7 Best New Balance Cushioned Running Shoes in 2024

Countless miles of pounding the pavement and many hours spent in the lab verify the Fresh Foam X 1080 v13’s status as the best overall New Balance cushioned running shoe. From its plush touch to its natural feel, and its free-flowing ventilation, this shoe puts comfort at the forefront.

Considering modern-day standards, the 1080 v13’s 34.1/28.5 mm stack isn’t a maximalist. Yet what makes its cushioning truly special is its gentle persona, shown by our durometer with a low 10.0 HA reading, 52.2% softer than average. It's highly comfortable even on days we want to run longer.

Another positive from the moderate stack is better flexibility, which enhances ease of movement. Our bend test confirms this with a 20.5N rating, 28.3% less rigid than average, boosting its natural feel.

Embracing our foot from the top is a plush knit upper that surprisingly feels refreshing. While most uppers of this material tend to run warm, the 1080 v13 stands out with a perfect breathability rating in our lab.

Since this shoe is all about comfort, we think it shines best on recovery and relaxed days. Those who crave responsiveness will find its ride underwhelming.

The Fresh Foam X More v5 takes comfort to the next level by blending staggering heights with ultra-plushness. Our lab affirms its status as the best max-cushioned New Balance running shoe not only because of its generous cushioning but also because of its stable ride and robust outsole.

A testament to its name, Fresh Foam X More v5 features a towering 42.1/34.3 mm stack—the forefoot rising higher than the average 34.0 mm heel in our lab! On top of that, its foam composition is way softer than normal with a delicate 8.6 HA durometer reading vs. the 20.9 HA average, enhancing comfort and muscle protection for easy days.

Despite its cloudlike sensation, it offers unexpected stability through its substantial sidewalls and spacious base. At 124.6/105.0 mm, it’s one of the widest we’ve measured, erasing potential imbalances. The shoe supported us in keeping our foot alignment centered.

The outsole adds more rubber coverage in high-impact areas, with some exposed foam in other portions for better grip. Its solid result in our abrasion test verified its reliability and durability, showing a minimal 0.7 mm dent vs. the 1.0 mm average.

Because of its height, the shoe will feel quite stiff for casual running or recovery days. Those who prefer a more natural feel should find more flexible shoes.

Through extensive runs and in-depth lab tests, we selected the FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3 as the best New Balanced cushioned running shoe for tempo runs. It delivers highly energetic takeoffs and balances them with cushioned and stable landings. It’s speedy without being too aggressive, making it the perfect trainer.

SC Trainer v3’s source of power lies in its full-length Energy Arc carbon plate, which includes a void in the middle to make room for easier movement. Putting it to our bend test reveals a stiffness score of only 18.7% above average, while racers tend to score much higher.

This shoe proves that fast shoes can be comfortable, featuring an above-average stack that’s ultra-plush to the touch. Our durometer confirms the delightful FuelCell foam is 57.9% softer than average, making long miles more bearable.

Despite its cloudlike cushioning, the SC Trainer v3 feels amazingly stable due to non-intrusive features like the broad sole flare, midsole sidewalls, and expansive midfoot. Our caliper measurement confirms this with a 117.7 mm figure vs. the 114.1 mm average.

In this age of lighter shoes, the SC Trainer v3 felt cumbersome due to its weight, and our scales agree with a 9.8 oz (278g) result. More agile options are available in the market.

During our runs with the Kaiha Road, comfort takes center stage not only in terms of cushioning but also with its smooth transitions and forgiving ride. It has some springiness that makes the miles go by and offers a premium experience at an accessible price point. At $85, it’s cheaper than the $137 average New Balance road running shoe in our lab, making it our best budget pick from the brand’s cushioned roster.

The highlight of Kaiha Road is already featured in its name: the Fresh Foam X midsole. It completely erases ground impact with its tender touch and bouncy rebound. Our durometer confirms it’s 36.4% softer than average. Despite its plush nature, the ride feels amazingly stable due to Kaiha Road’s wide 119.2/100.1 mm base.

We find that it’s versatile enough for walks and other daily activities because of its fluid feel. Its rocker promotes forward momentum while the midsole adapts easily to our movements. Our bend test verifies it’s 10.8% more flexible than average.

However, while it can pick up the speed, it’s still not efficiently responsive to sustain faster paces for many miles. We recommend runners who want to break PBs to invest in more energetic shoes.

Our initial strides already confirm the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 is a deeply comfortable shoe yet further testing in the lab and on foot validates it’s our top racer among New Balance cushioned running shoes. With a midsole so soft yet energetic, and an outsole so grippy yet durable, it’s hard to find a pair that matches its strong performance.

This shoe features both height and plushness, delivering maximum comfort even for long-distance racing. Our caliper reveals 38.2/28.9 mm measurements, much higher than the 34.0/25.4 mm lab average. The midsole is infused with softness and springiness, as our durometer confirms with a 15.0 HA reading.

Complementing the bouncy midsole is a full-length carbon plate that features New Balance’s Energy ARC design. Together with the rocker structure of the shoe, it improves our speed and smoothens our transitions.

Beneath the midsole is a soft 64.4 HC rubber that displayed remarkable grip during testing. While most outsoles at this level show faster wear, FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 defies the odds by showing less wear than average in our Dremel test (0.8 mm vs. 1.0 mm). Plus, it’s got enough thickness at 2.0 mm to cover occasional training sessions!

However, a nitpick is the tongue’s non-gusseted design. It was also quite short, which felt it lacked support vs. other shoes.

Rigorous lab assessments and lengthy runs brought us to the conclusion that the Fresh Foam X Vongo v6 is the best stability shoe among New Balanced cushioned running shoes. This shoe has a unique way of supporting our foot alignment because it keeps the ride comfortable, smooth, and effortless.

The main stabilizer of the Vongo v6 is the combination of its dual-density midsole and plastic plate. The top layer measures a soft 15.8 HA for a plush feel, while the base is a more balanced 18.9 HA to enhance controlled landings. In between the two foams is an EVA film plate that is meant to secure our footing without adding rigidity to the shoe. True enough, Vongo v6 even emerged 20.3% more flexible than our lab average, which includes both stability and neutral shoes.

In addition to its natural feel, comfort is further enhanced by its generous 36.1/30.5 mm cushioning. This stack protects our muscles from landing impact, allowing us to run more miles as we please. However, this led to a heavy build of 11.0 oz (312g). Those who want speed and agility should find lighter pairs.

Our runs and lab results prove the Fresh Foam X More Trail v3 is made for the outdoors. No doubt, it’s our top New Balance cushioned running shoe for the trails with its luscious foam and supportive grip. We felt confident in exploring new paths since we have a comfortable and protective beast beneath us.

Based on our durometer, the outsole stands at a near-average 84.6 HC, which is soft enough to stick to the ground and tough enough to protect our feet from debris. It’s lined with deep 5.0 mm lugs that improve traction and boost our sense of sure-footedness.

The cushion spoils our feet with heavenly goodness and dampens the impact of long miles with its plush 14.9 HA foam. For a trail shoe, More Trail v3 stands tall at 38.6/31.5 mm, erasing ground impact effectively vs. the 32.2/24.6 mm average trail shoe. 

Thankfully, we never had any wobbles despite its massive cushioning because More Trail v3 compensated for its height with a wider base. Our caliper confirms it’s wider than average by 8.8 mm in the forefoot and a whopping 14.6 mm in the heel.

Conversely, the upper failed to impress us with its low durability score (1/5) and subpar ventilation (3/5). Runners who need more protective or breathable shoes should find other options.