Best Cushioned Pickleball Shoes for Men: 9 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Our Top Picks: Cushioned Men’s Pickleball Shoes

“Cushioned” can mean almost anything on a shoe box, so this guide asks a narrower question: which men’s shoes have a cushioning foam the maker names in its own product text? Each of the nine picks is a men’s model whose maker names the technology in the midsole, the layer of foam between the outsole and your foot: New Balance’s Fresh Foam X and FuelCell, ASICS’s FlyteFoam and GEL, Yonex’s Power Cushion+ and K-Swiss’s Surgelite. The reviews are grouped by that technology. Each one quotes the maker’s words and sets them beside what RunRepeat’s lab measured, what a published review or a retailer’s playtesters found, or what owners reported.

This is not a general men’s list. For shoes picked on cushioning for men and women, see our cushioned pickleball shoes guide; none of its picks is repeated here. For an all-round men’s lineup, see our men’s pickleball shoes guide. Every pick was new and in stock on Amazon when we checked on October 25, 2026, and each review names the exact men’s size and colour we link. Weights appear only with the size they were measured at and their source.

Compare the picks

Compare the 9 cushioned men’s shoes

The Midsole and Court columns use each maker’s own words (ASICS’s and New Balance’s from their Amazon listing text, because their websites refuse our reader; for the Fresh Foam X 1007, New Balance’s own feature text as carried by its dealers, and the Amazon listing where it differs). The RunRepeat column gives the heel stack (the foam and rubber under the heel, measured with a caliper) and the midsole durometer reading in Asker C units, where a lower number means softer foam. These come from one lab’s tests of single pairs at different times, so treat them as a guide; “Not tested” means RunRepeat has no page for that model. Weight is for the size and from the source shown; the sources weigh different sizes, so the figures are not a ranking.

Which cushioned men’s shoe for which player

• You want thick, soft foam with lab readings behind it: the New Balance Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2 had a 33.3 mm heel stack and a 34.6 AC durometer reading in RunRepeat’s lab, which RunRepeat called “one of the softest tennis shoe foams we’ve experienced”. It is a tennis shoe that RunRepeat also files under pickleball.
• You play mostly pickleball: New Balance Men’s SmashStep PKL, a pickleball shoe with FuelCell foam, or ASICS Men’s Gel-Renma 2, which ASICS sells as a pickleball shoe for indoor sports. K-Swiss’s own Amazon listing also names pickleball for the Hypercourt Express 2.
• You also play tennis: the Yonex pair are all-court tennis shoes with Power Cushion+, the Eclipsion 5 built around stability and the AD-Accel around speed. Our tennis and pickleball shoes guide covers more shoes for both sports.
• You want a speed shoe with cushioning: ASICS sells the Solution Speed FF 4 as a speed shoe, and RunRepeat found its FlyteFoam “a good 18% softer than the FF 3’s midsole”.
• You need a wide fit: New Balance makes the Fresh Foam X 1007 in men’s D, 2E and 4E, according to PaddlersPick’s reading of New Balance’s pages; we link the standard width. Our men’s wide pickleball shoes guide covers wide models.
• You play indoors: ASICS describes the Gel-Renma 2 as “a good choice for indoor sports players”. Our indoor pickleball shoes guide has more indoor shoes.

Picks: New Balance Men’s Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2, New Balance Men’s Fresh Foam X 1007, New Balance Men’s SmashStep PKL, New Balance Men’s FuelCell 996 v6, ASICS Men’s Solution Speed FF 4, ASICS Men’s Gel-Renma 2, Yonex Men’s Power Cushion Eclipsion 5, Yonex Men’s Power Cushion AD-Accel, K-Swiss Men’s Hypercourt Express 2.

The midsole technologies, brand by brand

A midsole technology is a brand’s name for the foam, or the foam plus an insert, that sits between the outsole and the insole. The names are trademarks, not grades: no maker publishes a softness figure that compares across brands, so the common measure in this guide is RunRepeat’s lab, which has tested four of the nine picks.

