Best Max Cushion Running Shoes 2025: Five Plush Picks Worth Your Miles

Introduction

Max cushion shoes have moved well beyond the soft-and-squishy category. This year’s best options combine tall stacks with genuinely versatile rides that handle everything from easy miles to marathon efforts. These five picks stand out for different reasons: one is a near-universal favorite, one is a premium long-run cruiser, one is a non-plated value option, one brings structure to softness, and one is a surprise hit with a huge slab of foam.

Asics Super Blast 2

The Super Blast 2 might be the most universally loved running shoe in recent memory. Every kind of runner seems to reach it for every kind of run, and it earns its reputation as an all-time favorite. It is technically a max cushion shoe, but it feels less like a soft, squishy trainer and more like a great daily trainer that happens to carry a lot of stack. Team members have run marathons in it and used it for tempo work alike.

The update over the original is not dramatic, and it feels pretty similar underfoot. The biggest improvement is the upper, which is noticeably more comfortable, with better padding around the tongue and collar. The foam also feels a touch nicer and more forgiving than the previous version. If you can only pick one versatile max cushion trainer, this remains the benchmark.

Hoka Skyward X

The Skyward X arrived with surprisingly little fanfare, launching quietly after Hoka’s bigger releases, and it has quietly become one of the year’s favorites. It is a fun, easy-going cruiser that rewards high mileage, and one tester put more than 200 miles on a pair and loved every one of them. The ride stays comfortable across the full distance.

The main consideration is price. At $225, it sits at the top end of the market, and the early colorways were divisive. But if you want a shoe built for long, easy miles that never gets old, this is an easy recommendation for runners who log serious weekly volume.

New Balance More v5

The More v5 is what many would call the quintessential max cushion trainer: super soft, squishy, and plush, comfortable both for running and just walking around. At $155 and with no plate, it also made a best-of list as a genuinely great shoe regardless of price, which says a lot given how expensive this category has become. It is lighter than the Hoka Bondi, and the foam simply feels better, especially when you go back and compare.

Despite the tall stack, the heel actually sits down into the foam, which gives a surprisingly stable ride. One small caveat: the strip of material between the toes can cause irritation when worn with thick socks, so consider your sock choice carefully. Expect a video comparison with the More v4 as well, since many readers have asked.

On Cloud Eclipse

The Cloud Eclipse stands out as a favorite On trainer this year, and arguably the pick of On’s lineup for everyday miles. Think of it as the softer version of On’s pricier cushioned shoes, at $180 compared to models above $200. What keeps it from feeling mushy is a small piece of plastic in the sole, now called the speedboard, which gives the ride more structure than the softer Cloudsurfer.

That balance of softness and structure is what makes it work so well. It feels comfortable and forgiving without losing the sense that the shoe is doing something for you on every stride. For runners who found On’s earlier cushioned shoes too soft or shapeless, this is the one to try.

Puma MagMax

The MagMax is the shoe nobody saw coming. It showed up unannounced, and the first run was close to love at first stride. The upper is fairly basic, with a nice knit tongue, but the giant slab of nitrogen-infused Nitro foam underneath feels great. It has a 46mm heel stack with a 38mm forefoot, and a very wide midsole base that keeps the ride stable despite the height. The upper itself fits true to a standard width; only the midsole flares out.

Underfoot, it feels similar to the Super Blast 2, but it is heavier, so it is not quite as versatile. We would not reach for it over the Super Blast for faster tempo sessions, but it shines on long runs and steady efforts with marathon-pace segments mixed in. If your week is built around long, comfortable miles, the MagMax deserves a serious look.

Buying Advice

If versatility above all is the goal, the Super Blast 2 remains the safest and best pick. Big-mile runners with a bigger budget should look at the Skyward X. Value hunters get the most shoe per dollar from the More v5. On fans get the best of softness and structure in the Cloud Eclipse, and long-run specialists will love the MagMax’s stable, plush platform. Check availability carefully, as popular colorways of the Super Blast 2 sell out quickly.

Conclusion

This year’s max cushion field proves that soft no longer means slow or single-purpose. Whether you want an all-around favorite, a premium cruiser, an affordable plush trainer, a structured soft ride, or a stable long-run machine, one of these five will fit the way you actually run.