Wave Rider 29 vs Winflo 11

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 Nike Winflo 11 is the brand's most affordable cushioned daily training shoe, and it plays that role well. At an RRP of £100 it sits below the Pegasus 42 as Nike's value neutral daily trainer, the running shoe you reach for when you want dependable everyday miles without spending big. It is not light at 290g, and it will not spring you along at pace. What it does is soak up easy runs, steady miles and the daily commute with a soft, forgiving feel underfoot and a tall 10mm drop that suits heel strikers. We rate it as an honest workhorse. If you are a newer runner building a base, or an experienced runner who wants a cheap, durable shoe to rack up the boring miles in, it earns its place. Ask it to run fast and the weight shows, but that was never the job.