New Balance Fresh Foam X. New Balance’s listing text for the CT-Rally v2 says its “Fresh Foam X midsole delivers our most cushioned Fresh Foam experience for incredible comfort”, and for the 1007 New Balance’s feature text, as carried by its dealers, says “Fresh Foam X midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride”. Two picks here.

New Balance FuelCell. New Balance describes it the same way on both FuelCell picks: “FuelCell foam delivers a propulsive feel to help drive you forward.” It is the foam of New Balance’s 996 tennis shoe and of its SmashStep PKL pickleball shoe. Two picks here.

ASICS FlyteFoam and GEL. ASICS’s listing for the Solution Speed FF 4 calls FlyteFoam “A lightweight midsole foam that delivers a comfortable cushioning experience.” GEL is a separate material: on the Gel-Renma 2, ASICS lists “Forefoot GEL technology” in the midsole for cushioning. One pick each.

Yonex Power Cushion+. Yonex names “POWER CUSHION+ technology” on both of its picks’ pages. On the Eclipsion 5 it adds what its listing calls “Feather Bounce FOAM”, and on the AD-Accel a “Hyper msLITE midsole”. Two picks here.

K-Swiss Surgelite. K-Swiss’s page for the Hypercourt Express 2 says “Surgelite midsole technology provides all day comfort”. One pick here.

A named foam tells you what the maker built, not how it will feel to you. The reviews below say where a lab, a reviewer or owners agreed with the maker’s description and where they did not.

How we chose the men’s shoes

What each shoe had to show

• A men’s shoe with a named midsole technology in the maker’s own text. The maker’s page, or its own Amazon listing text, or its feature text as carried by its dealers, where the maker’s site refuses our reader, names the cushioning technology. A shoe described only as having an “EVA midsole” or “lightweight cushioning” did not qualify.
• A court shoe. Pickleball or tennis court shoes; no running or walking shoes.
• On Amazon, new, in stock, at or below the maker’s regular price. Amazon.com held three of the offers, the ASICS and K-Swiss storefronts two, and four were held by tennis or court-sport retailers, named in their reviews. Sellers rotate by size, so read the listing before you buy.
• Weight only with its size and source. We do not compare the shoes by weight.
• Not already a pick in our other shoe guides, where we could. Two picks, the CT-Rally v2 and the Solution Speed FF 4, are the same men’s models as picks in our other shoe guides, and their reviews say so. None repeats a pick from our cushioned shoes guide for men and women.

New Balance has four of the nine picks: it names two midsole foams, Fresh Foam X and FuelCell, and we picked two men’s court shoes for each.

Where the cushioning evidence comes from and what owners on Reddit said

Where the cushioning evidence comes from

Each review has an evidence line. “Same series” means an independent source tested the model but not necessarily in the size or colour we link, or did not say which. “Retailer review” means a shop that sells the shoe wrote it. “Owner reports” means no independent test was found and the review leans on owners. RunRepeat cuts shoes in half and measures the stack with a caliper and the foam with a durometer; it has pages for the CT-Rally v2, FuelCell 996 v6, Solution Speed FF 4 and Hypercourt Express 2. Men’s Health included the Gel-Renma 2 in its pickleball shoe guide, Tennisnerd and Tennis.com reviewed the AD-Accel, and Tennis Warehouse, a retailer, playtested the men’s Eclipsion 5. For the SmashStep PKL and Fresh Foam X 1007 we found no independent test; PaddlersPick summarises owner reviews from New Balance’s site and Amazon.

What owners on Reddit said

Owner reports disagree as often as they agree. On r/10s, an Eclipsion 5 owner wrote: “Eclipsion 5 was not comfortable for me. It’s not so much that it is stiff, it is not cushy or plush at all.” The same owner moved to the New Balance CT-Rally and called it “very plush”. On r/Pickleball, an owner of the Fresh Foam X 1007 in X-Wide reported the upper tearing about a month after buying, while a new SmashStep PKL owner wrote, before playing in it, that “initial impressions after wearing them felt great on the feet.” These are single reports, so the reviews lean on makers’ statements and published tests.

