20 Best Cushioned Running Shoes For Men (2023 Updated)

I have tried on every kind of sneaker imaginable and just get frustrated until I found these. I am a cheapskate and have never had to spend much on sneakers never was a big sneaker person. Most of my life I avoided wearing sneakers and found them clunky and heavy and I am a person who likes stylish basics.

But I started a walking regime and was picking up from where I left off pre-pandemic however in the past few years I have fractured a few toes put on a lot of weight and seem to be dealing with the beginnings of arthritis.

The toes are really messing up the way I walk and they get numb after a while and they are all misshapen. My right foot is bigger than my left as is for many people. I also need arch support as I realize I am developing planters fasciitis and also noticing now on top of all of these other problems getting slightly crooked big toes and when I looked it up it matched at the beginning of bunions on both feet.

Never had feet problems but I have to admit that I spent my youth for years and lots and lots of high heels as a matter of fact I had a child late in life and realized when I decided to stay home permanently that I had no comfortable flat shoes.

I used to get cramps in my calves when I wore flat shoes because my legs were so used to being propped up on heels. Therefore I now pay the price on top of all these other issues I never thought I would find sneakers that would support my feet on my walks and allow for my knees and hips to feel less painful.

I am a 57 year old female 5 foot four probably about 165 pounds. My frame is small so that is all very overweight for me. I wear about a size 12. I am giving these details so others may relate. These shoes really give my toes room without being too big.

terrific arch support. I will update if they don’t hold up overtime but so far they seem pretty well-made. I typically wear about a 7 1/2 in most shoes but I find that I have to size up and sneakers so that the toes don’t rub but sometimes then they look huge and left foot can be a little bit to loose but these seem to work just perfectly fine.

my feet are of an average width not wide at all and I would say the back of my heel is a little bit narrow. very satisfied with this shoe and it is worth the price for the comfort , Quality and support.

The Brooks Ghost has been a very good shoe. I have worn it for years, and enjoyed the comfort and stability. My foot is slightly wider in the front, so I have enjoyed the fit which gave me the forefoot comfort and the running performance I desire.

There seems to be a slight fit change this year in the forefoot. It seems to have changed to feel longer and more narrow. The shoe almost feels clumsy. Previous versions immediately felt perfect. The previous shape and width were excellent; and movement through my running gate was very good.

But it is a bit different now and not working so well for me, although, I think it will work for many other people.

I ran through several earlier Ghost models then switched and tried a few other brands. Skipping a few models of the Ghost highlights the improvements to the outer material quality, cushioning and sole.

Very comfortable straight out the box, the 12mm drop was one reason why I switched back to the Ghost from several runners that are 4mm drop to give the achilles a break. Around 100km in, and so far very happy with a solid reliable runner from Brooks.

I have pretty severe supination in my running stride, so did some research and these were recommended. I?ve got 30 miles on them so far, and I like them. Feels good and the durable tread holds up to the pounding I put on the outside of my foot.

Knocked a star because the laces that come with them didn?t stay tied. Would be stopping every mile to retire until double knottings?finally just swapped them out. Seems like an oversight.

Great cushioning for long runs and supporting the knees. Have run many half marathons in these shoes and training for a full. Was recommended size 25. 5 cm with D-width based on my foot scan but found the fit better at 26 cm because of all the cushioning around the shoe.

Even with a wider size, the shoe was still a bit narrow in the front. Moulded/softened overtime though as the front of the shoe is a soft fabric design with no leathery frame. Have found that the shoes are extremely water absorbent.

If it’s raining or there are puddles on the ground, the shoes absorbs the water a fair bit and feels like a wet towel, so can weigh down your feet a bit. It also takes decent amount of time to dry afterwards.

Have also read online that glycerins are great walking shoes to stand in all day at work. However, personally found that it’s alright. It’s comfortable but my feet do still get sore and I’ve found memory foam shoes from sketchers to be more comfortable in that aspect.

Great pair of shoes for longer runs, but hoping to find something with a better fit. However, until then, these are my go to pairs.

