Fresh Foam X 860 15 vs Hurricane 24

New Balance made the 860 bigger for version 15. Our spec sheet has it at 332g against 309g for the 860 v14, with more foam under the heel, and it now rides like a cushioned daily training shoe with support built in rather than a stability shoe with a bit of softness added. Reviewers like the comfort, and they like that the support runs along the whole inner edge instead of sitting in one post under the arch. Weight is the complaint that turns up in almost every review, and one detailed review found the heel counter stiff enough to rub. Our take: it's a good stability running shoe for easy miles and long days on your feet, but you pay for that if you want one shoe that also handles quicker sessions. It's aimed at mild to moderate overpronators. If you need firm correction, or you count grams, there are better picks at this price.

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.