The softest, most protective road shoes for easy days, long slow runs and the day after a hard session.
19 current models, ranked by their average score from published reviews (how we rank). Updated October 2026. Want a personal pick? Try the shoe finder.
On easy days the job is to keep you moving comfortably while your legs recover, so prioritise soft, deep cushioning over speed or weight.
Very tall, soft shoes can feel less steady on corners and at faster paces. If you want one shoe for everything, look for a broad base or a gentle rocker, which keeps soft foam under control.
A maximal, non-plated trainer built on a full-length slab of incrediRUN superfoam for soft, springy long miles. Surprisingly stable and flexible for its height, but pricey and better at easy paces than fast ones.
New Balance's tallest road cruiser, with a broad base that keeps a deep slab of soft foam surprisingly steady. Best saved for easy, recovery and long slow miles.
Nike's tallest road shoe stacks ZoomX and Air Zoom into a towering, ultra-cushioned platform for easy miles. Superb impact protection and deep comfort, but heavy, pricey and best kept to gentle, shorter-than-marathon easy runs.
Altra's high-stack, low-drop cruiser with a very soft EGO P35 midsole and a gentle, flexible ride. A comfortable entry point for runners new to Altra who want plenty of cushioning.
PUMA's tallest-stacked trainer, now much lighter than the original and surprisingly stable for its height. Best for easy, recovery and long runs rather than anything quick.
A taller, softer take on Brooks' budget Revel, borrowing ideas from the Ghost Max for comfortable easy miles. Strong value and durable, though heavier and stiffer than the regular Revel.
Brooks' tallest, softest road shoe, built on a thick slab of DNA Tuned foam with a rocker. A comfortable cruiser for slow miles, but heavy and short on rebound.
A rockered, high-cushion Cloudsurfer with a firm, stable Helion ride and a comfortable, breathable upper. Better for easy miles, walking and long days on your feet than for pushing the pace.
ASICS' most cushioned shoe pairs a 48 mm FF Luxe Plus stack with a PureGEL heel, built purely for easy and recovery miles. Plush, protective and stable, but heavy, muted and pricey.
A plush, plateless max-cushion cruiser with PEBA-based foam on top and a wide, stable base. Lovely for easy and recovery miles, but heavy and not keen on picking up the pace.
Nike
Saucony
New Balance
HOKA
Kiprun
Altra
PUMA
Brooks
ASICS
On
Mizuno