Detailed Reviews

The reviews are grouped by midsole technology, not ranked.

New Balance Men’s Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2, Fresh Foam X tennis shoe

New Balance’s listing text describes the cushioning in one line: “Fresh Foam X midsole delivers our most cushioned Fresh Foam experience for incredible comfort.” The same words appear on New Balance’s own CT-Rally v2 page in Google’s results. New Balance does not state a court type in that text.

What the lab found: RunRepeat opened its review with: “If cushioning is high up your priority list in tennis shoes, we can’t think of a better option than the New Balance Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2!” It measured a 33.3 mm heel stack, “some of the highest readings”, and a durometer reading of 34.6 AC, “one of the softest tennis shoe foams we’ve experienced”. RunRepeat files it as a hard-court, all-court and pickleball shoe and wrote that its non-marking rubbers make it “versatile enough for playing tennis and pickleball on both hard courts and hardwood.” The trade-off RunRepeat names: “This New Balance tennis shoe is a no-go for agile players who need a lightweight shoe for explosive scrambles to the net.” It weighed a men’s US size 9 at 14.3 oz.

Not everyone agrees. PaddlersPick calls it “the most cushioned NB court shoe, but only 52% of reviewers on New Balance’s own site recommend it”, and advises skipping it at full price. This model is also a pick in our tennis and pickleball shoes guide. RunRepeat’s pair was a men’s 9; we link the men’s 7, sold by Amazon.com.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. RunRepeat lab test: men’s US 9, colour not stated.

Specs (men’s 7 (M), Electric Indigo/Boysenberry)

• Midsole: Fresh Foam X, “our most cushioned Fresh Foam experience” (New Balance listing)
• Court: not stated by New Balance; hard court, all court and pickleball (RunRepeat)
• RunRepeat lab: heel stack 33.3 mm, forefoot 20.2 mm, drop 13.1 mm, durometer 34.6 AC
• Weight: 14.3 oz (405 g), men’s US 9 (RunRepeat)
• Widths: standard and wide sizes on Amazon

New Balance Men’s Fresh Foam X 1007, Fresh Foam X, D to 4E

The 1007 is the second Fresh Foam X shoe here. newbalance.com refuses our reader, so we quote New Balance’s feature text as its dealers carry it (MT Kisco Sports and Michelson Shoes show the same line): “Fresh Foam X midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride”. The description Michelson Shoes carries, on its page for the white/navy colour, says the shoe is “Designed for both hard and clay courts”. The Amazon.com listing words it differently and says of the outsole: “NDURANCE RUBBER OUTSOLE – Made specifically for hard court play, the NDurance rubber outsole provides long-lasting durability and reliable traction for aggressive lateral movements”. These are two statements of the court, so we give both.

What owners report: we found no independent test. PaddlersPick, summarising owner reviews from New Balance’s site and Amazon, says reviewers like the roomy toe box and the Fresh Foam X cushioning. It lists complaints, including a reviewer who returned the shoe for feeling clunky and a player at three sessions a week who said the traction wore off within two weeks on an indoor court and they started sliding. It adds: “Only 69% of reviewers on newbalance.com recommend it, so it’s a fit pick, not a performance pick.” On r/Pickleball, an owner of the X-Wide version reported the upper tearing about a month after buying. PaddlersPick says New Balance sells it in men’s D, 2E and 4E; we link the standard (M) width, sold by Amazon.com.

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. PaddlersPick, summarising owner reviews from newbalance.com and Amazon: men’s version, size not stated.

Specs (men’s 9.5 (M), Black/Grey)

• Midsole: Fresh Foam X (New Balance feature text, via its dealers)
• Court: hard and clay courts (New Balance description, via Michelson Shoes); hard court (Amazon listing)
• Outsole: NDurance rubber (Amazon listing)
• Widths: men’s D, 2E and 4E (PaddlersPick, from New Balance’s pages)
• Weight: not published with a size

New Balance Men’s SmashStep PKL, FuelCell pickleball shoe

The SmashStep PKL is New Balance’s pickleball shoe, and its listing text names the midsole foam: “FuelCell foam delivers a propulsive feel to help drive you forward.” It adds: “Ndurance rubber outsole is built for increased durability in high wear areas.” New Balance does not state a court type.

