Rincon 4 vs Kinvara 16

The Rincon 4 is Hoka's lightweight bargain: a fast, no-frills daily running shoe that has always punched above its price. At 228g with a low 5mm drop, it is one of the lightest cushioned trainers Hoka makes, and that lightness is the whole point. You get a shoe that handles easy miles happily but comes alive when you pick up the pace, which makes it a genuine one-shoe answer for runners who want daily training and the odd tempo or 5k from the same pair. At £125 it undercuts most of its rivals and sits below the pricier, softer Mach 7. The trade-off is honesty rather than luxury. The upper is thin, the outsole rubber is sparse to save weight, and the ride is firmer and more direct than a plush max-cushion shoe. For runners who value a light, versatile road running shoe over cosseting softness, we rate it highly.

The Kinvara 16 is Saucony's long-running lightweight running shoe, and version 16 keeps the plot: a low, fast, honest daily trainer for runners who want to feel the road. At 207g with a 4.5mm drop it sits closer to the ground than most cushioned trainers, so it rewards a quick, midfoot-leaning stride. This is not a max-stack marshmallow and it never pretends to be. It is a neutral, uptempo shoe that shines on strides, tempo efforts, park runs and shorter faster miles, and it can handle steady daily running if you like a firmer, connected feel. If you want a plush recovery slipper or a marathon cruiser, look elsewhere. If you want a versatile lightweight trainer that makes easy runs feel a touch quicker, the Kinvara 16 earns its place. We rate it as one of the better value fast trainers in its class. The step up in pace is where it comes alive.