Max Cushion Daily Trainers Compared: ASICS Glideride Max, Brooks Ghost Max and Hoka Skyflow

Introduction

Max cushioned everyday running shoes are here to stay, and three of the most talked-about options in this space are the ASICS Glideride Max, the Brooks Ghost Max and the Hoka Skyflow. We spent time running and comparing all three, putting each on the scale and evaluating how they ride across paces. Here is how they stack up and who each shoe is really for.

ASICS Glideride Max: Max Cushion with a Plate

The Glideride Max is ASICS’s new attempt at a max cushion trainer, following the recently discontinued Glideride 3, a shoe known for its smooth rocker profile. This version is beefed up considerably: a tall stack above 40mm in the heel, a new dual-foam construction with FF Blast Max on the top layer and FF Blast Plus Eco underneath, plus a 3/4-length plate. ASICS markets it toward comfortable longer efforts.

Weight is where it surprises. On the scale it came in at around 302 grams per shoe, lighter than both comparison shoes despite carrying more foam and a plate. That is genuinely light for a max cushion shoe, where many true max stack options sit closer to 320 grams.

On the run, the ride is soft, bouncy and rockered, but the plate snap is noticeable, more than you might want for purely relaxed miles. At slower paces it can feel a touch mushy, a familiar trait for anyone who has run the Gel Nimbus 25. As you crank the pace up it gets more comfortable, making it a strong fit for steady miles, progression runs and long easy efforts. It is not a shoe that gives aggressive speed assistance, so expect more effort at faster paces compared with dedicated plated trainers.

At $170, the honest question is where it fits. It rides like a blend of the Gel Nimbus and the Superblast: a comfortable, versatile plated shoe that does not feel stiff or harsh. That is exactly what some runners want, but the people who would benefit most from it may not be the ones shopping for it.

Brooks Ghost Max: The Underrated Everyday Silhouette

The Brooks Ghost Max is a beefier take on the classic Ghost, and at 309 grams it is a touch heavier than the Glideride Max while sitting a bit lower with a wider platform. The midsole uses traditional EVA, which means it lacks the modern bouncy feel of newer super foams but delivers a smooth, protective, familiar ride.

This is one of the most underrated athletic shoe silhouettes of the 2020s. It excels as an everyday trainer and as a walking shoe, and the clean colorways make it easy to live with. If you want a comfortable, no-drama max cushion shoe that does not fight you at any pace, this is the safest pick of the three.

Hoka Skyflow: The Firm Workhorse of the Group

The Hoka Skyflow is a new name with no predecessor, but it sits somewhere near a beefier Clifton in spirit. At 39mm in the heel and 306 grams, it is a substantial shoe with a firmer feel underfoot than the other two here.

That firmness is the point. The Skyflow does not feel exciting when you first put it on, and it takes some time to get going, warming up at easy paces and feeling noticeably softer and more comfortable once you settle into regular running pace. But once it is rolling, the rocker, firmness and bounce give it a lively, connected feel that softer max cushion shoes lack. It has become a go-to daily trainer precisely because it is not overly tall and does not alter your stride the way some softer plated shoes do. It is a durable, workhorse character shoe you can pull for every day without hesitation.

Buying Advice: Rotating Beats Relying on One Shoe

A plate in a daily trainer raises a common question, and the sensible answer is rotation. Running in different types of shoes, with higher and lower drops, taller and shorter stacks, puts stress on different parts of the legs and can help with injury prevention.

If you run in a very soft or very tall shoe like the Glideride Max for a few months, follow it with something firmer like the Skyflow or a lighter, lower option before rotating back. Heavier or bigger runners who want a plated max cushion shoe are likely better served by sturdier options, while the Glideride Max suits efficient, higher-cadence or lighter runners looking for comfort with a bit of pep.

Conclusion

The Glideride Max is the most comfortable and versatile of the plated options and a genuinely interesting new experience, even if its role in the lineup is a little confusing. The Brooks Ghost Max remains the underrated comfort champion for everyday miles and walking. The Hoka Skyflow is the firm, durable daily workhorse that earns its spot through reliability rather than excitement. Match the shoe to your rotation and your preferences, and all three make sense in the right hands.