Designing My Own Shoes

Design Your Own Shoes - Freaky Shoes

With the wave of new midsole foams, we’ve discovered that cush is king—even on race day. Skechers has been working with one of those new formulations, which it calls Hyperburst, with wonderful success. For its previous top-of-the-line racer, the Speed Elite, it used a moderate amount of foam that, in the end, just proved to be too little for going long distances on pavement. It was too much like a traditional racing flat. Enter the Speed Freek, which is basically the same shoe but with a considerably thicker pad of Hyperburst on the bottom. That extra cushion costs you another $10 and tacks on an ounce of weight. But it makes a huge difference in how far you can run at top speed. Unlike the Speed Elite that we only really employ for 5K or, maybe, 10K road races, the Speed Freek is easily capable of going a full marathon. Embedded within the forefoot are carbon-fiber winglets, Skechers’s approach to rigidity. Rather than using a thin full-length plate, it opted to stiffen up only the front half of the shoe, and only at the edges. The banana-shaped pieces give the shoe incredible snap when you’re running at a hard effort, yet allow the forefoot to feel more compliant and flexible as you roll from your midfoot onto your toes.

Saucony is one of the original running shoe makers, but it first gained wide appeal with runners in the ’80s and ’90s with innovative shoes like the Jazz, DXN, Shadow, and Grid. The Jazz garnered a following for its lightweight design, and it introduced a popular new technology, the MaxiTrac lugged outsole. In 1983, Saucony collaborated with New York City Marathon winner Rod Dixon to create the DXN, a high-performance model that was based on the Jazz but offered a lighter mesh upper and a bit more cushioning.

In the fall of 2019, Saucony debuted its Pwrrun+ cushioning in the Triumph 17. This TPU-based bead foam (Adidas Boost has similar chemistry) is 28 percent lighter than the brand’s previous EVA-based Everun foam. In our testing, we found Pwrrun+ much bouncier, more durable, more flexible, and more consistent across temperatures than standard EVA. The foam’s newest and lightest iteration is Pwrrun PB, which uses compressed Pebax beads in an internal lattice structure for a propulsive, springy ride.

To recommend the shoes below, we pored over Saucony’s deep lineup and newest releases, consulted feedback from our team of 350 wear-testers, and spoke with the brand’s designers. We also analyze data from the RW Shoe Lab, where we’ve run a gamut of mechanical tests. That includes checking (and re-checking) the energy return of Pwrrun foam, measuring the changes in midsole softness among several iterations of the Kinvara, and gauging the flexibility of TPU outsole rubbers and support frames. We also use our own running experience and knowledge of the market to parse out these nine best Saucony shoes.

The Triumph is Saucony’s ultra-plush offering. It achieves its soft underfoot feel thanks to a generous layer of Pwrrun+ cushioning in the midsole topped by another cushioning layer. Saucony designed the Formfit upper to closely wrap the foot for a snug fit, and the new mono-mesh material is engineered for optimal breathability and reduced weight. A carbon rubber outsole rounds out the shoe and offers good durability and traction. Overall, it’s a great trainer for runners who like a pillowy sensation under their feet.

The Endorphin Pro began as a prototype shoe that helped Saucony pro runner Jared Ward nab sixth place at the New York City Marathon in 2018—making him the fastest American athlete in the race that year. Later, Molly Seidel wore a pair of Pros to capture second place in the 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon. The Endorphin Pro 2 is the newer version of Saucony’s elite go-fast model. The combination of Pebax-based Pwrrun PB foam and a carbon fiber plate creates a cushioned, propulsive ride. Then there’s SpeedRoll tech, which combines a cambered sole profile, an 8mm drop, and a dense, firm foam in the forefoot to help you roll forward in your stride and get maximum power at toe-off. Put simply, this is the shoe you want for busting out a PR.

The Kinvara is a great training shoe for runners who like to push the pace, and Saucony has been leaning into the shoe’s speedy reputation in recent iterations. The 13th version continues the trend. The shoe’s Pwrrun cushioning creates a firm base for toe-offs, and a redesigned midsole shape encourages a smooth stride. The upper is completely new and made from a single layer of mesh for improved airflow and a glove-like fit. On the bottom, Saucony’s XT-900 carbon rubber outsole should hold up well through high mileage.

The Endorphin Speed is the mid-tier training shoe that complements Saucony’s Endorphin Pro racer. Don’t let the Speed’s lower price tag fool you: This is a highly capable shoe that excels at speedwork and distance runs, too. It features the same responsive Pwrrun PB cushioning as the Pro, but instead of a carbon-fiber plate, the Speed gets a nylon midsole plate that adds a snappy feel while increasing flexibility. The SpeedRoll design promotes smooth transitions, and the Formfit upper creates a snug, breathable fit. Comfortable and fast, the shoe is a great racing pick for everyday runners, and it’s versatile enough to handle just about any workout regimen, no matter the distance involved.

The Guide is similar to Saucony’s Ride, but it’s tuned to offer a bit more stability. Like the previous version, it uses a Pwrrun midsole, but the cushioning in the 15th iteration has been tweaked for a softer, more forgiving feel. (Fair warning, it still feels firmer than the plush Hurricane.) Inside the midsole, a new, lightweight “Hollow Tech” guidance frame helps counter overpronation and support your feet, and a new midsole shape promotes a smooth stride (and helps you pick up the pace). “It’s the Guide’s rocker-like sole and flexible midfoot that urge you to power through, encouraging fast turnover,” RW Test Editor Amanda Furrer says.

