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JOIN NOWBest Neutral Running Shoes: Autumn 2025
What are neutral running shoes?
Neutral running shoes are designed for runners who do not overpronate (i.e. the feet do not roll inwards too much), in other words they have a naturally stable foot strike. The midsole doesn't feature any form of support for stability – like medial posts or guide rails – as a neutral gait doesn't need any correction.
In our experience only 20% to 30% of runners need neutral shoes for road running. A very small percentage of those are supinators – i.e. runners whose feet roll outwards. A supinator would also usually a neutral shoe with plenty of flexibility. Here’s the pick of this season's neutral running shoes from our range...
Most Cushioned / Most Flexible / Lightest Weight / Zero Drop
The benefits of a specialist neutral road running shoe
- Promotes soft, responsive cushioning for comfort
- Absorbs shock from running
- Enhances neutral foot strike
- Encourages smooth transition from foot strike to toe off
- Offers flexibility for natural, easy ride
- Uppers hold the foot securely
- Lightweight feel
Get the best running shoes for YOU
It's very important to get the right level of support and flexibility when running on road. If possible, come into our store for Natural Gait Analysis and a proper fitting, so we can make sure you end up with suitable shoes for your foot strike and foot shape. It also gives you a chance to try out different brands and types of cushioning. We also offer Online Gait Analysis.
Most Cushioned Neutral Shoes
The shoes in this category would suit a long-distance runner (such as marathons or ultras) a heavier runner, those prone to aches and pains in the feet or legs, or simply those loving the extra comfort of soft, bouncy cushioning.
Hylo Athletics Impact / Asics Gel Cumulus / Asics Gel Nimbus / Hoka Clifton / Hoka Skyflow / Hoka Bondi / New Balance 1080 / Saucony Triumph / Brooks Glycerin / Brooks Glycerin Max
Hylo Athletics Impact
Conquer the road with unmatched agility with the Hylo Athletics Impact running shoes, where cutting-edge technology meets eco-friendly comfort. This unisex running shoe is designed for both performance and style. Hylo's first ever iteration offers a lightweight and balanced cushioning for optimal comfort. The breathable mesh upper ensures your feet stay cool, while the sustainable materials give you peace of mind as you stride towards your goals. Elevate your running experience and make every step count – your new partner in greatness.
Asics Gel Cumulus 27
The Asics Gel Cumulus 27 running shoes are designed for neutral runners seeking a balance of comfort and performance. Featuring a lightweight mesh upper, they promote breathability and a snug fit. The shoe incorporates Asics’ signature Gel technology in the heel and forefoot for superior cushioning, ensuring impact absorption and a smooth transition. The FF BLAST+ midsole technology delivers enhanced energy-return, making each stride more efficient.
Asics Gel Nimbus 27
The Asics Gel Nimbus 27 are designed for neutral runners seeking exceptional cushioning and comfort, especially during long-distance runs. Featuring an engineered mesh upper for breathability and a snug fit, these shoes incorporate Asics' signature Gel technology embedded in the midsole, for superior shock-absorption and enhanced stability. The FlyteFoam Propel technology adds energy-return, ensuring a responsive stride. With an Ortholite sockliner for moisture management and a durable rubber outsole for traction, the Asics Gel Nimbus 27 supports your mile after mile. This is a perfect choice for dedicated runners looking to elevate their running experience.
Hoka Clifton 10
This highly regarded running shoe is known for its comfort, cushioning and lightweight design. The meta-rocker geometry technology provides smooth transitions and overall a more efficient stride. Breathable upper mesh material is engineered to offer improved ventilation and a fairly snug fit – wide option available. The Hoka Clifton 10 is a top choice for runners looking for a reliable and comfortable shoe for various running activities.
Hoka Skyflow
It’s always exciting when a brand introduces a new style to their range. Hoka’s Skyflow is like a softer version of Clifton with the supportive foot-hold of Bondi. It features an inventive new midsole of super-critical-foam EVA, which is plush and energetic. A great addition to Hoka’s range of neutral running shoes.
