By Brian Metzler

It’s early February, which means dozens of new shoes have recently debuted at running stores across the country. Which model is best for you? That depends on several details, the most important of which is how a particular pair of shoes fits your feet. My advice is always to visit your local run shops and try on a bunch of models with one of the store’s shoe-fit experts to see which ones feel good and match your gait pattern.  

But to whet your appetite and get you excited to go shopping for running shoes, I offer a preview of four of the best max-cushioned shoes that have just hit stores. Each of these shoes has a unique midsole material and structure that are part of the new wave of dynamic cushioning in everyday training shoes. 

Yes, these premium trainers are all a bit more expensive than their high-level predecessors were just a year ago. But new foam materials and new construction techniques have changed the game, and, fortunately, you get what you pay for: better running experiences. You can still find good training shoes in the $140 range (and even lower), but the entry point for premium trainers is now apparently $165. As you ramp up your training in late winter, here are four shoes to consider as high-mileage workhorses.

Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 ($165)

Weights: 9.5 oz. (women’s size 8); 10.8 oz. (men’s size 9)

Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 43.5mm (heel), 35.5mm (forefoot)

The Buzz: The Gel-Nimbus 27 is a true super-max cushioned shoe, offering both loads of cushioning and, for a training shoe, a good deal of energy return and responsiveness. It features a blend of soft and responsive FF Blast + Eco foam that’s been elevated by 2mm from heel to toe and has a Pure GEL insert in the heel for a smoother and more stable transition from heel to toe.

Pro: It’s one of the most comfortable and cushy shoes you’ll ever wear. The interior feels amazing when you step in and lace up, and it feels even better out on the run with a consistent, soft and lively sensation mile after mile.

Con: Because this shoe is so high off the ground, it lacks proprioceptive feel for the surface, but it’s still one of the bouncier max-stacked shoes in this category, so it can roll into moderately fast tempo paces with ease.

Brooks Glycerin 22 ($165)

Weights: 9.1 oz. (women’s size 8); 10.3 oz. (men’s size 9)

Heel-Toe Offset: 10mm; 39mm (heel), 29mm (forefoot)

The Buzz: When Brooks launched its new Glycerin Max shoe last fall, it unveiled a new super foam that helped the brand catch up to its competitors with maximally cushioned shoes that were light, responsive, and uniquely balanced. Now it has put that same DNA Tuned midsole foam  into the Glycerin 22, the latest version of its high-stack premium training shoe. The thick, full-length slab of that new nitrogen-infused midsole cushioning material is manufactured with an innovative process that allows it to be softer in the heel and slightly firmer in the forefoot. 

Pro: The unique foam midsole of this shoe allows for plush landings at the heel, and more responsive toe-offs in the forefoot. It’s soft and stable when your heel touches down, but then it transitions smoothly and feels slightly more firm and energetic as you roll to the toe-off phase. It’s also slightly lower to the ground than many other max-cushioned shoes, which gives it a more agile feel and allows you to feel more in control of your stride and ability to change paces.

Con: If a shoe’s stability could ever feel like a negative factor, this could be it. The magical DNA Tuned midsole foam sits inside a firmer carrier foam, which helps keep it contained. But that containment also limits the liveliness of the shoe. 

Hoka Bondi 9 ($170)

Weights: 9.3 oz. (women’s size 8); 10.1 oz. (men’s size 9)

Heel-Toe Offset: 5mm; 44mm (heel), 39mm (forefoot)

The Buzz: The Bondi was one of the original maximally cushioned road running shoes, but even as midsole foams evolved, Hoka insisted on using a rather basic-level cushioning in this model. But things have finally changed with the ninth edition of the Bondi, as it now has a cushy and very responsive supercritical EVA midsole. Combined with Hoka’s rocker profile, it serves up a smooth, soft ride, with a noticeable spike of energy return as you roll through the gait cycle from heel to toe.

Pro: The ride has improved considerably with the new midsole material, making it a shoe viable for a modest range of training efforts (slow to medium-paced long runs, slow recovery runs). 

Con: Is this a better running shoe or a lifestyle shoe? The Bondi 9 is hard to rev up to faster speeds, so aside from slow to moderate training runs, you might just want to wear it with jeans around town.

Nike Pegasus Premium ($210)

Weights: 9.7 oz. (women’s size 8); 11.9 oz. (men’s size 9)

Heel-Toe Offset: 10mm; 45mm (heel), 35mm (forefoot)

The Buzz: The Pegasus Premium features Nike’s first sculpted visible full-length Air Zoom unit. While it looks cool, it’s not just a showy form of “visible technology” meant to be an enticement at a retail store. It has a curvy shape to match the bottom of your feet, which then allows it to serve up a soft and spirited rolling sensation as you progress through the stride cycle from heel strike to toe-off. There is a layer of Nike’s top-tier ZoomX foam on top of the orange Air Zoom unit, while the bottom includes a thinner slice of ReactX foam to round up the comprehensive cushioning sensation.

Pro: The circular knit upper and perforated padded tongue creates an airy and very breathable sensation that’s ideal for running in warmer weather.
Con: As much as this is a soft, bouncy, and fun shoe to run in at slower paces, it’s downright heavy and, as a result, isn’t really great for running above slower paces.