Supernova Prima 1 vs Invincible 3

The Supernova Prima is adidas leaning all the way into soft, protective cushioning: a deeply padded max-cushion running shoe built for easy miles and long, gentle recovery days rather than speed. It sits above the daily Supernova Rise in the range, trading a little snap for a plusher, more forgiving ride underfoot. At 290g it is on the heavier side of the category, and with no plate and an 8mm drop this is a comfort trainer first and foremost, not a tempo tool. What you get for the £160 RRP is a smooth, cushioned road shoe that soaks up the pounding on higher-mileage weeks and keeps your legs feeling fresh. We rate it as a specialist rather than an all-rounder. If you want one shoe to do easy days and workouts, look elsewhere. If you want a dedicated cruiser for long, relaxed miles, it makes a strong case.

The Nike Invincible 3 is Nike's big, bouncy neutral trainer, a max-cushion running shoe built to eat up easy miles and keep your legs fresh for the next session. This is not a race shoe and it is not trying to be. The stack is tall, the foam is soft and springy, and the whole point is protection over distance. You get a rolling, energetic ride that flatters recovery runs and long steady efforts. At a 9mm drop it sits in familiar territory for most runners, and at 310g it is on the heavier side, which you feel if you try to push the pace. In our view this is one of the best daily training shoes for a neutral runner who wants maximum comfort and does their speed work in something lighter. If you want a similar soft ride at a lower weight, the Nike Vomero 18 is the leaner sibling. Priced at 180 pounds it is a premium buy, so it earns its place as your dedicated cushioning workhorse.