Hoka Bondi 9
The Hoka Bondi 9 road running shoe is designed for those seeking maximum cushioning and comfort during their runs. Featuring a lightweight, breathable upper constructed from engineered mesh, it promotes airflow while ensuring a secure fit. The shoe boasts an advanced EVA foam midsole that enhances shock absorption, offering a plush ride without sacrificing responsiveness. The unique Meta-Rocker technology aids in smooth transitions from heel to toe, making it perfect for long-distance running. Its full complement rubber outsole provides durable traction on various surfaces, while the wide base enhances stability. Ideal for runners of all levels.
New Balance 1080v14
Top of the New Balance neutral range. Fresh Foam X technology in the midsole delivers outstandingly soft cushioning to take away the impact forces from your running. The lightweight upper is breathable and seamless to hold your foot in comfort. This latest design has been made according to the data collected from hundreds of runners to make it fit very precisely, alongside of the soft materials used, so it offers you security and comfort. The 1080 has a similar feel to the Hoka Bondi, with its soft cushioning and the rocking feeling, even though the 1080 is built on a higher (6mm) heel drop. Also available in extra wide fit for Men's.
Saucony Triumph 23
Saucony nail the combination of luxurious cushioning and springy energy in the Triumph 23. You never feel you're losing momentum from the softness of the landings. Also, they flex beautifully, giving you freedom through the mid-foot whilst managing to hold your heel really well and guide you through your stride. This is quite a stable shoe considering it's designed for the neutral runner. If you've got miles to run, this will bring you joy throughout.
Brooks Glycerin 22
The Glycerin has a softer feel than the Ghost due to the full-length innovative nitrogen-infused DNA-Tuned midsole. Even though the midsole is super-light, soft and bouncy, it still gives you a responsive feel. The double jacquard mesh upper is incredibly breathable, and stretches where needed, enhancing the comfort this superior running shoe offers. Comes in a wide fitting – 2E for men, and D for women.
Brooks Glycerin Max
Often you have to choose: super soft cushioning that feels a comfy but a little plodding, or firmer cushioning that’s more energised. Now Brooks introduces a new neutral running shoe that combines plush cushioning, “airy landings”, and an electric toe-off. The DNA Tuned technology features larger cells in the heel, which translates to a plusher landing, while smaller cells in the forefoot give a responsive toe-off. So you get the best of both worlds.
Most Flexible Neutral Shoes
Neutral running shoes with the increased flexibility are designed to empower the runner who likes a natural ride. They would also suit a supinator (under-pronator).
Brooks Ghost / New Balance 880 / On Cloudflow / On Cloudmonster
New Balance 880v15
This lovely neutral road running shoe from New Balance has a smooth ride. The flex points are so perfect that you glide through each stride; the smoother your stride the less impact goes up into your legs. The Fresh Foam X cushioning protects against impact forces without being overly soft. This is a great shoe for those who don’t like squidgy (descriptive rather than scientific!) cushioning and want a responsiveness that helps support pace. The heel-toe difference has been reduced to 6mm, encouraging less heavy heel-striking, more mid-foot. The width options are useful too.
Brooks Ghost 17
What we love about Brooks' ever-popular Ghost, now turning 17, is it's a well-cushioned neutral road shoe that holds your feet so well and guides you through each stride. Brooks have added 3mm extra to the forefoot and 1mm in the heel, for not only a softer feel but also a 10mm offset, which is generally better for us than a stacked 12mm. There's also a new upper with a luxurious fit around the heel. If you want a shoe that will never let you down, carrying you safely through mile after mile, Ghost 17 is it. Available in wide fittings – 2E or 4E for men, and D for women.
On Cloudflow 5
This is the most popular neutral On running shoe ever. The Cloudflow 5 has a natural, responsive, close-to-the-ground feel. The Clouds – the rounded white bubbles on the outsole – have been raised slightly, for more cushioning, but incredibly it's still very lightweight!
Can you believe it's also 8mm? This encourages a midfoot strike, for a more natural landing, to lessen impact on your joints. With a new and improved upper material that feels softer, nothing really compares to how light and smooth it feels when you're on the go. You'll be bouncing off the clouds.