These shoes are truly max cushion shoes. Unlike some other so called max cushion shoes, you can feel the plushness during the run. The ride is really comfortable, yet not so soft that it feels like you’re running on sand.

Although super comfortable, I wouldn’t say they are responsive. They actually feel slower, but that’s OK. I wanted these for recovery. The fit is completely different that the 19. In my normal size of 9 Wide, the 19 was snug, to the point of having to cut slits in the upper around both sides of the ball of my foot and wear super thin socks.

With these modifications, the shoe was comfortable and provided good support up to around 325 miles. After that they became very non responsive. The 20, is actually very wide, even for a wide width. Needed to go back to a cushion sock, custom insoles and a toe bandage on one big toe to eliminate rubbing.

Now that I have the fit issues resolved, the shoes provide a lot of cushion and my knees don’t hurt. If you run on hills, these are probably the best downhill shoes I have ever run in.

I was excited to get into these new Brooks! I bought them for myself at Christmas and was waiting to wear down my older running shoes before I got the joy of running in another pair of new Brooks- Glycerin! These are my favorite Brooks model and I’ve been wearing them for years.

Unfortunately, right from the moment I tied them on, I could tell they were uncomfortably different. The toebox is tighter which makes the shoe feel a half size smaller than normal and the footprint felt narrower.

I run trails and roads and as soon as I I hit the trail portion of my run, I could feel the breathable mess allowing trail dust and sand just fill up my shoes. And once I got into my second mile the narrow base allowed for me to easily roll my ankle on a tiny crack in the sidewalk.

These are terribly, TERRIBLY disappointing. They are not stable, squeesh your toes, and allow the trail to totally flood in with dirt and sand. If you’re looking for your favorite, reliable Glycerin’s, this model isn’t it.

Bought these to replace an ageing pair of Salming and defunct Salomon shoes. They are a good fit for me, I like a wider shoe with some wiggle room. I’m 84kg so not light on a shoe. Outer is fairly stiff but this makes them nice and robust in the rough stuff.

The sole is fairly stiff too and feels a little unforgiving at first but they are surprisingly comfortable as they retain their cushioning throughout the run. You wouldn’t describe them as plush but they have a nice ride, firm but feels very natural.

My first run was a 12k through undulating woodland and was a mixed bag of mud, stones and roots. Shoes coped really well, decent grip in the mud without being too grippy on hardpack, which can feel draggy if the lugs are too big.

Very supportive, feet stayed dry and comfortable. Recommended.

Prior to purchasing these runners, I had only owned the one pair of trail and one pair of running shoe in the UA brand. So still fairly new to the brand with regards to runners. These are my third pair of UA runners and first general purpose runner and I have to say are by far THE most comfortable and well designed shoe I have owned in a long time.

They are true to size, which is a big plus when you’re looking for reliability when making online purchases. Very comfortable to wear and go with just about anything. I find the cushioning is next level in comfort and I will be coming back to these for my next pair.

Do yourself a solid and try these UA if you’re considering new shoes.

I do HIIT style workouts that alternate between cardio based hybrid classes to heavy strength based classes. I’d been experiencing tight calves for months and thought nothing of them being related to my shoes until I purchased these and have them a whirl! Well I’m both surprised and happy to share that my calves are no longer giving me the trouble they were! These shoes are comfortable, with the best support on the ankle, they come up at a good height and fit snug giving good support for all directions! Perfect for my kind of training especially when there’s some running thrown in ! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a CrossFit style trainer!.

Brooks Ghost 13 is the best shoe I’ve ever had as far as comfort and ease in running. So I expected Ghost 14 to be the same; but the next model has several changes that make it a very different shoe – stiffer sole, stiff patch at the top of the tongue, the tongue profile squared up, and flat (read “come untied like on Nikes”) laces replacing the round (read “stay tied”).

The shoe is stiffer and seems more primitive. Over all result for me — very sore feet and pressure points on my arches. So I am returning them! Thankfully, for me, model 13 is still available.

I’ve owned 2 pairs of laceless Adidas in the past; the original Nemezis and X18+. After being a victim to the poor lockdown, I went back to the Vapor for its lockdown and feeling and said I’d never buy another Laceless shoes again.

