Cielo X1 2 vs Alphafly 3

The Hoka Cielo X1 2 is the brand's flagship carbon racing shoe, and it does racing in a way that is unmistakably Hoka: big, plush and stable rather than razor-light. It is a road racer built around a winged carbon plate and a deep, soft midsole, so you get a tall, protective ride that holds up when your legs start to fatigue late in a marathon. At 228g it is one of the heavier super shoes on the market, noticeably more than something like the Nike Vaporfly 4, and at £275 it sits right at the top of the price ladder. What you are buying is comfort and stability at speed, not the snappiest, lightest tool in the category. We rate it as a long-distance racer for runners who want a carbon shoe that feels planted and forgiving underfoot, and who will happily trade a few grams for that security over 26.2 miles.

The Nike Alphafly 3 is the brand's maximalist marathon racer, the carbon racing shoe built to carry you to a road PB and not much else. It pairs a full-length carbon plate with twin forefoot Air pods and a tall slab of ZoomX foam, so you get a ride that is bouncy, propulsive and unapologetically built for going long and fast. At 218g it is not the lightest super shoe on the shelf, but the energy return more than earns the few extra grams once you settle into marathon or half pace. This is a specialist. It rewards a committed forefoot or midfoot strike and a pace you can actually hold, and it feels flat and over-built if you jog it easy. If you want a slightly lighter, more nimble option for shorter races, the Nike Vaporfly 4 is the natural stablemate. For the marathon, though, the Alphafly is the one we reach for.