Mach 7 vs Spectur 2

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 Salomon Spectur 2 is the brand's road running shoe for runners who spend most of their week on tarmac but want that unmistakable Salomon security underfoot. It is a cushioned, do-most-things trainer rather than a stripped-back racer. At 250g it is on the heavier side for a shoe Salomon files under tempo, so treat it as a versatile daily training shoe that can lift to a steady effort rather than a featherweight speed tool. What you get for that weight is a planted, confident ride and a grippy outsole that shrugs off wet British pavements and the odd gravel path. The 8mm drop keeps you connected to the road. At £170 RRP it sits at the premium end, and there is no carbon plate here, so you are paying for build and grip rather than propulsion. We rate it as a reassuring everyday miles shoe for road runners who value durability and stability over snap. If you want a lighter Salomon road option, the Aero Glide 4 is the softer, bouncier stablemate.