Best Cushioning Maximalist Shoes
The shoes for sale rated highest for cushioning by real, experienced, and knowledgeable runners.
All Maximalist Shoes
20 shoes
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
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#1 HOKA
Bondi 899 99 Exceptional Exceptional Ranked by Cushioning 53 reviews Confidence 100
Daily trainer · Neutral · 9.9 oz · 4mm drop
Deep cushioning on a 43mm heel stack, and reviewers describe a smooth ride.
Overall 99 Comfort 99Overall99Comfort99Cushioning99Durability97Value77Appearance75Confidence100Buy it now
Dick's Sporting Goods
$95 $165 42% off
Best price · lowest in 90 days
Buy at Dick's Sporting Goods ↗Other retailers
Dick's $95 42% offMSRP $165
We share affiliate links. Learn more.
Pros
Deep cushioning on a 43mm heel stack, and reviewers describe a smooth ride.
Seven reviewers with knee, hip, Achilles or foot problems say they were able to run comfortably in it.
One reviewer ran a 50k and a 50 miler in a pair, and another gets 500 miles before retiring them to walking.
Cons
Value is its lowest-rated dimension at 4.1 out of 5, and reviewers who like the shoe still call the $165 price high.
At 11.1 oz it sits in the heavy weight band, and three reviewers find it heavy or clunky, one of them also hot.
One reviewer with a narrow toe box began getting blisters as the mileage rose.
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#2 HOKA
Bondi 999 99 Exceptional Exceptional Ranked by Cushioning 4 reviews Confidence 98
Daily trainer · Neutral · 9.9 oz · 43mm stack · 5mm drop
Our ratings put its cushioning among the best of any daily trainer.
Overall 99 Comfort 98Overall99Cushioning99Comfort98Durability90Value77Appearance69Confidence98Buy it now
Other retailers
Dick's $170 3% offRunning Warehouse $175MSRP $175
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Pros
Our ratings put its cushioning among the best of any daily trainer.
Our ratings put its comfort among the best of any daily trainer.
Cons
It is heavier than the typical daily trainer for sale.
It costs much more than the typical daily trainer for sale.
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#3 HOKA
Clifton 1098 98 Exceptional Exceptional Ranked by Cushioning 11 reviews Confidence 98
Daily trainer · Neutral · 9.2 oz · 42mm stack · 8mm drop
Our ratings put its cushioning among the best of any daily trainer.
Overall 98 Comfort 96$93 $155 Buy now ↗ As of Oct 22, 8:32 AM UTCOverall98Cushioning98Comfort96Value79Durability69Appearance64Confidence98Pros
Our ratings put its cushioning among the best of any daily trainer.
Cons
It is much heavier than the Clifton 9 before it.
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#4 ASICS
GEL-Nimbus 2794 94 Excellent Excellent Ranked by Cushioning 2 reviews Confidence 94
Daily trainer · Neutral · 9.9 oz · 44mm stack · 8mm drop
Our ratings put its cushioning among the best of any daily trainer.
Overall 94 Comfort 90$110 $165 Buy now ↗ As of Oct 22, 8:34 AM UTCOverall94Cushioning94Comfort90Durability87Appearance74Value70Confidence94Pros
Our ratings put its cushioning among the best of any daily trainer.
Our ratings put its comfort among the best of any daily trainer.
Cons
It is heavier than the typical daily trainer for sale.
It costs much more than the typical daily trainer for sale.
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#5 Saucony
Triumph 2492 92 Very good Very good Ranked by Cushioning 2 reviews Confidence 93
Daily trainer · Neutral · 8.2 oz · 43mm stack · 10mm drop
Our ratings put its cushioning among the best of any daily trainer.
Overall 92 Comfort 87$165 $170 Buy now ↗ As of Oct 22, 8:34 AM UTCOverall92Cushioning92Durability91Comfort87Value83Appearance79Confidence93Buy it now
Other retailers
Running Warehouse $170Dick's $170MSRP $170
We share affiliate links. Learn more.
