Best Cushioning Racing Shoes
The shoes for sale rated highest for cushioning by real, experienced, and knowledgeable reviewers.
All racing shoes
17 shoes
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
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#1 Nike
Vaporfly 498 Exceptional Cushioning · 3 reviews · Confidence 94/100
Racing · Neutral · 4.9 oz (men's) · 6mm drop
At 4.9 oz with 36mm heel stack, light and highly cushioned.
Overall 98 Comfort 89$110 $260 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:33 AM UTCOverall98Appearance98Cushioning98Comfort89Value67Durability51Confidence94Buy it now
Other retailers
Dick's $146 44% offRunning Warehouse $165 37% offNike $166 36% offMSRP $260
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Pros
At 4.9 oz with 36mm heel stack, light and highly cushioned.
Reviewers describe a springy, propulsive ride best at fast paces.
Cons
Durability is the lowest-rated dimension in the few reviews so far.
One reviewer says it offers little support.
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#2 Nike
Alphafly 397 Exceptional Cushioning · 19 reviews · Confidence 95/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.9 oz · 8mm drop
Reviewers like the snug heel hold and roomy forefoot fit.
Overall 97 Comfort 95Overall97Cushioning97Appearance96Comfort95Value84Durability65Confidence95Buy it now
Other retailers
Nike $222 25% offDick's $259 12% offMSRP $295
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Pros
Reviewers like the snug heel hold and roomy forefoot fit.
Runners report fast efforts with feet less beat up afterwards.
Cons
Several reviewers rate durability weakly; one reported roughly 240 miles.
Several reviewers flag the price, even those who call it worth it.
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#3 HOKA
Rocket X 295 Excellent Cushioning · 18 reviews · Confidence 91/100
Racing · Neutral · 7.5 oz · 5mm drop · 37mm stack
Reviewers report durability holding up well past 100 miles.
Overall 95 Comfort 96Overall95Durability97Comfort96Cushioning95Value93Appearance80Confidence91Pros
Reviewers report durability holding up well past 100 miles.
Runners use it from 5k races to marathons and tempo workouts.
At 7.5 oz on a 37mm heel stack.
Cons
At 7.5 oz it is heavier than most carbon-plated racers.
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#4 HOKA
Rocket X 391 Very good Cushioning · 2 reviews · Confidence 59/100
Racing · Neutral · 7mm drop
Both reviewers so far rate comfort and cushioning 5 out of 5.
Overall 91 Comfort 87Overall91Cushioning91Comfort87Durability77Value70Appearance69Confidence59Pros
Both reviewers so far rate comfort and cushioning 5 out of 5.
The Rocket X 2 before it scores 97 on eighteen reviews.
Cons
Durability and appearance draw 3 out of 5 from the two reviews so far.
Value draws 2 out of 5 from the two reviews so far, against a $250 list price.
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#5 On
Cloudboom Strike87 Good Cushioning · 1 review · Confidence 73/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.1 oz (men's) · 4mm drop
Light at 6.1 oz on a 43mm heel stack.
Overall 87 Comfort 81$160 $280 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:34 AM UTCOverall87Appearance90Cushioning87Durability83Comfort81Value68Confidence73Buy it now
Other retailers
Running Warehouse $220 21% offDick's $280MSRP $280
We share affiliate links. Learn more.
Pros
Light at 6.1 oz on a 43mm heel stack.
The one reviewer so far ran long runs in it and calls the cushioning great.
Cons
It lists at $280, above the $250 median for racing shoes, and the one reviewer so far rates appearance 3 out of 5.
At 43mm the stack sits above the 40mm World Athletics limit, so it is not eligible for records in official road races.
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#6 Saucony
Endorphin Pro 486 Good Cushioning · 14 reviews · Confidence 91/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.5 oz · 7mm drop · 40mm stack
At 6.5 oz, reviewers find it fast and responsive at speed.
Overall 86 Comfort 88$126 $240 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:32 AM UTCOverall86Appearance97Value96Comfort88Cushioning86Durability78Confidence91Pros
At 6.5 oz, reviewers find it fast and responsive at speed.
