Gel Cumulus 28 vs Novablast 6

The Gel Cumulus 28 is Asics at its most dependable: a cushioned, neutral daily training shoe built to soak up easy miles without asking anything clever of your stride. It is not a max-cushion plush ride and it is not a tempo shoe, it sits in the sensible middle as a do-everything running shoe for the bulk of your week. The 13.3mm drop is high by modern standards, which makes it forgiving and natural if you land on your heel, and the gel cushioning under the rear foot takes the sting out of harder landings. At 252g it is no featherweight, but it carries that weight as stability and longevity rather than dead bulk. We rate it as one of the safest first running shoes you can buy, and a reliable second pair for more experienced runners who want a soft, no-drama trainer for recovery days. If you want more pop, look elsewhere. If you want miles, this is it.

The Novablast 6 is Asics at its most playful: a high-stack, bouncy daily training shoe built to make easy miles fun and steady miles feel effortless. At 249g with a big 41.5mm heel it sits in the upper reaches of the daily trainer class, closer to a max-cushion cruiser than a lean workhorse, yet the FF Blast Max midsole keeps it lively rather than dull. This is the do-everything running shoe for the runner who wants one pair for most of the week: warm-ups, recovery jogs, long runs and the odd relaxed tempo. It is not a race shoe and it is not a stability shoe, so if you overpronate heavily or want firm ground feel, look elsewhere. But as a cushioned, spirited daily trainer at a sensible price, we rate it highly. The Novablast 5 fans will feel right at home, with a touch more bounce underfoot.