Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16
Weight: 10.0 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W)
Drop: 10 mm
In 2017, Nike launched the ZoomX Vaporfly 4% with cushioning that was not only lightweight and exceptionally soft but also insanely bouncy. Before that, those three characteristics were impossible to achieve in a single shoe. Around the same time, Reebok had just launched the FloatRide Run Fast, using the same base material for its foam: Pebax. At the time, I said every other company had to find a way to get this thermoplastic into their shoes—it’s just too good and makes running so much fun. Some added it to their pricey racing shoes, of course, while others looked for alternative compounds that delivered similar properties. One knock from runners was that ZoomX—Nike’s branding of its Pebax foam—wasn’t very durable: After only a couple hundred miles, visible creases formed and the shoe didn’t feel as bouncy.
Fast-forward to the Vomero 16, one of the first high-mileage training shoes that we’ve seen to leverage ZoomX. In this use, it rides better for the long haul. You still get all the protection and impact attenuation you’d expect from the Vomero, which is historically Nike’s premium, plush neutral trainer. However, the foam doesn’t feel as springy and lively as when it’s used in the Next% and Alphafly racing shoes. Perhaps that’s due in part to the Air bag under the forefoot and the thick slab of rubber running the full length of the sole. Nike “top-loaded” the Air unit, which you can feel on the first few strides in the shoe—only a thin sockliner separates you from that firm, responsive component. (Pull out the sockliner and you can see the horizontal bands of the Air unit under the Strobel.) The result, we found in testing, is that the back half of the shoe is really compliant—it’s smooth as silk when you heel strike and roll forward. Once you’re onto your forefoot, the platform firms up and, importantly, remains stable. I found it gives me confidence with each stride and helps me effortlessly flow through long runs.
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The aforementioned rubber may get overlooked, but it’s doing a lot of work. You’ll be hard-pressed to wear out the high-abrasion compound. Even after 100-plus miles, our testers said the outsole looks untouched. On an easy jog around town, I nearly face-planted when the waffle lugs under the forefoot latched onto the tiniest sidewalk crack and brought my foot to a standstill. Fortunately I stayed upright—and learned to watch where I stepped.
The top of the shoe is still as plush as it’s always been. The rolled heel collar—satiny fabric comes up from the inside of the shoe, goes over the top, and is stitched down on the outside of the upper to reduce the risk of irritation—is so heavily padded that your heel feels encapsulated and locked in place. And it has one of the most pillowy-soft tongues you’re going to find. Even with all that padding, testers unanimously loved how the shoe fits. “I like how much space the toebox has without compromising on the security of the heel and lacing,” said one woman tester who runs 50 miles per week at 7-minute pace. “I feel like the shape of the shoe cuts down on the potential for blisters because there’s enough space, but there’s no sliding around that could lead to irritation.” In short, the shoe swallows up your foot in a good way.—Jeff Dengate
Diadora Equipe Atomo
Weight: 9.0 oz (M), 6.9 oz (W)
Drop: 5 mm
“They’re beautiful, comfortable, and supportive,” one wear-tester reported. “What could be bad? They’re $200.”
Who am I to say how you should blow your money? But, as the prices of shoes have skyrocketed, there are a lot of great performance models hovering near or north of two Benjamins. The Atomo, though, was made in Italy, so there’s gotta be an up-charge for that alone. Price aside, the Atomo is a smooth trainer that performs generally well on dry roads. There’s nothing particularly exciting about it, really, but the sum of the parts works here. “They resemble the Hoka Clifton in terms of look and fit,” said one tester who runs for the Lafayette College track team. “But they don’t have as much cushioning.”
The midsole is an expanded EVA blended with a rubber-based polymer. Adding rubber can make a shoe heavy, so Diadora tweaked the mixture to deliver a light enough shoe that was still responsive and more durable than EVA alone. As their reps told me, they wanted the shoe to feel the same way at mile 400 as it did at mile 10. Our wear-testers had only enough time to put about 100 miles on the shoes before we began this review, so we’ll check back when they’ve thoroughly trashed their pairs to see how that claim checks out. But the early results are promising.“The midsole is big—like early Hoka big,” one tester wrote. “I expected a cushy ride, which wasn’t the case. By no means am I complaining about this surprise, as I actually prefer firmer shoes. I’d wear this shoe to run a half marathon.”
