As the winter haze fades, it’s time to dust off the running gear and break outside. You grab anti-blister socks from Feetures or Balega, high-performance joggers, and a moisture-wicking shirt. In a cobwebbed corner of your home, you find what once could be called running shoes, all compressed, discolored, worn and stinky. You shrug and slip them on.
Even after a dynamic warm up, mere minutes into your jog, you’re wondering why your knees and shins hurt. You notice the rubber on the bottom of your shoes is bald and the cushion is so compressed, you could swear the shoe was eating itself. Time to search for a new pair.
You sigh and scroll through shoe reviews, tech blogs, customer feedback and endless options until you’re overwhelmed. This is your sign to ignore the other links and websites to focus your attention to the following information about some of my personal running shoe recommendations for spring of 2025:
New Balance FuelCell Propel v5 - Cushy, yet springy and responsive:
The FuelCell Propel sports a TPU plate - regulates foot strike and makes the placement of your foot more consistent to aid in energy return for faster runs, but it’s padded enough for everyday miles. The Propel v5 is an awesome distance track or 10k-½ marathon trainer
FuelCell Facts:
- 7.8 oz Women
- 9.9 oz Men
- 6mm drop, neutral
- TPU Plate
- Budget-friendly
Shop Men's New Balance FuelCell Propel v5
Shop Women's New Balance FuelCell Propel v5
Brooks Glycerin 22 - Plush heel cushion with a springy forefoot:
The Glycerin 22 is designed for max padding all the way from heel to toe, whether strolling or hightailing it. Brooks took their classic Glycerin series and added even more cushion. It looks awesome, and it’s less bulky than other high cushion shoes.
Glycerin Gist:
- 9.1oz Women
- 10.2oz Men
- 10mm drop, neutral
- Cushy heel landings with snappy toe-off
Shop Women's Brooks Glycerin 22
Brooks Glycerin GTS 22 - Like the Glycerin 22 with more support:
The Glycerin GTS 22 offers additional stability with dense foam molded into the arch and heel, designed to prevent overpronation: your foot rolling inward too much relative to your ankle and knee. You can’t go wrong with either version of the Glycerin for distance walking or running.
GTS Gist:
- 9.5oz Women
- 10.7oz Men
- 10mm drop, stability
- GuideRails plus max cushioning
Shop Men's Brooks Glycerin GTS 22
Shop Women's Brooks Glycerin GTS 22
Altra Torin 8 - Wide toe box, extra padding without the bulk:
The Torin 8 feels way more supportive than a typical barefoot or minimalist shoe. Whether running 5k’s, marathons, or dealing with nagging injuries in traditional running shoes and curious about zero drop shoes, the Torin 8 is a great place to start.
Torin Traits:
- 8.4oz Women
- 10.15oz Men
- 0mm drop, neutral
- Wide toe-box, narrow heel
- Lightweight, soft cushioning
Saucony Guide 18 - A breathable, cushioned,and supportive ride:
The Guide 18 offers max cushioning and stability. Center Path Technology offers a broad base with high sidewalls on the midsole, cradling your foot as you roll forward. Excellent for walkers or runners.
Guide 18 Guidelines:
- 8.6oz Women
- 9.6oz Men
- 6mm drop, stability
- Lightweight, max cushion
- Center Path Technology
ON Cloudsurfer 2 - An effortless fan favorite made even better:
ON took the popular Cloudsurfer model and improved it without sacrificing anything. The CloudTec Phase cushioning compresses as you land and rolls forward as you toe off. Track or cross country athletes check it out ASAP.
Cloudsurfer 2 Components:
- 7.94oz Women
- 9.21oz Men
- 9mm drop, neutral
- Wider toe-box, cushier tongue
- Denser outsole rubber
- CloudTec Phase
HOKA Bondi 9 - The gold standard in max cushioning:
The HOKA Bondi 9 improves upon everything Bondi wearers love. If you’re looking for max cushion for everyday miles, you need to check out the Bondi 9. If I was running a marathon, I would have this in my rotation, no question.
Bondi Business:
- 9.3oz Women
- 10.5oz Men
- 5mm drop, neutral
- Max cushioning with higher sidewalls
- Premium fabric
Topo Aura - Like the Atmos with more stability:
The Topo Aura is highly padded and stable with dense foam added in the shape of a Y, designed to keep your foot from overpronating or collapsing inward too much. An excellent competitor to other options offering max cushion and support, the Aura is definitely worth trying out if you’re logging high mileage.
Aura Aspects:
- 9.1oz Women
- 10.9oz Men
- 5mm drop, stability
- Max cushion
- Y-Frame
- Contoured arch and heel
Final Thoughts
Altra Torin 8 - Everyday trainer, fast or slow. Strengthen your leg and foot to avoid injury. Neutral. 0mm drop.
Hoka Bondi 9 - Long distance or recovery runs. Protection for the joints and shock absorption. Neutral. 5mm drop.
Brooks Glycerin GTS 22 - Everyday trainer or distance recovery shoe. Stability. 10mm drop.
Come to Goodmiles Running Company so we can scan your feet and determine which shoes are best for you. We’ll present several options and help you compare and contrast them. Hop on our treadmill to see how each works with your gait and pace. Bring your old shoes so we can check your wear pattern, then donate or recycle the old pair to a great local cause!
Meet our Guest Writer & Fit Expert: John Labisch
With 14 years of experience in run specialty, I specialize in biomechanics and injury prevention. My foundational training in gait analysis, alignment, and proper footwear fitting comes from lower-leg specialists and athletic trainers with decades of experience—both coaching and running themselves.
I’m passionate about helping people find comfortable footwear and insoles, but what I love most is guiding runners to overcome and prevent injuries. Whether you're training for a race, recovering from an injury, or just looking for the perfect fit, I’m here to help.
Visit me at Goodmiles Running Company in Brookfield, or schedule a fitting—I’ll make sure you have the right gear to support your training, lifestyle, and goals!