Adizero EVO SL 1 vs Zoom Fly 6

The Adizero EVO SL is adidas taking its marathon race foam, stripping out the plate, and giving you a lightweight speed trainer you can actually run every day. At 224g it feels closer to a racer than a daily shoe, and that is the whole point. This is a running shoe for the runner who wants one pair for tempo sessions, strides, parkrun and the odd long run, without the rigid, all-or-nothing feel of a carbon racing shoe. You get lively, propulsive cushioning and a low 6mm drop that keeps you up on your forefoot. At an RRP of £150 it undercuts most super-trainers and plated tempo shoes, which is a big part of why it has been so popular. In our view it is one of the most versatile shoes adidas has made in years. If you want the plated race-day version, the Adizero Adios Pro 4 is the sibling to look at.

The Nike Zoom Fly 6 is the carbon plate experience for everyone who is not racing. It sits in the super trainer slot: a plated, well cushioned road shoe built to handle tempo work, long runs and the odd race without the price or the fragility of a true marathon flat. At 265g it is no featherweight, and that is the point. Nike has traded the raw speed of its race line for durability and a more forgiving daily ride, so you get the snap of a full length carbon plate stacked on a soft, bouncy midsole that holds up over the miles. If you want the actual race rocket the Vaporfly 4 is lighter and faster, but the Zoom Fly 6 is the one you can train in week after week. We rate it as one of the best value carbon trainers around for runners who want one shoe to cover their faster days.