Experience Flow 2 vs 880 14

The Experience Flow 2 is Altra's answer to runners who love the brand's roomy, natural feel but want a bit more snap. It is a lightweight daily training shoe that trades Altra's signature zero drop for a low 4mm, which nudges you onto your forefoot and helps the ride feel quick. At 238g it is genuinely light for a cushioned trainer, so it handles easy miles and picks up the pace for a tempo or progression run without feeling like a chore. Think of it as a do-most-things road shoe rather than a specialist. It is not a max-cushion recovery slab and it is not a carbon racer, but for daily running, faster sessions and the odd 10k it hits a sweet spot. If you have been curious about Altra's foot-shaped fit but found true zero drop a step too far, this is the easiest way in. In our view it is one of the more versatile shoes in the range.

The New Balance 880v14 is the definition of a do-everything neutral daily trainer, and that is exactly the point. This is the shoe you reach for on Monday when you just want to run, not think about your shoes. It is not light at 304g and it is not flashy, but it gives you a dependable, cushioned running shoe that soaks up easy miles, marathon-block base runs and the daily commute-jog without complaint. New Balance pitches it against the neutral-daily benchmarks, and it holds its own next to the Brooks Ghost 17 and the Pegasus. The 8mm drop and generous cushioning suit heel and midfoot strikers who want protection over pop. If you want a softer, more premium ride from the same brand, the Fresh Foam X 1080v14 sits a tier up. But for a no-drama workhorse at £140, the 880v14 is an easy shoe to recommend.