Agility Peak 6 vs Sense Ride 5

The Agility Peak 6 is Merrell's do-it-all trail running shoe, the one you reach for when the route mixes mud, rock and long slow miles. It sits in the cushioned-but-planted camp: a generous FloatPro midsole under an aggressive 5mm Vibram Megagrip outsole, with an 8mm drop and a 38mm heel stack that soaks up rough ground without floating you off it. This is not a racer and it does not pretend to be. It is a dependable daily trail trainer built for grip, protection and staying comfortable when the run drags on. We rate it as one of the best value all-rounders in its class, and RunRepeat's 84/100 backs that up. If your trails are technical, wet or steep and you want one shoe that copes with all of it, the Agility Peak 6 is an easy shoe to recommend. Compared with the pricier Hoka Speedgoat 7, it trades a little plushness for a firmer, more connected feel underfoot.

The Salomon Sense Ride 5 is the trail running shoe you reach for when you do not want to think too hard. It is a do-everything door-to-trail shoe with a moderate 8mm drop and enough cushioning to soak up long days without turning your foot into a marshmallow. At 286g it sits in the middle of the weight range, so it is not a light and racy trail shoe, but it is not a heavy tank either. What you get is balance. The grip handles wet grass, packed dirt and light rock without complaint, and it rolls happily onto tarmac for the road sections between trails. It is neutral, so it suits runners with a fairly stable gait rather than heavy overpronators. If you want one shoe for mixed UK trails, muddy commons and the occasional path run, this is a smart, honest pick. Chasing a fast time on technical mountain terrain? Look at something more aggressive like the Saucony Peregrine 16.