Gel Cumulus 28 vs Neo Zen 1

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 Mizuno Neo Zen 1 is a soft, springy daily training shoe that shows Mizuno moving on from its old firm reputation. This is a plush, bouncy road running shoe built for the everyday miles that make up most of your week, from easy recovery jogs to steady long runs. At 235g it is genuinely light for a cushioned daily trainer, so it never feels like a chore underfoot. It sits above the Wave Rider as the more premium, more energetic option in Mizuno's line, and at RRP 150 pounds it lands in the same bracket as the plush daily trainers from the big brands. We rate it as a versatile one-shoe answer for a runner who wants comfort without a heavy, dead feel. It is a neutral shoe with a natural 6mm drop, so it rewards a fairly efficient, grounded stride.