What owners report: we found no independent test. PaddlersPick reported: “On newbalance.com the men’s SmashStep has 4.4★ from 37 reviews, and 90% of reviewers recommend it.” It also warned: “A note on the reviews: many of the SmashStep’s reviews on newbalance.com are marked “incentivized” (the reviewer got the shoe free).” On r/Pickleball, one new owner wrote, before playing in them, that “initial impressions after wearing them felt great on the feet.” We link the standard (D) width in men’s 9, sold by Amazon.com; Amazon also lists men’s Wide sizes, and our men’s pickleball shoes guide links the wide version.

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. PaddlersPick, summarising owner reviews from newbalance.com and Amazon: men’s version, size not stated.

Specs (men’s 9 (D), Zinc Blue/NB Navy)

• Midsole: FuelCell foam (New Balance listing)
• Outsole: Ndurance rubber (New Balance listing)
• Court: pickleball shoe; court type not stated by New Balance
• Widths: standard and wide sizes on Amazon
• Weight: not published with a size

New Balance Men’s FuelCell 996 v6, FuelCell tennis shoe

The 996 v6 carries the same FuelCell description as the SmashStep: “FuelCell foam delivers a propulsive feel to help drive you forward.” New Balance’s listing adds “NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas” and “Non-marking outsole”. New Balance now sells the 996v7 on its own site; the v6 is still on Amazon.

What the lab found: RunRepeat wrote: “One of New Balance’s top offerings for tennis, we found the 996 v6 a solid performance shoe.” It measured a 29.8 mm heel stack and a 47.8 AC durometer reading, “on par with the average for tennis shoes”, and listed “Lively and propulsive cushioning” among its pros. Its main con was durability: “The lack of durability in the shoe’s upper and toe drag guard was a major turnoff for us. If you are an aggressive slider, we recommend investing in a better-reinforced shoe.” It weighed a men’s US size 9 at 13.8 oz. RunRepeat files it as a hard-court and pickleball shoe. Tennis Warehouse, a tennis retailer, held the Amazon offer for the men’s 10 we link.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. RunRepeat lab test: men’s US 9, colour not stated.

Specs (men’s 10, Sea Salt/Alkaline Green)

• Midsole: FuelCell foam (New Balance listing)
• Outsole: NDurance rubber, non-marking (New Balance listing)
• Court: not stated by New Balance; hard court and pickleball (RunRepeat)
• RunRepeat lab: heel stack 29.8 mm, forefoot 21.4 mm, drop 8.4 mm, durometer 47.8 AC
• Weight: 13.8 oz (390 g), men’s US 9 (RunRepeat)

ASICS Men’s Solution Speed FF 4, FlyteFoam speed shoe

ASICS’s own Amazon listing text (asics.com refuses our reader) describes the midsole: “FLYTEFOAM technology: A lightweight midsole foam that delivers a comfortable cushioning experience.” It adds “PRECISION SOLE with ASICSGRIP: Offers excellent traction without sacrificing grip and durability.” ASICS sells separate Clay and OC versions; we link the standard model.

What the lab found: RunRepeat wrote: “Featuring a thicker, softer slab of FlyteFoam, the shoe took a step toward cushioned comfort without losing its speed-shoe identity.” It measured a 30.9 mm heel stack and a 38.6 AC durometer reading, “a good 18% softer than the FF 3’s midsole”, and wrote that the change earned the shoe “a spot among the best cushioned tennis shoes in our lab”. Its cons were “Low toebox height” and “Serious lack of breathability”. RunRepeat’s page does not say which size it weighed, so we give no weight. This model is also a pick in our guide to pickleball shoes for traction. The ASICS storefront sold the men’s 9 we link.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. RunRepeat lab test: size not stated, colour not stated.

