Launch 12 vs Winflo 11

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 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.