Gel Cumulus 28 vs Clifton 10

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 Clifton 10 is Hoka doubling down on comfort. This is a neutral daily training shoe built to make easy miles feel soft and forgiving, and it does that better than almost anything at the price. The big change over the Clifton 9 is the ride: the drop rises to 8mm and there is more foam underfoot, so you sink in a little more and the landing feels plusher and more protective. At 278g it is not the light, nimble Clifton of old. It has grown into a proper cushioned cruiser. We rate it as one of the safest picks for a runner who wants one dependable shoe for steady mileage, recovery days and the long run. If you value soft comfort and a smooth roll over speed and ground feel, this running shoe belongs on your shortlist. At £140 it is priced with the premium daily trainers, so judge it on the ride, not the badge.