Gel Nimbus 27 vs Aero Glide 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 Salomon Aero Glide 4 is the brand's big-cushion road running shoe, built for soaking up easy miles and long runs without asking your legs for anything back. With a tall 43.2mm heel stack and no carbon plate, this is a comfort-first daily training shoe rather than a racer. What sets it apart from most max-cushion rivals is the tall 11.7mm drop, which rolls you forward off a generous heel and suits runners who land heel-first. It is not the lightest shoe in the class at 250g, and it is not trying to be snappy. What you get instead is a soft, planted, protective ride that stays comfortable when the miles pile up. If you loved the Aero Glide 3, this is a familiar, refined take on the same idea. We rate it as a dependable cushioned trainer for steady runners who value comfort over pace.