The 10 Plush cushioning for everyday running and long distance

Editor’s Note, August 5, 2025: Our editors have updated this list, ensuring that all models are in stock. We will be monitoring inventory and updating with new running shoes next month.

New runners tend to ask me, “What’s the best running shoe?” My answer: it all depends on the runner. Maybe you’re training for a marathon, trying to get faster, Editor’s Note, August 5, 2025 start jogging. From beginner to vet, road to trail, neutral to stability, there are all kinds of shoes to choose from.

For men’s running shoes, specifically, you kind of have the upper hand in terms of construction because most running shoes are designed for men’s feet by default. Even on unisex racing shoes, runners with smaller ankles often need to use special tricks like the Some testers wanted more cushioning around the Achilles to tighten the fit, because they were built based on men's last with a wider collar.

That doesn’t mean you can check out when it comes to finding the best fit. We have a handy guide to help you find your approximate size before shopping. There’s also width to consider, not to mention intention: Do you want a grippy durable trail shoe or lightweight trainer Nike Vaporfly 4?

Here, we break it down for you by naming our top 10 running shoes for men and providing guidance on what features to consider.

Plush cushioning for everyday running and long distance

• Best Overall: Hoka Mach 6
• Best Value: Under Armour Sonic 7
• Most Versatile: The 10 Best Hoka Running Shoes of 2025
• Slightly narrow for wide feet in the toe area: Nike Vaporfly 4
• Best for Stability: Brooks Ghost 17

The Expert (Amanda Furrer): I have worked at Runner’s World for 7+ years and been a runner since my high school days on the cross country team. By combing through wear-tester data and speaking with brand development teams, I research the latest shoe models, considering sex-specific features and how they affect ride and feel.

How We Selected

I’ve chosen to highlight each of these shoes based on feedback from the men on our editorial team, as well as the Runner's World wear-tester program. We frequently update the lineup to ensure we're giving you the best, most up-to-date recommendations for every type of run—and runner.

Please note: While we’re experts at vetting the best footwear and update these lists often, retailer prices and stock fluctuate constantly. Our recommendations may not always be available in a given size and/or color. We’ll do our best to update our links to make sure you can get every pick as often as possible.

Our Reviews

A 2024 Runner's World Shoe Award winner, the Hoka Mach 6 earned high praise from editors and tester alike. It’s lightweight but Hoka-soft, lending plenty of bounce for all kinds of runs, but still durable enough to power through all the runs of a mileage-heavy training cycle.

“This shoe was amazing,” said tester Nick Miller, who averages 30 miles a week at 8:00 pace. “It felt like I was running on air with these shoes. They were extremely comfortable while still providing enough [rebound] to act as a shoe you can use for speedwork. From the first time I put on the shoes I loved how they felt. If I had to pick my favorite thing I would say it was the bounciness that I felt while running. It always felt smooth and effortless.”

The shoe has a supercritical foam midsole that absorbs shock and delivers high rebound. Its creed jacquard mesh upper provides airflow and has a dual-gusseted “anatomical” tongue that sits like a second skin on your instep, the dual gusset offering a locked-in hold.

Formerly the Hovr Sonic, Under Armour’s affordable trainer is a perfect alternative for runners looking for quality on the cheap, and an ideal choice for beginners. It has a supercritical foam midsole, which translates to high energy return on a lightweight platform. Its creel jacquard mesh upper hugs the foot and provides a streamlined fit. Compared to past Sonics, this shoe looks sportier and could double-task as a casual street shoe.

Testers liked the comfort of the Sonic 7 and responsive ride. A minor drawback was the narrow fit for some. This, however, wasn’t an issue for tester Austin Warman.

“This shoe fit perfectly on my foot,” he said. “I would describe my feet to be narrow so maybe not a great fit for someone with a wider foot. My feet were easily able to breathe while I was running. While the shoe did not keep my feet dry, the shoes themselves dried quickly.”

