SuperComp Elite 6 vs Deviate Nitro Elite 4

New Balance swapped almost everything under the foot for this version, and reviewers noticed. The SC Elite v6 gets a new foam, a reworked carbon plate and a big cut in weight, and most testers called it a clear step up from the SuperComp Elite v5, which one reviewer had found closer to a trainer than a race shoe. It's now a proper carbon racer, light and springy, with a front end that won't bend. Where it works best is less settled. Doctors of Running's two testers graded it A and A-, and one would race it anywhere from 5K to the marathon. RTINGS was cooler on the long stuff, finding the forefoot cushioning only just enough for a full marathon and rating it higher for shorter races. So if you're quick and land on your midfoot, it's a strong marathon shoe. If you land on your heel and want protection in the last few miles, a softer racer will look after your legs better. At £230 RRP it sits with the most expensive racers, so check the price table before you buy.

At 170g, the Deviate Nitro Elite 4 now weighs the same as Puma's more aggressive Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, and that shifts who it's for. It keeps the steadier, heel-strike-friendly shape the Elite line has always had, but most reviewers found the midsole livelier than the Elite 3's and the outsole better too. One long-term tester said it was the first Deviate Elite they'd enjoyed since the original, and Believe in the Run went further, calling it Puma's best race shoe so far. We see it as a carbon racing shoe for 10K and half marathon, and a marathon shoe for runners who find the Fast-R too twitchy. The catches are a narrow midfoot, thin forefoot rubber and early wear reports from a couple of testers. At £215 RRP it's priced alongside the big names, so check the price table before paying full whack.