Ghost 18 vs Clifton 10

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.

The Clifton 10 is Hoka doubling down on comfort. This is a neutral daily training shoe built to make easy miles feel soft and forgiving, and it does that better than almost anything at the price. The big change over the Clifton 9 is the ride: the drop rises to 8mm and there is more foam underfoot, so you sink in a little more and the landing feels plusher and more protective. At 278g it is not the light, nimble Clifton of old. It has grown into a proper cushioned cruiser. We rate it as one of the safest picks for a runner who wants one dependable shoe for steady mileage, recovery days and the long run. If you value soft comfort and a smooth roll over speed and ground feel, this running shoe belongs on your shortlist. At £140 it is priced with the premium daily trainers, so judge it on the ride, not the badge.