foam in it and when you Go out for an easy run and Recovery run It's so soft and enjoyable to wear There's loads of padding around the shoe It's a really really nice shoe for just Easy miles where you just want to go out And just want don't want to worry about Your feet you just want to have a nice Comfortable experience um but that's all It's really good for you can't really Pick up the pace very much in the shoe What I find about this midell foam is it Does remove the energy quite a bit you Don't get the back there's not a lot of Bounce to it there's not a lot of um Propulsion from the shoe it's very much Just a lovely comfortable shoe to use For easy runs which is a lot of the runs That I do are like that so i' I'm not Bothered about having loads of Ury tone
On a 5k 10k run where I'm just going out To just do a nice comfortable run so the 10 ATV 13 great shoe if that's what your Focus is and the 10 atv4 is coming out Soon and hopefully it will be more of The same my third pick of shoe now this Is an interesting one for me because I Don't talk about this shoe that much but If uh push came to shove and I was Looking for a versatile cushion shoe uh That is very much focused on cushioning So there are a lot of cushion daily Shoes out there that maybe skew towards More versatility when you're running Faster um and there's obviously few like The 10 v13 which very much skew towards The comfortable easy squishy Midol foam Um types of running shoe the no last 4 I It has it's essentially a Max stack Cushion shoe for all intents and Purposes it has this really big stack of Foam in there really really um balanced Midle foam it's nice and soft it's nice And comfortable but it's not really Really soft like the 10t v13 it still Has a bit of responsiveness in nice bit Of energy turnning it's a very balanced Shoe so if I was going on holiday and I Knew that I had to do some interval Training or if I had to do some Tempo Sessions or just wanted to run a bit Faster when I was um away for a couple Of weeks no blast 4 is a great option Because it will do all of those easy
Runs that you want to do Like a cushioned easy shoe but you can Do a bit more in it that mid cell's got A little bit more responsiveness a bit Little bit more energy in it um and it's Definitely a good option if you want a Lot of cushioning but also you want a Shoe that maybe is your one shoe that You will mainly do cushion easy runs in But you want to be able to do a bit more If the need arises and the no blast 4 is A great shoe for that it really does um It's a nicely versatile shoe it's not The most versatile shoe in the world it Skews towards easier runs but you can Train a few of runs in it as well I Could definitely do an interal session In this if I wanted to it wouldn't be The perfect shoe for it but it would be Fine um whereas things like the sock Doin speed 4 that that's a verstile shoe That's uses towards the faster stuff It's not you can do easier runs in it But you then it's not great for easy Runs it's it's a little bit firm um it Definitely works better at the faster Stuff for me this is the opposite this Is a cushion shoe that can do a little Bit more uh and it's just very nice to Have in your collection cuz it can do a Lot of stuff so then my my picks for uh Best cushion shoes at the moment that's From us on this best cushion shoes our Favorites Roundup thanks a lot for
Watching don't forget to like subscribe Click that little bell and if you're go Into the caption below you can find a Link to our podcast which comes out at The end of each month thanks a lot for Watching catch you next time [Music]