Specs (men’s 9, White/Black)

• Midsole: FlyteFoam (ASICS listing)
• Outsole: Precision Sole with ASICSGRIP (ASICS listing)
• Court: not stated by ASICS; Clay and OC versions sold separately; hard court, all court and pickleball (RunRepeat)
• RunRepeat lab: heel stack 30.9 mm, forefoot 19.9 mm, drop 11.0 mm, durometer 38.6 AC
• Weight: not published with a size

ASICS Men’s Gel-Renma 2, GEL indoor court shoe

ASICS sells the Gel-Renma 2 as a pickleball shoe, and its listing text names “Forefoot GEL technology” in the midsole for cushioning. It also lists “TRUSSTIC technology: Designed to help increase stability by reducing twisting of the shoe during movement.” ASICS’s description calls it “a good choice for indoor sports players”; some retailers, including Squash Galaxy, list it as an indoor/outdoor shoe.

What the review found: Men’s Health named the Gel-Renma 2 its “Best Budget Pickleball Shoes” and introduced it with: “Enter the second iteration of the Asics Gel-Renma pickleball shoes.” Its pros were “Affordable”, “Great stability” and “Quite comfy”; its cons were “May be too narrow for some” and “Long term durability is lacking”. Men’s Health does not say which gender or size it wore. For more shoes picked on price, see our budget pickleball shoes guide. MyVolleyballGear, a court-sport retailer, held the Amazon offer for the men’s 11 we link, below ASICS’s regular price.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Men’s Health: gender and size not stated.

Specs (men’s 11, Black/White)

• Midsole: forefoot GEL technology (ASICS listing)
• Stability: Trusstic technology (ASICS listing)
• Court: indoor sports (ASICS); indoor/outdoor (Squash Galaxy, retailer)
• Weight: not published with a size

Yonex Men’s Power Cushion Eclipsion 5, Power Cushion+ stability

Yonex’s page says the Eclipsion 5 “combines evolved POWER CUSHION+ technology with a supportive construction” and is “Designed for all-court performance”. Yonex’s Amazon listing adds: “Feather Bounce FOAM adds lightweight cushioning and bounce with an energetic feel underfoot during tennis matches and court play”.

What the playtesters found: Tennis Warehouse, which sells the shoe, playtested the men’s version. One tester wrote: “I especially liked the level of cushioning. They felt plush, yet responsive, under both my heel and forefoot regions.” Another wanted more: “for this type of shoe (support/stability/durability) I want a bit more cushion under the forefoot region.” A third playtester weighed his size 11s at “around 15 ounces”. An owner on r/10s disagreed with the first tester: “Eclipsion 5 was not comfortable for me. It’s not so much that it is stiff, it is not cushy or plush at all.” MP Tennis and Sports, a tennis retailer, held the Amazon offer for the men’s 7.5 we link, at Yonex’s own price.

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Tennis Warehouse playtest: men’s version, sizes not stated.

Specs (men’s 7.5, White)

• Midsole: Power Cushion+ (Yonex) with Feather Bounce foam (Yonex listing)
• Court: all court (Yonex)
• Weight: about 15 oz, size 11 (Tennis Warehouse playtester)

Yonex Men’s Power Cushion AD-Accel, Power Cushion+ speed

Yonex’s page for the Gray Yellow colour says the AD-Accel combines “advanced POWER CUSHION+ technology with the innovative ACCEL BOOSTER shank”. Its Amazon listing adds: “The lightweight Hyper msLITE midsole maintains its shape during repeated movement”. Yonex sells it as an all-court shoe.

What the reviewers found: Tennisnerd wrote: “The Yonex Ad-Accel is a speedy tennis shoe with excellent comfort that will appeal to light and fast movers, but perhaps not hard court sliders due to its grippy sole.” It added: “I think lighter players who prioritize explosive movement will enjoy this shoe a lot. But heavier players might want more stability and weight.” Tennis.com concluded: “Nimble, responsive and comfortable, the new Ad-Accel is welcome addition to the lightweight performance shoe category.” Tennis.com gives 11.8 oz for a men’s 9. Tennisnerd’s pair was a US 10.5; we link the men’s 11 in the 2026 Gray Yellow colour, which TennisRacquets.com, a tennis retailer, held at below Yonex’s price.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Tennisnerd: US 10.5, colour not stated.

