Launch 12 vs Rincon 4

The Brooks Launch 12 is the honest, no-frills daily running shoe in the range, and at £100 it is one of the easier trainers to justify. This is a neutral road shoe built for everyday miles rather than race day. There is no carbon plate and no fancy super foam, just a springy, no-nonsense ride that suits easy runs, steady miles and the occasional pick-up in pace. At 244g it is not a genuine featherweight despite the Launch name, but the 8.9mm drop and traditional geometry feel familiar and secure underfoot. We rate it as a dependable first pair or a simple workhorse to rack up mileage in without babying an expensive racer. If you want plush max-cushion comfort or marathon-day pop, look elsewhere. If you want a straightforward, affordable trainer that just gets on with the job, the Launch 12 delivers. The Brooks Ghost 17 sits one step up for more cushioning.

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.