Ranked by cushioning first, grounded only in the running families actually in our catalog.
Who max cushion is for
Runners who want the softest possible landing: heavier runners, long-run days, achy knees, or anyone coming back from time off who wants maximum forgiveness underfoot. Trade-off to know: more cushion usually means a taller, slightly less nimble shoe. If you want ground feel and speed, this isn't your list.
The seven families, most cushion first
| # | Shoe | Cushion character | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hoka Bondi (7, L, LTR) | The marshmallow. Hoka's softest, tallest road ride. | Max comfort on easy miles; standing-all-day crossover |
| 2 | Brooks Glycerin 22 | Plush but composed — soft landing, smoother roll than the Bondi. | Runners who want soft without the wobble |
| 3 | ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 | Pillowy with a touch more bounce; ASICS' flagship cushion. | Long runs where legs get heavy late |
| 4 | R.A.D MALLOW | Plush cruiser on a stable base — 42mm of SwellFoam that lands soft without the wobble. | Easy miles and recovery days; max cushion with a steadier feel |
| 5 | Brooks Ghost Max 3 | Max-cushion take on the classic Ghost — protective, rockered. | Ghost lovers who want more underfoot |
| 6 | On Cloudmonster (1 & 2) | Big CloudTec pods; firmer and springier than the foam crowd. | Runners who want cushion with energy return |
| 7 | Hoka Clifton (8, 9) | Light for its cushion — the "daily trainer" pick of the list. | Everyday miles when max-stack feels like too much |
A note on generations: the catalog carries several generations of some families (Bondi 5–7, Clifton 4–9). Newer generations are the current ride; older ones are usually discounted — same DNA, earlier foam. Worth a look if the price is right.
Fit notes
- Wide feet: Hoka, Brooks, and ASICS all build wide (2E) versions of most of these. Filter by your width on the collection page — cushion doesn't help if the shoe squeezes.
- Orthotics: the Hoka, Brooks, ASICS, and On shoes on this list have removable insoles. If you wear custom orthotics, pull the stock insole first.
- Unisex pick: the MALLOW is unisex sizing and runs snug at the toes — for long runs, consider a half size up.
- Sizing: running shoes generally run a half size small vs. street shoes — your toes need room on downhills. When in doubt, size up.
The take
If you want the single softest ride we sell, it's the Bondi. If you want soft and a shoe that still feels like a runner, it's the Glycerin 22 or Gel-Nimbus 27. And if easy miles are the whole point, the MALLOW is the steady one — all the cushion, none of the wobble. Everything else here is a flavor of that same decision.