Specs (men’s 11, Gray Yellow)

• Midsole: Power Cushion+ (Yonex) and Hyper msLITE (Yonex listing); Accel Booster shank (Yonex)
• Court: all court (Yonex)
• Weight: 11.8 oz, men’s 9 (Tennis.com)

K-Swiss Men’s Hypercourt Express 2, Surgelite all-court

K-Swiss’s page says “Surgelite midsole technology provides all day comfort” and calls the Hypercourt Express 2 “light, comfortable, breathable, and has a generous fit”. Its own Amazon listing adds: “SURGELITE cushioning delivers lightweight, flexible comfort for quick movement on court”, names pickleball and “All-Court” in the title, and lists “AOSTA 7.0 high-density rubber” for the outsole.

What the lab found: RunRepeat wrote: “The K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2 delivers a great deal of comfort with its fairly soft midsole foam.” It measured a durometer reading of 41.5 AC, “about 15% softer than average!”, and a 29.2 mm heel stack, and weighed a men’s US size 9 at 12.3 oz. Its cons were “Lacks breathability” and “Not for narrow feet”. K-Swiss sells a separate indoor version with a gum sole, which is a pick in our indoor shoes guide; this is the standard all-court shoe. RunRepeat’s pair was a men’s 9; we link the men’s 10, sold by the K-Swiss storefront at K-Swiss’s own price.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. RunRepeat lab test: men’s US 9, colour not stated.

Specs (men’s 10 (M), Blue Opal/Black/White)

• Midsole: Surgelite (K-Swiss)
• Outsole: Aosta 7.0 high-density rubber (K-Swiss listing)
• Court: all-court (K-Swiss listing)
• RunRepeat lab: heel stack 29.2 mm, forefoot 19.4 mm, drop 9.8 mm, durometer 41.5 AC
• Weight: 12.3 oz (349 g), men’s US 9 (RunRepeat)

Checks before you buy a cushioned men’s shoe

• Read the foam name, then look for a test. A named midsole tells you what the maker built. Four picks here have RunRepeat readings; for the others, the review says what evidence there is.
• Expect a trade-off with speed. RunRepeat calls the thick-stacked CT-Rally v2 a no-go for agile players who want a lightweight shoe, while ASICS and Yonex sell the Solution Speed FF 4 and AD-Accel as speed shoes.
• Check the court. ASICS describes the Gel-Renma 2 for indoor sports players, New Balance’s description, as its dealers carry it, says the 1007 is designed for both hard and clay courts (the Amazon listing says hard court), and Yonex rates both of its shoes for all courts. ASICS sells Clay and OC versions of the Solution Speed FF 4, so make sure the listing is the standard model.
• Check the width. RunRepeat says the Hypercourt Express 2 is not for narrow feet, and Men’s Health found the Gel-Renma 2 may be too narrow for some. New Balance sells the 1007 in wider widths.
• Watch the seller. Several picks were sold by tennis or court-sport retailers at or below the maker’s price; the seller can change by size and day.

For what else to bring to the court, see what to wear for pickleball; for fit and other features beyond cushioning, see how to choose pickleball shoes.

Shoes we left out

• adidas Barricade 14: RunRepeat found a Lightstrike Pro foam inside but wrote, “We are quite surprised that adidas’s product description doesn’t mention the presence of a full-length Lightstrike Pro in the Barricade 14”, so we could not find the foam named in adidas’s own text.
• adidas Adizero Ubersonic 5: adidas names a Lightstrike midsole, but RunRepeat measured its foam at 63.8 AC, “31% firmer than the category average”, with a below-average heel stack, so we did not count it as a cushioned pick.
• Babolat Jet Tere 2 All Court: Babolat’s page describes only an “EVA midsole” that “provides soft cushioning”, without a named technology.
• Nike Vapor Pro 3: Nike names “springy Air Zoom cushioning”, but the only Amazon offer we found was above Nike’s price.
• Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 7: Mizuno names its Enerzy foams, but the men’s version is already a pick in our men’s pickleball shoes guide and two other shoe guides. The Wave Exceed Light 2 was out of stock in the men’s sizes listed.
• The picks in our cushioned shoes guide for men and women, including the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 3, Skechers Viper Court Rally and Wilson Rush Pro 5, are covered there, so we did not repeat them.

