Clifton Pro 1 vs Vomero 18

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 Nike Vomero 18 is Nike's plushest everyday running shoe, a max-cushion daily trainer built to soak up easy miles and protect your legs over the long haul. This is the Vomero finally getting the soft, tall treatment people have wanted for years: a deep, dual-foam midsole that disappears underfoot and keeps feeling fresh deep into a run. It is not fast and it does not pretend to be. At 325g it is a substantial shoe, and the 10mm drop plus generous stack push it firmly into the cushioned-cruiser camp rather than the tempo one. We rate it as a premium easy-day and recovery option, the shoe you reach for the morning after a hard session or for a long, conversational effort. If you want one well-padded daily trainer to carry the bulk of your weekly mileage in comfort, the Vomero 18 makes a strong case. Just do not expect it to feel lively when you push the pace.