The Best Dual-Foam Midsole Running Shoes in Summer 2023
Dual-foam midsole running shoes bring the best of both worlds. Here are the best on the market today.
Running shoe foam is the major technology that informs how a shoe behaves. Some foams provide a cushioned and comfortable experience for relaxed runs, while other provide a firm and responsive platform for fast efforts. Over the past decade, brands have experimented with adding different types of foam into a shoe's midsole to get the benefits of both and provide a different experience than is possible with a single-layer of one foam. Below are the best dual-foam shoes on the market today.
Best Dual Foam Running Shoes
The most common use case for a dual-foam midsole is to add stability with a firm foam, typically an EVA, and responsiveness via a foam with high energy return, typically a PEBA or supercritical foam. Most dual-foam shoes put the EVA at the heel for stable landings and the PEBA or peppy foam at the forefoot for bouncy toe-offs. The second common application of a dual-foam structure in a running shoe puts two parallel full-length foams in the midsole, with the bouncier, more responsive foam close to the foot—often with a plate between the layers. Here are the best dual-foam running shoes on the market today.
1. Asics Superblast ($200): Best Overall Dual-Foam Running Shoe
The Asics Superblast is a do-it-all training shoe with a cushioned and propulsive ride. The Superblast uses Asics racing foam, FF Turbo, on top of its training foam, FF Blast+, creating a thick platform that's both comfortable and fast. It's a non-plated shoe, but the firmer FF Turbo stabilizes the platform and provides energy return that's commonly only found with a carbon fiber plate.
ASICS Superblast
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2. Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro ($250): Best Marathon Racing Shoe with Two Foams
The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro is a marathon racing shoe shoe that uses two foams an carbon fiber plate to serve a fast and bouncy ride. In the midsole, Mizuno uses both Enerzy Lite, a firmer foam on the bottom, and Enerzy Lite Pro, a softer foam on the top. There's a carbon fiber plate, as with all marathon racing shoes, but the real kicker is the midsole geometry that gives the middle of the shoe a taller stack height than the heel. This is designed to create a faster, bouncier ride similar to running on the track, but it may be unstable for some runners toward the end of a marathon.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro
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3. Hoka Mach X ($180): Best High Mileage Dual-Foam Running Shoe
The Hoka Mach X is a training shoe that uses two foams and a plastic plate to keep your legs fresh during high mileage weeks. The Mach X has a top layer of PEBA and a bottom layer of EVA. The ride is similar to the Hoka Mach 5 in that it's smooth, cushioned and comfortable, but it can also handle pace pickups. This is a great option for longer runs and marathon training days where you'll be getting an hour or more on your feet.
Hoka Mach X
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4. Tracksmith Eliot Runner ($200): Best Daily Trainer with Dual-Foam Set Up
The Tracksmith Eliot Runner is a daily trainer that integrates modern materials into a traditional-feeling platform. The Eliot Runner has a supercritical PEBA insole and a standard PEBA midsole, creating a dual-foam experience that's soft at slower paces and responsive for faster efforts. The Eliot Runner is a workhorse of a shoe in the same vein as a Nike Pegasus or Saucony Ride, so despite the high price-tag and pretty looks, it can handle whatever you throw at it.
Tracksmith Eliot Runner
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5. Adidas Adizero SL ($120): Most Affordable Dual Foam Running Shoe
The Adidas Adizero SL is a durable daily trainer with a lightweight construction and firm ride. The midsole uses primarily EVA-based Lightstrike, but there's a small disc of Lightstrike Pro, Adidas' supercritical racing foam, in the forefoot. At everyday running speeds, the SL is smooth and comfortable, but the dual-foam disc can be felt when driving toward a more aggressive cadence and picking up the pace. At $120, it's excellent value for a daily trainer; plus, it's often on sale for half that price.
Adidas Adizero SL
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6. Puma Deviate Nitro 2 ($160): Most Durable Dual-Foam Running Shoe
The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is a high-mileage trainer with two foams and a carbon fiber plate to help make the work of running easier during tough marathon training weeks. The Deviate Nitro 2 uses Puma's Nitro foam in the heel area, which is firm and stable for landings, and responsive Nitro Elite foam in the forefoot, which feels responsive and bouncy. The major draw versus other high-mileage trainers like the Hoka Mach X and Saucony Kinvara Pro is the outsole, as the PumaGrip rubber is one of the grippiest compounds on the market. There's also a thick application of it here, which drives up the weight but will increase the longevity of the shoe.
Puma Deviate Nitro 2
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7. Saucony Tempus ($160): Best Stability Dual-Foam Running shoe
The Saucony Tempus is the first stability running shoe that uses a super foam. Designed for overpronators, it's able to use Saucony's PEBA-based PWRRUN PB—which is traditionally highly unstable—because it cradles it with an outer core or firmer PWRRUN EVA. The result is a versatile stability shoe that can handle the varied demands of training, including everything from interval sessions and long runs to recovery running and race day. It's also a good option for neutral runners who need a little extra support.
Saucony Tempus
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8. Hoka Mach 5 ($140): Best Dual Foam Running Shoe for Tempo Runs
The Hoka Mach 5 is a lightweight training shoe that uses a dual-foam to provide a soft, cushioned and smooth ride. The top layer of foam in the Mach 5 is ProFly+, a supercritical EVA that's soft to the touch and underfoot, while the bottom layer is a rigid standard EVA. The result is a versatile uptempo shoe that has enough cushion for long runs and is also nimble enough for speed workouts at the track. The one downside is that there is no rubber outsole coverage, so the exposed EVA foam wears quickly for heavy scuffing runners.
Hoka Mach 5
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9. Adidas Boston 12 ($160): Best Dual-Foam Shoe for Long Runs
The Adidas Boston 12 is a speed-oriented everyday running shoe that borrows elements from the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3. It uses the same Lightstrike Pro sueprcritical foam, similar Energy Rods—though fiberglass here instead of carbon-fiber—and the same outsole rubber supplied by Continental, the shoe manufacturer. The key difference is that the heel uses Lightstrike 2.0 foam, an EVA compound that's stable and makes the platform friendlier for everyday runs.
Adidas Boston 12
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10. Hoka Tecton X 2: Best Dual Foam Trail Shoe
The Hoka Tecton X 2 is a trail racing shoe with a two foams in the midsole—and two carbon-fiber plates. It uses the same ProFly+ foam as the Hoka Mach 5, but bolsters the platform with the plates and a lugged outsole. The result is a comfortable and speedy ride designed for fast races on mild to moderate terrain. The Vibram rubber outsole (Megagrip Litebase) is also great for confident navigation in wet weather and across muddy trails.
Hoka Tecton X 2
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Final Thoughts
There are great dual-foam running shoes for every use case possible. For an everyday workhorse, there's the Eliot Runner. For long miles, the Mach X. And runners who need a stability shoe can even get in on the fun too with the Saucony Tempus. If you haven't decided what's right for you yet, head on over to the running shoe marketplace to evaluate and compare the best performance running shoes—one foam and two.
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