That being said, I tried these on in a local shop and was blown away (bought them). The lockdown is fantastic and convinced me. These cleats feel like the continuation of the Adidizero F50 more so then any X.

The touch is extremely clean due to the laceless construction and the sole plate is the best I’ve ever owned. Compared to a pair of Vapors, this cleat is much more comfortable and offers much more natural feeling on the ball.

With this cleat being laceless, this cleat will never have the same level of Locke down as a vapor because of the laceless design, but still is as close as you can get for a laceless. To me this is an acceptable compromise because the touch on the ball is so pure as its one paper thin material going around your foot that just feels more natural then any other cleats out their.

Adidas probably would have been better off calling this an Adidizero F50 cause that’s what it is. Heads up, I would order true to size as well as a pair half a size small to try as to ensure you wear the most lockdown and comfortable size available.

I did quite a bit of research before making this purchase. The negatives I was concerned with ended up being validated. Wearing these after wearing brooks was not a good idea. The shoe is very heavy.

With it being made of recycled plastic, the fabric does feel a little thick compared to the competition; this causes a lot of inner moisture. The midsole gets most of its height in the heel, the forefront is extremely lacking.

It feels like there’s no support. I feel like I can feel the floor beneath my toes and after a few hours, my feet are paying the price. I believe a good pair of insoles may supplement what’s lacking.

Hiked through Arches National Park and Zion National Park without breaking these in and my feet did not hurt or bother me once my whole trip. I wear adidas running shoes (size 10), I did ordered a half size up from my normal shoe size to be able to wear thicker socks and they fit perfectly.

Even with regular daily socks they also fit just fine! Super comfortable, light weight, and durable. I was a little concerned about the ankle support because the shoe is thinner at the top, however once I put the shoe on my worries went away! If anyone has hiked Arches, you know part of the hike to Delicate Arch is on a smooth rock, this shoe gave me great grip, I didn’t slip once or even feel my foot shift once from losing contact.

I would totally buy these again in another color!!.

I’m not fond of toe box material or cut ( much too loose over top of my foot & puckers upward around the toe box) while there is a strange reflective mirror or shimmering effect going on in the woven material.

Quite distracting. Sizing is ~1/2 size off in length (short) width is smaller than other 4e’s I own. Footbed is a strong point, sturdy support & seems durable. I’ve owned this model earlier & remember as being much better.

I have been running for about 45 years and some version of this shoe has been my go to running shoe for many years now. Whether 476s, 479s or now 481s this has been a great shoe. Whether I run on the street or compete in 8 mile trail runs these shoes are comfortable, tough, durable and give good traction on most surfaces.

I do change out the insole for a running insole I purchase separately for more comfort. I also think they are a great value.

Ive almost had to buy New Balance shoes since. they became available. I wear a super wide in 13 and New Balance is about the only store in town and Sportsmansguide has been selling them for years. I tend to wear shoes til they rot off my feet and have the last two overly worn pair that I use when its muddy out or in the winter when I have to go fetch wood.

they are long past the washing stage and are held together by remnants of nylon. These shoes LAST, are comfortable and flat out fit well. Great product!.

I’ve been a Newton running shoes user for some time now. I had the Motion 10, the Boco at 5, the Chicago, NYC, and Texas Marathon special editions, the Distance 10 and I now got the Distance 11. I absolutely love all styles I used, the special editions are so much fun and they are always so very good, hands down, top performance.

At this time my favorite is the Distance and I got this later Distance 11 style. Newton never disappoints and this shoe has definitely met all of my expectations. From Day 1 they’ve felt as if I always had them – light, comfortable, confident, familiar, a bit springy, playful, it’s just awesome to run in them.

The older shoes I use for walking, it is always so tough to part with any of the older Newtons I had. I actually keep a couple as souvenirs. Oh, and over the years I did use every other running shoe brand.

The perpetual problem with every other brand is that when they modify the style that you liked, they usually change it for the worse. Just when you think that you found the shoe that fits you well and that you like, six months later when you need to buy it again you encounter the updated version which turns out to be not the one you hoped you will get.