The upper is a standard engineered mesh, the kind that popped up around 2015—before then, stitching and overlays ruled the top half of shoes. Again, it’s nothing terribly exciting, but it gets the job done. Our testers were most impressed by the forefoot fit, especially one woman who has bunions that get abused in some of the models she tests; the Atomo never caused her problems. The shoe runs almost a half-size short, so if you’re on the fence, opt for the larger size.—J.D.
Nike React Infinity Run FK 3
Weight: 10.3 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W)
Drop: 9 mm
The new Infinity reminds me of when Nike first rolled out Flyknit and unleashed a boatload of wild designs. Our test samples, especially the men’s, look like they’re made from airport carpet or ’70s couch fabric. But once past the aesthetics, the praise began. “My legs were thoroughly shot when I tested this shoe, but they treated my sore legs well,” one tester reported after running 3:16 and 3:17 marathons just six weeks apart. “They’re comfortable but without the feeling of low energy return.”
That’s the magic of React foam. Nike has used the stuff in basketball shoes, too, because of its protective bounce—in both sports, you need the foam to dampen a lot of impact but also let you get back off the ground quickly. The tradeoff, generally, is added weight. There are lighter, bouncier, sexier foams on the market now, but there’s an undeniable comfort to a shoe that lets you turn on cruise control. It delivers the same sink-and-release sensation for hundreds of miles without compressing and packing out like lighter foams. The upper has been bolstered with a lightly padded lining around the heel and in the tongue. “I like the mixed knit materials,” said a tester. “It’s like a cozy blanket around my foot.”—J.D.
Asics Gel-Cumulus 24
Weight: 9.7 oz (M), 8.0 oz (W)
Drop: 8 mm
Ghost, Pegasus, Cumulus: These titans of training have been staples for so many runners for so long that they need only one name. And there’s a good reason: They work for most runners, most of the time. Shoes so widely loved tend to see minimal changes from year to year, simply because “why fix what isn’t broken?” But the Cumulus has really evolved in the last couple of years from the chunky, durable training shoe it had been. A decade ago, the Cumulus checked in at more than 12 ounces for a men’s 9. This lighter version is more lively and fun but still delivers that protective, everyday trainer feeling we’ve always loved. A big change for the Cumulus is that the heel-to-toe drop has been lowered to 8mm (it was 10mm). Asics says it made the change to give the shoe a smoother ride. In our wear-testing, we can’t definitively credit the drop for the shoe’s performance without separating out the other updates—a thicker midsole, new foam, and a change to the geometry of the sole.
Testers unanimously praised the shoe’s midsole for its bouncy, cushioned ride that delivers all the protection they need for long runs but doesn’t feel too soft. That sensation comes from the lighter, bouncier FlyteFoam Blast midsole, which has allowed Asics to alter its conventional construction techniques. Gone are all of the plastic midfoot bridges that the company used to embed in the soles. Because the foam is so much livelier and more responsive than EVA, the underfoot sensation and transition from heel strike to toe-off has improved without the extra elements.—J.D.
Topo Athletic Phantom 2
Weight: 10.3 oz (M), 8.5 oz (W)
Drop: 5 mm
Preserving the original’s traits, the new Phantom provides an accommodating fit with a generous amount of toe room. Some testers scoffed at the appearance of such a wide toebox but appreciated how its odd shape prevented black toenails and blisters. But the standout feature is the two-piece midsole, which provides firm cushioning and shock absorption—perfect for high mileage and runners with an aggressive cadence. “I found the cushioning to be top-notch from front to back,” said one tester who’s a self-described heel striker. “It was like running in a soft moccasin that held your foot secure without any unwanted motion.”
The Phantom’s coziness puts it in the same class as the Brooks Glycerin and Altra Paradigm. Throw in some stability features—an external TPU heel counter, wider platform, and secure lacing system—and you have a well-rounded trainer that locks in your foot and guards against ankle rolling. One small ding: It’s really warm. The thick upper can make the shoe a furnace on hot days, and it became “pretty sloshy,” in the words of one tester, after a rainy run.—Amanda Furrer
Hoka Kawana
Weight: 10.3 oz (M), 8.8 oz (W)
Drop: 5 mm
Named after Australia’s halcyon beaches (white sands, tumbling waves), the Kawana takes inspiration from another Hoka shoe named for shores Down Under, the Bondi. That maximally cushioned classic had a revival earlier this year after getting the carbon-fiber-plate treatment. But the Kawana runs more like the Mach 4, another Hoka the RW staff fell hard for in 2021. (We awarded it Gear of the Year.) Like the Mach, the Kawana has an early-stage rocker sole, making your turnover ebb and flow like the beach’s rolling surf. The split heel absorbs shock and makes light heel strikes feel fluid. Some testers described the shoe as too clunky for speedwork but were fans of its abundant cushioning. “I liked the support this shoe gave me and how it made running on roads feel effortless,” said a tester.
