Wave Rider 30 vs Velocity Nitro 5

For years the Wave Rider was the firm, slightly old-fashioned daily trainer that Mizuno fans loved and everyone else walked past. Version 30 is built to change that. Heel stack climbs from 37.5mm on the Wave Rider 29 to 42.8mm, the foam is much softer, and weight only creeps up to 266g. Most of the reviews we read call it a big step up. Fordy Runs rates it above the latest Saucony Ride and Pegasus. RTINGS is the cooler voice: its lab found plenty of protection and stability but little energy coming back, and it scored the shoe well below the others. Both readings hold up. It's a soft, stable daily training shoe for easy miles and long runs. It copes with steadier efforts, though it won't feel quick. At £140 RRP it sits beside the Ghost and Cumulus. Loyal Rider fans who liked the old ground feel may miss it.

At £110, the Velocity Nitro 5 is one of the cheaper daily trainers from a major brand, and that price is a big part of its appeal. It's a neutral running shoe for everyday miles: easy runs, steady efforts and the odd pickup in pace. Puma has dropped the heel-to-toe drop to 8mm from the 9.7mm of the Velocity Nitro 4 and added a little stack, but reviewers mostly describe it as a modest update rather than a new shoe.

Grip and stability are where testers agree. The PumaGrip outsole holds on wet roads and towpaths better than most trainers, and the ride stays planted. Cushioning is where they split. One reviewer found the Nitrofoam soft and forgiving, others felt the forefoot went thin on longer runs. If you want more bounce for faster days, Puma's Deviate Pure Nitro costs £40 more. As a dependable, grippy daily training shoe at a fair price, we'd call it a good buy, not a class leader.