Gel Cumulus 27 vs 880 15

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.

The New Balance 880 v15 is the definition of a dependable neutral daily trainer: a road running shoe built to soak up steady miles rather than chase them. It sits in New Balance's line as the sensible, plush workhorse below the pricier Fresh Foam X 1080, and that is exactly its job. You get a tall, well-cushioned platform and a roomy, forgiving fit that suits easy runs, long runs and the daily grind of marathon training. It is a soft, protective ride first and foremost. At 286g it is on the heavier side, so this is not the shoe you reach for when you want to run fast, and there is no plate or standout tech giving you free energy at pace. What you get instead is comfort you can trust and an outsole that keeps going. For runners who want one reliable trainer to log the bulk of their week, we rate it as a safe, comfortable buy, if not an exciting one.