Gel Cumulus 28 vs FuelCell Propel 5

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 FuelCell Propel 5 is New Balance at its most sensible: an affordable neutral daily running shoe built to soak up easy miles without emptying your wallet. At around £120 it sits at the value end of the daily trainer market, and it plays that role honestly. The FuelCell foam gives you a firm, stable, dependable ride rather than a soft bouncy one, so this is a shoe for logging steady mileage, easing into a training habit, or keeping your knees happy on recovery days. At 280g it is on the heavier side for a modern daily trainer, and it is not going to make you feel fast. That is fine. If you want more pop for tempo days, New Balance's own FuelCell Rebel 5 is the livelier sibling, and the Nike Pegasus 42 is the obvious workhorse rival. But as a first proper running shoe or a rugged easy-day option, the Propel 5 earns its keep.