Fresh Foam X 860 15 vs Hurricane 26

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.

Saucony took weight out of the Hurricane this year and added some bounce, and reviewers noticed. On our spec sheet the 26 is lighter than the Hurricane 25 with an almost identical stack and a low 5.9mm drop, and most reviews say it rides livelier too. The 25 could feel a bit flat underfoot. This one keeps getting called bouncy, which you don't often hear about a max-stability shoe. It's a daily training shoe for overpronators who want plenty of cushioning for easy miles and marathon training. The support comes from a very wide base and a raised edge on the inside of the foot rather than a hard post, and The Run Testers found neutral runners could get on with it as well. What you give up is agility: the platform is huge, it isn't built for speed, and a couple of reviews felt it's a little less stable than the 25. RTINGS was the least enthusiastic source we read, mainly because it's no shoe for quick running. RRP is £170, £10 above the 25's, so check the price table before you buy.