I’ve Tested Hundreds of Running Shoes - These Are The Most Comfortable in Every Category (2026)

Spending a load of money on a new pair of shoes only to find out they're rubbing, giving you blisters and really uncomfortable is so frustrating. We've been testing so many shoes here on the channel and always on a mission to find the most comfortable options out there to make you a very happy runner. Whether you're a beginner runner looking for one really good shoe or building out a full shoe rotation, there's going to be something in this video for you. Daily shoes, long run shoes, race day shoes and I've even got a few wild cards in at the end of the video so make sure you stay tuned for those. As with every video we make here on the channel, all of these shoes have been bought 100% with my own money and tested out by me as well. This couldn't be done without the support of all of you guys, liking these videos, commenting down below, sharing them with your friends and also checking out my website benparks.com. You get some amazing running socks to go with all of these comfortable shoes as well. Feel free to use code YOUTUBE10 for 10% off your order. Right let's move on to kick things off with the comfiest race day shoes. A lot of race shoes these days are either too aggressive for anyone outside the front of the pack or they're so stripped back that rubbing and blisters are going to become a real issue. We've got two really good options here that are comfortable and of course pretty fast too. The first one being the amazing Nike Zoomfly version 6. This shoe sent me back around about 155 pounds, 42 mil stack with an 8 mil drop over all. 322 grams for me in my size. Midsole wise we've got Nike's ZoomX foam over an EVA layer with a carbon plate in there as well. And the sizing was all good true to size for me and there's no wide option. What I really like about the Zoomfly version 6, the very smooth and a bouncy ride without being overly aggressive. The ZoomX and that EVA combo with that plate propels you forward with every stride. A really good shoe not only for racing in, but those long run sessions as well in your speed sessions during the week. Really good value with this one. A premium foam and you're getting that carbon plate in there as well. It's giving you some really good bang for your buck. Plus a really durable option that's going to last. So very good pounds per mile. And then my third like it's a very accommodating shoe for any wider footed runners out there. Nice amount of padding around the back and the heel. A great lockdown and secure fit. And a couple of things to be aware of with the Zoomfly 6. It is a very clunky shoe if you're going to be walking around. Definitely not a walking shoe. This is very much a running shoe only. And it's also a little bit on the heavier side as these type of shoes go. So if you do want something a little bit lighter and faster as well. Then have a look at the next shoe on the list. Which is the Hoka Rocket X version 3. The Hoka Rocket X 3 comes in at £220. 40mm stack at the back. 7mm drop over all. Really nice and lightweight for me at 241 grams. You've got a dual density Peeba here. With a winged carbon plate running through the shoe. True to size but unfortunately no wide option. What I really like about the Hoka shoe. The fit and the comfort are a massive improvement over the previous version of this shoe. Much more padding around the heel. And the foot sits down into the foam. And gives a really nice secure and supported feel. My second like with this one. Definitely one of the most stable super shoes on the market right now. Really good for runners that normally need a stability shoe in their training. And also a really good option no matter how you strike the ground. At the back of the shoe. The middle of the shoe. Or the front of the shoe. It's going to give you a really nice smooth ride. And that leads me on to my third like here. That very smooth but also fast ride as well. It's not overly aggressive. A really great choice for any three to five hour marathon runners. Who want a race day shoe they can actually enjoy running in. And then a couple of dislikes and observations here. Unfortunately at £220. This is of course a pretty premium price point with the Hoka. But you can usually find it around about £180. Which is going to make this shoe a lot more reasonable. So make sure you do some searching around. So choose that Zoomfly if you want a nice versatile shoe for training and racing. At a really good price point. Or choose the Rocket X if you want that lighter faster option for your racing. So they're the faster shoes sorted. So let's move on to have a chat about daily shoes. Where you're probably going to be spending most of your week. The daily shoe section is probably the most important category for runners. If you're looking for a shoe to do the bulk of your training in. Both of these options are going to handle all sorts of different paces. And distances pretty well. Making them really good options if you just want that one shoe rotation. Or to start the foundation of building a bigger shoe rotation. The first one being the Nike Vomero 18. The Nike Vomero 18 set me back £135. With a 46mm stack height at the back of the shoe. 10mm drop overall. 