Introduction:
KIPRUN are well known for their budget friendly nature. The Cushion 500 is certainly in keeping with this ethos. At just €69.99 there are not many shoes in the price bracket. However, while we all like a bargain, sometimes you get what you pay for. Have KIPRUN created a budget banger or have they skimped their way to irrelevance?
We put the Cushion 500 through its paces to find out. How did it do? Read on to find out.
Here we have a no frills upper
Andy: As would be expected in a shoe at such a low price, the materials in the upper are pretty basic. That said, comfort is not an issue. The foot is held well in place and the shoe is breathable. During my runs, I have been lucky enough to enjoy some higher temperatures which have not phased the upper of the Cushion 500 at all.
Around the upper, we find all the padding you would expect from a daily trainer. At the rear, we find a thick collar of padding which combines with the stout heel cup and overlapping midsole foam to hold the foot firmly in place. As we move to the mid-section of the upper, the thickly padded tongue, gusseted on the medial side, helps the lockdown remain secure.
At the front of the shoe, the toe box is pleasantly sized. Unless you have an extra wide or narrow foot, there should be no problems with the shoe being true to size. Whilst it is not the fanciest upper you will find on a daily trainer, it does all you will need.
My one issue with the upper is the laces. If you happen to be a rock climber or needing to rescue someone from a fairytale tower, they are a perfect length. However, if you are heading out for a run, they are ludicrously long. Long enough that I was worried about tripping over then even when they were double knotted.
Overall, the upper, despite the low cost of the shoe, does not feel lacking in quality. It is true to size, comfortable, padded where needed and well fitting. Not much to gripe about really.
Ivan: Evaluating budget models can be tricky – expectations are lower, but in reality price doesn’t define overall performance. Depending on your budget, salary, location, etc., ‘cheap’ and ‘expensive’ are relative.
The upper and fit, it’s quite basic, as Andy already mentioned. Personally, I don’t mind that, regardless of price. As long as it doesn’t bother me while running, I’m good. I rarely care about how soft or smooth the materials are. I always run with socks on, and minor issues tend to fade quickly. Maybe years of running and some leather-thick skin have just made me less prone to irritation.
As for the KIPRUN Cushion 500, some might find the materials a bit rough to the touch – but it didn’t bother me. The upper is light and breathable, which I appreciate. Lockdown feels secure thanks to a well-padded, structured heel counter and a semi-thick gusseted tongue. There aren’t many reinforcements or overlays, but the narrow platform creates a snug fit. Some may find that reassuring, others might find it too tight.
It does run a bit short in my usual EU 41. While other KIPRUN models offer plenty of space at this size (which is a half a size down from other brands for me), the Cushion 500 fits smaller. Probably close to ‘true to size’ compared to most other brands. Other than that, not much to flag—and luckily, I didn’t get the absurdly long laces Andy did.
The midsole has cushion with some limits
Andy: KIPRUN’s MFOAM takes midsole duties here. While this may not have the lightness and bounce of the Feather Bounce material of the KD900X Lab, it is competent. This will not be a shoe which makes every run an exciting bouncefest. That said, it is a material which will doubtless have hundreds of miles of durability.
From the box it feels firm and unforgiving to the touch. The thumb test really did not fill me with joy about running in the Cushion 500. However, on foot, it feels a lot softer. There is not a great deal of compression and rebound. What it does offer is a good dampening sensation which is akin to that of the Nike React foam. It has the feel of an older model Pegasus, which for many may be no bad thing.
Due to the density and firmness of the MFOAM the shoe has a good level of stability. Furthermore, it is a simple running show which could suit a lot of footstrikes. As a very forefoot striker, I felt happy with the level of cushion offered and the toe off makes the run roll easily. With that said, I do find that the Cushion 500 rather runs out of cushion for me after about 10km.
Perhaps I am spoiled with the shoes which I have worn, but I did find that the ride ran out of depth after about 10km. While this makes it fine for my morning runs, it will never be my companion on a marathon training 20 miler. Although, this is an entry level running shoe and for a lot of beginner runners 10km is an aspiration rather than a daily occurrence. For beginners, this shoe does offer what you need for a very good price. It offers shock dampening, support and stability.
