The 6 Most Comfortable Running Shoes of 2026  

1. Most Comfortable Running Shoes

   

   

   

   

   
   Brooks Glycerin Max 2 1 
   
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   Cushioning

   8.7

   True To Size

   9.7

   Heel Stack Height: 

   47.9 mm

   Heel Firmness: 

   Forefoot Firmness: 

   See all our test results 

   If you want the most comfortable running shoe possible, the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 strikes a great balance between softness and firmness. However, if you need a wider fit, check out our pick at the bottom of this page. For everyone else, though, the Brooks offers plenty of give when you land without feeling overly mushy, and the step-in feel is excellent, with a thick, plush insole and generous padding around the heel and tongue that wraps comfortably around your foot. You get plenty of room through the arch and forefoot as well, so you're unlikely to feel pressure around your foot or chafing on your toes as you run. Its ultra-high stack puts a huge amount of material between you and the road, too, with excellent cushioning that absorbs impact incredibly well through the forefoot and amazingly through the heel, keeping your legs very well shielded from the pounding of the pavement, no matter your build.

   The broad base also gives you a stable enough platform, helping the towering shoe feel secure and comfortable when you land. It does a very good job of rolling you forward through your stride, too, so settling into a comfortable rhythm over easy miles feels smoother than you might expect from such a large shoe. If you're heading out for a relaxed long run, its cushioning also holds up impressively well in our simulated 50 km run test, so your legs stay well protected and comfortable as the miles add up. There are several colorways to choose from, making it easier to find a pair that suits your tastes.

   However, this shoe is much better suited to relaxed running than to anything else. It's very tall and heavy, and trying to run fast will tire you out very quickly. It's also a bit unsteady when you're cornering or on uneven ground.

   See our review 

2. Most Comfortable Mid-Range Running Shoes

   

   

   

   

   
   HOKA Clifton PRO 0 
   
   Cushioning

   8.9

   True To Size

   9.5

   Heel Stack Height: 

   43.4 mm

   Heel Firmness: 

   Forefoot Firmness: 

   See all our test results 

   If you want an incredibly comfortable running shoe but the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is a touch too expensive, the HOKA Clifton PRO is another great option. Though you don't get quite the same cozy step-in feel as you do with the pick above, since the stock insole isn't as plush and the tongue and heel aren't as deeply padded, it's still a very comfortable shoe to slip on. You get a much softer platform than the Brooks, too, so there's more give when you land. It can feel a bit mushier as you sink further into the foam, though. You still get amazing cushioning overall, keeping your legs well protected from road impact, even if you're a heavier runner. Its broad base also gives you a very stable platform, though the softer heel means landings don't feel quite as planted, and the low forefoot height can create some pressure or chafing over the top of your toes if you have higher-volume feet.

   Still, it's a great choice if you want a comfortable shoe for longer efforts with less weight on your feet. Its cushioning holds up very well as the miles add up, and it can even handle a marathon if you're looking to complete the distance comfortably rather than race for a fast time. It doesn't roll you forward through your stride very smoothly, though, so cruising along at a comfortable rhythm takes a bit more effort than in our top pick. That said, it comes in wide sizing with plenty of colorways, giving you more choice in fit and style.

   The original Clifton helped popularize lightweight, highly cushioned running shoes, and cushioning remains a major focus across HOKA's lineup. For more options, check out our picks for the best HOKA running shoes.

   See our review 

3. Most Comfortable Budget Running Shoes

   

   

   

   

   
   Nike Winflo 12 0 
   
   Cushioning

   7.3

   True To Size

   8.9

   Heel Stack Height: 

   44.3 mm

   Heel Firmness: 

   Forefoot Firmness: 

   See all our test results 

   If you're looking for a comfortable running shoe on a budget, the Nike Winflo 12 still does a lot right for the money. It's not quite as comfortable as our two picks above, and you make some clear concessions for the lower price: the Nike is the firmest shoe on this list, so you get much less give when you land, making it harsher and less forgiving. Its cushioning also absorbs far less road impact, so your legs will feel considerably more of the ground, and heavier runners in particular won't get the same level of protection. Its fit can create some comfort issues too, as the arch isn't as accommodating and the forefoot height is very low, so you may feel pressure through the middle of your foot or chafing over your toes if you have higher-volume feet.

   Even so, the Winflo is still a comfortable enough shoe to lace up on a budget. There's enough padding around your foot and a thick enough insole to give it a pleasant step-in feel. Its wide heel and forefoot give the shoe a broad base and stop landings from feeling awkward, and you also get a reasonable amount of help through your stride, so despite the tall, heavy build, you can still log relaxed miles comfortably. It also comes in wide sizing and several colorways.

   See our review 

4. Most Comfortable Running Shoes For Stability

   

   

   

   

   
   Saucony Hurricane 26 0 
   
   Cushioning

   8.4

   True To Size

   9.4

   Heel Stack Height: 

   41.4 mm

   Heel Firmness: 

   Forefoot Firmness: 

   See all our test results 

   If a medical professional has told you that you overpronate or your ankles roll inward excessively when you run, the Saucony Hurricane 26 is the most comfortable stability shoe we've tested. It's our best stability shoe overall, with built-in support features that help control inward movement without making it rigid or firm. In fact, it's one of the softest shoes on this list, so you get plush landings, while the foam springs you back through your stride rather than leaving you sinking into it too deeply. It's very comfortable for long stretches on your feet, with a well-padded tongue that feels gentle on the top of your foot and a thick insole that delivers a cushy step-in feel. The fit isn't quite as accommodating as our top pick, the Brooks Glycerin Max 2, with a lower toe box that may rub over your toes if they're taller or you flex them on landing. However, there's still plenty of room through the arch and across the forefoot, and it comes in wide sizing with plenty of colorways if you need more room.

