Hyperion 2 vs Mach 6

The Hyperion 2 is Brooks at its most versatile: a light, non-plated speed trainer built to make your fast days feel fast without asking you to save it for race morning. At 204g it sits comfortably in lightweight-trainer territory, and the ride is snappy and low to the ground rather than soft and plush. There is no carbon plate here, which is the whole point. You get a natural, flexible foot feel that rewards a quick turnover, so it handles tempo runs, intervals and strides better than it handles slow miles. In our view this is one of the more honest running shoes in its class: it does not pretend to be a marathon super-shoe, and it is better for it. If you want a single pair for structured speed work, or a first proper 5K and 10K racer, the Hyperion 2 earns its place. The newer Hyperion 3 refines the same idea if you want the latest version.

The Hoka Mach 6 is one of the best value do-it-all trainers going, a lightweight road shoe that punches well above its £140 price. It sits in that useful middle ground between a soft daily trainer and a firm racer, so it can handle your easy miles in the week and still come alive when you pick up the pace on tempo day. At 232g with a 5mm drop it feels quick and unfussy underfoot, and the bouncy supercritical foam gives you a lively toe-off without the harshness of a plated racing shoe. There is no carbon plate here, which keeps the ride natural and forgiving. We rate it as a genuine one-shoe solution for runners who want a single pair for most of their training. If you are chasing a marathon PB you will want a plated shoe on race day, but for everything in the build up the Mach 6 is hard to beat. The Mach 7 refines the formula, though the 6 is often the smarter buy on price.