Gel Cumulus 27 vs Velocity Nitro 5

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.

At £110, the Velocity Nitro 5 is one of the cheaper daily trainers from a major brand, and that price is a big part of its appeal. It's a neutral running shoe for everyday miles: easy runs, steady efforts and the odd pickup in pace. Puma has dropped the heel-to-toe drop to 8mm from the 9.7mm of the Velocity Nitro 4 and added a little stack, but reviewers mostly describe it as a modest update rather than a new shoe.

Grip and stability are where testers agree. The PumaGrip outsole holds on wet roads and towpaths better than most trainers, and the ride stays planted. Cushioning is where they split. One reviewer found the Nitrofoam soft and forgiving, others felt the forefoot went thin on longer runs. If you want more bounce for faster days, Puma's Deviate Pure Nitro costs £40 more. As a dependable, grippy daily training shoe at a fair price, we'd call it a good buy, not a class leader.