Reviewers consider it good value next to other carbon-plated racers.
Cons
One reviewer's heel layer peeled before 100 miles, and durability is the lowest-rated dimension.
Some reviewers find the fit runs small.
Three of fourteen reviewers reported an injury while running in it.
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#7 New Balance
FuelCell SuperComp Elite v386 Good Cushioning · 3 reviews · Confidence 68/100
Racing · Neutral · 7.5 oz · 4mm drop · 40mm stack
One reviewer calls it the best shoe for intervals and affordable next to other race shoes.
Overall 86 Comfort 86$153 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:33 AM UTCOverall86Comfort86Cushioning86Durability77Value76Appearance75Confidence68Buy it now
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Pros
One reviewer calls it the best shoe for intervals and affordable next to other race shoes.
All three reviewers so far rate value 4 or 5 out of 5.
All three reviewers so far rate durability 4 or 5 out of 5.
Cons
Averaging 7.5 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is heavier than the 6.6 oz median for racing shoes on sale.
Two newer versions have followed it, and the SuperComp Elite v5 is on sale now.
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#8 adidas
adizero Adios Pro 481 Good Cushioning · 5 reviews · Confidence 69/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.4 oz (men's) · 6mm drop
A 39mm heel stack at 6.4 oz.
Overall 81 Comfort 71Overall81Appearance92Durability86Value85Cushioning81Comfort71Confidence69Pros
A 39mm heel stack at 6.4 oz.
Cons
The Adios Pro 3 before it scores 99 on thirty reviews against its 82.
It lists at $255, above the $250 median for racing shoes on sale.
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#9 ASICS
METASPEED Sky+80 Decent Cushioning · 13 reviews · Confidence 91/100
Racing · Neutral · 7.2 oz · 5mm drop · 37mm stack
Reviewers describe a bouncy, propulsive ride from the carbon plate.
Overall 80 Comfort 67Overall80Appearance82Cushioning80Value71Comfort67Durability61Confidence91Pros
Reviewers describe a bouncy, propulsive ride from the carbon plate.
At 7.2 oz with a 37mm heel and a 5mm drop.
Runners race well in it from 5k up to marathon.
Cons
One reviewer found it unresponsive after two marathons.
Durability is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.9 out of 5.
Two reviewers call it expensive, at $250 list.
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#10 PUMA
Fast-R Nitro Elite 377 Decent Cushioning · 4 reviews · Confidence 23/100
Racing · Neutral
One reviewer describes a poppy, aggressive ride built for fast running.
Overall 77 Comfort 66Overall77Cushioning77Appearance77Value73Comfort66Durability56Confidence23Buy it now
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Pros
One reviewer describes a poppy, aggressive ride built for fast running.
One of four reviewers calls it the best racing shoe since the Vaporfly.
Cons
Durability draws 2.3 out of 5 in the four reviews so far, the lowest mark of any dimension.
Comfort rates 3.3 out of 5 across the same four reviewers.
One reviewer says it does not suit slow runners or heel strikers.
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#11 New Balance
FuelCell SuperComp Elite v576 Decent Cushioning · 4 reviews · Confidence 41/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.2 oz (men's) · 8mm drop
Light at 6.2 oz with a 40mm heel stack.
Overall 76 Comfort 81$140 $265 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:32 AM UTCOverall76Comfort81Cushioning76Appearance76Durability73Value64Confidence41Buy it now
Other retailers
Running Warehouse $160 40% offDick's $265MSRP $265
We share affiliate links. Learn more.
Pros
Light at 6.2 oz with a 40mm heel stack.
One of four reviewers uses it as an uptempo long run shoe, saying it locks into a pace and settles there.
Comfort and appearance both average 4.5 out of 5 across the four reviewers so far.
Cons
Two of four reviewers put it a touch below the top tier of racing shoes.
The v3 and v4 before it score 75 and 82 here, against 69 for this version.
One reviewer rates durability 2 out of 5, against 5s from the two others who rate it.