I was tired of looking for shoes for hours, I no longer search. Newton is the solution. Strongly recommended. Not to mention that the company provides excellent and super timely service any time you may have issues of any kind.

This is my story. Love to run and usually run distance just for the sheer joy of it. As a younger man, I wore minimalist shoes. When I hit 40 I transitioned to a cushioned zero-drop. Little over a year ago, I took a bad step while running in the hills and hurt my knee (not bad enough to warrant a visit to the Dr.

) but continued to run for 10 more miles (eye roll). Wore a brace and had a rest period and soon after I started running again I had symptoms of IT band syndrome. Pain would set in right around 2 miles every run.

I found Newton shoes again and I thought at the very least it will help get my form back in check. Ordered a pair of Gravity’s on sale and went for a run and no pain. None. Tried out different Newton models but the Gravity’s are the perfect fit for me for comfort, weight, and stride.

Newton’s return/exchange policy is pretty amazing especially for me testing out the other models. I currently own 3 pairs (10, 11, +). Not saying Gravity’s will cure your aching parts. Just saying that this shoe worked out for me and now Newton has a customer for life.

I’ve been running weekly at least 15 miles for 20+ years. I’ve run marathons and other length races. These shoes are a game changer. For the past ten years, I’ve been running in Nike Frees and other Nike styles that give me more of a natural running position.

I credit those shoes and style of limited foot support with eliminating chronic IT band issues. A month ago, I took a chance on the Gravity 10 after trying them on a treadmill in the store, and without any transition, began running in them three times a week.

I doubt I’ll ever go back. The shoes actually add energy to my legs. The shoe has a support just under the ball of the foot that encourage my foot to land/strike at just the right spot for me. Like if I was sprinting barefoot in the grass.

They are lightweight and very breathable. A cold breeze runs through the shoe; my feet stay dry and cool. Good for treadmill and concrete/asphalt. Also ran well on packed dirt/low grass. Haven’t run more than 5 miles at a time on them yet, so I can’t say for sure the IT band will stay quiet.

But they are fun so far!.

I’ve been running for almost a decade now and I’ve been a loyal Brooks Ghost customer for most of that time. However, my most recent pair of ghosts faded pretty quickly, and so I started to research other shoes.

I found that the endorphin speeds were very loved by other runners and decided to wait for the release of the 3s. I just ran in them this morning and shaved 22 seconds off my usual tempo pace during a 5 mile run.

They feel incredible-I can feel them subtly propelling/bouncing me into my next stride. But it’s not harsh feeling at all or so cushioned that you sink and lose energy – it’s the perfect balance of spring, responsiveness and softness.

They are also incredibly lightweight. The overall experience helped to make my legs feel completely weightless and refreshed like I’d just come off a rest week. I honestly can’t believe I waited this long to try a plated shoe.

They are absolutely going to help me run more efficiently and shave time off my tempo and threshold runs. I will add my natural pace is just under 7 minutes /mile, race pace anywhere from 5:50-6:30. I can’t comment on durability yet, but so far I’m extremely impressed and excited to put some more mileage on these babies.

I’m a true 7. 5 and purchased that same size, they fit well even a bit on the loose side. I have a bit of a bunion on my left foot and the toebox is wide enough in the normal /medium width to accommodate that without any sort of pressure or rubbing.

If you are a faster paced runner who wants a high performance shoe that you can use as effectively on race day as you can on training days, this is your shoe. Saucony, make some more colors of these bad boys please!.

I purchased my first pair of Saucony Endorphin Pro shoes from a discount sporting goods website in August of 2021. The first time I wore them, I felt like I was running on air. Each step felt cushioned and springy and I could really feel the speedroll technology.

In these shoes I ran PRs in 5k and 10 mile races. Hands down the best shoes I have ever run in! I am currently training for a half marathon and wanted a new pair of Endorphin Pro’s to wear in my race.

I purchased the Endorphin Pro 2 shoes at full price in March of 2022 after researching extensively. I was under the impression that the only changes were the pull tab on the back of the shoe and the reinforcement in the middle of the laces.

