Max Cushioned Running Shoes 2026: 8 Models Compared in the Lab

Max cushioned running shoes carry more than 40 mm of foam under the heel and are built for easy runs, recovery days and long runs. In this guide we compare eight models sold by BIKILA in November 2026, from the Nike Vomero 18 to the ASICS Superblast 3, using RunRepeat’s lab measurements. We also summarise a Finnish study that measured more impact in a maximalist shoe than in a conventional one.

What counts as max cushioned running shoes

There is no official threshold. RunRepeat, which cuts and measures every shoe it reviews, calls a shoe maximalist when the forefoot goes past 30 mm, and its lab average is 35.6 mm at the heel and 27.2 at the forefoot. The seven max cushioned running shoes in this guide that have been lab tested all measure more than 41 mm at the heel. Only the Vomero 18 stays under 30 mm up front (28.6), because it has a 13.9 mm drop.

More foam does not make a shoe softer either. Firmness is measured with a durometer in Asker C units (AC): the lower the number, the softer the foam. In this list it ranges from 22.8 AC in the Superblast 3 to 43.0 in the Bondi 9, which is firmer than the lab average (35.4). Drop, stack height and plates are explained in drop, cushioning and carbon plate.

What research says about max cushioned running shoes

Researchers from the universities of Helsinki and Jyväskylä compared a conventional shoe with a maximalist one at 10 and 14.5 km/h in 2018 (Kulmala et al., Scientific Reports). In the maximalist shoe the impact peak was 6.4% higher at 10 km/h. At 14.5 km/h it rose by 10.7%, and the loading rate by 12.3%. The authors put it down to a stiffer leg at landing and think this may help explain why more cushioning has not protected runners from impact injuries.

In the trial by Malisoux and colleagues (American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020), 848 recreational runners were randomly given one of two versions of the same shoe, a soft one and a hard one. Runners in the hard version had more injuries, but the advantage of the soft one only showed up in lighter runners. We cover it in detail in our guide to running shoes for heavy runners. Taken together, these two studies suggest choosing max cushioned running shoes for comfort on long, slow runs; neither shows that they prevent injuries.

The 8 max cushioned running shoes compared

Weights, drops, stack heights, heel shock absorption (in SA units; the lab average is 131) and energy return (average 61.5%) are RunRepeat measurements, for example in its Superblast 3 review. The More v6 has not been tested yet and carries New Balance’s figures. BIKILA prices from 8 November 2026.

Model	Weight	Drop	Heel	Shock absorption	Energy return	BIKILA price
ASICS Superblast 3	235 g	8.1 mm	45.8 mm	154 SA	67.5%	€219.95
Saucony Paramount Max	272 g	5.7 mm	42.1 mm	165 SA	80.3%	€219.95
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28	278 g	8.1 mm	43.0 mm	137 SA	45.9%	€199.95
HOKA Bondi 9	303 g	9.1 mm	41.3 mm	146 SA	60.3%	€179.95
Nike Vomero Plus	289 g	9.6 mm	42.3 mm	147 SA	68.8%	€159.95
Saucony Triumph 24	258 g	8 mm	41.6 mm	152 SA	78.5%	€149.95
New Balance More v6	306 g (brand)	4 mm (brand)	n/a	n/a	n/a	€142.95
Nike Vomero 18	298 g	13.9 mm	42.5 mm	147 SA	58.9%	€125.95

The bounciest max cushioned running shoes

ASICS Superblast 3

It is the tallest and the lightest of these max cushioned running shoes: 45.8 mm at the heel, 37.7 at the forefoot and 235 grams. RunRepeat scores it 9.4, the highest in this guide. This version introduces FF Leap, a very soft A-TPU foam (22.8 AC, the softest of the seven measured), paired with a layer of FF Blast+. There is no plate, but it resists twisting strongly (18.2 Nm against an average of 14.3). BIKILA sells it as a super trainer for easy runs and threshold work, and RunRepeat rates it as versatile across paces. The toebox is narrow (71.6 mm). It costs €219.95, with no discount.

Saucony Paramount Max

It absorbs more impact (165 SA) and returns more energy (80.3%) than any other shoe tested. The whole midsole is incrediRUN, Saucony’s supercritical foam, with no plate. Despite its 42.1 mm heel it is flexible: 9.5 Nm in the torsion test, below average. It weighs 272 grams and has a 5.7 mm drop. RunRepeat criticises its breathability and outsole grip. The colourway on the card costs €219.95, and BIKILA also has the gold version at €199.95. Our review also lists RTINGS measurements, which give a slightly higher weight and more drop.

