Midsole firmness explained
What it is
Firmness is how much the midsole foam resists being pressed in. Soft foams compress more under the same load, which feels plush but can feel less stable; firm foams feel more direct and stable.
How it is measured
Labs press a standard indenter into the midsole with a durometer (Asker C scale) and read the hardness. We convert that reading to a 0–100 score across the range seen in current shoes; higher is firmer. The score describes the foam at the measuring point, not the whole shoe.
Values on this site
- Midsole firmness (score): How firm the midsole foam is, 0-100 (higher = firmer), derived from a lab durometer reading. Under body weight a softer forefoot compresses more and partly flattens the rocker. A ranking, not a hardness value.
Questions
- Is softer more cushioned?
- Not by itself. Cushioning also depends on stack height and on how much the foam returns. A thick, medium-firm shoe can protect as much as a thinner, softer one.
See it in the data
These pages describe product measurements. They are not medical advice or a recommendation for any person or condition. More: methodology, all explainers.