Wave Inspire 21 vs Hurricane 24

The Wave Inspire 21 is Mizuno's dependable stability running shoe, built for runners who want gentle support without a corrective, medical feel. This is a daily training shoe first and foremost: high 12mm drop, a firm and planted ride, and enough structure to keep a mild overpronator honest over the miles. At around 295g it is not light, and it never pretends to be fast. What it does well is turn up every day and hold its shape, which is exactly what a lot of runners want from their main trainer. In our view it sits in the same conversation as the Asics GT-2000 14 and the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25: honest, supportive daily miles rather than plush luxury or race-day pop. If you overpronate a little and want a shoe that just works, it earns its place. Runners chasing a soft, bouncy ride should look elsewhere.

The Hurricane 24 is Saucony's premium stability trainer, a plush, protective daily running shoe for runners who want a soft, supported ride and don't mind carrying a bit of weight for it. At 302g it is no featherweight, and that tells you what it is for: cushioned mileage, not chasing a personal best. The 6mm drop and tall, soft midsole soak up the miles on long easy runs and recovery days, while the stability structure keeps mild overpronators tracking straight when the legs get tired late in a run. Think of it as the supported version of the neutral Saucony Triumph 23: same big-cushion comfort, with guidance built in. At £160 it sits at the top of the stability market, so you are paying for a max-comfort long-run shoe. If you want lighter, more neutral guidance, the Saucony Guide 18 is the nimbler sibling. But for soft, secure, high-mileage support, the Hurricane 24 delivers.