Torin 8 vs Gel Cumulus 27

The Altra Torin 8 is a cushioned zero-drop daily training shoe built for runners who want a soft, roomy ride with their heel and forefoot sitting level at 0mm drop. This is Altra's classic everyday road runner, and the eighth version keeps the recipe honest: a natural foot-flat platform, a wide anatomical toe box and enough foam to soak up easy miles. At 278g it is not the lightest daily trainer around, and the zero-drop geometry asks more of your calves and achilles than a raised-heel shoe does, so it rewards runners who are already comfortable running flat. If you like the feel of the ground under a level foot but still want proper cushioning, this is one of the most complete zero-drop options on the market. Newer to Altra? The lighter Escalante 4 is a gentler place to start.

The Gel Cumulus 27 is Asics at its most dependable: a neutral daily training shoe built to soak up easy miles week after week, not to chase a finish line. It sits one rung below the Nimbus in the Asics range, so you get a softer, lighter, more everyday feel rather than maximum cushioning. At 266g with an 8mm drop it is a true workhorse running shoe, the kind you reach for on recovery runs, steady aerobic miles and the long Sunday plod. The ride is cushioned but not mushy, with enough structure to feel honest underfoot. We would not pick it for sharp speed work, and at £140 it is priced like a premium daily trainer rather than a bargain. But if you want one neutral shoe that just keeps turning up and doing its job, the Cumulus 27 earns its place. The newer Gel Cumulus 28 is now out, so the 27 is often the smarter buy on price.