Pros
Our ratings put its cushioning among the best of any daily trainer.
It is much lighter than the typical daily trainer for sale.
Our ratings put its durability among the best of any daily trainer.
Cons
It costs much more than the typical daily trainer for sale.
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#6 HOKA
Mach X 390 90 Very good Very good Ranked by Cushioning 4 reviews Confidence 85
Speed shoe · Neutral · 9.4 oz · 44mm stack · 5mm drop
Overall 90 Comfort 87Overall90Cushioning90Comfort87Appearance78Durability75Value75Confidence85Cons
It is much heavier than the typical speed shoe for sale.
It is much heavier than the Mach X 2 before it.
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#7 Brooks
Glycerin Max 289 89 Good Good Ranked by Cushioning 3 reviews Confidence 68
Daily trainer · Neutral · 10.8 oz · 45mm stack · 6mm drop
Overall 89 Comfort 87$149 $200 Buy now ↗ As of Oct 22, 8:33 AM UTCOverall89Cushioning89Durability88Comfort87Appearance77Value76Confidence68Buy it now
Other retailers
Running Warehouse $150 25% offDick's $150 25% offMSRP $200
We share affiliate links. Learn more.
Cons
It is much heavier than the typical daily trainer for sale.
It costs much more than the typical daily trainer for sale.
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#8 HOKA
Skyward X87 87 Good Good Ranked by Cushioning 4 reviews Confidence 64
Daily trainer · Neutral · 10.3 oz · 48mm stack · 5mm drop
Overall 87 Comfort 74Overall87Cushioning87Durability77Comfort74Appearance73Value67Confidence64Cons
It is much heavier than the typical daily trainer for sale.
It costs much more than the typical daily trainer for sale.
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#9 HOKA
Rocket X 386 86 Good Good Ranked by Cushioning 2 reviews Confidence 66
Racing shoe · Neutral · 7.2 oz · 42mm stack · 7mm drop
Overall 86 Comfort 84Overall86Cushioning86Comfort84Durability80Value76Appearance73Confidence66Cons
It is heavier than the typical racing shoe for sale.
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#10 ASICS
GlideRide Max86 86 Good Good Ranked by Cushioning 6 reviews Confidence 60
Daily trainer · Neutral · 9.4 oz · 44mm stack · 6mm drop
Overall 86 Comfort 87$100 $170 Buy now ↗ As of Oct 22, 8:32 AM UTCOverall86Comfort87Cushioning86Durability80Appearance78Value73Confidence60Cons
It costs much more than the typical daily trainer for sale.
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#11 PUMA
MagMax Nitro86 86 Good Good Ranked by Cushioning 3 reviews Confidence 57
Daily trainer · Neutral · 9.4 oz · 46mm stack · 8mm drop
Overall 86 Comfort 87$80 $180 Buy now ↗ As of Oct 22, 8:33 AM UTCOverall86Comfort87Value87Cushioning86Appearance82Durability82Confidence57Buy it now
Other retailers
Running Warehouse $100 45% offMSRP $180
We share affiliate links. Learn more.
Cons
It costs much more than the typical daily trainer for sale.
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#12 On
LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper81 81 Good Good Ranked by Cushioning 1 review Confidence 75
Speed shoe · Neutral · 6.9 oz · 45mm stack · 5mm drop
It is much lighter than the typical speed shoe for sale.
Overall 81 Comfort 81Overall81Appearance86Cushioning81Comfort81Durability75Value73Confidence75Pros
It is much lighter than the typical speed shoe for sale.
Cons
It costs much more than the typical speed shoe for sale.
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#13 Salomon
Aero Glide 481 81 Good Good Ranked by Cushioning 1 review Confidence 43
Daily trainer · Neutral · 8.2 oz · 42mm stack · 8mm drop
It is much lighter than the typical daily trainer for sale.
Overall 81 Comfort 82Overall81Appearance87Durability83Comfort82Cushioning81Value78Confidence43Pros
It is much lighter than the typical daily trainer for sale.
