Launch 11 vs Winflo 11

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 Nike Winflo 11 is the brand's most affordable cushioned daily training shoe, and it plays that role well. At an RRP of £100 it sits below the Pegasus 42 as Nike's value neutral daily trainer, the running shoe you reach for when you want dependable everyday miles without spending big. It is not light at 290g, and it will not spring you along at pace. What it does is soak up easy runs, steady miles and the daily commute with a soft, forgiving feel underfoot and a tall 10mm drop that suits heel strikers. We rate it as an honest workhorse. If you are a newer runner building a base, or an experienced runner who wants a cheap, durable shoe to rack up the boring miles in, it earns its place. Ask it to run fast and the weight shows, but that was never the job.