Launch 11 vs Kinvara 16

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 Kinvara 16 is Saucony's long-running lightweight running shoe, and version 16 keeps the plot: a low, fast, honest daily trainer for runners who want to feel the road. At 207g with a 4.5mm drop it sits closer to the ground than most cushioned trainers, so it rewards a quick, midfoot-leaning stride. This is not a max-stack marshmallow and it never pretends to be. It is a neutral, uptempo shoe that shines on strides, tempo efforts, park runs and shorter faster miles, and it can handle steady daily running if you like a firmer, connected feel. If you want a plush recovery slipper or a marathon cruiser, look elsewhere. If you want a versatile lightweight trainer that makes easy runs feel a touch quicker, the Kinvara 16 earns its place. We rate it as one of the better value fast trainers in its class. The step up in pace is where it comes alive.