I would hate to run a long distance in the Joyride, but in the Propel, I look forward to long weekend runs exceeding 30 kilometres. The last two digits of the number used to indicate the level of cushioning: a “60” being a stability shoe while a “80” a neutral shoe. This is the actual list:

The synthetic mesh is soft and has large, breathable pores that remind me of spacer mesh—the kind used on the early Nike Bowerman series. There is a smooth inside lining that makes the Propel very comfortable. While this is not strictly the case anymore, the concept stays: you can expect the cost (and features) of the shoe to go up when moving from a “8” model to a “10” or a “12”.

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The mesh upper offers no-sew overlays for a lightweight breathable feel. From the previous model to this current one, the biggest upgrade is the redesigned upper.

Earlier this year, I bought two very expensive soft shoes to try to fill the hole: the Pegasus Turbo 2 and the Joyride. The Pegasus Turbo 2’s forefoot bottomed out over long distances while the Joyride was so lumpy that it felt like I was running on popped blisters. The plate reminds me of the plate that’s in the ASICS GlideRide 3– it’s very flexible so it doesn’t make slow running in the Propel v4 feel awkward. The downside of this is that it doesn’t offer as much propulsion as a stiffer plate. If you want something stiffer/faster, I recommend the Magic Speed 2 or the Puma Deviate Nitro 2. The way we see it, stitched lines are a clever way of adding structure and design depth without a weight penalty. It also makes the shoe look less ‘synthetic’. We’re not quite sure what the FuelCell Propel’s midsole is exactly made of. It feels like EVA foam but has more life and resilience – meaning it compresses easily but doesn’t feel mushy.NDurance rubber covers their outsole. It provides good grip, even on a wet sidewalk, according to testers. Mind you, they don’t all seem to agree on this. On the other hand, the sole seems to be quite durable. The 1080V9 is also a wiser choice if you’re a heavy runner. Under slow paces, the Propel might not have enough midsole for a heavy runner and can potentially bottom out. You can also browse from the alternatives listed at the end of this review. The embroidery on the Propel’s upper is superficial. You won’t see the stitching on the inside of the shoe, and as a result, the interiors feel smooth over the foot.

There are some shoes that you know you will like before you have even tried them on. The FuelCell Propel was one of those shoes for me.

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One final piece of praise, these shoes have a durable outsole that showed no sign of wear over 50+ miles, I would expect it to last for a while before breaking down. Shop Propel V3 – Men Shop Propel V3 – Women The Bad Over 500 new running shoe models are released annually, and not every product gets the attention it deserves. The Asics Cumulus 21 also gives you a soft, comfortable ride. And so does the adidas Solar Drive 19 – but of a firmer, more responsive kind. The Reebok Forever Floatride Energy offers a similar ride as the core ingredient of adidas Boost and the Floatride Energy foams are the same e-TPU.