Best Cushioned Running Shoes 2022: 12 Soft- Riding Picks Worth a Look

Introduction

Every year, the same question comes back around: which running shoe actually delivers the best cushioned ride? Not the most comfortable overall, that involves the upper too, but the shoe with the softest, most protective midsole underfoot. This list focuses squarely on the midsole, combining feel, bounce tests, and Shore C durometer readings gathered during hands-on testing.

A quick note on method. Everyone’s foot strike and gait cycle is unique, so a shoe that works beautifully for one runner may not land the same for another. The readings below use the Shore C durometer scale, the industry standard for midsole hardness, roughly 25C being very soft and around 85C feeling like wood. Readings on an outsole or exposed foam will differ from a measurement inside the midsole, so treat the numbers as a guide rather than an exact science.

Asics Noosa Tri 14: Comfort Starts with the Upper

The Noosa Tri 14 stands out as arguably the most comfortable upper of 2022. Slip it on and it just feels good, which makes it a great pick for runners who prize step-in comfort first.

The catch: that comfort is driven by the upper, not the midsole. If your priority is maximum midsole cushioning, this is not the shoe on this list built for that. It earns its place here as the comfort benchmark of the year, with the midsole being a secondary consideration.

Asics Novablast 3: Soft, but Not Extreme

The Novablast 3 was a popular answer when runners were polled about the year’s best cushioned shoe, and it is soft, but not crazy soft. Readings came in around 40C in spots, roughly 32C on the medial side, and about 38C on the lateral side, so it lands in the low 30s and low 40s rather than the upper 20s.

That suggests Asics was not chasing extreme softness with this iteration. It is a bouncy, pleasant daily trainer, though some testers did not react to it as well as to its predecessor.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v4: Maximum Foam Volume

The Fresh Foam More v4 is the shoe many cushion fans were waiting to see tested, and it rounds out New Balance’s soft-shoe lineup for the year. Its whole identity is built around a tall, plush Fresh Foam stack designed to make easy days and long days feel forgiving.

New Balance has clearly committed to niching down with its cushioning lineup, pairing this volume-first trainer with a very soft stablemate covered below. If you want a big stack and a gentle ride, this is one to keep on your shortlist.

New Balance Rebel v3: Softest Midsole of 2022

The Fresh Foam Rebel v3 takes the crown as basically the softest midsole of 2022, just as its predecessor was in 2021. New Balance is clearly going for it with this shoe, leaning fully into the soft-trainer niche.

For runners who want the squishiest underfoot experience available, this is the one that consistently comes up. It is a straightforward choice: plush above all else, without pretending to be a pace-day shoe.

Saucony Endorphin Supercomp Trainer: Buttery Soft

Coming in around 29C on the durometer, the Supercomp Trainer is soft. Really soft. The midsole has a buttery quality that makes it a joy for easy mileage and long build-up weeks.

One consideration: the shoe includes a plate-like energy arc, and its usefulness in an easy-day shoe is debatable. That feature does nothing to hurt the cushioning, though, and as mileage climbs through a training block, this is the kind of shoe that earns a permanent spot in the rotation.

Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2: The Crowd Favorite

When runners were polled on the softest shoe underfoot, the Invincible Run Flyknit 2 was by far the most popular answer. The readings explain why: around 24C on the medial heel, roughly 27 to 28C on the lateral side, and firmer under the forefoot at about 38 to 39C.

That heel-biased softness suggests the engineers had heel strikers in mind. If your stride lands at the back of the shoe, this may be exactly the cushioning profile you have been looking for.

New Balance 1080 v12: Soft to the Touch, Not to the Gauge

The 1080 v12 feels soft on the thumb test, which is how many runners judge a shoe in store. The durometer tells a more nuanced story: readings came in around 42 to 44C, which is not especially soft by midsole standards.

That is not a flaw so much as a design choice. The 1080 v12 balances softness with energy return, aiming to be a well-rounded daily trainer rather than an out-and-out plush cruiser. Runners who want cushioning that still feels responsive may prefer this balance over the extreme softness of the Rebel.

Saucony Endorphin Shift 3: Big Midsole, Not the Softest

The Endorphin Shift 3 carries a ton of midsole, but volume does not automatically mean softness. Readings landed around 46 to 50C, approaching the firmer end of the scale for cushioned trainers.

Saucony appears to be building an all-rounder here: a shoe that can handle easy days, long days, and save-the-legs days without leaning fully into plushness. If you want a durable, substantial midsole with structure, the Shift 3 fits. If you want buttery softness, look higher up this list.

Saucony Triumph 20: The Special One

The Triumph 20 is a genuinely special shoe. Readings came in around 31 to 33C across the midsole, comfortably in the soft zone without dropping into the extreme upper 20s, and that balance feels deliberate.

This is the kind of long-run shoe that disappears on your feet over big miles. It sits in a sweet spot: soft enough to protect on long efforts, firm enough not to feel mushy. For many runners, this is the easiest recommendation on the entire list.

Hoka Mach 5: Dual-Density Cushioning

The Mach 5 takes a different approach to cushioning: a dual-density midsole. A softer layer sits directly underfoot, combined with a firmer EVA layer underneath for structure and response.

That combination gives the Mach 5 a distinctive feel, soft on the first impression but with enough firmness beneath to keep the ride from feeling unstable. It is a smart design for runners who want cushioning without a wallowy ride.

Brooks Caldera 6: Big Stack for the Trail

Switching to the trails, the Caldera 6 brings a huge stack height, one of the tallest in this lineup. The readings, though, tell you it is not necessarily soft: around 41 to 42C in the heel, 45C on one side, and 44C under the forefoot.

That makes sense for trail use. A tall stack that stays reasonably firm gives you protection from rocks and roots without feeling vague on technical ground. Trail runners who want maximum coverage underfoot with a stable platform should put this on the list.

Saucony Endorphin Edge: A Trail Contender

The Endorphin Edge might end up being the trail running shoe of the year, and the numbers back the hype. Readings came in around 36C at the heel on the inside of the shoe and roughly 31 to 32C under the forefoot, genuinely soft for a trail shoe.

Saucony has done impressive work here, delivering trail-ready cushioning that measures softer than most of the road shoes above. If you are building a trail rotation for 2023, this deserves a serious look.

Buying Advice: Timing Your Purchase

One more thing worth knowing: shoes like these, the previous iteration of any great cushioned trainer, go on sale sooner rather than later. Expect prices to drop around February and March, especially for trail shoes, right before the next versions hit the market and runners emerge from winter hibernation.

If a shoe on this list catches your eye, patience can pay off. These are all strong performers in their own right, and waiting a few months often means grabbing last year’s excellent version at a meaningful discount.

Conclusion

The best cushioned shoe of 2022 depends on what softness means to you. The Rebel v3 wins on raw midsole softness, the Invincible Run Flyknit 2 was the runners’ favorite, the Triumph 20 nails the balance of soft and structured, and the Endorphin Edge brings serious cushioning to the trail. Match the ride character to your gait and training, and any of these can make 2023 a very comfortable year.