The midsole is just compression-molded EVA, which doesn’t seem terribly exciting in 2022. But it gives the shoe plenty of cushioning while still feeling relatively firm underfoot. Testers were mixed on the traction, with one saying it was the Kawana’s best feature. Jeff Dengate, on the other hand, found the outsole slippery on wet pavement. Be especially cautious of painted stripes: His daughter wiped out during a rainy road 5K in December.—A.F.
Saucony Axon 2
Weight: 9.6 oz (M), 8.5 oz (W)
Drop: 4 mm
We test hundreds of shoes every year but can’t possibly get to every single model. One that didn’t make it through our lab last year was the debut Axon. So I was both delighted and puzzled to test the second version. This bargain buy—truly, how is this shoe only $100?—looks and feels maximally cushioned, but it’s shockingly lightweight and compels you to stride for race pace. The thick Pwrrun midsole has plenty of bounce, while a slightly curved profile (think Saucony’s cambered Speedroll design, minus the carbon-fiber plate) smooths transitions onto the forefoot during turnover. That combination explains why the shoe’s low 4mm offset goes unnoticed midrun.
“While there is not a ‘perfect’ shoe, the Axon 2 comes darn close for me,” said a tester who also ran in New Balance’s $100 FuelCell Propel v3 and found the midsole a bit too firm for concrete sidewalks. “The Axon had the perfect amount of bounce and cushioning on a variety of surfaces.” He ran along Florida’s soft, sandy coastline—“like running in thick baby powder”—to test the shoe’s stability. The Axon passed this test with aplomb. Best of all: This budget shoe has proven remarkably durable in our testing. “Its durability reminds me of Asics’s GT series,” said one tester who wears a women’s size 11. “I’ve run over 200 miles and there is barely any wear on them.”—A.F.
Skechers GOrun Maxroad 5
Weight: 8.7 oz (M), 6.6 oz (W)
Drop: 6 mm
Skechers GOrun Maxroad 5
Skechers continually iterates on its performance running shoes, rolling out high-tech materials to its entire lineup after they’ve been proven on lighter, speedier models worn by its elite stable of runners like Meb and King Ches. We’ve seen its HyperBurst foam adopted widely, but another innovation is making its way across the line: an H-shaped carbon-infused plate. Embedded in this thick sole, it makes the long-run shoe more stable and lively. At easy paces, it supports the forefoot by stiffening the platform; at faster paces, it lends a subtle pop on toe-off.
One wear-tester, an overpronator who runs 45 miles a week at around 7:45 pace and previously gave the Razor Excess high marks for cushioning, praised the cushier Maxroad. “This shoe supports me in the right areas, puts a spring in my step for speed workouts, and maintains its bounce through my long runs,” she said. Along with several other testers, she was also surprised by how light the shoe felt. Some weight savings comes from Goodyear pods on the outsole, instead of a full-length sheet of rubber. But mostly, it’s the magic—or rather, the science—of HyperBurst foam. It’s made from a supercritical process that yields a lightweight, bouncy foam that’s more resilient than standard EVA. The softness is less affected, though; HyperBurst is forgiving but not especially plush. Given the Maxroad’s stack height, that’s a good thing. A super-squishy midsole this thick could otherwise feel like sinking into a beanbag chair. That’s not the case here.
This chemically complex midsole meets a downright simple upper. The collar is smooth and soft with generous padding to hold the heel snugly, and the upper mesh stretches readily with light 3D-printed overlays for support. Testers, especially those with wider feet, agreed that the less-is-more approach works.—Morgan Petruny
Cole Haan ZeroGrand Outpace 2
Weight: 11.4 oz (M), 8.7 oz (W)
Drop: 8 mm
Cole Haan ZeroGrand Outpace 2
“Cole Haan—yes, that Cole Haan—made running shoes! And they’re...great?” mused Andrew Daniels, director of content for Runner’s World+.“These shoes are the surprise of the year for me. The fit is nice and wide; the soft and supportive midsoles feel just as good on a run as they do while working at my standing desk all day.” Other testers agreed with Andrew, giving high marks for comfort and cushioning, though the feedback on its ride was mixed.
