Megablast 1 vs Zoom Fly 6

The Asics Megablast is the brand's big, bouncy super trainer: a plateless max-stack running shoe that sits above the Superblast as the softer, taller, more cushioned option in the line. There is no carbon plate here, so the propulsion comes purely from a huge 46mm heel of FF Turbo Squared foam and the shape of the sole. That makes it a versatile do-everything trainer rather than a pure speed tool. It soaks up easy miles, holds a long run together, and still has enough energy return to lift into a steady tempo when you want it. At 230g it is not light for a trainer, and at £229 it is priced like a race shoe, so it asks a lot up front. But if you want one cushioned shoe that covers most of your week without a plate dictating the ride, the Megablast makes a strong case. We rate it as a premium daily-to-long-run trainer with real pop.

The Nike Zoom Fly 6 is the carbon plate experience for everyone who is not racing. It sits in the super trainer slot: a plated, well cushioned road shoe built to handle tempo work, long runs and the odd race without the price or the fragility of a true marathon flat. At 265g it is no featherweight, and that is the point. Nike has traded the raw speed of its race line for durability and a more forgiving daily ride, so you get the snap of a full length carbon plate stacked on a soft, bouncy midsole that holds up over the miles. If you want the actual race rocket the Vaporfly 4 is lighter and faster, but the Zoom Fly 6 is the one you can train in week after week. We rate it as one of the best value carbon trainers around for runners who want one shoe to cover their faster days.