Find your flow with the top 5 running shoes of 2026. From the versatile ASICS MegaBlast to the ultra-plush Hoka Bondi 9, discover the best marathon racers and daily trainers to crush your goals.

Running shoes do more than simply help you perform better and more comfortably; they can motivate you, whether it’s to run faster, further or more regularly. The right road running shoes ‘disappear’ off your feet, allowing you to glide into a smooth and steady rhythm, a condition that we runners affectionately call being ‘in the zone’ or ‘flow state’.

What type of shoe is best for running? That depends on your goal, foot type and cushioning preferences. Whether you’re a beginner runner seeking a versatile daily trainer, a speedster craving a fast running shoe with PB-potential, or a passionate marathoner, your ideal fit could be in Wildfire Sports’ top 5 running shoes for 2026. 

Jump To:

ASICS MegaBlast Review

Saucony Ride 19 Review

Brooks Glycerin GTS 23 Review

Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 Review

Hoka Bondi 9 Review

Choosing The Best Running Shoes For Shock Absorption

Top running shoe brands like ASICS, Brooks, Saucony and Hoka refine and optimise their running shoes for shock absorption with protective, patented foams.

From ever-reliable ASICS Gel to ever-evolving Brooks DNA Loft, running shoe brands are constantly innovating their cushioning technologies to support your comfort. There are some exceptions, like barefoot running shoes by Vivobarefoot, which are free of a midsole to increase your proprioception and promote natural strengthening of your feet.

Today, however, we’re going to focus on cushioned running shoes. We’ll dive into the details of how each running shoe feels underfoot, from cloud-soft to firm and responsive and explain how this can affect the intended purpose of your footwear.

The Best All-Rounder Running Shoes: ASICS MegaBlast

The ASICS MegaBlast are running shoe royalty when it comes to versatility. No matter how much you love to get your legs moving, whether it’s a snappy tempo run, a long run, racing or even an easy-going weekend jog, this ASICS super trainer combines a winning formula of performance and comfort.  

This max cushioned running shoe provides confidence-inspiring shock absorption in a surprisingly lightweight ride, with a relatively firm yet springy feel underfoot. Cradling your feet in marathon-ready cushioning that’s resilient and protective to help your feet go the distance, it’s a running shoe that upholds the brand’s legacy of comfort.

According to ASICS, the MegaBlast is “one of the bounciest ASICS trainers” – a statement that’s supported by putting its rebound characteristics to the test in the real world. FF Turbo Squared cushioning provides a trampoline-like responsiveness so each stride feels energetic, and shifting the pace up a gear feels easy and natural.

Why You’ll Love It:

• One running shoe to do it all, a marathon shoe and a daily trainer all in one
•  Lightweight yet max cushioned super trainer for protection (weighs less than the ASICS  Sonicblast, ASICS Novablast and ASICS Superblast
• Fast and snappy without the need for a plate
• Hard-wearing outsole with reliable dry/wet traction on roads

Trade-offs

• Upper material could be more flexible and foot-conforming
• Can feel ‘blocky’ at slower paces
• Wide foot types often find the forefoot too narrow

Best For: 

• Everything from easy jogs and daily training to long runs and marathon racing.

Runner’s Tip: Check out the differences in the ASICS Blast range to find your ideal fit, including the plated ASICS Sonicblast.

The Best Neutral Daily Trainer: Saucony Ride 19 

The Saucony Ride 19 is your go-to walking and running companion. Featuring upgraded PWRRUN+ supercritical foam, this daily cruiser offers a classic feel and premium comfort. The name of this foam sounds technical, but it isn’t an overly flashy or pretentious shoe. However, it is forgiving for a feel-good ride. It performs equally as well on the treadmill as on the road and is in its element during long runs.

At slower paces, your feet are cradled by or even sink into the cushy midsole, whereas at faster paces, it feels more reactive. It is designed for energy return, but by no means is it a speed shoe. We don’t expect the Saucony Ride 19 to be winning any races, but it does top the podium for plush comfort without feeling like you’re running on stilts thanks to its wide, stable platform. It also has enough oomph or responsiveness to dabble in uptempo paces.