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#12 Mount to Coast
R176 Decent Cushioning · 2 reviews · Confidence 17/100
Racing · Neutral · 7.5 oz (men's) · 8mm drop
A 36mm heel stack at 7.5 oz, light for the cushioning.
Overall 76 Comfort 92Overall76Comfort92Durability83Appearance77Cushioning76Value71Confidence17Pros
A 36mm heel stack at 7.5 oz, light for the cushioning.
Both reviewers so far rate comfort 5 out of 5.
Cons
Cushioning and value draw the lowest ratings of the two reviews so far, both at 4.0 out of 5.
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#13 New Balance
FuelCell SuperComp Pacer71 Decent Cushioning · 4 reviews · Confidence 27/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.3 oz · 8mm drop · 25mm stack
Reviewers call it light and nimble at 6.7 oz.
Overall 71 Comfort 75$129 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:33 AM UTCOverall71Appearance90Value89Durability77Comfort75Cushioning71Confidence27Pros
Reviewers call it light and nimble at 6.7 oz.
One reviewer calls it incredibly durable and good for ground feel.
Cons
Reviewers describe firm cushioning suited to road racing and fast intervals rather than easy or long runs.
Cushioning draws the lowest ratings of the four reviews so far at 4.0 out of 5, and one reviewer notices less energy return from the plate than expected.
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#14 ASICS
METASPEED Sky Tokyo70 Below average Cushioning · 1 review · Confidence 60/100
Racing · Neutral · 5mm drop
A carbon plate under a maximal stack.
Overall 70 Comfort 53Overall70Cushioning70Value56Durability56Appearance55Comfort53Confidence60Pros
A carbon plate under a maximal stack.
The one reviewer so far rates it 5 out of 5 overall and 5 for cushioning.
Cons
It lists at $270, above the $250 median for racing shoes on sale.
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#15 Nike
Zoom Rival Fly69 Below average Cushioning · 1 review · Confidence 55/100
Racing · Neutral · 8mm drop
The one reviewer so far calls it durable, eye-catching and comfortable, and rates it better than the Air Max they came from.
Overall 69 Comfort 68$75 $105 Buy now ↗ As of Sep 14, 8:34 AM UTCOverall69Appearance87Cushioning69Value69Comfort68Durability64Confidence55Pros
The one reviewer so far calls it durable, eye-catching and comfortable, and rates it better than the Air Max they came from.
It lists at $105, well below the $250 median for racing shoes on sale.
Cons
The design dates to 2019.
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#16 Nike
Alphafly Next% 365 Below average Cushioning · 3 reviews · Confidence 65/100
Racing · Neutral · 6.6 oz · 7mm drop
Light at 7.0 oz in the men's and 6.2 oz in the women's for a 40mm heel stack.
Overall 65 Comfort 62Overall65Appearance79Cushioning65Comfort62Value54Durability54Confidence65Pros
Light at 7.0 oz in the men's and 6.2 oz in the women's for a 40mm heel stack.
One of three reviewers finds it snug at the heel and wide enough at the forefoot, a combination they could not get from the Ghost or the Vaporfly.
Cons
That reviewer has the heels wearing down too fast, though they rate the comfort worth it.
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#17 adidas
adizero Adios 956 Bottom-tier Cushioning · 3 reviews · Confidence 40/100
Racing · Neutral
It lists at $140, well below the $250 median for racing shoes on sale.
Overall 56 Comfort 65Overall56Appearance81Value77Durability77Comfort65Cushioning56Confidence40Pros
It lists at $140, well below the $250 median for racing shoes on sale.
Comfort and value both average 4.7 out of 5 across the three reviewers so far.
Cons
The Adios 8 before it scores 87 on sixteen reviews, against 67 for this version.
One of three reviewers rates its looks 1 out of 5.
How this ranking works
Ratings come from our statistical models of runner reviews: the score is our best estimate of how a shoe is rated, and the bar behind it in an expanded row is the range we consider plausible given how many reviews it has. Shoes with few reviews rank more cautiously rather than shooting to the top on a handful of glowing write-ups. Prices are the live prices at the retailers we track, and everything ranked here is a shoe you can buy today.