The first time I ran in these shoes, I was sorely disappointed. There was no springy feeling or propelling forward like my previous Pros. They felt like a cheap, mediocre running shoe. At a price of $200+, I was determined to give them a chance.

I ran in them for 2 more training sessions and by the end of a 7 mile run, I was nearly in tears because my forefoot and toes hurt so badly. It was like running on concrete. When I called customer service, the representative informed me that I could not return the shoes because they were worn.

She also informed me that the Pro2 shoes were designed to have less cushion. Nowhere in my research had I seen that information before buying the shoes. I have gone back to training in my original Pro shoes and once they are worn out I will be looking for another brand of running shoe.

I just received the Endorphin Speed 3 and have only put in 10 miles so far but I’ve been a serious runner long enough and own/owned many good running shoes to know that this one’s a winner. I run 50+ miles per week (both the road and trails) so I have quite a collection to rotate on a regular basis and I was immediately able to tell that the Speed 3 will turn out to be my most used and versatile shoes.

Most racing and speed-oriented shoes just aren’t comfortable or stable enough for daily running. Daily training shoes are comfortable but not exciting or as fun to run in as racers. The Speed 3 somehow combines the best elements of both in one seamless package.

Although I haven’t taken this out on races yet but two fast 5-mile runs tell me that it will do just fine for racing. It’s also at least as comfortable and stable as my daily trainers, so I expect to use the Speed 3 a lot for my everyday road running needs.

I’ve seen and read dozens of reviews and I can definitely concur that the hype is real for the Endorphin 3. It’s comfortable, light, fast, stable, and just plain fun to run in. What more can one ask for? This is the one road running shoes I’ll take with me on trips (business or pleasure) along with one trail runner (if needed).

I just know I won’t sacrifice anything with the Speed 3. I already have the Pro 3 for racing/speed but that’s what I’ll save that for. Most of the time, it’ll be Speed 3. Now I’ve got my eyes set on the Edge to round out my trail runners collection.

Saucony really knocked it out of the park with the Endorphin Speed 3.

Hoka’s are the only sneakers I put my collapsing worn out feet into. Why? Because no other brand helps my feet with the pain as much as some select styles of Hoka do. Even my doctors recommend Hoka over Brooks.

Recently, I bought 2 different styles. The Gaviota 4 and Bondi 8, both 9 1/2, wide. The moment I put the Bondi 8 on, I knew they were a keeper. The insoles have great arch support (didn’t need to replace with my custom orthotics).

They push off without affecting my recent knee replacement & I felt like I was walking on air. I had a different experience with the Gaviota 4. Not as wide. Over all length seems shorter then Bondi 8 or my older Arahi 5 (another comfy sneaker).

The Gaviota 4, to me, aren’t as cushiony under the balls of the feet. They aren’t as supportive in the arch area as Bondi or Arahi. Also, when I walked, they seemed to put a strain on the knee that had the arthroplasty surgery (3 months ago).

If you don’t have any real major foot problems, the Gaviota 4 should be fine (it’s a nice looking sneaker). Just remember, wide feet might not be able to use this sneaker because it’s not a true wide.

For problem feet, go with Bondi 8. They are the most comfortable sneakers I HAVE EVER worn. At work, I do about 10,000 steps & unlike other sneakers, my feet are still feeling pretty decent by days end.

I was not expecting this after the sink in feeling of the More V3. These shoes felt firmer with a soft landing. The separated heal did provide extra stability. I slightly land inside on the right foot and had trouble with the Fuel Cell foams because of it.

It turned out that with the fresh foam X and the heal it was really supportive. The outsole is probably one of the best out there! It was like having claws on my feet. I felt less of the rocker midsole than the v3, but there was a very slight rocker that kept me going through my strides.

I would recommend this shoe for easy recovery miles. For me it’s a bit to heavy for uptempo work. Overall, it’s a good update and I’ll be putting a few hundred more miles in these over the next few months.

I’m a 6’6 guy, weighing about 215. A max cushion shoe like this is perfect for me. The cushion when I strike, whether it bee heel or mid foot, is great for me. The more foam, the better. The major flaw this shoe has is it’s tongue, it isn’t a single piece booty like construction, so you can feel it on the top of your foot.