If you are just taking up the hobby of running or maybe a more experienced runner looking for a pair of shoes for the muckier months, you could do a lot worse than the Cushion 500. Running doesn’t have to be expensive and the Cushion 500 supports KIPRUN’s ethos of bringing movement to the masses.
Ivan: As much as I’d like to compare it to typical ‘fitness’ shoes in this price range, I think it makes more sense to measure it against budget-friendly real running shoes, such as the Nike Pegasus or Adidas Supernova Rise. That’s mainly because I have little to no experience with lower-tier fitness shoes that use clearly inferior materials. I’ve noticed many of those cheaper models share the same materials as kids’ shoes. Probably because kids either outgrow them quickly or wear them down fast, and most parents aim to keep costs down.
The Kiprun Cushion 500 falls somewhere between these price brackets. It’s clearly more refined than ultra-budget fitness shoes, with a structured heel and semi-gusseted tongue. Features you don’t often find in that category. The step-in feel is better, and there’s some noticeable depth during runs. I agree with Andy that it does bottom out after a while, so it’s not meant for seasoned runners doing long runs, but it’s not harsh either. The VFOAM and thick insole provide decent cushioning, though the energy return and responsiveness are less exciting. The cushioning is fairly evenly distributed and should work for most runners, regardless of footstrike.
The Cushion 500 is a solid choice for those on a very tight budget or new runners. However, I’m torn because many new runners quit early, often due to a lacklustre experience. I don’t think it will spark excitement for most. I typically recommend new runners invest a bit more in livelier, more dynamic shoes, like KIPRUN’s own KD900X lineup or something like the adidas Evo SL, ASICS Novablast or NB Rebel. If possible, saving on extra apparel and putting that money into a better shoe could be key to developing a lasting passion for running. But that’s just my take, and I understand not everyone is in the same position.
The rubber offers solid, silent grip
Andy: When we come to the outsole, it continues the dependable but no frills approach to the rest of the shoe. The rubber covers all the potential high strike areas of the midsole foam. A large groove through the middle of the outsole and cutouts aid flexibility and reduce weight.
I have no complaints about the performance of the rubber. On wet mornings and dry pavement, there has been no issue. Furthermore, it is not a noisy compound, I have found no slapping or other issues. Finally, as with my experience of most KIPRUN shoes, there is really no degradation after about 60km of running.
Ivan: I don’t have much to add here. Admittedly, I haven’t put hundreds of miles on the KIPRUN Cushion 500, but the rubber compound seems to hold up well. There’s plenty of coverage, and the grip has been solid. A few small pebbles have gotten stuck in the cutouts, but I haven’t noticed that during runs. Like Andy, I also enjoy how quietly it runs.
Is this the first running shoe someone should purchase?
Andy: KIPRUN is on a mission to get more people moving. The Cushion 500 is a helpful tool in that endeavour. For beginner runners, it offers everything you need from a shoe. It is comfortable, stable, protective and low cost. For less than €70, you can have something which works and feels like a Pegasus 35. While it is not the most exciting shoe on the block, it will suit all gait cycles and runner types.
While it may not be your long run companion, it will help you through your early steps in your running journey and at a price which is very hard to beat.
Ivan: It’s hard to argue with Andy’s reasoning and if the budget doesn’t allow for stepping into the higher price bracket, it’s tough to imagine a much better option than the KIPRUN Cushion 500. The build quality is solid, offering a balanced ride with reasonable protection for those shorter, daily runs. The rubber should hold up well, the grip is decent, and the overall comfort is probably adequate for most runners.
However, where it falls short is in excitement. It’s not a shoe that will make running feel thrilling or particularly engaging. This might be my biggest concern, especially for new runners hoping to make their first running experience enjoyable and motivating. A shoe that doesn’t excite can sometimes make running feel like a chore.
