Gel Nimbus 28 vs Glideride Max 2

The Gel Nimbus 28 is ASICS at its plushest: a max-cushion neutral daily training shoe built to soak up the miles and protect your legs, not to chase pace. This is the shoe you reach for on easy days, recovery jogs and long steady runs when comfort matters more than speed. At 278g it is on the heavier side, and with a tall 39.5mm heel and a moderate 5.2mm drop the ride is soft, planted and forgiving rather than quick. If you loved the Gel Nimbus 27, the 28 keeps the same brief and refines the feel. We rate it as one of the most dependable premium daily trainers for higher-mileage runners who want a cushioned running shoe that simply gets out of the way. It is not a do-everything shoe and it is not cheap, but for what it sets out to do it is very good.

The Glideride Max 2 is Asics at its most protective: a max-cushion road running shoe with a big 46mm heel and an aggressive rocker built to roll you through easy miles when your legs have nothing left to give. At 261g it is not light for the class, and it never pretends to be a speed tool. What it does is soak up impact and keep you moving with minimal effort, which is exactly what you want on a recovery day or the back half of a long run. The 6mm drop and tall stack put you high off the ground, so the ride feels smooth and floaty rather than snappy. At £225 it sits at the premium end of the daily-trainer market, and you are paying for maximum protection over versatility. We rate it as a specialist. If you run high mileage and want one shoe to guard your joints, this earns its place. If you want a do-everything trainer, look lower down the range or at the Superblast 3.