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.

Puma cut the Deviate Nitro 4's RRP to £150, £10 under version 3, and made it a friendlier shoe while it was at it. Reviewers agree it's the best-fitting Deviate so far: the upper has more give, and the midsole feels softer on easy runs yet still picks up when you push. Think of it as a carbon-plated daily training shoe and tempo shoe rather than a marathon racer. It sits lower than most super trainers, and on paper its 7mm drop is lower than the old model's too. What it lacks is a bit of excitement. One UK review panel liked it but felt rivals such as the Adizero EVO SL are springier, and lab testing found the heel much less lively than the forefoot. We rate it a very good all-rounder, a step behind the best in its class.