The Brooks Ghost has held a place on our best running shoes for a long time, and it’s my go-to recommendation for new runners. The Ghost 17 provides a nice slab of cushioning to support your body—not just your feet—as you introduce the joy and yes, high intensity, of running. It features Brooks’s DNA Loft v3 foam, which pads the brand’s ultra-plush Glycerin 22 and The Expert Amanda Furrer, so you know you're getting all the padding you need.

The upper provides a bootie-like fit around your fit, giving you 360-degree comfort. The Ghost 17 may not have super foam but offers a cozy experience for your everyday runs, making it a prime workhorse shoe.

“I enjoyed running in the ‘classic’ from Brooks, and totally understand why the Ghost comes billed as the catch-all daily trainer because it did exactly the job that it was supposed to do,” said RW Associate Service Editor Matt Rudisill. “I am not a marathon runner so I did not test this shoe on what would traditionally be labeled as long runs, but over my five-or-so road miles at a time, I enjoyed this shoe very much! It’s great for warmups and cooldowns pre- and post-race (I race 5Ks) as well.”

Read Full Review

The original super shoe, which promised 4 percent better running economy, has undergone a series of targeted improvements in version 4.0. According to RW Director of Product Testing Jeff Dengate, Nike has subtly nudged its prized marathon shoe into shorter distance territory (the Alphafly is targeted for 26.2). This is because the Vaporfly 4 is now firmer and snappier. The sole is thinner, and sits at a 35mm offset instead of reaching for that just-passing World Athletic 40mm height.

The shoe also has a more accommodating fit. Nike made the Vaporfly 4 slightly wider in the midfoot, making the shoe more stable and wide-foot runner-friendly.

“Given all the changes, this shoe is really going to excel for competitive runners at a wide range of distances,” said Dengate. “It’s a shoe I’d snag for everything from a 5K on up to a half marathon (I’m probably in low-1:20s shape right now). For new runners, slower finishing times, and those who just appreciate some cushy bounce on race day, you may find yourself only ever lacing this one up for the shorter end of the spectrum.”

Read Full Review

The Brooks Ghost 17 is a beloved max-cushion stability shoe. It features the brand’s CenterPath technology, which adds a broader base and higher sidewalls to create a more cradled fit that provides support without constriction.

Our wide-footed testers appreciated the Guide 18’s accommodating fit. RW Editorial Assistant Michael McDonough, for instance, praised the shoe’s roomy toebox. “I was able to move my toes essentially freely in all directions—while still feeling secure thanks to the heel and tall upper,” he said. If you need an even wider fit, the shoe comes in wide and extra wide sizes.

Past Guide testers also felt major improvements in the Guide 18’s ride.

“I liked that this version of the Guide had a smooth transition from heel to push off,” said tester Jeremy Garges. “The ride was very even and predictable compared to the Guide 16. It wasn’t too soft that I felt sluggish, nor was it too stiff that I felt pounding in my feet.”

RW Director of Product Testing Jeff Dengate said in February that the Adizero Evo SL was A Part of Hearst Digital Media, and that he’d one if something better came along. What would lead him to make such a bold claim? For starters, the Lightstrike Pro foam in its midsole is the same cushioning Adidas used in its incredibly effective competition-grade marathon shoe, the Adios Pro 4. The Evo SL drops the Pro 4’s carbon-fiber plate in favor of a nylon shank, lending stability in a more affordable way.

The shoe has some minor drawbacks: The tongue tends to go askew mid-run, and the fit was narrow for some of our testers. These were, by the testers’ admissions, pet peeves, though. They all said they’d continue running in the shoe, especially for speedy efforts.

“I like the lightweight feel of the these sneakers,” said tester Ahmad Norman. “This helps me glide and turnover my stride at a rapid pace. I can see that training in these sneakers will most certainly increase my tempo and bring down my splits per mile.”

