Supernova Rise 3 vs Ride 18

The Supernova Rise 3 is adidas doing the sensible thing well: a cushioned, neutral daily training shoe built to soak up easy miles rather than chase a time. It sits squarely in the do-everything daily-trainer bracket, with a 35mm heel and a 7.8mm drop giving you a protective, slightly rockered ride that suits steady runs and building a base. At 264g it is not the lightest daily shoe out there, and you feel that weight when you try to pick up the pace. That is the honest trade-off here. This is a comfort-first running shoe, not a tempo tool. If you loved the Supernova Rise 2, this is a familiar, refined step on. In our view it earns its keep as the shoe you reach for most mornings, and at a £130 RRP it is priced to be exactly that.

The Saucony Ride 18 is a do-everything daily training shoe, the kind of neutral road runner you buy once and reach for on most days of the week. It is not trying to be fast, plated or exotic. It is trying to soak up your easy miles, your commute jogs and your steady long runs without drama, and it does that well. At 266g in a UK men's sample with an 8mm drop, it sits right in the middle of the daily-trainer class: cushioned enough to feel protective, not so soft that it wallows. The ride is smooth and predictable rather than exciting, with a rocker that keeps you rolling forward at conversational pace. At £130 RRP it is priced fairly for the category. If you want one honest, comfortable neutral trainer for the bulk of your week, the Ride 18 is an easy shoe to recommend. For genuine pace work you will want something snappier, like the Nike Pegasus 42 or a dedicated tempo shoe.