Mach 7 vs Deviate Nitro 4

The Hoka Mach 7 is the brand's do-it-all tempo trainer, a lightweight road shoe that wants to cover almost everything between an easy jog and a genuine session. There is no carbon plate here and that is the point. Instead you get a supercritical EVA midsole that feels lively and quick without the aggressive, one-pace demands of a racer. With a low 5mm drop and a 37mm heel stack it sits in the sweet spot for runners who want one shoe for daily miles, tempo runs and the odd longer effort. It is a clear step on from the Mach 6, keeping the versatile, pick-up-and-go character that made the line popular. At £130 it is fairly priced for a modern lightweight trainer. We rate it as one of the smartest single-shoe buys for club runners who log steady mileage but still like to push the pace once or twice a week.

The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is a carbon-plated do-it-all running shoe, and that is the point of it. Puma pitches this as one pair for almost everything: easy miles, tempo work, long runs and the occasional race. At 245g it is heavier than a pure marathon shoe, but that weight buys you a plush, durable ride you can rack up training miles in without babying it. The carbon plate sits under a tall 33.6mm heel and a 7mm drop, so you get a smooth, propulsive roll rather than the aggressive snap of a race-day shoe. In our view this is the sweet spot for one runner who wants a single versatile trainer instead of a rotation. It rewards a controlled tempo more than a flat-out sprint. If you want the widest use per pound at £150, few carbon shoes are as adaptable. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is the obvious rival, and it is lighter, but the Deviate feels the more robust daily companion.