The Saucony Ride family has a reputation for being a good shoe for plantar fasciitis, and this latest evolution is likely to follow suit. Compared to the Saucony Ride 18, it features more resilient cushioning to help increase the lifespan of the midsole, ideal for heavier runners and longer distances. If you don’t want to leap a max cushioned daily trainer, preferring that just-right, Goldilocks-level cushioning, the Saucony Ride 19 should absolutely be on your radar.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Workhorse redesigned to be plusher, more responsive, and to save weight
• Breathable engineered upper offers a balance of structure and stretch for a sock-like fit
• Plush tongue and heel counter create a soft, secure lockdown
• Made in part with recycled materials to tread more lightly on the environment
• Available in both standard and wide widths for men and women

Trade-offs

• Increased weight compared to its predecessor

Best For: 

• Beginners and casual runners seeking a ride that can adapt from bursts of uptempo running to easy runs or recovery jogs smoothly.

Runner’s Tip: If you’re seeking a faster or more ‘exciting’ running shoe, you may find a better fit with the ASICS MegaBlast. However, if your priorities are reliability and comfort without unnecessary bells and whistles, the Saucony Ride 19 has you covered.

The Best Stability Daily Trainer: Brooks Glycerin GTS 23 

The Brooks Glycerin GTS 23 stability shoes offer a premium feel for overpronated foot types. Like the Brooks Glycerin GTS 22, it features DNA Tuned, a responsive, nitrogen-infused EVA foam. However, the midsole formula has been reimagined for a bouncier sensation than the traditional, pillowy-soft ride of its predecessor. This may in part be due to the 2mm boost in the DNA Tuned cushioning at the forefoot. 

DNA Tuned is strategically designed with larger, airier ‘cells’ in the back half of the running shoe, and smaller, denser ‘cells’ at the forefoot. The result is a protected landing for heel strikers and an energetic feel on toe-off. The pace you put the Glycerin GTS 23 through changes its feel, as the foam firms up at a running pace and relaxes during walks. Easy runs, long runs and walks are where this stability daily trainer excels, and it can handle some uptempo stretches.

Brooks has mastered subtle stability with the GuideRails system that only kicks into gear when you need it to keep you on your most efficient motion path, helping your feet stay centred on the platform. Brooks keeps the bigger picture of your biomechanics in mind, helping align your feet, ankles, knees and hips into a smooth, less stressful gait.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Improved responsiveness compared to the Brooks Glycerin GTS 22
• New 8mm drop (a 2mm reduction) creates a more natural, balanced feel
• Rocker geometry for smooth heel-to-toe transitions
• Durable, road-ready midsole and outsole
• Available in multiple widths: standard, wide and extra wide 

Trade-offs

• If you’re seeking to shift the load off your calves or Achilles tendon, you may benefit from the higher, 10mm drop of the Brooks Glycerin GTS 22
• Weighs over 300g in the men’s model, making it best reserved for easy-going paces

Best For: 

• Overpronated (low arched, flat) foot types seeking a reliable daily trainer, or anyone needing extra stability when their feet fatigue during longer runs.

Runner’s Tip: If you’re seeking a softer cushioned stability shoe, the ASICS GEL-Kayano 32 with 4D Guidance system may be the best fit for you.

The Best Speed Training Shoes: Saucony Endorphin Speed 5

The Saucony Endorphin Speed family has ignited plenty of excitement in the running community over the years, and the Endorphin Speed 5 lives up to that legacy and its name. This super trainer blurs the lines between an everyday running shoe and a plated racing shoe.

Versatile for everyday training and fast for uptempo sessions and competition, it provides the snappy sensation of a carbon-plated running shoe, but with a winged nylon plate for a less aggressive, more flexible feel. The semi-rigid nylon plate is nestled between a top and base layer of lightweight and airy PWRRUN PB cushioning, which stays true to the midsole foam of the previous generation. This combination makes speed accessible to a variety of runners, not just elite racers, translating to a springy and smooth sensation underfoot, and complemented by SPEEDROLL geometry.

