It’s wild to consider, however I ran greater than 1,000 miles in 2025. From the streets of Manhattan to neighborhood roads in Ohio after which in Berlin for the marathon, I put in a lot of steps sporting some spectacular running shoes. I take a look at sneakers and exercise products for a dwelling, and this previous 12 months I received to attempt a few of the most comfortable footwear I’ve ever laced up.
While it’s exhausting to choose a favourite, I dug by way of my notes and decided which fashions stored my sensitive knees and helpless hips the happiest. I examined a whopping 45 pairs of footwear this 12 months, ranging from most cushioned running footwear that eliminate any floor feeling to barefoot shoes which can be constructed to really feel such as you’re strolling with out something between your ft and the grime. I seemed for footwear that helped decrease my joint ache, corrected my poor running kind and felt balanced on all sorts of terrain, together with cement and trails. It seems that one pair of Hoka running shoes actually stood out, and a few Brooks sneakers made all of the distinction for my marathon training. However, one pair of Nike running footwear stole the present (for me and just about everybody else within the running neighborhood; they’re virtually bought out in all places).
Keep studying for my favourite comfortable running footwear that got here out in 2025.
I knew these new Nike footwear had been particular after I was invited to the model’s headquarters in New York City to check them on a run. The CEO, Elliott Hill, even confirmed up after to ask the group of editors and writers what they thought. At first look, the footwear look heavy and clunky however really feel a heck of a lot lighter (they’re round 10 to 12.5 ounces, relying on the dimensions you get). Once I put them on, I understood why they had been a sport changer for people like me who’ve arthritis and experience joint pain. They’re designed with the model’s proprietary Air Zoom models, that are pockets of pressurized air and springy fibers that compress, then snap again, upon affect, permitting the footwear to soak up a lot of the surprising jolts that running on pavement produces. The Air Zoom models, together with the ZoomX foam cushion, create a actually weightless feeling whereas running, making them in contrast to any pair of footwear I’ve tried.
Any pair of running footwear with a stack top of 55 millimeters ought to elevate eyebrows as a result of an elevated top like this could make balancing tough. However, that’s why these footwear have wider bases than just about each pair I’ve ever tried. The larger floor space counteracts any potential stability mishaps and evens out the trip. I’ve put greater than 100 miles on them already and know they’re going to proceed to be a staple in my rotation for so long as they final as a result of sporting them makes me really feel invincible (and about 2 inches taller).
To be trustworthy, I used to be a little unimpressed after I first noticed these Puma running footwear as a result of they didn’t have the identical futuristic look and heightened rockers because the Fast-R-Nitro Elite 3 carbon-plated footwear which have yielded unbelievable race instances for professional athletes like marathoner Dakotah Popehn. However, after I placed on the Velocity Nitro 4 footwear for a treadmill run, I knew after simply a half mile that these had been some wow-worthy sneakers. While treadmills are usually painful for me, these cushioned Puma footwear stored me comfortable from my warm-up to my cooldown.
Made with the model’s proprietary nitrofoam midsoles and Pumagrip outsoles, these comfortable kicks soften the affect of cement and exhausting treadmills whereas additionally stopping any slips or falls. They have noticeable heel guards that hug the again of your ft no matter whether or not you’re a heel striker or forefoot striker too. Heel help like this does wonders for runners like me who overpronate, because it locks your ft in place and directs your toes to the middle, versus inward or outward. This characteristic can forestall accidents as a result of correct alignment takes a lot of the load and strain off your ankles, Achilles tendons and knees.
When the unique Glycerin Max footwear had been launched a few years in the past, they had been my first foray into the world of ultra-cushioned footwear. Not to steal Hoka’s crown however the Glycerin Max line rapidly turned my new favourite marshmallow-like footwear. So, I used to be a bit weary when the second iteration was launched. How may they beat the primary ones? By fine-tuning the cushioning and amping up the power return from its specialty foam, it seems.
Designed with nitrogen-infused foam, these maximum-cushioned footwear are mild (10.2 ounces for girls’s sizes and 11.3 ounces for males’s sizes) for such plush sneakers. The minimal 6-millimeter toe drop is correct across the candy spot for runners with knee ache and people with broad ft. A toe-drop design like this, the place your toes and heels aren’t too far from one another, permits toes to splay extra naturally, distributing weight evenly throughout your ft and taking a few of the load off your knees.
Technically these footwear first dropped in 2024 for a choose group of influencers and media, however they turned obtainable to the general public in 2025. Regardless of the place you run — a native YMCA, a busy metropolis walkway or a rural neighborhood route — you’ll profit from lacing up these smooth, light-weight footwear. They’re among the many most versatile footwear I’ve tried this 12 months as a result of I can put on them comfortably for any kind of run, from sluggish restoration jogs and walks to quick races.