Stable max cushioned running shoes for easy miles

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28

It has 43 mm at the heel and 34.9 at the forefoot, combines FF Blast+ with PureGEL and weighs 278 grams, 7% less than the previous version according to RunRepeat. It is stable and stiff (20.5 Nm), and the Hybrid ASICSGRIP outsole grips well. Its weak point is energy return: 45.9%, the lowest of the seven tested. The colourway on the card is €199.95; other colours drop to €179.95 with fewer sizes.

HOKA Bondi 9

The Bondi 9 gets a new supercritical EVA foam and 2 mm more stack, according to BIKILA’s product description. In the lab it measured 41.3 mm at the heel, 32.2 at the forefoot and 303 grams. Its foam is the firmest of the max cushioned running shoes tested (43.0 AC), so the ride feels firmer than its height suggests. HOKA states a 5 mm drop; RunRepeat measured 9.1 and believes the brand measures closer to the midfoot. It has 3.4 mm of outsole rubber and a narrow (72.5 mm) but tall toebox. RunRepeat recommends it for slow paces and for walking. The colourway on the card costs €179.95; others are €149.90 in a single size.

Max cushioned running shoes under €160

Nike Vomero Plus

The Vomero Plus has a full-length ZoomX midsole, which Nike describes as its most responsive cushioning. It measures 42.3 mm at the heel, weighs 289 grams and returns 68.8% of energy. RunRepeat scores it 9.1 and points to low breathability and a narrow toebox (71.1 mm). Nike sells it for €179.99 in Spain, and the colourway on the card is €159.95 at BIKILA, in eleven sizes.

Saucony Triumph 24

Its lab numbers come close to the pricier shoes: 152 SA shock absorption, 78.5% energy return, a 41.6 mm heel and 258 grams, the second lightest here. The XT-900 rubber outsole is 3.3 mm thick and did very well in the wear test. RunRepeat finds it less stable than the Triumph 23 and a little snug, and scores it 9.2. It is reduced from €189.95 to €149.95.

New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6

New Balance presents it as its maximum cushioning shoe for everyday runs. It weighs 306 grams according to the brand and has a 4 mm drop, the lowest in this guide: if you come from 8 to 10 mm shoes, your calves will notice it for the first few weeks. RunRepeat has not tested this version yet and New Balance does not list the stack height on its Spanish site, so we cannot compare it in the lab. Its retail price is €170 and BIKILA has it at €142.95 in eight sizes.

Nike Vomero 18

It is the cheapest of the max cushioned running shoes in this guide and, according to RunRepeat, the first max-stack Vomero. It measures 42.5 mm at the heel and 28.6 at the forefoot, with a 13.9 mm drop, the highest on the list, which RunRepeat recommends for heel strikers. It weighs 298 grams and its energy return (58.9%) sits slightly below average. RunRepeat scores it 9.0. Nike sells it for €159.99; the colourway on the card is €125.95, though only in two large sizes.

Which max cushioned running shoes to choose

For a single shoe that covers easy runs and the odd faster day, the Superblast 3 or the Paramount Max, both at €219.95. For slow running with a stable ride, the Nimbus 28 or the Bondi 9. On a tighter budget, the Triumph 24 gets lab figures close to the Paramount Max for €149.95. None of these max cushioned running shoes is a stability shoe: if you overpronate, see our guide to running shoes for overpronation.

You will find more models in BIKILA’s collections of men’s training shoes and women’s training shoes. To compare these shoes with others, use the shoe comparison tool, and if price matters most, see our guide to cheap running shoes.

FAQ about max cushioned running shoes

What are max cushioned running shoes for?

Comfortable-pace runs where you spend a long time on the road, such as the weekend long run or a recovery run. How to plan those sessions is covered in our guide to the long run.

Are they better for heavy runners?

In the Malisoux trial, the softer shoe reduced injuries in lighter runners but not in heavier ones.

Are max cushioned running shoes heavier than normal ones?

Not always. The Superblast 3 weighs 235 grams, below RunRepeat’s lab average (261 g), while the Bondi 9 reaches 303.

How often should you replace max cushioned running shoes?

Brands do not give a figure. The signs that it is time are in when to replace running shoes.

Some links in this guide are affiliate links: if you buy through them, KnowPace may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We have not tested these shoes: the data comes from the brands, RunRepeat’s lab and BIKILA’s product descriptions. BIKILA prices checked on 8 November 2026.