Clifton Pro 1 vs 880 15

The Clifton Pro is Hoka taking its most famous daily training shoe upmarket. Where the standard Clifton is the safe, do-everything running shoe, the Pro swaps in a supercritical ProGlide+ midsole to chase more bounce and energy return from the same easy-day brief. With a tall 42mm heel, a moderate 8mm drop and a max-cushion feel underfoot, it is built for soaking up easy miles, long runs and recovery days rather than chasing pace. In our view it sits in the premium daily training shoe bracket, priced accordingly at £155. At 298g it is not light, so this is not a shoe you buy for speed. What you get instead is a plush, protective ride that stays comfortable deep into a long run. If you already love the Clifton 11 and want a bouncier, more energetic version of the same idea, this is the one to try.

The New Balance 880 v15 is the definition of a dependable neutral daily trainer: a road running shoe built to soak up steady miles rather than chase them. It sits in New Balance's line as the sensible, plush workhorse below the pricier Fresh Foam X 1080, and that is exactly its job. You get a tall, well-cushioned platform and a roomy, forgiving fit that suits easy runs, long runs and the daily grind of marathon training. It is a soft, protective ride first and foremost. At 286g it is on the heavier side, so this is not the shoe you reach for when you want to run fast, and there is no plate or standout tech giving you free energy at pace. What you get instead is comfort you can trust and an outsole that keeps going. For runners who want one reliable trainer to log the bulk of their week, we rate it as a safe, comfortable buy, if not an exciting one.