Ghost 18 vs 880 15

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 New Balance 880 v15 is the definition of a dependable neutral daily trainer: a road running shoe built to soak up steady miles rather than chase them. It sits in New Balance's line as the sensible, plush workhorse below the pricier Fresh Foam X 1080, and that is exactly its job. You get a tall, well-cushioned platform and a roomy, forgiving fit that suits easy runs, long runs and the daily grind of marathon training. It is a soft, protective ride first and foremost. At 286g it is on the heavier side, so this is not the shoe you reach for when you want to run fast, and there is no plate or standout tech giving you free energy at pace. What you get instead is comfort you can trust and an outsole that keeps going. For runners who want one reliable trainer to log the bulk of their week, we rate it as a safe, comfortable buy, if not an exciting one.