Explaining Every Running Shoe Brand’s Foam Compounds - Part 1
Below we are breaking down the midsole foam compounds used by popular running shoe brands. In this first article, we will describe the popular foams used by New Balance, Brooks, ASICS, Saucony, Nike, and Adidas and help you pick which ones are likely to work best for you in your daily trainers, workout shoes, recovery shoes, and racers.
Not all running shoe foams are built the same. Some are built for racing, some for durability, and some just exist to make your legs hate you less at mile 18. From ZoomX to DNA Flash to Lightstrike Pro, we’re breaking down what’s actually under your feet and why it matters. Part 1 covers Adidas, Nike, Saucony, ASICS, Brooks, and New Balance with ratings for bounce, softness, speed, and durability so you actually know what you’re buying.
Adidas
Classic Lightstrike Pro (Supercritical TPEE)
Classic Lighstrike Pro is a bouncy, durable and reliable foam from the Adios Pro 3 that Adidas still uses in training shoes like the EVO SL and Prime X 2 Strung.
Adidas Evo SL
Lightstrike Pro 2.0 (Supercritical TPEE)
Lightstrike Pro 2.0 is Adidas’ current generation mainstream race foam that offers a soft, squishy and responsive ride. It is featured in the Adios Pro 4, on the top layer in the Boston 13, and in the Takumi Sen 11.
Adidas Adios Pro 4
Adidas Boston 13
Adidas Takumi Sen 11
Lightstrike Pro Evo (Supercritical TPEE)
Adidas’ pinnacle racing foam, Lightstrike Pro Evo, is found only in the $500 Pro Evo 2. It offers a robust underfoot feel and a firm, smooth ride.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2
Dreamstrike+ (PEBA/EVA Blend)
Dreamstrike+ is a daily training midsole foam designed for comfort and reliability. It provides a smooth, cushioned & stable ride and can be found in the Supernova Rise 2 and the Supernova Prima 2.
Adidas Supernova Prima 2
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Lightstrike 2.0 (EVA)
Lightstrike 2.0 is a traditional EVA commonly used as a carrier foam or stable bottom layer in Adidas’ training shoes. It is featured as the bottom layer in the SL2 and in the Boston 13.
Adidas Adizero SL2
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Boost (Beaded TPU)
Boost is a legendary daily training foam that isn’t as popular as it once was. It offers best in class durability and can still be found in the Ultraboost 5X.
Repetitor (EVA)
A comfort-oriented standard EVA, Repetitor is found in Adidas’ entry-level training shoes such as the Adistar 4. It offers a soft, protective ride.
Adidas Adistar 4
Nike
Race Day ZoomX (PEBA)
The race-day version of ZoomX foam ushered in the era of the “super shoe.” The PEBA-based ZoomX is Nike’s pinnacle race foam with a soft, springy ride. It is used in the iconic Alphafly 3, Vaporfly 4, and the Streakfly 2.
Nike Vaporfly Next% 4
Nike Streakfly 2
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Comfort ZoomX (TPE)
The TPE version of ZoomX is a bouncy, protective, and comfortable foam that’s less squishy and responsive than race day ZoomX. It is featured in the Pegasus Premium, Vomero Plus, and Vomero Premium.
Nike Pegasus Premium
Nike Vomero Plus
Nike Vomero Premium
ReactX (TPE)
ReactX is a firm, durable TPE foam that lacks significant energy return. It is found in Nike’s standard daily trainers, such as the Pegasus 41, Structure 26, and the Vomero 18.
Nike Pegasus 41
Nike Vomero 18
Unknown ZoomX (Maybe PEBA?)
A firm, direct and not particularly cushioned or comfortable version of ZoomX is also found in the Pegasus Plus.
Nike Pegasus Plus
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Saucony
IncrediRun (Supercritical TPEE)
IncrediRun is an innovative, springy race day foam with a wild, unstable, marshmallow-soft ride made from Supercritical TPEE. It is featured as the top layer on the Endorphin Trainer and in the Endorphin Elite 2.
Saucony Endorphin Trainer
Saucony Endorphin Elite 2
PWRRUN PB (PEBA)
PWRRUN PB is a bouncy, soft PEBA compound used in iconic lines such as the Endorphin Speed 5, Triumph 23, and the Endorphin Pro 4.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
Saucony Triumph 23
PWRRUN+ (Beaded TPU)
PWRRUN+ is a highly-durable, jack-of-all-trades midsole compound designed for no-nonsense daily training that can be found in the Ride 18 and the Guide 18.
Saucony Ride 18
PWRRUN HG (Supercritical PEBA)
PWRRUN HG is the firm, responsive foam from the Endorphin Elite OG. It is one of the most underrated race foams of all time.
ASICS
FF Leap (ATPU)
ASICS’ pinnacle lightweight race foam, FF Leap, offers a soft, springy, responsive ride for top-end speed. The entire midsole of the Metaspeed Ray is made of FF Leap and it is featured as the top layer of foam in the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo and the bottom layer of foam in the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo.
ASICS Metaspeed Ray
ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo
FF Turbo2 (ATPU)
ASICS’ FF Turbo2 if their bounciest, fastest training foam that offers both speed and protection. We have been loving it in the Megablast and it is also featured as the top layer of the new Sonicblast.
ASICS Megablast
ASICS Sonicblast
FF Turbo+ (PEBA)
FF Turbo+ is a lightweight PEBA race foam with an aggressive bite. It has a distinct hollow underfoot feel and can be found in the top layer of the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, the bottom layer of the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, and in the Superblast 2.
Asics Superblast 2
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FF Blast Max (Undisclosed)
FF Blast Max is a daily training foam with a fun, versatile ride and subpar durability. It is found in the Novablast 5 and the bottom layer of the new Sonicblast.
Asics Novablast 5
Brooks
DNA Gold (PEBA)
DNA Gold is a bouncy, reliable PEBA race foam with a smooth and controlled ride. It is reminiscent of Nike’s ZoomX and is used in the Hyperion Elite 5 and on the top layer of the Hyperion Max 3.
Brooks Hyperion Elite 5
Brooks Hyperion Max 3
DNA Tuned (Undisclosed)
DNA Tuned is a supercritical foam that Brooks “tunes” for various properties. This translates to a soft heel and responsive forefoot in the Glycerin Max and it is also used in the Glycerin 22 with a less exciting execution.
Brooks Glycerin Max
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DNA Flash v2 (TPEE/EVA Blend)
DNA Flash v2 is a lively, not too soft, not too firm daily training foam that combines comfort and speed assistance. It works really well in the Hyperion 3.
Brooks Hyperion 3
New Balance
Race Day FuelCell (PEBA)
FuelCell is a race-ready foam tuned for bounce and comfort. It delivers an enjoyably soft, lively, ride across paces and distances in the New Balance SC Elite v5.
New Balance SC Elite v5
Training FuelCell (PEBA/EVA Blend)
This version of FuelCell is a daily/race foam blend with moderate energy return. It offers a smooth and comfortable, but not particularly exciting, ride. It is found in the Rebel v5 and the SC Trainer v3, both of which we found to be underwhelming shoes.
New Balance Rebel v5
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Fresh Foam X (EVA Blend)
Fresh Foam is a family of EVA blend foams used in New Balance’s daily trainers. It can read as soft and squishy like in the More v6 or more reliable and workmanlike like in the 880v15 and the 1080v14.
New Balance More v6
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v15
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