While the shoe offers great bounce and comfort, it’s not a lightweight option, so it’s definitely a cruisy, easy day shoe, rather than a speedster. The original Magnify was a neutral daily training shoe with a responsive, cushioned and super-comfy ride – and the second iteration offers more of the same. Where there are tweaks, these are all to the good, making this a great shoe for seasoned runners and beginners alike. Puma has made some fantastic running shoes over the past few years but its yet to really nail the classic stability shoe – until now. However, unlike, say, the classic Asics Gel-Kayano, this is a modern stability shoe that delivers not by inserting medial posts but by tweaks in the construction itself. The fourth iteration has an all-new midsole, made with the new ReactX foam – which, according to Nike, gives you 13% more energy return compared with the standard Nike React foam –and also reduces the carbon footprint of the midsole by at least 43%. The fit is true-to-size, though perhaps a touch on the narrow size in the toebox area. They feel very comfortable from the get-go, with a nice bit of padding on the tongue and in the heel. Ironically enough, it might be fans of old-school racing flats who will really enjoy these carbon plate shoes. And if your form is strong, you’re certainly going to feel the real benefit of the Cloudboom Echo 3s on race day.

Carbon-plated training shoes may no longer be a novelty, but given they tend to come with maximal cushioning, the Magic Speed 3 feels like one nonetheless. It’s a lightweight shoe that looks – and even feels – more like an old-school racer. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a daily workhorse, or a high-mileage runner seeking consistent performance with a bit of cushioning, the 880 really is a shoe that can work for everyone.The weight of the cushioning does mean they aren’t the lightest shoe – but they are fantastically comfortable. Our testers noted no hotspots at all, and had no reservations about reaching for these on their longest runs. They fit true to size, with plenty of room in the forefoot, a plush tongue and a precise lacing system allowing for a tailored fit.

The Kinvara combines medium cushioning with a good amount of stiffness, wrapped up in a really lightweight shoe. Our testers commented that the Kinvara 14 was well-balanced, nimble and agile, though some did find it a little narrow, so it’s certainly not for wide-footed runners. Further weight savings come from that new midsole and a redesigned mesh upper. This also, along with additional padding around the heel and collar, provides more structure, increasing comfort over those longer miles.

9. Best Budget-Friendly Trainer: Brooks Launch 9

The latest iteration features a new, lighter FuelCell midsole foam, along with the same carbon fibre plate and Energy Arc technology. The latter might sound like something from a Marvel film, but is essentially a ‘void’ through the centre of the midsole, which allows the carbon plate to flatten and rebound during take-off and landing, increasing energy return. The result is certainly a propulsive ride.

To be exact, Puma was established in 1948, and the first shoe to release was the Atom a soccer shoe. Not long after, athletes started wearing Puma’s in key events. In 1952 runner Josef Barthel wore Puma while he won a Olympic Gold Medal in the 1500 m. In 1956, the formstripe was introduced and since then, has been a Puma trademark. That being said, the same running shoe won't suit every runner or every run. There are plenty of factors to consider when it comes to finding the right pair: your unique biomechanics, your weight, the surface(s) you run on, the shape of your feet and your preferred ‘feel’.With On’s signature CloudTec technology, a full-length carbon speedboard and new Helion HP hyperfoam, it’s undeniably a very good looking shoe. The upper consists of a single woven structure with On’s classic minimalist styling. Building a shoe rotation can help to mitigate this because if you’re running in the same pair of shoes every day, the midsole foam doesn’t have time to fully decompress before its next use. So giving your shoes time to recover between sessions allows the midsole to decompress, helping you to get more miles out of it. How do I know my foot type for running shoes?