Gel Nimbus 28 vs Vomero Premium 1

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 Vomero Premium 1 is Nike's most indulgent daily trainer, a max-cushion running shoe that takes the everyday Vomero name and pushes it well upmarket. You get a towering 50mm heel stack of ZoomX foam, the same bouncy compound Nike uses in its racers, plus four Air Zoom units underfoot for a soft, springy landing. It is built for easy miles, recovery days and long steady runs where comfort matters more than speed. At 326g it is a heavy shoe, and the RRP of 210 pounds sits at the premium end of the daily-trainer market, so this is a treat rather than a workhorse. If you want much of the same plush ZoomX feel for less, the Vomero 18 covers similar ground. But if you love a deep, cushioned ride and want Nike's softest foam under a max stack, the Premium delivers. We rate it as a soft-day luxury, not an everyday do-it-all.