All the news that's fit to run
This is one of the softer shoes I’ve tested over the past year—a big positive. Previous editions of the shoe never felt this soft. ASICS swaps out FF BLAST+ Eco for the new FF BLAST™ MAX midsole foam. Yes, I know what you’re thinking: why did they have to use the word “max” in their midsole name? That word is grossly overused by every running brand and their mother…
There’s a reason New Balance says if they only made one shoe, it’d be the Fresh Foam 1080. It’s their most dependable shoe that can conquer miles with ease and in comfort. (Forget the fact that if New Balance only produced one pair, they wouldn’t be in business.)
The Bondi was never mistaken for an exciting shoe; that all changed this year. HOKA’s flagship pair has been completely retooled from top to bottom for a shoe that can go the distance.
One of the longest-running shoes (pun-intended) returns for its 22nd edition, with one very big update. But does the new midsole foam elevate the Glycerin, or is it more of the “same old, same old”?
My first foray into one of ASICS’ flagship pairs wasn’t until the 25th edition; it was love at first run. At the time, I had never run in such a comfy shoe, both underfoot and with its super-cozy upper. The shoe was a pleasure to run in, and pampered my tired legs during marathon training. But the pair fell out of favor, as more and more max cushion offerings entered the fray over the past couple years. Now that it’s back on my radar—and feet—after a brief hiatus, how has the ride of this max cushion shoe aged?
The Brooks Ghost Max 2 features an upgraded DNA LOFT v3 midsole and a noticeable uptick in weight; how does the max cushion shoe stack up to the first version? I put the pair to the test and outline where it fits in Brooks’ lineup.