362 grams. A little bit on the heavier side for me. We've got a ZoomX midsole over a ReactX layer in there. And there is no plate in this shoe. Sizing was all good. True to size. Or maybe go half a size down if you're at all unsure. But most importantly there is a wider fit option available. Now what I really like about the Vomero 18. The very plush and well cushioned ride. Lots of width in the toe box up front. Good to see that wide option too. Really great padding around the heel collar. As well as being surprisingly stable at that quite high stack height. My second like with this one. Just the sheer versatility that is on offer here. A really great all-rounder for that half marathon training. Or marathon training as well. It's going to handle those easy runs. Those long runs. Some race pace work for you as well. As a much more versatile option than that standard Pegasus. A really solid and safe and very reliable bet. And a shoe I find myself recommending quite a lot. Something to be slightly wary of with the Vomero 18. Is a little bit on the heavy side. For that short and snappy type running. Those 5k, those 10k paces. Are going to feel a little bit sluggish potentially in this shoe. So if those sessions are a big part of your week. Then you may want to get a speed shoe. To complement the Vomero 18. Or potentially have a look at the next shoe. The Socony Azura. The Socony Azura set me back 140 pounds. With a 40mm stack at the back. The shoe 8mm drop overall. Nicely under 300 grams for me at 296 grams. We've got Socony's Power Run PB foam. Which is a Peeba foam. And there is no plate in this shoe. Sizing was all good true to size. But unfortunately no wider fit option with this one. My first like about the Socony. A very fun and engaging ride. And a shoe that really wants you to always go faster. It's always edging you on to pick up the pace. That lightweight Power Run PB foam. Combined with that speed roll rocker. Really gets you up onto your toes quite nicely. And creates a really lovely smooth transition. The foam just has that right balance of not too soft. But definitely not too firm. Heavier runners are going to be really nicely looked after here. With no risk of bottoming out the foam. It's versatile enough for long runs. Easy runs. Sessions. And a little bit of tempo work as well. A genuine do-it-all shoe. At a pretty decent price point as well. So you're going to get some really good value here. My third like here. Very comfortable over the course of a long run. With padding in all the right places. A really nice breathable and lightweight upper. So no worries of any overheating in this one. Things to look out for with the Socony shoe. I found the tongue had a little bit of a habit of sliding down during the runs. Which is a little bit frustrating. It would have been nice to see a little loop in the tongue. To thread the laces through. To keep it in place. Also personally. I don't particularly love the colorways that this shoe comes in. I think Nike have done a much better job with the colorways of the Vomero. So choose the Vomero if you want that max cushion shoe. For those easy runs. And those long runs as well. Especially if you do have a wider foot. Choose the Socony Azura. If you want a lighter more responsive do-it-all shoe. That can really handle everything from recovery drugs. Right up to those tempo sessions. With absolute ease. A couple of other things to point out here. Another very comfortable option is the Asics Novablast version 5. Version 6 is about to launch. So you may well be able to get a cracking deal on version 5. If you have a look around now. Another shoe I was tempted to include here is the New Balance 1080. But at £180. It's just a little bit too expensive. But it is definitely a very comfortable shoe. So with that in mind. Let's move on to a couple of very good value shoes out on the market. Comfortable shoes don't have to break the bank. And both these shoes on the list definitely prove that. The first one in particular. Is one of the most special shoes that's come out in recent times. And that's the Adidas Evo SL. The Adidas Evo SL. Similar option to the Socony Azura. Is a daily shoe. But definitely has more of a speedier emphasis with it. Price wise this shoe's coming at £130. Can always get it on sale for around about £100. It's absolutely blinding value. 