Zoom Fly 6 vs Deviate Nitro 3

The Nike Zoom Fly 6 is the carbon plate experience for everyone who is not racing. It sits in the super trainer slot: a plated, well cushioned road shoe built to handle tempo work, long runs and the odd race without the price or the fragility of a true marathon flat. At 265g it is no featherweight, and that is the point. Nike has traded the raw speed of its race line for durability and a more forgiving daily ride, so you get the snap of a full length carbon plate stacked on a soft, bouncy midsole that holds up over the miles. If you want the actual race rocket the Vaporfly 4 is lighter and faster, but the Zoom Fly 6 is the one you can train in week after week. We rate it as one of the best value carbon trainers around for runners who want one shoe to cover their faster days.

The Puma Deviate Nitro 3 is a carbon-plated do-it-all running shoe: enough pop to handle tempo work and race day, enough cushioning and rubber underfoot to survive your everyday miles. That dual-purpose brief is what sets it apart from a pure racer. Think of it as one shoe for the runner who wants a single versatile trainer rather than a rotation. With a 10mm drop and a firm-but-lively ride, it rewards you when you get on your toes and press the pace, while staying stable enough for steady runs. At 250g it is not the lightest plated shoe out there, and you notice that on the fastest reps, so treat it as a workhorse tempo and long-run trainer rather than a featherweight 5k weapon. For the £160 RRP you get real durability and a genuinely versatile ride. If you want one carbon shoe that does a bit of everything, it earns its place.