Gel Nimbus 28 vs Aero Glide 4

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 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.