Eight Running Shoes Worth a Look: New Balance, ASICS and Salomon Lineup Roundup

Introduction

This roundup pulls together eight shoes from three brands that keep showing up in conversations about daily mileage, recovery runs, tempo work and trail days. New Balance contributes a trio that covers easy days, long runs and affordable tempo work. ASICS brings two popular cushioning-first trainers. Salomon rounds out the group with three road and trail options that share a noticeably softer foam direction than the brand was known for.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v4

The Fresh Foam More v4 is best understood as a simple, easy-day shoe. It is not poppy or snappy, and it does not pretend to be a speed trainer. What it does successfully is act as a recovery shoe: soft, unpretentious and comfortable for the slowest days of the week. Some runners find every aspect of it deliberately understated, and that is precisely the point of the shoe.

If your rotation already has a fast day shoe, the More v4 fills the other end of the spectrum without fuss. It is the kind of shoe that quietly does its job while you save your energy for the sessions that matter.

New Balance SuperComp Trainer

The SuperComp Trainer exists partly because of the gap the More v4 leaves. It keeps a very tall stack height and a very soft ride, but it adds more pep underfoot. That combination makes it usable for easy days when you want a touch more bounce, though it would not be the first pick for that role. Where it really earns its place is as a long-run shoe: plenty of cushion for the distance, with enough response to keep the pace honest.

New Balance Propel v4

The Propel v4 stands out as a very affordable option with a TPU plate in the midsole, and it keeps coming up in discussions as a shoe that is likely to work on many people’s feet going forward. For runners doing tempo-pace work, especially heel strikers who want some extra structure and response without a premium price, it is an easy recommendation. It sits closer to the ground than the big-cushion shoes above, which suits faster sessions.

ASICS Nimbus 25

The Nimbus 25 is the shoe to reach for when heel cushioning is the priority. For heavier runners, habitual heel strikers, or anyone who has irritated their heel on harder midsoles, the Nimbus 25 offers the kind of plush, protective ride that makes easy running comfortable again. It is also one of the first suggestions for runners who describe themselves as needing more cushion under the heel than a standard trainer provides.

Pair it with a snappier shoe for tempo days and you have a sensible two-shoe rotation: Nimbus for the easy majority of your mileage, something livelier for the quick stuff.

ASICS Novablast

The Novablast has earned loyal fans among runners who want a breathable shoe with good cushioning that still moves well at tempo pace. One runner credits it with solving a persistent heel injury, which says a lot about how well the platform protects at footstrike. It is cushioned enough for daily training but light enough that 3K tempo efforts do not feel like a slog.

Salomon Aero Volt

The Aero Volt is Salomon’s road running shoe, and the headline here is the foam: Salomon is clearly softening up its midsoles, and the Aero Volt benefits from that shift. It arrives with a bold colorway and a ride that feels more approachable than the brand’s historically firmer road shoes. For runners curious about Salomon but hesitant about firm road feel, this is the natural entry point.

Salomon Sense Ride 5

The Sense Ride lineup has never been a favorite in the trail category, but the Sense Ride 5 changes the conversation. The shoe feels noticeably better underfoot than its predecessors, and the softer foam direction Salomon is taking with its road shoes carries over here. It is a genuine turnaround for a series that previously lagged behind the best trail options.

Salomon Glide Max TR

The Glide Max TR might be the most eye-catching of the three Salomon arrivals, with an aquamarine colorway that is hard to miss. As a trail shoe it leans into cushioning, making it a strong candidate for easy trail miles and longer days on smoother terrain. It joins the Sense Ride 5 as part of a refreshed Salomon trail approach that will be put through its paces over coming weeks.

Overall Buying Advice

If you are building a rotation, a sensible structure looks like this: a plush recovery or easy-day shoe (Fresh Foam More v4 or Nimbus 25), a long-run cushioning shoe with a bit of bounce (SuperComp Trainer or Glide Max TR for trail), and an affordable tempo option (Propel v4 or Novablast). For heel strikers and heavier runners who need protection up front, the Nimbus 25 and Novablast are the safest ASICS picks. Salomon’s softened foams make the Aero Volt a reasonable road option and the Sense Ride 5 a trail shoe worth reconsidering.

Conclusion

Eight shoes, three brands, and a clear theme: cushioning is getting softer and more versatile across the board. Whether you need a dedicated recovery shoe, a long-run workhorse, a budget tempo trainer or a trail shoe that finally feels right, this lineup has a credible answer for each role.