Experience Flow 2 vs Velocity Nitro 5

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 Velocity Nitro 5 is Puma's do-it-all daily training shoe, and it stays one of the smartest value picks in the category. This is a versatile road running shoe built to handle the bulk of your week: easy miles, steady runs, the odd faster session, without asking you to think about it. At 230g with a 35mm heel and a moderate 8mm drop, it sits in the sweet spot between soft and springy, so it never feels sluggish underfoot. The Nitrofoam midsole gives you a lightly cushioned, energetic ride, and the full PumaGrip outsole is the quiet hero, gripping wet UK pavement like few daily trainers do. It is not a max-cushion cruiser and it is not a carbon racer. It is the honest, dependable trainer most runners actually need, and the price undercuts most rivals. If you want one shoe to log the miles in, this is an easy shortlist entry. The Velocity Nitro 4 walked so this one could run.