Gel Nimbus 27 vs Ghost Max 4

The Gel Nimbus 27 is ASICS at its most plush: a max-cushion neutral running shoe built for soft, protected miles rather than speed. This is the shoe you reach for on easy days, recovery runs and long efforts when your legs want padding underfoot and a forgiving ride. At 305g it is not light, and with an 8mm drop it sits in familiar territory for a daily trainer, but the appeal here is comfort, not pace. We rate it as one of the safest picks in the cushioned daily category, especially if you log steady mileage and value a shoe that feels the same in mile twenty as it did in mile one. It is a premium buy at £175 RRP, so it asks a lot up front. If you want the same soft, dependable feel in something a touch lighter and quicker, the Gel Cumulus 27 is the leaner sibling worth a look.

The Ghost Max 4 is Brooks at its most protective: a max-stack cushioned running shoe built for comfort over speed. With 40mm of foam under the heel and a 6mm drop, it stacks up plenty of protection for easy miles, recovery days and long, steady efforts when your legs want to be looked after. The star of the show is the GlideRoll rocker, a curved sole that rolls you forward so each stride feels smooth rather than clunky, which matters a lot in a shoe this tall. At 292g it is not light, and it is not trying to be. This is a daily training shoe for runners who value a soft, planted, easy ride over pop or pace. If you like the idea of the same rockered comfort with even more foam, the Hoka Bondi 9 is the obvious rival. We rate the Ghost Max 4 as one of the easiest max-cushion trainers to just put on and run.