Top 5 Soft & Bouncy Race Shoes

If squish, bounce, and pure fun are the priority, these are the race shoes that stood out most to us. From the ultra-soft feel of the Metaspeed Ray to the surprisingly smooth ride of the Adios Pro 4, every shoe on this list brings a unique mix of softness and pop on race day. Whether you’re chasing comfort over 26.2 or just want a super fun plated option, these are some of the softest and bounciest racers we’ve tested.

#1 ASICS Metaspeed Ray: The lightest and springiest soft racer

Specs

• Weight: 129 grams
• Foam: FF Leap (ATPU)
• Price: $300
• Stack & Drop: 43mm Stack, 5mm Drop

Summary

The Metaspeed Ray is currently the softest pinnacle racer on the market, featuring a featherlight construction and a springy ATPU midsole that packs elite energy return.

Race Day

ASICS Metaspeed Ray

Very lightweight marathon shoe built for speed

Price

$300

Plated?

Yes

Foam

ATPU

Weight (oz)

4.6

Drop (mm)

5

Support

Neutral

see details

#2 Saucony Endorphin Elite 3: The wildest ride on the market

Specs

• Weight: 204 grams
• Foam: Incredirun (TPEE)
• Price: $290
• Stack & Drop: 40m Stack, 8mm Drop

Summary

Runners can rest assured that Saucony didn’t tone down the ride of Incredirun in this update. This Endorphin Elite is just as soft, bouncy and untamed as the previous generation, the Endorphin Elite 2.

Race Day

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

Marathon racer with a soft and bouncy ride

Price

$290

Plated?

Yes

Foam

Supercritical TPEE

Weight (oz)

7.5

Drop (mm)

8

Support

Neutral

see details

#3 Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite: The most affordable soft racer

Specs

• Weight: 219 grams
• Foam: SUPER BOOM (PEBA)
• Price: $200
• Stack & Drop: 41mm Stack, 5mm Drop

Summary

We’d still recommend the Feidian 6 Elite as a fun, soft, confidence-inspiring racer if it was $70 more expensive, but its $200 price tag makes it an even even more enticing pick for the marathon distance.

Race Day

Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite

Marathon race shoe designed for comfort and speed

Price

$200

Plated?

Yes

Foam

PEBA

Weight (oz)

7.2

Drop (mm)

6

Support

Neutral

see details

#4 New Balance SC Elite v5: A well-balanced option

Specs

• Weight: 207 grams
• Foam: FuelCell (PEBA)
• Price: $265
• Stack & Drop: 40m Stack, 8mm Drop

Summary

While New Balance’s FuelCell PEBA is certainly soft, its less squishy & compressive than the foams in the first 3 shoes on this list. This is a great choice if you want soft comfort without an overly-squirrely ride.

Race Day

New Balance SC Elite v5

Marathon race shoe designed for speed and comfort

Price

$265

Plated?

Yes

Foam

PEBA

Weight (oz)

7.3

Drop (mm)

8

Support

Neutral

see details

#5 Adidas Adios Pro 4: Highly rockered option

Specs

• Weight: 201 grams
• Foam: Lightstrike Pro (TPEE)
• Price: $255
• Stack & Drop: 40m Stack, 8mm Drop

Summary

The Adios Pro 4 has a very soft underfoot feel and an aggressive geometry that benefits mid-forefoot strikers. While not our personal favorite for race day, countless runners love the Pro 4’s squishy, highly-rockered midsole.

Race Day

Adidas Adios Pro 4

Marathon race shoe with soft ride

Price

$250

Plated?

Yes

Foam

Supercritical TPEE

Weight (oz)

7.1

Drop (mm)

6

Support

Neutral

see details

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