   Its exceptionally broad base keeps it more secure than the Brooks. It's also significantly lighter and not as tall, so it feels less tiring over longer efforts and can handle more than just easy runs. It has impressive shock absorption, too, and is the best option on this list for getting you to the finish line of a marathon as comfortably as possible if you don't care about your time. However, if you don't actually need help controlling overpronation, you may feel the shoe pushing your foot away from its natural path as you run, which can make it less comfortable if your gait doesn't need correcting.

   See our review 

5. Most Comfortable Running Shoes For Heavier Runners

   

   

   

   

   
   HOKA Skyward X 2 0 
   
   Cushioning

   9.1

   True To Size

   9.1

   Heel Stack Height: 

   48.6 mm

   Heel Firmness: 

   Forefoot Firmness: 

   See all our test results 

   If you're a heavier runner who struggles to find shoes that aren't firm or unforgiving, the HOKA Skyward X 2 is the most comfortable shoe we've tested for heavier runners. It doesn't have the same cozy step-in feel as our top pick, the Brooks Glycerin Max 2, and the tongue and heel aren't as plush or deeply padded. Its plated design can also make it feel a bit firm and rigid at first, but the platform feels considerably softer as you apply more force through the shoe. Heavier runners get a much plusher, more forgiving feel, though lighter runners won't find it anywhere near as comfortable. The cushioning also provides outstanding impact protection when you load the shoe harder, so even very well-built runners stay incredibly well protected from the road. In fact, it's even more protective under those loads than our mid-range pick, the HOKA Clifton PRO. However, the arch runs narrow, and there's no wide sizing, so it can feel tight through the midfoot if your feet take up a lot of room.

   Still, it's a great choice for relaxed long runs and has the best cushioning on this list. That protection held up better than any of the other picks here over our simulated 50 km run test, too, so no matter your weight, the ride is very comfortable without ever feeling harsh. It's also significantly lighter than the Brooks despite having an even taller stack, so it's much less cumbersome and is the better option if you want to cover marathon distance comfortably. That comfort comes at a price, though, as this is the most expensive of all our picks. There aren't many colorways to choose from, either, so if you're looking to get the most for your money (or like having lots of different colors to choose from), check out our top picks for heavy runners.

   See our review 

6. Most Comfortable Running Shoes For Wide Feet

   

   

   

   

   
   New Balance 1080v15 0 
   
   Cushioning

   7.9

   True To Size

   8.6

   Heel Stack Height: 

   38.4 mm

   Heel Firmness: 

   Forefoot Firmness: 

   See all our test results 

   If you regularly struggle with running shoes pinching or rubbing because they're too narrow, the New Balance 1080v15 is the most comfortable shoe we've tested for wide feet. It costs a touch more than our mid-range pick, the HOKA Clifton PRO, but you can get it in both wide and extra-wide sizing, with plenty of colorways to choose from. You also get a slightly plusher step-in feel. The thick tongue sits softly across the top of your foot without feeling bulky, while the well-padded heel cradles your ankle comfortably. Though the insole is much softer, you don't get as much cushioning on the road as you do with the HOKA, but the platform strikes a very good balance between softness and firmness, so your landings feel plush without becoming overly squishy. You still get good protection from road impact over relaxed miles, though your legs will feel much more of the ground as your runs get longer, so it's not a great pick if you regularly run for extended periods.

   That said, it's the lightest shoe on this list and has the lowest stack height, so choosing a more accommodating fit doesn't mean settling for a very bulky shoe. Our standard-width pair is fairly snug through the arch and low over the forefoot, but the wider options offer more generous room.

   New Balance started out making arch supports, and comfort and support still shape much of its running lineup today. Check out our picks for the best New Balance running shoes.

   See our review 

Notable Mentions

Recent Updates

1.  Oct 13, 2026 at 02:24 pm: 

   We updated this article to make it clearer who each pick is for. We rewrote the introduction and changed several recommendation categories. The HOKA Clifton PRO is now our mid-range pick; the Nike Winflo 12, our budget pick; the Saucony Hurricane 26, our stability pick; the HOKA Skyward X 2, the pick for heavier runners; and the New Balance 1080v15, the pick for wide feet. Finally, we refreshed the Notable Mentions by adding the PUMA MagMax NITRO 2.

2.  Jul 17, 2026 at 04:05 pm: 

   We've updated this article with a new usage-based pick structure, replacing the previous pricing-based recommendations. The intro has also been revised with updated test-score context. The article now includes six main picks instead of five. We removed the ASICS NOVABLAST 5 and added the Saucony Ride 19, Li-Ning Chaoying Pro, and Saucony Hurricane 25 as per the new structure.

3.  May 29, 2026 at 03:06 pm: 

   We've updated the article to swap the cheap and budget picks due to price changes, and edited wording in those boxes to match the adjusted positioning. We've also replaced the HOKA Bondi 9 with the Kiprun Kipride Max as the upper mid-range pick, as our testing revealed the Kiprun to be lighter and more versatile while still offering excellent cushioning. The HOKA has been moved into the Notable Mentions.