Superblast 3 vs SC Rebel 1

The Superblast 3 is the softest, bounciest Superblast yet, with a top layer of FF Leap over FF Blast Plus. On paper that means plenty of cushioning for not much weight, at 235g with no plate, and Ben Parkes says it may be the most comfortable long-run shoe they've worn.

What you give up is steadiness. Several reviewers found it wobblier on corners and as their legs tired, and one UK reviewer who preferred the firmer Superblast 2 now sends people to the Megablast instead. Most reviews still rank the Superblast 3 among the best super trainers you can buy, and one lab rated its grip the best it had tested.

We'd pick it as a marathon-training and long-run shoe for neutral runners who want a soft, lively ride. If you like a firm, planted shoe, it probably isn't for you. At £200 RRP it's one of the dearest trainers Asics makes, so check the price table before you buy.

The SC Rebel is New Balance's carbon-plated super trainer: a running shoe built to handle your long runs and faster sessions during the week, then line up with you on race day. It pairs Infinion foam with a carbon plate on a 40mm heel and 36mm forefoot with a 4mm drop, and at a listed 218g it is light for a shoe with this much underfoot. Put the numbers next to the SC Elite 4, New Balance's marathon racer, and they read almost identically: same stack, same drop, and the Rebel is listed lighter. At £180 against £280, that is the story. In our view it suits runners who want one plated shoe for tempo work, marathon-pace long runs and the race itself, rather than an expensive racer saved for a handful of days a year. It is not an easy-day shoe or a stability shoe, and the low drop asks a lot of your calves.