Gel Kayano 33 vs Hurricane 24

The Gel Kayano 33 is Asics at its most reassuring: a premium stability running shoe built to log big, comfortable miles while keeping your stride honest when you tire. It is a max-comfort support trainer, not a speed tool. At 298g with a 39mm heel and 8mm drop, this is a lot of shoe, and it feels it underfoot in the best way. The FF Blast Plus Eco midsole is soft but composed, and the FluidSupport system replaces the old plastic guidance wall with a firmer, adaptive foam that steadies your ankle without shouting about it. In our view that is the story here: a stability shoe you forget is a stability shoe. It sits at the top of Asics' support range on price, and the £191 RRP is a real ask. If you want the same lineage for less, the Kayano 32 still does most of this. But for daily easy runs and long efforts where you want protection and quiet guidance, the 33 is one of the most complete support trainers on the road.

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.