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#14 The North Face
Altamesa 50080 80 Good Good Ranked by Cushioning 3 reviews Confidence 45
Trail shoe · Neutral · 10.4 oz (men's) · 42mm stack · 6mm drop
It costs less than the typical trail shoe for sale.
Overall 80 Comfort 80Overall80Comfort80Cushioning80Appearance79Value72Durability72Confidence45Pros
It costs less than the typical trail shoe for sale.
Cons
It is heavier than the typical trail shoe for sale.
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#15 adidas
Hyperboost Edge78 78 Decent Decent Ranked by Cushioning 1 review Confidence 82
Daily trainer · Neutral · 8.5 oz · 45mm stack · 6mm drop
It is lighter than the typical daily trainer for sale.
Overall 78 Comfort 74$187 $200 Buy now ↗ As of Oct 22, 8:35 AM UTCOverall78Durability84Appearance81Cushioning78Value77Comfort74Confidence82Buy it now
Other retailers
Running Warehouse $200Dick's $200MSRP $200
We share affiliate links. Learn more.
Pros
It is lighter than the typical daily trainer for sale.
Cons
It costs much more than the typical daily trainer for sale.
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#16 Brooks
Hyperion Max 378 78 Decent Decent Ranked by Cushioning 2 reviews Confidence 58
Speed shoe · Neutral · 9.4 oz · 46mm stack · 6mm drop
Overall 78 Comfort 75$110 $200 Buy now ↗ As of Oct 22, 8:34 AM UTCOverall78Value82Durability79Cushioning78Appearance77Comfort75Confidence58Buy it now
Other retailers
Dick's $140 30% offRunning Warehouse $150 25% offMSRP $200
We share affiliate links. Learn more.
Cons
It is much heavier than the typical speed shoe for sale.
It costs much more than the typical speed shoe for sale.
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#17 HOKA
Challenger 878 78 Decent Decent Ranked by Cushioning 1 review Confidence 50
Trail shoe · Neutral · 10.1 oz · 42mm stack · 8mm drop
It lists at $155, below the $170 median for trail shoes for sale.
Overall 78 Comfort 74Overall78Cushioning78Comfort74Appearance67Value63Durability61Confidence50Pros
It lists at $155, below the $170 median for trail shoes for sale.
It costs less than the typical trail shoe for sale.
Cons
The Challenger 7 before it scores 55 on five reviews.
It is heavier than the typical trail shoe for sale.
It is much heavier than the Challenger 7 before it.
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#18 ASICS
MEGABLAST75 75 Decent Decent Ranked by Cushioning 5 reviews Confidence 83
Daily trainer · Neutral · 6.9 oz · 46mm stack · 8mm drop
It is much lighter than the typical daily trainer for sale.
Overall 75 Comfort 61Overall75Cushioning75Durability66Appearance63Comfort61Value58Confidence83Pros
It is much lighter than the typical daily trainer for sale.
Reviewers often find it versatile enough to handle every kind of run, from easy days to tempo work.
Cons
It costs much more than the typical daily trainer for sale.
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#19 Mizuno
Wave Rebellion Pro 375 75 Decent Decent Ranked by Cushioning 1 review Confidence 39
Racing shoe · Neutral · 7.9 oz (men's) · 50mm stack · 4mm drop
Overall 75 Comfort 72Overall75Cushioning75Comfort72Value70Durability69Appearance68Confidence39Cons
It is much heavier than the typical racing shoe for sale.
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#20 ASICS
SONICBLAST72 72 Decent Decent Ranked by Cushioning 1 review Confidence 25
Speed shoe · Neutral · 8.5 oz · 46mm stack · 8mm drop
Overall 72 Comfort 76$90 Buy now ↗ As of Oct 22, 8:34 AM UTCOverall72Comfort76Value73Durability72Cushioning72Appearance72Confidence25
How this ranking works
Ratings come from our statistical models of runner reviews: each rating is our best estimate of how runners rate a shoe, 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.