Saucony Hurricane 24 vs the Max Cushion Competition: Four Comfort-First Trainers Compared

Introduction

Max cushion trainers have quietly become the most crowded and most interesting corner of the running shoe market. The idea is simple: a tall stack of soft foam, a wide stable base, and a ride that makes easy miles feel genuinely pleasant. This roundup compares four of the strongest options in the category right now: the Saucony Hurricane 24, the New Balance More v5, the Brooks Ghost Max 2, and the Saucony Guide 17. One of them might be the most comfortable shoe of the year. Let’s break down where each one shines and where it falls short.

Why Max Cushion Trainers Are Having a Moment

The line between neutral and stability shoes is blurring. Several modern neutral trainers now wrap their foam up the sidewalls more than traditional stability shoes do, which means the old categories matter less than the actual ride. What counts is how the shoe is designed and how it runs underfoot.

The new Saucony Hurricane 24 is a direct response to this shift. Saucony has positioned it as a modern take on max cushion with stability elements, aimed at a market segment that had been stagnant for a while. It stacks a layer of race foam on top of a firmer training foam frame, all wrapped in a wide, protective chassis.

Saucony Hurricane 24

The Hurricane 24 might be the most comfortable running shoe tested this year. The step-in feel is exceptional, the ride is soft, bouncy, and smooth, and the 6 mm drop keeps the geometry modern rather than old-school. It weighs around 340 grams, which is heavy, but that weight buys a dense, protective midsole with a wide stable base.

The midsole uses a dual-foam approach: a thick top layer of Saucony’s PowerRun PB foam sits above a thin firmer training-foam frame. This version of the foam feels noticeably softer and bouncier than in some other Saucony models, and the firmer frame underneath keeps it from bottoming out. After a 12-mile test run in the rain, the forefoot held its shape well.

There are real downsides. The toe box runs narrow, which caused some rubbing for wider feet early on, though the upper does break in somewhat. Outsole grip is a clear weak point: it is below average in wet conditions and noticeably behind what some other brands offer. And at $160, it is a premium pick for a heavy trainer.

Who it suits: bigger runners who need support, anyone who wants a fun soft ride for recovery runs and relaxed mileage, and people who want a shoe that looks good for casual wear too. It is not a speed shoe, and the weight makes it a questionable choice for long-run-only or interval sessions.

New Balance More v5

The New Balance More v5 is one of the softest shoes in this comparison. Fresh Foam X in a tall stack, measuring above 40 mm, gives it a squishy, sink-in ride that keeps drawing you back for more easy miles. It is also one of the widest shoes in the category, with foam wrapped up the sidewalls and no significant taper through the midfoot, which delivers a very stable platform.

At roughly 339 grams, it sits among the heaviest shoes of the year, but that has not stopped it from being a favorite. The combination of softness, width, and stability makes it a genuine rival to the Hurricane 24, and a head-to-head between the two would be worth watching closely.

Brooks Ghost Max 2

The Brooks Ghost Max 2 takes a different path through the category. Rather than going as soft as possible, it offers a firmer, more structured ride with a nice bounce. The colorway tested was a clean all-white design, which is eye-catching even if it demands careful laundry decisions.

It weighs around 330 grams, so it is also in the heavyweight class, but the protection and structure justify it. This is the crowd-pleasing middle ground of the group: cushioned enough to be comfortable, firm enough to feel controlled and robust on foot.

Saucony Guide 17

The Saucony Guide 17 is the value option and the Hurricane’s direct sibling. At $140 and around 300 grams, it is lighter, firmer, and lower to the ground, built on traditional EVA foam with strong stability elements that cradle the foot and hold it in place. The Guide 17 also features one of the best training uppers of the year: lightweight, comfortable, and free of the narrowness issues that affect the Hurricane.

The rolling geometry gives it a smooth, stable, streamlined feel. If you like a simple, firmer ride without the bulk of max cushion, the Guide 17 is a solid workhorse. The main trade-off is comfort and excitement: compared side by side with the Hurricane 24 for $20 more, it feels stiff and dull by comparison. Rubber coverage on the outsole is also on the lighter side, with exposed foam showing wear after roughly 14 miles of testing.

Overall Buying Advice

If maximum comfort is the goal, the Hurricane 24 and More v5 are the two standouts, and both would be near the top of any best max cushion list this year. The Hurricane 24 is bouncier with a more modern dual-foam construction and a 6 mm drop; the More v5 is squishier and wider with an ultra-soft feel. The Ghost Max 2 is the pick if you want cushion with more structure and bounce rather than a sink-in ride. The Guide 17 remains the smart budget route for a stable, lighter daily trainer.

A word on weight: all of these shoes are heavy, and that is not a bad thing. Denser foam means more protection, and the tall rocker geometries and responsive foams in this category mean you are not limited to slow paces. Heavier runners in particular tend to love shoes in this class.

Conclusion

The Saucony Hurricane 24 is the headline pick of this group: a comfort-first banger that earns its $160 price with a superb dual-foam ride, a wide stable base, and one of the best colorways of the year, provided you can live with a narrow toe box and below-average grip. The New Balance More v5 matches it on softness and adds width. The Brooks Ghost Max 2 covers the structured middle ground, and the Guide 17 keeps things simple and stable at a friendlier price. Match the shoe to how you actually run, and any of these can anchor a comfortable, easy-mile-heavy rotation.