Best Max Cushion Running Shoes: Asics Gel Nimbus 25 vs New Balance Fresh Foam More v4

Introduction

Max cushion has gone from novelty to mainstream, and two shoes sit right at the top of the category right now: the Asics Gel Nimbus 25 and the New Balance Fresh Foam More v4. One is a fresh take on a 25-year-old franchise, the other is a max cushion shoe of the year winner. We also pulled out the original Hoka Clifton to show just how far the category has come.

Why Max Cushion Matters

It is worth remembering how radical plush used to be. When the original Hoka Clifton launched, there were essentially no shoes with more than about 10 millimeters of foam, and it looked like a giant moon marshmallow boot. Today, that same shoe reads as just average, because the category has moved so far forward.

Max cushion shoes are not built for speed work. They exist for easy days, recovery runs, and long hours on your feet, where the goal is keeping your legs and feet comfortable mile after mile.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v4

The More v4 was named max cushion shoe of the year for good reason. It is a plush, easy-day ride with 34 millimeters of stack in the heel and 30 millimeters in the forefoot. The Fresh Foam midsole is bouncy, responsive, and genuinely soft underfoot, and it kept feet comfortable through recovery runs and long city walks alike.

The main knock is fit and feel of the upper. The knit upper runs warm, and the tongue is only secured at the bottom, so it tends to slide around. The upper also runs wide with plenty of volume, which is a plus for wide feet but leaves narrow feet with excess room. It is not light either, at 11.7 ounces in a men’s size 10.5 and 8.9 ounces in a women’s 7.5, and it launched at $150. For a max cushion trainer, that weight is expected rather than a dealbreaker.

Asics Gel Nimbus 25

The Nimbus 25 is the 25th iteration, but this version moves the franchise squarely into max cushion territory. The stack is 41.5 millimeters in the heel and about 33.5 millimeters in the forefoot, roughly 20 percent more foam underfoot, with six extra millimeters added up front. The visible gel is gone, now hidden in the heel only, and the payoff shows at toe-off: instead of dying out at the front of the shoe, the ride stays lively through bottom-out under the forefoot fat pads.

The upper is a highlight. Where the More v4 leaves extra room, the Nimbus 25 knit upper is dialed in, and the tongue is one of the best around. Grip is solid too, with Asics light rubber in the forefoot and AHAR plus in the heel. It comes in at $160, so it is closely priced against the More v4.

A Nod to the Original Hoka Clifton

The original Clifton deserves mention because it started this conversation. At launch it looked outrageous, a towering chunk of foam at a time when nothing else came close. Worn today, it reads as an ordinary neutral trainer, which tells you everything about how quickly max cushion became the norm.

Which One Should You Buy?

Both midsoles are excellent, and neither Fresh Foam nor the Nimbus foam is clearly superior to the other. The practical differences come down to fit and silhouette. The More v4 looks and feels like an oversized comfort shoe, wide and cozy, and it suits wider feet beautifully. The Nimbus 25 keeps more of a traditional running shoe shape, fits closer through the upper, and comes in about an ounce lighter.

The honest answer is that you cannot go wrong with either. If you have a narrow foot and want a more secure upper, the Nimbus 25 edges ahead. If you want maximum cozy volume and a proven max cushion champion, the More v4 is still a phenomenal shoe. For some buyers it may simply come down to brand loyalty.

Conclusion

Max cushion has matured into a genuinely useful category, and the Gel Nimbus 25 and Fresh Foam More v4 represent its best. Match the fit to your foot, accept the weight as the price of comfort, and either shoe will carry your easy miles in style.