Novablast 5 vs Ride 18

The Novablast 5 is Asics at its most fun: a bouncy, do-it-all daily training shoe that turns easy miles into something you actually look forward to. It sits in the high-stack daily trainer bracket, with an 8mm drop and a springy ride that rewards a relaxed cadence. At 135 pounds RRP and around 255g it is not the lightest in its class, but the energy you get back more than pays for the weight on everyday runs. This is a versatile running shoe rather than a one-trick pony. It will cover recovery jogs, steady long runs and the odd faster session without complaint, even if it is happiest cruising. If you want something firmer and more locked-down for tempo work, the Asics Superblast 2 is the pricier, sharper sibling. But for most runners after one shoe to carry the bulk of their training, the Novablast 5 is an easy shoe to recommend. We rate it as one of the most enjoyable daily trainers you can buy.

The Saucony Ride 18 is a do-everything daily training shoe, the kind of neutral road runner you buy once and reach for on most days of the week. It is not trying to be fast, plated or exotic. It is trying to soak up your easy miles, your commute jogs and your steady long runs without drama, and it does that well. At 266g in a UK men's sample with an 8mm drop, it sits right in the middle of the daily-trainer class: cushioned enough to feel protective, not so soft that it wallows. The ride is smooth and predictable rather than exciting, with a rocker that keeps you rolling forward at conversational pace. At £130 RRP it is priced fairly for the category. If you want one honest, comfortable neutral trainer for the bulk of your week, the Ride 18 is an easy shoe to recommend. For genuine pace work you will want something snappier, like the Nike Pegasus 42 or a dedicated tempo shoe.