Wave Rider 29 vs FuelCell Propel 5

The Wave Rider 29 is Mizuno at its most dependable: a neutral daily training shoe built to soak up mile after mile without drama. This is the workhorse of the Mizuno road range, and version 29 leans softer and smoother than the firm, snappy Riders longtime fans remember. At 258g with a 37.5mm heel stack it sits right in the middle of the daily trainer market, cushioned enough for long runs but stable and grounded enough that it never feels wobbly or vague underfoot. You get a versatile running shoe that handles easy days, steady miles and the occasional longer effort with the same unfussy composure. It will not win you a personal best and it is not trying to. What it offers instead is comfort, consistency and the kind of build quality that racks up big weekly mileage. If you want one road shoe to do the bulk of your training, the Wave Rider 29 is an easy shoe to recommend and an easy one to live with.

The FuelCell Propel 5 is New Balance at its most sensible: an affordable neutral daily running shoe built to soak up easy miles without emptying your wallet. At around £120 it sits at the value end of the daily trainer market, and it plays that role honestly. The FuelCell foam gives you a firm, stable, dependable ride rather than a soft bouncy one, so this is a shoe for logging steady mileage, easing into a training habit, or keeping your knees happy on recovery days. At 280g it is on the heavier side for a modern daily trainer, and it is not going to make you feel fast. That is fine. If you want more pop for tempo days, New Balance's own FuelCell Rebel 5 is the livelier sibling, and the Nike Pegasus 42 is the obvious workhorse rival. But as a first proper running shoe or a rugged easy-day option, the Propel 5 earns its keep.