Gel Kayano 31 vs ForeverRun Nitro 1

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 ForeverRun Nitro is Puma's answer to the big, dependable stability trainer, and it lands squarely in that daily-mileage space rather than trying to be fast. This is a supportive road running shoe built for runners who want their legs held steady over long, repeated miles. At 274g it is a substantial shoe, and you feel that weight, but you also feel the reward: a stable, planted platform with a 10mm drop that suits heel and midfoot strikers alike. Puma leans on structure rather than a firm medial post you can feel, so the guidance is there without shouting. If you have bounced off aggressive stability shoes like the Asics Gel Kayano in the past, this is a gentler take on the same idea. We rate it as a genuine long-run workhorse for overpronators and heavier runners who value durability and calm underfoot over pace.