On Cloudmonster 2
This is your maximum cushioned, neutral-gait, protective training shoe for packing in those miles. The CloudTec®, inspired by marshmallow-like clouds, is designed to deliver unparalleled cushioning and a soft landing. The new dual-density Helion™ superfoam provides bounce and responsiveness. So you get a luscious blend of plush, soft feel underfoot combined with exceptional energy return and rebound.
Topo Specter 2
Focussing on natural movement, this beautifully cushioned, neutral road-running shoe has a 5mm heel-drop (matching Hoka shoes). This encourages midfoot landing, reducing impact forces that come with heavy heel landing. The wide toe-box allows your toes to spread – as they were designed to – which is better for foot health and strength, plus your balance. This is a lightweight shoe offering good cushioning and a natural feel. The London landmarks stencilling add an element of fun.
Saucony Ride 18
This popular neutral road running shoe has had quite the overhaul in V18. It features a new PWRRUN+ midsole that’s going to feel softer and springier, and as this material is also lighter than the old PWRRUN, the shoe is about 20g lighter overall. Ride has always been a reliable, naturally stable nicely cushioned shoe, but it’s now transcended into one that offers a smoother transition through each stride, thanks to the improved midsole material. The smooth ride makes it super easy to use in everyday training. As with the majority of Saucony road running shoes, the Ride is built on an 8mm heel-drop, to keep your body in more natural alignment, by encouraging a midfoot strike rather than heel strike.
Zero-Drop Neutral Shoes
Zero-drop shoes are very specialised. Runners landing on their forefoot or midfoot will appreciate the natural, close-to-the-ground feel. Forefoot or midfoot landing has less impact on your body and decreases stress that can lead to injury. These are also a great option for runners who are transitioning to midfoot landing. If you are not used to a zero-drop shoe, it can take time to adjust. Make sure you build up your mileage gradually, or you may encounter calf or Achilles problems.
Altra Escalante 4
A natural foot-shape and a zero-drop midsole are the two main characteristic of all Altra shoes. The forefoot shape of the Escalante is broader, to give your toes more space and allow them to spread naturally. The zero-drop platform encourages you to land on your midfoot or forefoot rather than your heel. There is still plenty of energy-return cushioning in the Escalante's midsole, for a smooth, energised ride and rebound. It can be used for any distance – from short up to ultra runs.
How do I know my foot strike when running?
Knowing your foot strike and gait is crucial when choosing running shoes. Find out if you're neutral, overpronating or supinating, and what to do next.
Best Stability Running Shoes: 2025
Feet rolling in when you run? Ensure the right support to help avoid injury. Huge selection of stability running shoes.
Best Minimalist & Low Heel-Drop Running Shoes: 2025
Minimalist Running as advocated by running form analysts, lessens our dependency on highly cushioned, supportive running shoes.
Best Running Shoes for Supination: 2025
Are your feet supinating? Supination, also known as ‘underpronation’, is a type of a foot strike (a running gait) where feet roll laterally to the outside after landing rather than staying upright or collapsing to the inside.
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Debbie McDonaldMay 8, 2020 at 8:29pm
Do you have any advice on what trainers would be next best for me to get? I usually wear Gel Foundation Motion Control Asics trainers and have done for years. I also need a lot of support and I wear insoles. I have been looking for these kind of trainers or trainers similar as I know you can’t get them anymore. Could you tell me which trainers would be next best to get? Thank you. ReplyNandanti MartaskovaMay 12, 2020 at 3:34pm
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for your comment. The shoes on this blog post are neutral. If the Asics Foundation worked for you well I would suggest you to look at our blog post with the supportive shoes for over-pronation, as they are closer to your Asics Foundation– strong support to reduce the over-pronation in the foot.
Within different brands there are few options. The closer in our range would be Brooks Addiction, Mizuno Paradox, or Saucony Omni.
Each brand is different. They shape their shoes in a different way, they put different type of cushioning in their shoe. The best would be to try the shoes on for a comparison and see how they fit and feel on your feet.
I hope that this helps. Please let me know if you have any questions. All the best with your running.
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