Gel Cumulus 28 vs Winflo 11

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 Nike Winflo 11 is the brand's most affordable cushioned daily training shoe, and it plays that role well. At an RRP of £100 it sits below the Pegasus 42 as Nike's value neutral daily trainer, the running shoe you reach for when you want dependable everyday miles without spending big. It is not light at 290g, and it will not spring you along at pace. What it does is soak up easy runs, steady miles and the daily commute with a soft, forgiving feel underfoot and a tall 10mm drop that suits heel strikers. We rate it as an honest workhorse. If you are a newer runner building a base, or an experienced runner who wants a cheap, durable shoe to rack up the boring miles in, it earns its place. Ask it to run fast and the weight shows, but that was never the job.