In its fourth version, the Freedom has morphed into a do-it-all shoe capable of taking on everything from running workouts to gym sessions. Its revamped midsole features race-ready Pwrrun PB cushioning for a responsive and lightweight feel, and Saucony widened the sole slightly to provide more stability for lateral movements. The Formfit upper offers a comfortable wrap around the foot, and its engineered mesh will keep you cool when you crank up the intensity.

Although the Peregrine excels at going fast and powering through mud, it’s a very well-rounded trail shoe (and one of the best of 2022). “It’s just as suited for newbies’ first footprints on a muddy trail as it is for shielding vert-chasers’ toes on rock-strewn singletrack,” RW Test Editor Morgan Petruny says. The biggest change: It’s over an ounce lighter than the previous version. A new, pared-down upper offers dependable protection with less weight, and the bouncy Pwrrun+ foam has been moved to the sockliner only. The midsole utilizes regular Pwrrun foam, but a new, more flexible rock plate creates a smooth ride, and the burly lugged outsole delivers dependable grip across terrain types.

Saucony promises “more foam, less weight” in the newest version of the Ride, the brand’s workhorse training shoe. It still utilizes an EVA-based Pwrrun midsole, but Saucony tweaked the chemistry to make the material lighter and softer, and it’s paired with a Pwrrun+ sockliner for a plusher feel. The redesigned sole now offers more flexibility in the forefoot, it features a new shape for a smoother stride, and the footbed sits deeper in the shoe, which helps cradle your foot for a supportive, snug fit.

Comfort is king. In fact, some research even shows that when you choose a shoe simply because it’s comfortable, you may be less likely to get injured. So to guide you on your sole searching, we’ve highlighted the models that offer a “made-for-me” sensation. Each shoe we recommend here was ranked on overall performance and also earned especially high scores from our testers in three specific categories: fit, cushioning, and—of course—comfort.

An ideal trainer for runners who need more support, the Hurricane delivers as a stability shoe that doesn’t feel overly stiff and uncomfortable. Like its predecessor, the 23rd version has a generously cushioned Pwrrun+ midsole—for a plush feel without sacrificing responsiveness—and an embedded “support frame” (otherwise known as a medial post) that counters overpronation as you run. Although the Hurricane isn’t especially lightweight, its slightly rockered platform helps keep transitions smooth and quick during long training runs when you want to protect your legs.

Create A Shoe

The Expert: I used my own experience as a 14-time marathoner and longtime running shoe reviewer, as well as that of Runner’s World’s deputy editor, Jeff Dengate, one of the running industry’s leading experts. I also checked in with test editor Amanda Furrer, another authority on running shoes and gear. Both Dengate and Furrer test hundreds of new running shoes every year and have access to the Runner’s World shoe test data, a pool of feedback from dozens of thoughtful local runners willing to test-run new running shoes. You can read more about the process we used to evaluate these shoes below.

More foam doesn’t always mean a marshmallowy ride; however, many of the shoes here feature a generous midsole that provides plenty of cushion between your foot and the ground. You can also expect a pillowy landing from most of these models, due to lots of lightweight, protective EVA foam. For example, the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11 almost guarantees a comfortable footstrike, with a thick heel that’s one of the softest we’ve seen.

Even for runners who don’t have wide feet, a roomier forefoot gives toes plenty of space to splay naturally and helps prevent blisters and crowding. Altra’s signature foot-shaped toebox is one of the best examples of the added comfort benefits of a more generous forefoot; we also found the latest Saucony Triumph provided a more spacious fit.

We love those added details that make an upper more comfortable for the long haul. Daily trainers like the Saucony Triumph have extra padding around the tongue and heel for serious softness, while Brooks’s Glycerin has a bootie-like fit that hugs your foot with a mesh upper and plush interior lining. Shoes made from engineered mesh and open-weave knits provide better stretch and airflow to keep sweaty feet cool and ventilated.

Runner’s World works with more than 350 local runners of all abilities, ages, and sizes, for real-world wear-testing on paved roads, dirt paths, and rocky singletrack trails. After a month of running more than 100 miles in their pair of shoes, our testers report back their findings on features like fit, comfort, performance, and ride. While our testers are putting miles in, the same models undergo a battery of mechanical tests in our shoe lab to objectively measure the cushioning, flexibility, sole thickness, and weight of each. Our test editors combine their own experience with data from the lab and feedback from our wear testers to create reliable, useful reviews of every shoe we test. We were scrupulous in forming these recommendations of the most comfortable running shoes for every type of runner.

The Mach 4 is incredibly lightweight and has knocked the cushy, race-ready Rincon off its mantle. “It’s the best Mach yet, and perhaps the best current Hoka,” said RW deputy editor, Jeff Dengate. The updated design is modeled after the brand’s fastest shoes, the Carbon X and Rocket X. ProFly foam promotes high rebound, while the early-stage Meta-Rocker (a slightly curved sole) presses you on to catapult forward. The upgraded upper hugs your foot more securely so you won’t run out of these explosive Machs.

The Paradigm is Altra’s cushiest trainer to date, with a thick slab of firm cushioning at the midsole that makes it well suited to both easy recovery runs and everyday workouts. It’s an ideal shoe for runners who like the maximum padding of the Hoka Clifton but with a little more energy return and stability underfoot, as well as a zero-drop platform. Our testers found it to be more versatile than expected for a shoe with a 33mm-high stack. “Though I first thought the Paradigm was going to be too bulky, I even used it for speedwork,” said one. Altra-sponsored runner Kara Goucher apparently agrees—she says she wears the comfy shoe for 70 percent of her workouts.