Launch 12 vs Kinvara 16

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 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.