Pegasus Trail 5 vs Sense Ride 5

The Pegasus Trail 5 is Nike's door-to-trail running shoe: a cushioned, do-everything trail shoe built to carry you from the pavement onto gravel, light singletrack and mixed paths without missing a beat. It is not a technical mountain racer and it does not pretend to be. With a soft, forgiving ride and a 9.5mm drop, it feels close to a road trainer with extra grip and protection, which is exactly the point. If your local running mixes a road warm-up with woodland trail and the odd muddy patch, this is one of the most versatile options out there. At 300g it is on the heavier side, so it will not win you a fast trail race, and the moderate lugs give up traction in deep mud and on greasy rock. But as a comfortable, durable trail running shoe for everyday miles, the Pegasus Trail 5 nails the brief. We rate it as a buy-it-and-forget-it daily trail shoe rather than a specialist.

The Salomon Sense Ride 5 is the trail running shoe you reach for when you do not want to think too hard. It is a do-everything door-to-trail shoe with a moderate 8mm drop and enough cushioning to soak up long days without turning your foot into a marshmallow. At 286g it sits in the middle of the weight range, so it is not a light and racy trail shoe, but it is not a heavy tank either. What you get is balance. The grip handles wet grass, packed dirt and light rock without complaint, and it rolls happily onto tarmac for the road sections between trails. It is neutral, so it suits runners with a fairly stable gait rather than heavy overpronators. If you want one shoe for mixed UK trails, muddy commons and the occasional path run, this is a smart, honest pick. Chasing a fast time on technical mountain terrain? Look at something more aggressive like the Saucony Peregrine 16.