39mm stack at the back of the shoe. 7mm drop overall. So nice and lightweight. 267 grams for me and my size. The midsole we've got Adidas is just brilliant. Light strike pro foam. 100% Peeba. There's no plate in this shoe. But there is just a little shank in there. To help with that stability. Sizing wise all good and true to size. There's no wide option unfortunately. Adidas shoes can run a little bit narrow. But as it goes the Evo SL is really not too bad. What I particularly like about the Evo SL. It's got that amazing light strike pro super foam in there. The same foam that you get in Adidas is really high end race shoes. It's very bouncy. Very responsive. To have this foam at this price point really is incredible value. Second like very lightweight. It just makes it so much fun to run quite fast in as well. And my third like with this one is very versatile. I've taken this up to around 3 minutes a K. Which is what you can see me running on the screen right now. Down to very easy pace jogs. It's just a shoe that shines at so many different paces. But more so at those faster paces. And you could also happily take the shoe out for a race. Up to that half marathon distance. Personally wouldn't want to go for a marathon in this one. And there's something just to be a little bit wary of with the Evo SL. That thin upper means the lockdown isn't hugely secure. Especially in those sharp corners or on any uneven ground. Combined with that soft foam can make it definitely feel a little bit unstable. But the Evo SL woven is a lot better. So definitely have a look at this one if you're at all worried. Another amazingly comfortable budget shoe at the moment. Is the Puma Velocity Nitro version 4. The RRP up at £110. You can usually get this for around about £70 up to £90. Stack right at the back of the shoe. 36mm 10mm drop overall. Again nice and lightweight. 282 grams in my size. We've got Puma's Nitro Foam. And there's no plate in the shoe. Again sizing all good here. And unfortunately there is no wide option. What I really like about the Puma shoe. That Nitro Foam is really nice and bouncy. And quite poppy as well. A genuinely enjoyable ride. Far more premium than the price you're paying for this shoe would suggest. Really good energy return. And a fun and engaging experience at all different paces. Amazing grip with this shoe as well. Puma grip is definitely the best in class. Especially in those wetter conditions. For me it's one of the most perfect park run shoes. Because it's quite light and nimble. With that really great grip for going around a twisty park run course. It's another really popular high rock shoe as well. Where again you want some really good grip as you're going through the course. In terms of things to be wary of with the Puma. It does run slightly narrow. Especially through the midfoot. Which could definitely be a little bit of an issue for any wider footed people out there. Sizing up is likely just to make the shoe too long. So if you are someone that's looking for more of a wider option. Then you probably want to give this shoe a miss. Out of the two value offerings in this section. Go for the Evo SL if you want a fast lightweight ride at a nice bargain price. Or choose the Velocity Nitro if you want more of an affordable all-rounder. With some really amazing grip. Now let's get on to one of the most important runs of the week. The long run. Where a really good comfortable pair of shoes is going to make all the difference. For those long runs. Especially if you're out there marathon training. You really do need your shoes to be right. You don't want any issues that could jeopardize that run. And make you need to cut it short. The daily shoes from the earlier part of this video. Would serve most runners pretty well. But if you want that dedicated long run shoe. For those big weekend efforts. Then these are a couple of my favorites. The first one being the Asics Superblast version 3. The Superblast sent me back £200. Well actually it was €220. Because I bought it in Spain. Stack height at the back of the shoe 46.5mm. 8mm drop overall. 