Novablast 6 vs Ride 19

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 Saucony Ride 19 is a do-everything neutral daily trainer, the kind of running shoe you reach for on most days of the week without thinking twice. It is not a max-cushion cruiser and it is not a speed shoe. It sits right in the middle, and that is the point. PWRRUN+ foam gives you a lively, slightly bouncy ride that soaks up easy miles but still has enough life to pick up the pace when you want to. With a 36mm heel stack and an 8mm drop it is protective without feeling tall or vague underfoot, and at 255g it stays light enough that it never feels like a chore. In our view this is one of the safest recommendations in the daily training shoe category: versatile, durable and honest about what it is. If you want a single shoe that covers easy runs, steady runs and the odd long run, the Ride 19 earns its place. It is a natural step on from the Ride 18.