Clifton 10 vs Pegasus 41

The Clifton 10 is Hoka doubling down on comfort. This is a neutral daily training shoe built to make easy miles feel soft and forgiving, and it does that better than almost anything at the price. The big change over the Clifton 9 is the ride: the drop rises to 8mm and there is more foam underfoot, so you sink in a little more and the landing feels plusher and more protective. At 278g it is not the light, nimble Clifton of old. It has grown into a proper cushioned cruiser. We rate it as one of the safest picks for a runner who wants one dependable shoe for steady mileage, recovery days and the long run. If you value soft comfort and a smooth roll over speed and ground feel, this running shoe belongs on your shortlist. At £140 it is priced with the premium daily trainers, so judge it on the ride, not the badge.

The Nike Pegasus 41 is the do-everything daily training shoe in Nike's range, and it plays that role well. This is not a carbon racing shoe or a plush recovery slipper. It is a dependable workhorse built to soak up easy miles, the odd faster session and the weekly long run without complaint. At 283g it is not the lightest daily trainer on the market, and the 10mm drop is firmly traditional, so heel-strikers will feel at home. What you get for your money is reassurance: a road shoe that handles commute runs, marathon-block mileage and parkrun duty with the same steady, predictable ride. If you want one running shoe that does most jobs and lasts, the Pegasus 41 earns its keep. We rate it as a safe, sensible buy rather than an exciting one, and for a lot of runners that is exactly the point. The successor Pegasus 42 is now out, which often makes the 41 the smarter value pick on discount.