the 79.8 HC average of road-running shoes. Our durometer confirmed this with an 84.5 HC measurement vs. It’s hard enough to protect us from debris. Its 3.0-mm deep lugs stick to the slippiest surfaces - mud, loose dirt and ice. The Vibram outsole inspires confidence as it feels solid and steady to run in. It’s easily our most durable low-drop shoe. It handles any pavement with its grippy lugs and lasts many miles with its outsole that feels indestructible. This shoe is flexible, extremely comfortable and keeps up with our fast paces. Speedgoat 5 exceeds the standards of a low-drop shoe that usually suggests minimal cushion, a dull ride and a “barefoot” feeling. The upper is one of the densest we’ve seen under the microscope. Upon checking with our durometer, its rubber is softer than average, meaning it’s grippier as more rubber holds onto the ground upon landing. We tested it against slippery pavements and it exceeded our expectations.

The outsole is resilient on any surface with its extensive rubber coverage in high-impact areas. Fun fact: this model is available in Wide sizes. Also enhancing stability is its wide landing platform. Our runs surprisingly don’t feel wobbly with the pronounced sidewalls that guide our feet in place. The cushion feels soothing, dampening the impact of every stride, We checked with our durometer in the lab: it's 36.2% softer than average.Įven with its stack, the shoe is easy to maneuver with its flexible midsole (41.8% more than average). This contributes to a less inclined 4.6 mm heel drop, 48.3% lower than average. The heel area is 3.6 mm taller than average. It’s all about comfort, making it our best pick for low-drop running shoes with plush cushioning. It’s great for easy runs when we want to soak in the mileage without being conscious about pace. Our toes feel constricted since it’s 6.4 mm narrower than average.įresh Foam X More v4 represents its name well with plenty of cloud-like cushion. While the base is wide, the toebox is surprisingly tight. It leaves a huge footprint being 13.5 mm / 10.8 mm wider in the forefoot and heel, respectively.

The shoe has a wide landing platform that enhances stability. It keeps us worry-free from lacebite.ĭespite the high stack, our runs are steady and smooth. This shoe is not only comfy on the bottom but also plush on the upper too! Our caliper measured the tongue to be 9.0 mm, 3.1 mm thicker than average. Adding to the comfort is its ultra-soft cushion, measuring 25.9% softer than average, as per our durometer. This thicker slab of foam keeps our legs fresh from mile 1 and beyond. While the 6.2 mm heel-to-toe drop is 2.7 mm below average, its mega stack is 3.0 mm / 5.7 mm higher in the heel and forefoot, respectively. Built with plush padding all around, its embrace feels like home - making it our comfiest low-drop running shoe. Bondi 8 provides much TLC in our runs with its humongous and pillowy cushion.

6inch stacks shoes