Gel Kayano 32 vs Hurricane 24

The Gel Kayano 32 is Asics at its most dependable: a premium stability running shoe built for racking up everyday miles in comfort rather than chasing pace. It is a support shoe, but a modern one. Instead of a hard medial post pushing back at your arch, it leans on soft cushioning and a guidance-led geometry that gently keeps your foot tracking straight as you tire. At a 8mm drop it sits in classic daily-trainer territory, and the plush heel makes it forgiving for heel-strikers logging long, steady runs. At 305g it is on the heavier side, so this is a comfort and protection shoe first, not a quick one. The trade-off for that smooth, planted ride is an RRP of 180 pounds, which makes it one of the dearer daily trainers out there. If you overpronate mildly and want a cushioned shoe that holds together for months of training, it earns its keep. If you want the same softness without the support, the neutral Gel Nimbus 28 is the sibling to look at. Coming from the Kayano 31? The 32 is a refinement, not a reinvention.

The Hurricane 24 is Saucony's premium stability trainer, a plush, protective daily running shoe for runners who want a soft, supported ride and don't mind carrying a bit of weight for it. At 302g it is no featherweight, and that tells you what it is for: cushioned mileage, not chasing a personal best. The 6mm drop and tall, soft midsole soak up the miles on long easy runs and recovery days, while the stability structure keeps mild overpronators tracking straight when the legs get tired late in a run. Think of it as the supported version of the neutral Saucony Triumph 23: same big-cushion comfort, with guidance built in. At £160 it sits at the top of the stability market, so you are paying for a max-comfort long-run shoe. If you want lighter, more neutral guidance, the Saucony Guide 18 is the nimbler sibling. But for soft, secure, high-mileage support, the Hurricane 24 delivers.