Here we will break down the comfort, speed, stability, durability, traction, bounce, weight, fun factor, and overall value of four of the most popular max cushion running shoes currently on the market—the Nike Vomero Premium, the Nike Pegasus Premium, the Hoka Bondi 9, and the New Balance Fresh Foam More v6.

Whether you are new to running or have been running for years, having a good shoe rotation is important to help you reach your goals. Below we will give you several options for how many and which shoes you need in your shoe rotation based on your goals, mileage, preferences, and needs. We will cover daily trainers like the Brooks Ghost Max 3, uptempo shoes like the Puma Deviate Nitro 3, long run shoes like the Nike Vomero Premium, recovery day shoes like the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27, and race day shoes such as the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 Lo.

With 55mm of stack in the heel, the Vomero Premium is officially Nike’s highest-stacked running shoe by a hefty margin. A full ZoomX midsole combined with articulated Zoom Air units in the forefoot and heel makes this trainer one of, if not, the best impact absorption options to hit the hobby jogger market. Below we will let you know our initial thoughts after two 10 mile runs and one 20 mile long run.