Frequently Asked Questions

RunRepeat measured four of the nine picks. Lower durometer readings (AC) mean softer foam. It read the New Balance Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2 at 34.6 AC with a 33.3 mm heel stack, the ASICS Solution Speed FF 4 at 38.6 AC, the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2 at 41.5 AC and the New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 at 47.8 AC. RunRepeat wrote of the CT-Rally v2 that it could not think of a better option if cushioning is high on your list. No maker publishes a softness figure that compares across brands, and for the other five picks the makers name the foam but we found no lab reading.

They are each brand’s names for its cushioning materials. New Balance describes Fresh Foam X as its most cushioned Fresh Foam and FuelCell as giving “a propulsive feel”; ASICS calls FlyteFoam a lightweight midsole foam and places GEL in the forefoot of the Gel-Renma 2; Yonex uses Power Cushion+ across its shoes; and K-Swiss calls Surgelite a midsole technology. The names do not say how soft a shoe is, which is why the reviews add lab readings where they exist.

Two of the nine: the New Balance SmashStep PKL and the ASICS Gel-Renma 2. The other seven are tennis shoes, though K-Swiss’s listing names pickleball for the Hypercourt Express 2 and RunRepeat files several of them under pickleball too. Our guide to whether you can wear tennis shoes for pickleball goes further.

No source we read counts that. Players on r/Pickleball and r/10s name a wide range of court shoes. For a broad men’s lineup, see our men’s pickleball shoes guide.

Court shoes, meaning pickleball or tennis shoes, rather than running or walking shoes; every pick here is one. Among cushioned men’s court shoes, start with the midsole technology the maker names and then check the court type, width and any test. Our guide to how to choose pickleball shoes covers fit and support.

We did not find one that met our rules. adidas names a Lightstrike midsole on the Adizero Ubersonic 5, but RunRepeat measured its foam as much firmer than average; RunRepeat found a Lightstrike Pro foam in the Barricade 14 but noted that adidas’s product description does not mention it.

Start with the Hypercourt Express 2 and the Gel-Renma 2: RunRepeat says the Hypercourt Express 2 is not for narrow feet, and Men’s Health found the Gel-Renma 2 may be too narrow for some. In the other direction, New Balance sells the Fresh Foam X 1007 in men’s D, 2E and 4E, per PaddlersPick, and Amazon lists men’s Wide sizes of the SmashStep PKL and CT-Rally v2. We link the standard widths. Our men’s wide pickleball shoes guide covers wide models in more depth.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

For thick, soft cushioning with lab readings behind it, start with the New Balance Men’s Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2 (check price), whose Fresh Foam X midsole RunRepeat called one of the softest tennis-shoe foams it has tried, if you do not need a lightweight, nimble shoe. For a pickleball-built shoe, the New Balance Men’s SmashStep PKL (check price) has FuelCell foam and the ASICS Men’s Gel-Renma 2 (check price) has forefoot GEL for indoor courts. The K-Swiss Men’s Hypercourt Express 2 (check price) has a Surgelite midsole RunRepeat measured as softer than average, in a shoe RunRepeat calls light and nimble. The ASICS Men’s Solution Speed FF 4 (check price) and Yonex Men’s Power Cushion AD-Accel (check price) add cushioning to speed shoes, the Yonex Men’s Power Cushion Eclipsion 5 (check price) puts Power Cushion+ in a stability shoe, and the New Balance Men’s FuelCell 996 v6 (check price) and New Balance Men’s Fresh Foam X 1007 (check price) round out New Balance’s two foams, the 1007 in wider widths. For men’s and women’s shoes picked on cushioning, see our cushioned pickleball shoes guide.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.