Gel Kayano 31 vs Structure 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 Nike Structure 25 is a support-minded daily training shoe built for runners who want a bit of guidance under the foot without giving up an everyday, do-anything feel. This is a stability running shoe in the traditional mould: a firm, planted ride, a 10mm drop that heel-strikers will get on with, and enough structure to keep a mild overpronator tracking straight through the back half of a long run. It is not light. At 289g it sits at the heavier end of the daily-trainer market, and you feel that on faster days. But that mass buys durability and calm. We rate it as a steady, dependable mileage shoe rather than an exciting one, and it makes most sense for runners logging easy and steady miles who value support over pop. If you want a livelier neutral ride from the same stable, the Nike Pegasus 42 is the natural alternative. For structured support, the Structure 25 does its job honestly.