Glycerin GTS 22 vs Arahi 9

The Brooks Glycerin GTS 22 is the softest, most cushioned shoe in the Brooks stability line, a plush daily running shoe that adds gentle support to a max-cushion ride. GTS stands for Go To Support, and here it means Brooks GuideRails: no medial post digging into your arch, just guardrails that quietly hold your knees and ankles in line when your form starts to fade. In our view this is the shoe for the runner who wants a premium, cosseting cushion but knows their stride rolls in a little, especially late in a long run. It is not fast and it is not trying to be. It is heavy on comfort and light on correction, which is exactly the point. If you loved the neutral Glycerin 22 but wanted a touch more stability underfoot, this is that shoe. At an RRP of 155 pounds it sits at the top of the daily-trainer market, so it needs to earn its place with sheer plushness and all-day comfort. It mostly does.

The Arahi 9 is Hoka's lightweight take on a stability running shoe, and it is one of the easiest shoes in the category to just get on and run in. Instead of a firm medial post, it uses a J-Frame in the midsole that quietly guides your foot and reins in overpronation without ever feeling like a corrective brace. At 270g with a 39mm heel stack, it is genuinely light for a support trainer, so it never drags on daily miles the way old-school stability shoes could. We rate it as a do-it-all daily training shoe for runners who want a little help staying aligned but do not want to give up a smooth, cushioned ride. It sits in the sweet spot between a plush neutral trainer and a heavy motion-control shoe. If you like the guided feel of the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 but want something lighter underfoot, this is the shoe to try.