Bondi 9 vs Magnify Nitro 3

The Bondi 9 is Hoka's maximum-cushion daily running shoe, the plushest, most protective trainer in the range. This is not a speed tool and it never pretends to be. It is built for one job and does it well: soaking up impact mile after mile so your legs finish easier than they started. At 297g with a 5mm drop it is a substantial shoe, and you feel that heft, but the reward is a deep, forgiving stack of foam and one of the most stable max-cushion platforms on the road. The foam in this version runs a touch softer and more balanced than older Bondis, so the ride feels less firm underfoot. We rate it as a recovery-day and easy-miles specialist, and a genuinely good option for heavier runners, tired legs and anyone who spends long hours on their feet. If you want the same brand cushioning with less weight, the lighter Hoka Clifton 10 is the natural alternative.

The Magnify Nitro 3 is Puma's big, soft, everyday max-cushion running shoe, and at £140 it undercuts most of the plush daily trainers it lines up against. This is the shoe you reach for on easy days, long runs and recovery miles when your legs want protection more than speed. The NITRO foam midsole is tall and forgiving without turning to mush, and Puma's PUMAGRIP outsole is genuinely excellent in the wet. At 287g it is not a light shoe, and you feel that on faster efforts, so treat it as a cruiser rather than a tempo tool. It runs neutral, with a 10mm drop that suits heel and midfoot strikers. In our view the real story is value: you get proper max cushioning and grippy, hard-wearing rubber for less than a Gel Nimbus 28 or Glycerin 22. If you want soft daily miles without paying £170, it belongs on your shortlist.