276 grams for me and my size. Really nice and lightweight. Midsole wise we've got Asics's FF Leap. Over a full layer of the FF Blast Plus at the bottom of the shoe. To increase that stability. And sizing was all good. True to size. But there's no wider fit option with the Superblast. What I really like about the Superblast version 3. That FF Leap foam. Asics's top tier racing foam. Gives a really nice soft bouncy ride. It's definitely a lot poppier. A little bit more responsive as well. Than the outgoing version 2. This shoe really feels like it's looking after my legs. Better than any other shoe really. I've been using in recent times. When I have been logging my big miles. That I've been doing this year. Getting at the end of the run. And my legs are feeling still pretty fresh. Which is what these long run shoes are all about. My second like with this one at 276 grams. It's insanely light for a shoe of this size. And this volume. Significantly lighter than any of the most obvious rifles. Out there at the moment. Really good toe box with this one. Really good width and height. Brilliant lock down. Nice gusseted tongue. Zero issues with any blisters or rubbing. And my third like. It just eats up those miles with ease. 20k's, 30k's. Marathon paced blocks. Going out doing a full marathon in this shoe. Is going to be absolutely fine. It's a shoe that's really just going to lap up those kilometers. For me. So far in 2026. This is the shoe I've been logging most of my miles in so far. In terms of dislikes, observations. Things to be wary of. The durability does not match that of version 2. So something to keep an eye on if you're a particularly high mileage runner. It's also definitely a pretty high price point here. But you are getting a pretty premium product in return. So if you are wanting something a little bit cheaper for those long runs. Then have a look at the Puma MagMax version 2. So earlier this year I spent £170 to get the Puma MagMax version 2 in. 46mm stack height at the back of the shoe. 8mm drop overall. A lot more on the heavier side here at 324 grams. Nitro foam in this one from Puma. There's no plate. Sizing was all good. True to size and there's no wide fit option here. What I really liked about the Puma shoe. Really great all-round durability with this one. A shoe that's really built to last. High quality materials have been used in this one. Love the stretchy sock like feel in the tongue. A nice padding all around the shoe. With some really good breathability as well. My second like with this one. As with the Velocity Nitro we talked about earlier. The same amazing grip with that shoe. You're also getting on this shoe. Which you'd hope at this price point. So if we're running on wet roads or any wintry conditions or any mixed surfaces. This shoe can definitely handle it all. My third and final like with this one. That rocker geometry just tips you forward really quite nicely. Giving you a nice smooth ride for those longer runs. The slightly firmer foam. Definitely firmer than the Superblast version 3. Makes this shoe a really good option for any heavier runners too. In terms of things to be a little bit wary of. Slightly on the heavier side with this one. It's not going to provide as much pop and as much bounce as the Superblast. But for those long runs where you're not really picking up the pace too much. It's really going to help lap up those miles. So choose a Superblast if you want that lightweight responsive long run shoe. That can really handle those faster paces. Or choose the MagMax if you want a slightly firmer ride. You're the type of runner that's logging some really big mileage weeks as well. Especially if you're running in any bad weather. And you really need something that is going to be built to last. Next up let's have a chat about two of the most comfy shoes on the whole list. Which are the perfect shoes for those easy runs and recovery runs. If comfort is your number one priority. And you really don't care about speed or weight of the shoe. Then I've got two shoes here that are going to be right up your street. The goal with these type of shoes is to provide the maximum amount of plush soft comfort. To really look after your legs. And make sure they're coming back fresher for your next run. The first option on the list is the New Balance More version 6. Now this shoe set me back 150 pounds. With a 44 millimeter stack at the back of the shoe. 4 mil drop overall. Quite heavy these ones. 361 grams for me and my size. Midsole wise we've got New Balance's Fresh Roam X midsole. There's no plate in this shoe. Sizing wise was all good. True to size for me. And there is a wide fit option available as well. Now what I really like about the New Balance shoe. Really is the closest thing to running on clouds. That I think you can find at the moment. Very soft. Very marshmallowy. That Fresh Roam X really does absorb every bit of impact. Without feeling really dead and mushy. If you want that pillow-like sensation as you're running along. Then this is going to be your best option out there. Version 6 has generally improved the stability over version 5. It's now got that wider platform. A slightly stiffer heel counter as well. A little bit of extra structure in the shoe. Means that you can now trust this shoe quite a lot. For some of those longer recovery runs. Without having to worry about any ankle wobbles. My third and final like. Just a really good all-day shoe. Beyond just running