What is cushioning in the world of running, trail running, hiking and multisport shoes?

The cushioning of a shoe is its ability to absorb the force of an impact. In the case of running, this need arises when the foot encounters the ground, specifically the first 50 milliseconds of the approximately 250 milliseconds of the support phase of the stride. Thus, the function of the cushioning of a shoe is to make the contact phase as gradual as possible to minimize the inevitable impact with the ground.

From the moment your feet meet the ground, your body produces a vibration that resonates throughout your body from the impact zone through the muscles, bones and head. Your body is designed to naturally reduce this discomfort to facilitate basic functions such as vision. In addition, it adapts to minimize the level of vibration at the output (the head) regardless of the force generated at the input (the impact zone).

In a sports shoe, the function of cushioning is the ability of its materials to absorb the impact on our joints when running or exercising. Each brand has its own mechanisms, sometimes very different from each other, and this can make you choose one brand or another.

Nowadays, there is great rivalry between the main sports shoe brands to see which midsole is lighter, has better cushioning and has a more efficient return of energy. In fact, it is the cushioning systems that define each brand, making each runner end up choosing one model or another.