Supernova Prima 3 vs Gel Nimbus 28

The Supernova Prima 3 is adidas' comfort-first daily training shoe, a max-cushioned road trainer built to soak up easy miles and keep you fresh over the long run. With a 38mm heel and 8mm drop it sits firmly in the plush, protective camp, and the Dreamstrike+ foam is what gives it that soft, forgiving landing. This is not a shoe chasing pace. At 290g it is on the heavier side for a daily trainer, so you feel it more as a mile-eater than a snappy one. What you get in return is a smooth, stable ride that holds up well as fatigue sets in, helped by the Support Rods that add a touch of structure without turning it into a stability shoe. We rate it as a straightforward everyday running shoe for runners who value cushioning and calm over speed. If you want more energy return for tempo days, the lighter Supernova Rise 3 is the more versatile sibling.

The Gel Nimbus 28 is ASICS at its plushest: a max-cushion neutral daily training shoe built to soak up the miles and protect your legs, not to chase pace. This is the shoe you reach for on easy days, recovery jogs and long steady runs when comfort matters more than speed. At 278g it is on the heavier side, and with a tall 39.5mm heel and a moderate 5.2mm drop the ride is soft, planted and forgiving rather than quick. If you loved the Gel Nimbus 27, the 28 keeps the same brief and refines the feel. We rate it as one of the most dependable premium daily trainers for higher-mileage runners who want a cushioned running shoe that simply gets out of the way. It is not a do-everything shoe and it is not cheap, but for what it sets out to do it is very good.