healthcare workers. Commuters. Just people on their feet all day. This shoe is going to really look after you very well. Things that aren't quite so good. It's definitely a little bit on the heavier side. Very little versatility you're getting with these type of shoes. Not the kind of shoe you're going to pick up the pace in. In any way whatsoever. Just a very much jogging around. Recovery shoe. Plain and simple. But if you do want something just a little bit lighter. Then I've got another shoe coming up now. The ASICS Joe Nimbus 28. So I spent £180 buying the ASICS Joe Nimbus 28. With a 43.5mm stack at the back. A shoe 8mm drop overall. Coming at 335 grams. They're not too bad for these very big recovery type shoes. Midsole wise we've got ASICS's FF Blast Plus. Sizing was all good and true to size. And again there is a wider fit option available here. In terms of what I really like about the ASICS shoe. The upper and the tongue really are in a class of their own comfort wise. It has that super stretchy knit tongue. It just hugs the foot down perfectly. Giving you a really nice comfortable supportive lockdown. Lots of nice heel padding at the back of the shoe. Right from that first wear. Right from that first step in. You just know this shoe is not going to give you any issues. No blisters. No hot spots or anything like that to worry about. My second like with this one. 49 grams lighter than the shoe that came before it. Its predecessor. Makes this slightly more nimble now than that outgoing shoe. My third like here. Just like with the New Balance shoe. It's a really good option for any all-day wear. The build quality you're getting with this one is really quite exceptional. So it's a shoe that is definitely going to last a very long time. In terms of things to be a little bit wary of with the Gel Nimbus. The foam is definitely a little bit dated now. And at £180 you're paying quite a premium price here. Just to get that comfort and quality. But really I think it is a little bit overpriced. So choose the More V60 if you want the softest most squishiest recovery ride possible. Really good option for that all-day comfort at that slightly lower price. Or choose the Gel Nimbus if you want a firmer more stable shoe. For your easy runs that's going to last a little bit longer too. And finally just before we go on to the wildcard section. Some people are no doubt going to be saying. But what about the Nike Vimero Premium? It is definitely a very comfy shoe. 55 mil of stack height in this one. It is that ultimate very soft very squishy recovery run shoe. If it was a little bit cheaper. It definitely would have made it into one of the top two. Right as I said let's move on to the final few little wildcards here. Which are going to be perfect for anyone looking for something a little bit more quirky. Starting out with the Rad UFO. A radical looking shoe without a doubt. Coming in at £180. This debut running shoe from this exciting and up-and-coming brand. With its dual layer PIVA foam. Really soft and bouncy. Genuinely one of the most fun rides I've had out in a shoe this year. Just avoid any wet roads with this one. The grip is really not very good in the rain. But comfortable it definitely is. Next up on the list the Red Hair Ultra 9. I paid £116 when I bought this shoe from China via AliExpress. A wild triple layer of foam in this one. It really is a very soft quite responsive and stable shoe as well. Which is amazing to think with just how much stack that shoe has. And at that price it really is exceptional value as well. For that long run super trainer. I found it to be so comfortable. Whatever pace I was running. Finally on the list the Mountico C1. Around about £170 for this one. One of the most exciting up-and-coming brands at the moment. The C1 is a very stable max stack shoe. Really good durable option. With that clever dual lacing system at the front of the shoe. To dial in for that fully customized fit. To get the pressure just right on the front of the shoe. A really great ultra and long distance running shoe. Can be really good for anyone training for some ultra marathons out there. A little bit on the firm side. But very dependable. Built to last with comfort all the way. The C in the shoe actually stands for comfort. And I definitely go along with that. If you want a little bit more of a deep dive into the Rad UFO. Or that Mountico C1. We've got their dedicated videos coming up on the screen now. So go and check out those very shortly. If you found the video useful. Please let us know your favorite comfortable shoe down in the comments. Please check out my website benparks.com And feel free to use code YOUTUBE10 to get 10% off your order as well. Keep on working hard. Keep on getting done. I'll see you very soon in the next one.