Cole Haan launched the first Outpace last year as a shoe that let style-minded runners grab a single pair of shoes to carry them through the workday and into a run. The same idea continues in this second version. In some areas, the emphasis still felt more on fashion than on function. However, it works for runners like Andrew who dig good-looking, versatile kicks with support for their easy-paced runs up to six miles. The midsole is fairly stiff; a tester of smaller stature said it felt akin to “running in clogs or dress shoes.” Other than a shallow concave spine in the midsole, there aren’t significant flex grooves to let the shoe bend readily. It feels supportive while walking and standing but gives the shoe a choppy ride.
“On longer runs, the shoe was too soft for me,” said another tester, who calls herself an extreme heel-striker. “I felt like I was sinking into a foam pit instead of getting good spring back.” Andrew Daniels, by comparison, is an extreme forefoot-striker; his heels never touch the ground, so he had an entirely different experience.—M.P.
Saucony Ride 15
Weight: 8.6 oz (M), 7.2 oz (W)
Drop: 8 mm
The Saucony Ride falls within the same category as the Brooks Ghost and Nike Pegasus: a workhorse of a trainer with moderate cushioning, able to tackle everyday efforts and well suited for a high percentage of new runners. Though not as plush as Saucony’s Triumph, it has a reformulated Pwrrun midsole that’s thicker—18 percent more foam underfoot—than the last version. “The best part of this shoe for me was the incredible cushioning,” said a tester. “I can wear these for a long run and keep them on all day afterward, and my legs never feel tired or sore.” Some testers, especially larger runners and forefoot strikers, wanted more cushioning in the front half of the shoe.
Despite all that foam, the shoe rides smoother and weighs less. To help the Ride cruise comfortably, Saucony turned up the back edge of the sole, giving it a more pronounced bevel. That helps to prevent any slapping when you land on the back edge of your foot. “Even though I would describe it as being on the softer side, the shoe was responsive and propelled me forward with each step,” said a tester. And the lively performance is boosted by nearly an ounce of weight savings compared to version 14, thanks to the sculpted sole shape and strategically placed rubber that’s used sparingly. Minor upper changes include a downy-soft diamond pull tab on the tongue and ghillies to prevent lace bite. Word to the wise: The ghillies do their job well, so if you’re an aggressive knotter, be wary of tightening your shoes like a corset.—A.F.
Asics Gel-Nimbus Lite 3
Weight: 9.2 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W)
Drop: 10 mm (M), 13 mm (W)
The Nimbus is the upgraded sibling to the Cumulus and has been a standard-bearer for comfort for more than two decades. While we’ve always loved the plush comfort for easy recovery runs, it was heavy and overbuilt—at least by today’s standards. That base model, like the Cumulus reviewed in this issue, has undergone a lot of changes to strip back some of the bulk, but if you want an even more uptempo version, look to the “Lite” model.
Of course, you can’t have a Gel-Nimbus without the gel. The Lite still packs some in the heel and forefoot, but you don’t see it poking out. And it keeps a surprising amount of rubber underfoot, which boosts durability. Those two elements can quickly weigh a shoe down but haven’t impacted the sensation of the Lite 3. The shoe isn’t overly soft, however. If you really want that plush sensation, look at the standard Nimbus. But the livelier ride here comes from FlyteFoam, which is lighter than traditional EVA. Asics does this by putting more gas into the foam, which results in thinner cell walls of the trapped air bubbles. That typically means far less durability, but Asics bolsters the material with nanofibers (that come out of sugarcane processing) to help the cells hold their shape.
As with all Asics shoes, the soles of men’s and women’s versions are set up differently. The women’s version has a thicker heel and steeper, 13mm heel-to-toe drop, which eases strain on the Achilles.—J.D.
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Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
Jeff is Runner-in-Chief for Runner's World, guiding the brand's shoes and gear coverage. A true shoe dog, he's spent more than a decade testing and reviewing shoes. In 2017, he ran in 285 different pairs of shoes, including a streak of 257 days wearing a different model.
