Pegasus 42 vs Velocity Nitro 5

The Pegasus 42 is Nike's do-everything daily training shoe, and the 42nd version of the longest-running name in running. It is not a racer and it is not trying to be. This is the shoe you reach for on the easy miles, the steady runs and the commute jogs, the one that just works. The big change for this version is the cushioning: a full-length Air Zoom unit paired with ReactX foam, which Nike claims gives around 15% more energy return than the Pegasus 41. In practice that means a daily running shoe that feels a touch livelier underfoot without losing the dependable, planted feel the Pegasus is known for. It sits in the busiest part of the market, up against the Brooks Ghost and Asics Cumulus, and at £130 it is priced right where most daily trainers land. If you want one road shoe to log the bulk of your weekly mileage, the Pegasus 42 is a safe, sensible pick that rarely puts a foot wrong.

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.