Mafate 5 vs Peregrine 15

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 Peregrine 15 is Saucony's do-everything trail running shoe, and it is one of the most dependable grippers you can buy at this price. This is not a max-cushion ultra sled or a plated trail racer. It is a firm, planted, aggressively lugged all-rounder built to go anywhere from muddy bridleways to rocky technical climbs. With a low 4mm drop and a moderate 267g weight, it keeps you close to the ground so you can read the terrain and react fast, which is exactly what you want when the trail turns loose or steep. The lugs bite into soft mud and wet grass with real confidence, and the underfoot protection shrugs off sharp rocks. In our view this is the trail shoe to reach for if you want one pair that handles a UK winter of mixed, sloppy ground without fuss. It is a proper trail running shoe first, and a comfy cruiser second. If you mostly run hardpack and gravel, a softer ride suits you better, but for genuine off-road grip the Peregrine 15 is hard to beat.