I wore these footwear and broke my private document (PR) for a 5K, and I additionally wore them through the Berlin Marathon (which wasn’t a PR, but it surely was 80 levels Fahrenheit that day, so I forgive myself). During my testing, they stored my stride popping ahead for 3.1 miles and 26.2 miles alike with out inflicting any blistering — a true triumph. The model’s responsive Lightstrike Pro foam protects my joints with out making my ft really feel like they’re sinking into quicksand, a feeling that some cushioned footwear are inclined to elicit.
I’m a huge fan of the Hoka Bondi 9 shoes, but when I’m being trustworthy, these Arahi 8 footwear have earned the highest spot on my shoe rack. They’re made with Hoka’s signature H-Frame stabilizing system that traces the soles and acts as a seat belt in your ft, combatting overpronation with each step.
I like sporting these sturdy stability footwear for walks and runs alike, and so they shine essentially the most on days when my joints are feeling run-down and worn. The heel cushioning provides a needed stage of safety in opposition to exhausting cement, and I like the sensation that my heels are hugged into my footwear for added help. These are available in broad and extra-wide choices besides.
New Balance shoes are at all times a few of my favorites. The model is aware of how one can make foot-friendly fashions whereas someway maintaining them supremely light-weight. These are my favourite featherlight running footwear with bouncy cushioning that propels you ahead with every step. I put on these on tempo runs after I need to decide up my tempo however nonetheless be mild on my joints.
Made with a mixture of PEBA and EVA foam, these are ultimate running footwear for people who need to overlook they’re even sporting sneakers. Though, I’ll name out that the unrivaled power return these present is one thing you received’t overlook. I do a lot of lengthy runs in July and August for my yearly marathon coaching, and the light-weight mesh uppers preserve my ft as cool as attainable throughout these exhausting jaunts.
These maximum-cushioned running footwear from On make me really feel like I’m floating on pavement. Made for lengthy runs, these sneakers are designed with the model’s specialty shock-absorbing CloudTec Phase cushioning to maintain joints free from ache for prolonged miles. I’ve worn these on 18- and 19-mile runs and may attest that my hips and knees felt much less pressured when completed.
On’s proprietary Helion foam feels a little much less plush than different EVA or PEBA cushions that different manufacturers use, however the extra inflexible cushioning protects from exhausting surfaces. The Swiss-engineered footwear take some getting used to given the distinctive hole-clad bottoms, however when you slip into them a few instances, you’ll stay a fan for all times.
There are many comfortable running footwear set to launch in 2026. I’m testing a few yet-to-be-released Saucony running shoes I can’t wait to speak about. We’re at an attention-grabbing level on the planet of running footwear as a result of it looks as if manufacturers are competing for 2 titles. The first is having the quickest running footwear available on the market, which normally means the lightest, bounciest carbon-plated footwear. The second, which is most related to this checklist, is to have essentially the most cushioned running footwear. These footwear could have excessive stack heights, shock-absorbing options and beneficiant foam.
As a running coach, I at all times inform my athletes that no pair of running footwear will really feel the identical to you as they do to me. We all have distinctive wants, tastes, strides and foot shapes, which is why I like to recommend shopping for footwear from a retailer with a versatile return coverage so for those who take a look at them and hate them, you get your a reimbursement. Most huge manufacturers will permit round a month of testing for a money-back assure. Just needless to say (in my expertise) it takes anyplace from 10 to 25 miles to interrupt in a pair of footwear, so that you may like them higher the extra you put on them.
Comfortable running footwear are sometimes categorized as ones which have bigger stack heights, extra stability options and wider toe packing containers than others. This normally implies that they weigh extra and are a bit chunkier than what you may in any other case slip into. So, it’d really feel a little awkward running in a few of these upon your first lace-up. Now that I nearly completely put on max-cushioned running footwear to stop a great deal of joint ache, I’m used to the dimensions distinction and added weight.
NCS Underscored has a crew of expert writers and editors who’ve a few years of expertise testing, researching and recommending merchandise, and so they guarantee every article is rigorously edited and merchandise are correctly vetted. We discuss to high consultants when relevant to make sure we’re testing every product precisely, recommending solely the perfect merchandise and contemplating the professionals and cons of every merchandise.
The author of this story, well being and health editor Summer Cartwright, is at all times on the run. A cardio fanatic, she’s accomplished 4 marathons and numerous half-marathons, and has her RRCA running coach certification. For this text, she examined every pair of footwear for at the very least three months and has worn each pair of footwear for at the very least 50 miles and as much as tons of of miles. She’s worn these footwear for marathons, 5K races, half-marathons and past.