Apart from this, my relatively high arch needed some extra support in this shoe as well. I already own a pair of insoles to compensate for this, so not too big of a deal for me. Overall great shoe if you like cushion.

New Balance: PLEASE GIVE US AN ATTACHED TONGUE.

I’m not a runner, but wanted to emphasize how great these shoes are for walking. Tried the Bondi 8 but the mid foot area was narrow and the midsole was stiff by comparison. Didn’t have the cushion and plush feel I was looking for.

The More V4 exceeded my expectations. Only complaint is that the tongue seems narrow and hardly covers the area between the laces. Love the white with the bright color accents but if NB were to offer a triple black colorway I would instant buy a pair as well!.

I don’t know what the two negative reviews are about. They’re saying they’re not cushioned enough. They’re trail shoes designed for running off-road which is already soft. SMH. I’ve had knee and calf problems in the past and after trying Brooks, Asics, Altras and others (about 2 miles in each shoe) these are by far the best.

These shoes are really grippy, great on trails, and even good enough to run on the road despite the fact their trail shoes. So if your run consists of both paved and trails, they’re perfect for it. I’ve put about 20 miles on them so far and no knee or calf pain that I get with other shoes (even when carrying sandbag uphill).

They seem to fit a little tight when your first put them on, but after about 30 seconds you get used to it. This is due to the liner which fits like a sock and is excellent at keeping debris, mulch and pebbles out of your shoe when running off-road.

The adjustable thingy on the laces is fantastic if your feet swell on long runs. It loosens your laces without untying your shoe. I cannot recommend these shoes enough. Fantastic trail shoes that can take a punishment on and off-road.

I decided to try this shoe out after wearing down the pair I’d been running in all of quarantine. These seemed really neat and cool on the rack and the REI salesperson who helped me said they were good for narrow feet, similar to the shoes I’d been running in previously.

I’ve never worn a pair of On shoes before and I was excited to try these out, but unfortunately I came up mildly disappointed. The big negative for me was that these shoes have little to no traction on wet concrete (sidewalks, roads, etc).

I found myself slipping and almost falling during my first walk in these on some slightly wet sidewalk, which seemed odd since I expected these to have good traction. I understand that these shoes are trail-running specific, and I run in trail running shoes purposefully because I prefer trails to roads.

But my usual routes require running on road or sidewalk in order to get to the trails, unless I wanted to drive which kinda ruins the run. I purchased these shoes in the summer and found that during the warm, dry summer months, that on the few runs I did with these that I had no traction issues on dry concrete or any of the trails.

I think these shoes probably have great traction on trails in any condition, but it was disappointing to have traction issues on wet concrete of all things. With summer coming to a close, I decided to not risk getting an injury and return them before the wet, fall weather arrived and get another pair of La Sportiva Bushido II’s since I had been running in those previously and knew they had great traction.

On the positive side, I did really enjoy the feel of these shoes. The toe-heel drop was a little higher than what I was running in previously but didn’t run into any issues. I found that these shoes provided a lot of bounce in my step and for the most part they were a fun shoe to run in.

The main issue was that most of the time I spent wearing them I was thinking about how bad the traction was and not focusing on my run. I think the ability to loosen or tighten the laces is a really cool feature and I utilized that on most of the runs I did with these.

Overall, this shoe is good, but I can’t get past the traction issues, especially since I live in an area that receives a lot of rain.

I like the On shoes, in some point, I had 3 pairs of their footwear – road, trail runners and casual pair. They fit my feet well and I believe it is the main criterion when you choose runners or any other shoes for yourself.

It is a great quality brand but has specific fitting. I have high-arched and narrow feet with slim heels. The On Cloudultra Trail Running Shoes is not my favourite model, but it has cushioning and breathability suitable for long runs and marathons.

Nice grip and durability of the outsole. And again works for my feet. The sizing is really odd for this model, I went a full size up compared to my other Ons. It took time to stretch the sock-fit fabric to make it actually comfortable.

On shoes look cool but please never go for the look, go for comfort!.