Novablast 6 vs Ghost 18

The big change for version 6 is a small pod of FF Turbo Squared foam under the forefoot, set into an FF Blast Max midsole. It gives the Novablast a quicker toe-off, and most reviewers think it's the better shoe for it. Ben Parkes rates it the best Novablast so far. Fordy Runs likes the changes too, but wonders whether the series has swapped the fun of the early versions for something dependable and a little safe. One reviewer liked it much less, finding the heel dull and the transition slappy.

This is a daily training shoe for easy miles and long runs, and it can still pick up the pace for strides or a steady tempo. Both UK reviewers share one worry: the Novablast 5 lost its bounce over time for plenty of runners, and most of this midsole is the same foam. At £140 RRP it costs £5 more than the version it replaces, and the older shoe is worth a look while stock lasts.

The Brooks Ghost 18 is the shoe you reach for when you just want to run and not think about it. It is a smooth neutral daily training shoe, the workhorse end of the range, built to soak up easy miles and steady runs without fuss. The updated DNA Loft v3 midsole is softer and a touch more lively than older Ghosts, so it feels friendlier underfoot than the plain, dependable trainer this line used to be. With a traditional 10mm drop and a 36mm heel, it suits heel strikers and runners who like a bit of ramp under the foot. This is not a fast shoe and it does not pretend to be. At 289g it is on the heavier side, and there is no plate or snap here. What you get instead is consistency, a forgiving ride and the kind of shoe that just works, week after week. If you want one neutral daily trainer for the bulk of your running, the Ghost 18 is a safe, sensible pick. Runners chasing pace should look at the Nike Pegasus 42 instead.