Novablast 4 vs Pegasus 41

The Asics Novablast 4 is a bouncy, high-stack daily training shoe built to make easy and steady miles feel fun. It sits in the cushioned-but-springy corner of the running shoe market, the sort of trainer you reach for when you want soft landings without a dead, sink-in feel. At 257g it is not the lightest max-cushion shoe out there, but the energetic midsole hides the weight well once you are moving. The 8mm drop keeps you in a slightly lower, more natural position than a traditional 10mm trainer, so midfoot and forefoot strikers tend to get on with it quickly. This is a do-most-things daily trainer rather than a specialist. It will happily soak up recovery jogs, cover a long run, and still has enough pop to enjoy the odd faster stretch. If you want one cushioned shoe for the bulk of your week, the Novablast 4 is an easy shoe to live with. The newer Novablast 5 refines the same recipe.

The Nike Pegasus 41 is the do-everything daily training shoe in Nike's range, and it plays that role well. This is not a carbon racing shoe or a plush recovery slipper. It is a dependable workhorse built to soak up easy miles, the odd faster session and the weekly long run without complaint. At 283g it is not the lightest daily trainer on the market, and the 10mm drop is firmly traditional, so heel-strikers will feel at home. What you get for your money is reassurance: a road shoe that handles commute runs, marathon-block mileage and parkrun duty with the same steady, predictable ride. If you want one running shoe that does most jobs and lasts, the Pegasus 41 earns its keep. We rate it as a safe, sensible buy rather than an exciting one, and for a lot of runners that is exactly the point. The successor Pegasus 42 is now out, which often makes the 41 the smarter value pick on discount.