Launch 11 vs Rincon 4

The Brooks Launch 11 is the honest, no-nonsense end of the running shoe market: a lightweight neutral daily trainer that keeps things simple and keeps the price sensible. At £110 and 218g it undercuts most of the padded daily trainers around it, and in return you get a firmer, springier ride that actually rewards picking up the pace. Think of it as a workhorse first and a speed shoe second. It handles easy miles, but it comes alive on steady runs, strides and the odd tempo effort, where its 8mm drop and snappy feel push you forward. There is no carbon plate and no exotic foam here, and that is the point. If you want a dependable, affordable trainer that can rack up big weekly mileage without punishing your wallet, the Launch 11 is one of the safest picks going. Newer runners after a first proper trainer and experienced runners wanting a beater for daily miles will both get on with it. The firmer Saucony Kinvara 16 is its closest rival at this price.

The Rincon 4 is Hoka's lightweight bargain: a fast, no-frills daily running shoe that has always punched above its price. At 228g with a low 5mm drop, it is one of the lightest cushioned trainers Hoka makes, and that lightness is the whole point. You get a shoe that handles easy miles happily but comes alive when you pick up the pace, which makes it a genuine one-shoe answer for runners who want daily training and the odd tempo or 5k from the same pair. At £125 it undercuts most of its rivals and sits below the pricier, softer Mach 7. The trade-off is honesty rather than luxury. The upper is thin, the outsole rubber is sparse to save weight, and the ride is firmer and more direct than a plush max-cushion shoe. For runners who value a light, versatile road running shoe over cosseting softness, we rate it highly.