By Matt Alagiah | Photography and Video by Elizabeth Arvelos Coetzee

When Allbirds launched in March 2016, its sneakers were instantly dubbed the "world's most comfortable shoes" by TIME magazine. The San Francisco label won over shoppers with its low-key branding and sustainable materials like plush merino, in addition to its soft cushioning. But in recent years Allbirds has lost heat. Its share price is down more than 90% since its 2021 IPO. In January it announced the closure of all full-price stores in the U.S. Allbirds did not respond to requests for comment.

Its shoes were criticized by some tech bros for wearing out too quickly. But also, competition for comfy kicks has ramped up. As dress codes continue to relax, "max cushion" or "performance comfort" sneakers originally designed for road running -- think chunky foam soles and mesh uppers -- have been accepted as casual everyday shoes.

"The landscape of comfort has changed dramatically," said James Hesse, an Oregon-based footwear content creator.

Comfort "is definitely more top of mind than ever," said Seth Fowler, a Philadelphia sneakerhead who started releasing regular comfort-focused videos on his YouTube channel in response to viewer comments.

This isn't simply a case of cloudlike foam and squidgy soles. Counterintuitively, in order to deliver supreme comfort a shoe can't be too soft. It must offer support, too.

So, which casual kicks can now claim the comfort crown? We tapped eight experts, including sneakerheads and a foot-focused physical therapist, for their picks.

The Anatomy of Comfort

The midsole, the underfoot cushioning layer that provides stability and shock absorption, is "probably the most important factor" for comfort, said Jacques Slade, a Los Angeles-based content creator and sneakerhead. He said the midsole is responsible for "probably 70% or 80%" of comfort. Other factors he cited: the fit of the shoe, particularly its width; and the breathability of the upper materials (in running shoes, often a soft mesh).

Eddie Win, a footwear-focused content creator in New Hampshire, describes that feeling of softness when you put on a sneaker as "step-in comfort." Rahul Cee, a Toronto-based industry veteran who runs footwear review website Solereview, noted that in recent years there has been a trend toward softer, taller midsoles. That's not necessarily a good thing. "Really soft cushioning can...promote excess movement," said James McCormack, a physical therapist specializing in foot and ankle injuries. "It challenges your muscles and tendons to work harder to stabilize your foot," said McCormack, who runs the YouTube channel Flawless Physio Shoe Reviews from Annecy, France. Over time, he said, "our joints tend to increase in stiffness to compensate."

You want shoes that strike a balance between "cushioning comfort and support," said Cee.

The upper is often overlooked. Retro sneakers, said Win, have leather or synthetic-leather uppers -- "a rigid material that doesn't let the shoe bend very much" and can "dig into the top of your foot." Modern running shoes tend to use a far more flexible and breathable mesh upper that "lets the shoe twist and move in any position," said Win. He suggests seeking out shoes with "a thinner, more open mesh" for breathability, praising the $170 Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 as a standout.

Shoppers often buy the wrong-shaped sneakers for their feet, said McCormack. Different brands and models cater to different shapes, he said. Altra and Topo specialize in shoes with what McCormack calls "an anatomical toe box" -- more space around the toes. New Balances are "typically very good for a generally wide foot," he said.

The Comfort Winners

For Hesse, few shoes are as comfortable as the $180 Nike Vomero Plus, a running sneaker with a bulky stack of midsole foam that was released last year. "It's probably the most comfy Nike sneaker I've ever tried on, " said Hesse. He called it "surprisingly responsive," meaning that the foam springs back and helps push your foot into the next step. Hesse also rates the wider fit of these shoes. They're "very stable," he said, even with "a max stack of foam."

Tyler Timpone, a mountain guide in Connecticut with more than 15 years' experience, runs Mountaineer Journey, a blog and YouTube channel where he publishes shoe reviews based on hours of trekking. His top everyday shoe for walking is the $160 Brooks Ghost Max 3. "Yes it's a max-cushion shoe, but it doesn't feel like it collapses into a soft, unstable mess once the miles stack up," he said. He attributes this sense of lasting stability -- and plushness -- to Brooks' DNA LOFT v3 cushioning.

Nikhil Jain, Brooks' director of product line management and innovation, works in the brand's Run Research Lab inside its Seattle headquarters. He explained the "nitrogen-infused process" behind the DNA LOFT v3: Liquid nitrogen is transformed into a gas under high heat and pressure, then infused into the foam, "creating a very consistent cell structure" -- essentially, lots of tiny bubbles. He said this makes the foam "softer, lighter and more responsive...without sacrificing durability."

Timpone also rates the $175 Hoka Bondi 9 because of its Active Foot Frame, a midsole foam design that creates a kind of "bucket seat" around the back of the foot. "Your foot feels cradled," he said. However, Win said that he has generally found Hokas "too spongy to have on my feet all day."

Win is a fan of the $150-$160 Asics GEL-Kayano 14, a classic style originally released in 2008 and since updated. He particularly likes the sneaker's fit. "Nowadays, it feels like a lot of shoes are more narrow, and they want to hug your foot a bit more," he said. He finds the GEL-Kayano 14 "more wide-foot-friendly." Its upper, made from a "flowy, open mesh," is highly breathable, he added.

Some of these designs skew super casual. Not keen to wear a neon sneaker with air bubbles embedded in 2 inches of foam? Cee calls the $250 Ecco ST 1 Hybrid "a solid choice" for something dressier. This derby features the same lightweight, bouncy midsole tech found in the brand's hiking and trekking shoes.

Comfort For A Steal

The comfiest sneakers don't come cheap. For those seeking less-pricey options, however, McCormack recommends the Asics GEL-Pulse series (around $105). Though the GEL-Pulse models are more entry-level than Asics' just-launched, cutting-edge $210 Superblast 3, they're still good quality, said McCormack.

Often "the big issue" with cheaper models, he said, is that the outsole rubber wears down quickly, making the shoes less comfortable. The GEL-Pulse models don't have this issue, he explained, because they tend to feature a durable layer of outsole rubber (the tread on the bottom).

Beyond fancy tech and foam chemistry, comfort can be viewed as something relatively simple. "The gold standard is something we call 'invisible design,'" said Long-Nam To, chair of the sneaker design program at the Savannah College of Art and Design. "It means you put your feet in and don't notice anything. Nothing hurts, you don't have to think about it. That means it's perfect."

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 20, 2026 22:00 ET (03:00 GMT)

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