Gel Kayano 31 vs Adrenaline GTS 25

The Gel Kayano 31 is Asics at its most dependable: a premium stability running shoe built to soak up the miles and keep your stride honest when fatigue sets in. This is the shoe a lot of runners reach for when they want support without feeling strapped into a brace. The guidance built into the midsole works with you rather than against you, so the ride feels smooth and planted rather than corrective. At 310g it is a properly substantial daily trainer, so it is not the shoe for chasing splits, and the 10mm drop suits runners who land towards the heel. We rate it as one of the most polished stability daily trainers you can buy, and the cushioning has the kind of long run comfort that earns its place in your rotation. If you want a lighter, cheaper Asics with similar support, the GT-2000 14 is the value pick. At £170 the Kayano asks for a premium, so it has to be the support shoe you train in most weeks to justify it.

The Adrenaline GTS 25 is Brooks doing what Brooks does best: a dependable stability running shoe built to log miles, week in and week out, without any drama. This is the shoe you reach for when you want support that stays out of the way. The GuideRails system only steps in when your stride starts to collapse inward, so if you run neutral it barely registers, and if you overpronate it gently keeps you honest. With a 10mm drop and a 37mm heel it sits squarely in the traditional daily training shoe camp, aimed at runners who want structure and a familiar, protective ride rather than bounce or speed. At 301g it is not light, and it never pretends to be a tempo shoe. What you get instead is consistency. In our view this is one of the safest first-stability-shoe picks in the UK, and a reliable rotation workhorse for the runner who just wants to get out the door and train.