Gel Nimbus 27 vs Invincible 3

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 Nike Invincible 3 is Nike's big, bouncy neutral trainer, a max-cushion running shoe built to eat up easy miles and keep your legs fresh for the next session. This is not a race shoe and it is not trying to be. The stack is tall, the foam is soft and springy, and the whole point is protection over distance. You get a rolling, energetic ride that flatters recovery runs and long steady efforts. At a 9mm drop it sits in familiar territory for most runners, and at 310g it is on the heavier side, which you feel if you try to push the pace. In our view this is one of the best daily training shoes for a neutral runner who wants maximum comfort and does their speed work in something lighter. If you want a similar soft ride at a lower weight, the Nike Vomero 18 is the leaner sibling. Priced at 180 pounds it is a premium buy, so it earns its place as your dedicated cushioning workhorse.