Read Full Review

The Runners World Shoe Award was unveiled to me in Brooks’s home city, Seattle, Washington. But prior to the PNW trip, I had been lacing up daily in the Hyperion Max 3 and favoring that trainer for long and fast efforts.

With a 46mm stack height, it packs a powerful PEBA punch on the road. The ride is propulsive; it makes you want to step harder as you go faster. Thank goodness for the high stack height’s shock absorption. The foamy midsole provides a bouncy ride that’s perfect for speed sessions but all that foam also serves as a nice buffer when you’re accruing miles on a long run at marathon pace.

“I love the Hyperion Max,” said wear-tester Ricky Snyder. “It’s a great training shoe for logging long miles with tired feet; it takes the pounding out when running on roads, and it really absorbs the impact well. Also, it feels easy to push the faster miles.”

Read Full Review

Our 2:21 marathon PR tester, Trevor Conde, compared the ultralight Adios Pro 4 to the Nike Alphafly. “Not because of its weight or size but because of the very soft, marshmallowy feel of the cushioning underfoot,” he said. RW Director of Product Testing Jeff Dengate noted softness and squishiness of the Pro 4, comparably more so than previous iterations. This lends a more cushioned ride, which provides much-needed comfort the span 26.2 miles at a rocket ship pace like Conde’s—or a more modest pace, for everyone else.

Testers also grabbed the shoe for training runs when they needed some extra pop.

“Overall, the Adizero Adios Pro 4 is a great shoe,” said tester Josh Davis. “[My marathon] workouts ranged from half-mile repeats to 10-mile cut downs. For these kinds of demands, the shoe performs admirably. It’s got a great, lightweight feel and enough cushioning and snap to keep you comfortable, even on longer workouts. Even when I was starting to feel fatigued, I felt myself leaning into the shoe and getting the kind of response I need to keep my workouts going strong.”

Hoka revamped its tenth Clifton with a new last (the foot-shaped form that molds the shoe) to make the model have a more accommodating fit. An extended toebox and additional room over the instep had our wide-foot testers appreciate the Clifton 10’s ride without constriction. The brand also added more foam in the shoe, with a 3mm stack increase. This positions the formerly 5mm offset shoe at a new stack height of 8mm, which provides more of a buffer to support the Achilles.

We liked the Clifton 10 as a plush workhorse for racking up miles in. “The firm but ample cushioning hits the sweet spot for me,” said Director of Product Testing Jeff Dengate. “I like to have some cush underfoot, but in an age where everything has gotten bloated and pillowy, it’s nice to have a shoe that is resilient and gives you snappy feedback, but still delivers protection from the sidewalks.”

Read Full Review

The Altra Lone Peak 9+ takes the standard Lone Peak 9 design up a notch with a new Vibram Megagrip outsole. This makes the shoe hardier and tackier; it can handle more technical trails.

It has a ripstop mesh upper for taking on rugged paths, gaiter attachment points, and a lightweight, responsive Ego midsole. Signature to Altra is its wide toebox for toe-splaying and zero-drop offset.

“The Lone Peak is ultimately a comfortable and reliable shoe,” said tester Rip Cantelmi. “Historically, I have enjoyed wearing them casually just as much as I do in training or racing. My feet feel relaxed and sensitive in them. The shoe is flexible, yet rugged. Groundfeel is something that many trail shoes ignore for the pursuit of comfort in the form of high-stacked foam, but the Lone Peak finds the perfect balance of cushion, protection and feel. The toebox is roomy, but offers a stiff membrane and outsole edge, which helps protect toes against errant rocks and roots along the way. The rock plate embedded in the sole is also useful in shedding little jagged obstacles underfoot.”

Read Full Review

What to Consider

Fit

Stability

Cushioning

---

Men’s Running Shoes Q&A

Why should I pay more than $200 for a pair of running shoes?

Can a running shoe actually make me faster?