The engine's answer
Best running shoe with maximum cushioning for fitness running on gravel and forest paths, under €280
Nike Zegama 2
82% match
ZoomX cushioning gone off-road
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Live search for the Nike Zegama 2 at retailers that carry it.
Why it wins here
The Nike Zegama 2 wins this question with a 82% match against all 78 shoes in the catalogue. It costs €180, weighs 287 g and stands on a 43 mm heel stack with a 4 mm drop; its cushioning scores 85/100, its grip 85/100 and its energy return 62/100. The tightest constraint is the terrain: only 19 of the 78 shoes count as trail capability, and 19 clear both the price and the terrain filter. Its biggest edge over that field is on terrain — Trail shoe, grip 85 /100, stability 68 /100; 19 of 78 shoes count as trail capability. The nearest runner-up, the Hoka Speedgoat 6, finished 0 points behind.
The dimensions where it beats the rest of the field by the most, for this question specifically — with the numbers behind each one.
- TerrainTrail shoe, grip 85 /100, stability 68 /100; 19 of 78 shoes count as trail capability
- Cushioncushioning 85 /100, stack height 43 mm
- Goalcushioning 85 /100, durability 78 /100
- Budget€180, €100 under the €280 ceiling — 77 of 78 shoes qualify
What's good
- Plush long-haul comfort on rough ground
- Vibram grip that matches the foam
What to watch
- Tall stack on technical rock needs trust
- Warm for summer trail days
What the runners-up gave up
The next three in the ranking, and the measure each one lost on against the Nike Zegama 2.
- Hoka Speedgoat 682%The benchmark for eating technical trailHoka Speedgoat 6 (82%) lost on cushioning: stack height 38 mm against 43 mm for the Nike Zegama 2. SportsShoes.com ↗ Top4Running ↗ Running Warehouse ↗
- Saucony Xodus Ultra 382%Built for the hundredth kilometre, not the firstSaucony Xodus Ultra 3 (82%) lost on cushioning: stack height 38 mm against 43 mm for the Nike Zegama 2. SportsShoes.com ↗ Top4Running ↗ Running Warehouse ↗
- Asics Trabuco Max 481%Max cushion for long days in the hillsAsics Trabuco Max 4 (81%) lost on terrain: grip 80 /100 against 85 /100 for the Nike Zegama 2. SportsShoes.com ↗ Top4Running ↗ Running Warehouse ↗
Questions this answer raises
- Is the Nike Zegama 2 within a €280 budget?
- Yes. At €180 it sits €100 under the ceiling, and 77 of the 78 shoes in the catalogue come in at €280 or less.
- Does the Nike Zegama 2 suit gravel and forest paths?
- It is a trail shoe with grip 85 /100 and stability 68 /100. The question filtered for trail capability, which 19 of the 78 shoes are; for fitness running the ranking also weighed cushioning 85 /100, durability 78 /100.
- How much shoe is under foot in the Nike Zegama 2?
- A 43 mm heel stack with a 4 mm drop, a cushioning score of 85/100 and no plate — at 287 g on the scale.
Change an assumption
This page answers one runner's question. Yours is not that question — adjust the surface, the goal or the budget and watch the whole field re-rank.
Answer for your own running