Gel Nimbus 27 vs Aero Glide 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 Salomon Aero Glide 3 is a road-focused, max-cushioned daily training shoe from a brand better known for trail. It is a soft, protective cruiser built for easy miles and long runs rather than chasing pace. At 275g it is not a light shoe, and the 8mm drop plus deep stack put comfort and leg protection first. What you get is a stable, planted ride that keeps your legs fresh when the run drags on past an hour. This is a versatile running shoe for the runner who wants one dependable trainer for the bulk of their week, not a race-day tool. If you already know Salomon from the trails, the road manners here will surprise you. It sits in a crowded max-cushion daily market, and the Aero Glide 4 has since arrived, so at RRP the 3 is best bought on a deal.