Mafate 5 vs Fast-Trac Nitro 3

The Hoka Mafate 5 is a max-cushion trail running shoe built for the long haul: big vertical days, rough ground, and ultra distances where your legs need a buffer between them and the mountain. With a 45mm heel stack and an 8mm drop, it sits at the plush, protective end of Hoka's trail range, and the Vibram Megagrip outsole means it can actually cash the cheques that cushion writes on technical terrain. It is not light. At 332g it asks you to trade nimbleness for comfort, and for the runner it suits, that is exactly the right deal. Think of it as the burly ultra companion to the more agile Speedgoat 7. If your idea of a good day out is six hours on wet, rocky, root-strewn trails and arriving home with your feet still speaking to you, this is the shoe we would point you to. Racers and short-loop speed hounds should look elsewhere.

The Puma Fast-Trac Nitro 3 is a lightweight, do-it-all trail running shoe built for runners who want one pair to cover most of what the UK throws at them. It is not an ultra cruiser and it is not a stripped-out racer. It sits in the sweet spot between the two: agile enough to feel fast on rolling singletrack, cushioned enough to hold up on a longer day out. At 290g with an 8mm drop, it is nicely balanced, and the nitrogen-infused Nitro foam gives you a lively, springy return that keeps tired legs turning over. The grippy outsole is the real story here, biting confidently into wet grass, mud and loose gravel where plenty of rivals slither. If you want a versatile, well-priced trail shoe for training, mixed terrain and the odd race, we rate it highly. The closest rival is the Saucony Peregrine 16, and the Puma holds its own.