Best Long Distance Running Shoes | Marathon Shoes 2019 – Runner’s World

High-mileage runners ask a lot of their shoes. You need something soft enough to cushion unforgiving pavement, burly enough to take an hours-long pummeling, light enough to keep the word “slog” from darkening your thoughts—and durable enough that you don’t have to buy a new pair every two months. Typically, we find that more experienced and lightweight runners tend to prefer thinner, lighter shoes because they don’t require quite as much cushioning. First-time marathoners, on the other hand, appreciate the extra padding that a heavier trainer can deliver to help them get to the start line healthy.

How do you know which is right for you? We’ve devoted a lot of miles to finding shoes that strike just the right balance. We test hundreds of shoes each year, with a team of more than 300 runners, to find out how each model excels. The shoes here deliver protection from the pavement, but also feel sporty and perform well, so you can run longer and think about your feet less. Here are our top picks from shoes available now.

Adidas Ultraboost 19

Price: $180

Adidas’s Ultraboost was already a super-soft shoe. But this latest revamp pushes the limits of Boost foam, adding 20 percent more of the stuff to the shoe’s midsole without affecting overall weight. Adidas also revamped the upper, giving it a more sock-like fit and replacing its predecessor’s plastic midfoot saddle with a flexible mesh one that has more give to it. The shoe also has a grippy Continental rubber outsole with the durability to last for more long runs.

Asics Gel-Nimbus 21

A longtime favorite for its soft cushioning and long-distance durability, the Nimbus doesn’t undergo much of a “new year, new you” overhaul with its 21st iteration but maintains the elements that have made it such a perennial go-to. The shoe has an ultra-smooth and supportive ride with three layers of responsive cushioning protected by a high-abrasion rubber outsole. Some runners might find the forefoot much too narrow.

Brooks Glycerin 17

Price: $150

The Glycerin is built for long mileage and recovery runs, thanks to supremely soft, plush cushioning and an engineered mesh upper that’s so comfortable we tend to leave the shoe on long after the run is over. Lighter runners might prefer to reach for the more flexible, lightweight Ghost—but heavier runners and anyone looking for a stiffer ride will love the Glycerin’s blend of softness and durability.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 19

Price: $130

Stability shoe seekers will appreciate Brooks’s new approach with the latest Adrenaline. The shoe adds guide rails to “bumper” your foot into position, should you under- or overpronate. In the midsole, plenty of firm cushioning keeps your legs from getting beat up when you start to ramp up the mileage.

Hoka One One Clifton 5

Price: $130

The Clifton 5 continues to deliver on the four-word promise of the OG Clifton: maximum cushioning, minimum weight. To be fair, the shoe has gotten slightly heftier over the years with a less squishy midsole, but doesn’t trade out the attributes we love best about it, like a thick foam midsole and a supportive, breathable mesh upper. Reach for the 5 for long runs and recovery days—all that foam takes the edge off harsh pavement.

Mizuno Wave Rider 22

Price: $120

The latest version of the Wave Rider delivers the same responsive, do-it-all performance that’s made it a favorite for both long runs and speed workouts, with a little added height and softness in the heel. A full-length engineered mesh upper keeps your foot comfortable and in place—with plenty of room in the toe-box for foot splay. The plastic “Wave Plate” gives it a rigid feeling underfoot that provides a little snap at speed.

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v9

Price: $150

New Balance cranked up the Fresh Foam for the 1080 v9, adding a millimeter of softness underfoot to make the shoe more forgiving overall. A new molded mesh upper stretches to fit even wider feet without abandoning narrow-footed runners. Runners of all speeds and sizes in our test group thought the shoe provided a supportive, responsive ride.

Nike Air Zoom Vomero 14

Price: $140

The totally revamped Air Zoom Vomero 14 keeps all the cushioning that made its predecessor a recovery-day hero and overhauls the midsole to be more lively and responsive. The result is a shoe that holds up to heavier mileage with a caffeinated jolt of energy running underfoot. Our wear-testers reported that the heel collar on the redesigned upper was on the stiff side, though overall they gave the shoe high marks for cushioning and traction. The faster you run in it, the more responsive it feels.

Reebok Harmony Road 3

If you’re looking for one of the best cushioning-to-dollar ratios, check out this all-around performance shoe. Our testers liked the lightweight bounce and tall heel of the Harmony Road 3, which led to smooth heel-to-toe transitions. Lots of flexible rubber underfoot adds durability without compromising the ride. The new engineered mesh upper is roomy and breathable.

Saucony Guide ISO 2

Price: $120

The running shoe world is moving toward an all-neutral-shoe future, dropping features intended to stop overpronation. Runners anxious for the stability features of yore can find plenty of support in the Guide ISO 2, a shoe that upgrades old stability concepts like the medial post without feeling heavy or clunky. A firm, stiff everyday trainer with plenty of cushion, the shoe won over our test team with its durability and comfort.

Under Armour Hovr Infinite

Price: $120

This high-mileage, high-value shoe has some connected tech already built in—an embedded sensor in the midsole tracks your run data and shares it to Under Armour’s Map My Run app. Lots of Hovr foam in the midsole provides a thickly cushioned ride with stellar energy return. The workhorse upper is padded and comfortable without adding luxury materials to drive up the cost.

Saucony Ride ISO

Price: $120

Last year’s Ride 10 was a long-haul shoe that could carry you from the beginning of marathon training through race day. This year’s Ride (the brand’s 11th iteration) holds up that reputation and gets thicker, bouncier foam cushioning without adding weight, plus a customizable lacing system that helps the upper better grip your foot. The contoured top of the midsole makes the shoe feel as though it adapts to any sole, no matter the width or arch size. Our testers felt like it smoothed out their gaits, making for more comfortable training runs.

Brooks Ghost 11

A favorite among marathon veterans and new runners alike, this seven-time Editor’s Choice winner has a smooth, speedy ride and plenty of comfortable cushioning. This latest iteration has a revamped midsole that makes the shoe feel lighter, springier, and less bulky than past Ghosts—with a new structured mesh upper that gives your foot more wiggle room in the toe-box. We’re counting the 11 as another win for the Brooks line.

Nike Zoom Pegasus 35 Turbo

The newest Pegasus builds off the same springy ZoomX foam midsole as the Vaporfly 4% marathon racing shoe, so it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that the shoe feels fast and light. Yet it doesn’t lose the long-distance workhorse qualities of previous Pegasus iterations, cutting a nice balance between a race flat and a marathon trainer. The shoe is exceptionally soft in the heel, with plenty of cushion to keep you happy for miles on miles. A lightweight webbed rubber outsole gives you good grip on roads and smooth trails.