Superblast 2 vs Mach X 3

Two years on, the Superblast 2 is still the shoe other super trainers get measured against. Asics has since released the Superblast 3, but reviewers were close to unanimous on this one, and with the newer model out, the v2 is the one more likely to turn up discounted. It's a big, plate-free running shoe with a 45.5mm heel and a weight of 249g, and it copes with almost any pace: slow marathon-block long runs at one end, races from 10K upwards at the other, for runners who'd rather not wear a carbon racing shoe. Ben Parkes kept reaching for it for months after launch and ranks it among the best shoes they have run in, and Believe in the Run gave its performance their top grade. The catches are a ride that's firmer than it looks and a £200 RRP. If you want one shoe for most of your week and you run long, this is the one we'd pick. If most of your running is easy and short, the cheaper Novablast 5 gets you most of the way there.

The Mach X 3 is Hoka's do-it-all super trainer, the shoe you reach for when one pair has to cover the tempo session on Tuesday and the long run at the weekend. A Pebax plate sits inside a tall 44mm heel and 39mm forefoot stack, so you get a snappy, rolling ride without the harsh, race-only feel of a full carbon racing shoe. At 289g it is not light for the category, and you notice that on genuinely fast reps. What you get in return is versatility. It has enough cushioning to protect your legs over 20 miles and enough pop to hold marathon pace when you ask for it. Think of it as a workhorse with an extra gear rather than a pure speed tool. For runners who want a single plated trainer that does most jobs well, and who do not want to spend race-shoe money doing it, we rate the Mach X 3 highly. Just go in knowing it prioritises range over outright speed.