You may find that even during easy runs, the ‘lace up and go’ quality of this running shoe will have you flowing into a faster rhythm, and speed simply comes more effortlessly. The 36mm stack height, same as its predecessor, provides a blend of proprioception for ground feedback and cushioning for shock absorption. The just-right balance of firm and soft in the midsole encourages snappy turnover and improved running efficiency. You won’t feel like you have pillows strapped to your feet like some true max cushioned shoes, but you will feel protected wearing the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5.

 Why You’ll Love It:

• A nylon-plated super trainer that’s kinder to your wallet and more forgiving on your feet than many carbon-plated super shoes
• Padded at heel and collar for a supportive fit at high speeds
• Fast, swift and bouncy feel 
• Slight boost in heel rubber coverage of outsole, for a more durable ride
• Offers a spacious fit, available in standard and wide widths

Trade-offs

• The upper isn’t quite as stretchy or plush as the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4; however, it is more breathable

Best For: 

• Runners of all levels in need of a fast running shoe for tempo training, with the adaptability for a variety of paces, distances and races, like half marathon.   

Runner’s Tip: Want to go all in on a carbon-plated racing shoe? Check out the Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 or the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2.

Best Running Shoes For Recovery Runs: Hoka Bondi 9

The Hoka Bondi is the pioneering running shoe of the max cushioned category, cradling your feet in cloud-soft yet stable cushioning. The Hoka Bondi 9 feels luxurious underfoot - meeting the criteria of what you need in a recovery shoe with its ultra-plush ride. 

Thanks to the supercritical foam, softness and energy return go hand in hand, making this Hoka running shoe a reliable and comfortable companion on the road. It’s ideal for slow running and long runs, including marathons, offering more spring with less effort. It’s a stress-reducing ride, designed to reduce the load on your fatigued ankles, feet and legs with the MetaRocker technology for smooth transitions.

The effortless feel of this chunky yet lightweight shoe (for its category) makes the Hoka Bondi 9 fun to run in during daily training, and it’s also popular as a walking shoe. You may even have seen the Hoka Bondi standing in line at your local café, or on the feet of hospitality workers or nurses for all-day comfort. They are forgettable in the best way possible, pure comfort without distractions.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Maximalist trainer designed to reduce soreness during your walks, runs or long days on your feet
• Lighter weight and more generous toe box than the previous model
• Stretchier upper than its predecessor, with a plush knitted material
• Durable outsole with strategic cut-outs to minimise weight, and reinforced in high-wear zones
•  Available in standard, wide and extra wide widths

Trade-offs

•  Forget about faster paces in this Hoka shoe, it’s easy runs and recovery runs where it shines.

Best For: 

• Flowing into a smooth, steady rhythm at relaxed paces or taking the pressure off during busy days on your feet.  

Runner’s Tip: If you’re buying the Hoka Bondi 9 as a casual shoe, we recommend also adding a shoe in your rotation that’s purely for running, to help extend the lifespan of each.

Wrap Up

Discover the perfect fit from home by taking advantage of our Try 2 Anything Upgrade that allows you to choose two (or more) sizes or models with worry-free returns. 

Need help choosing women’s running shoes or men’s running shoes in Australia? Contact our team of Wildfire Sports shoe experts or visit our Brisbane store for personalised fitting advice. 

Happy running! 

Teresa Attard - Trail Explorer and Nature Enthusiast

Teresa is passionate about lacing up and rejuvenating in nature. Located on the sunny Central Coast of Australia, on the weekends you’ll find her walking the golden beaches, hiking challenging terrain or baking trail treats for her next adventure.

Teresa has been in the running shoe industry since 2012, with a belief in the power of running and walking to nurture positivity, creativity and self-confidence that can be applied to everyday life.