assistant: Welcome back — glad you got the all-clear. For return-to-running after a stress fracture, max cushion + forgiving ride is exactly right. I want to ask one quick thing before I lock in picks: **Did your stress fracture involve your foot/ankle, or was it elsewhere (shin, femur, etc.)?** That'll help me flag any shoes to avoid or prioritize. In the meantime, here's what jumps out from the max-cushion crew: **New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6** leads for pure cushioning — maximal stack, soft landing, and at $160 it's the budget-friendliest option. **HOKA Bondi v9** is the classic max-cushion workhorse, well-regarded and proven for recovery work. **Nike Vomero Plus** brings a lively, bouncy character that some runners find more engaging than dead-soft shoes, though it's pricier. All three are plate-less (no stiff elements to jar healing tissue) and built explicitly for easy, forgiving running. The Fresh Foam X More and Bondi are both solid picks; the Vomero adds a bit more liveliness if you want the shoe to feel less "mushy." What was the location of your stress fracture?