That design does force you into the midfoot landing zone (landing anywhere else in this shoe is just, well, not going to happen) but that actually feels really good at pace. The transition onto your toes is super-peppy, but no more aggressive than other supershoes.

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. The upper is a single-layer mesh, designed to provide breathability, though the fabric is still robust, meaning it will cope with winter on the roads. The flywire cables integrated into the lacing system provide a non-slip fit and the padded tongue is super comfy. With its solid construction and a grippy outsole, this is also a seriously durable shoe that should see you through a lot of miles. It fits true to size, with a comfortable engineered mesh upper. The tongue and the heel are both lightly padded, and the lacing system adjustable – but without needing much. Finally the superior Pumagrip rubber on on the outsole means that this is a really robust and hard-wearing shoe that will see you through hundreds of training miles. There's a reason that the Pegasus is in its 40th iteration – the 'workhorse with wings' really does deliver. There's only been a couple of minor tweaks to the latest version of the neutral, daily trainer – after all, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? But tweaks do include a newly redesigned mid-foot band for a more secure fit, and a redesigned single-layer mesh upper to offer more breathability and help to improve airflow in sweaty conditions. On the run, the shoe feels supportive and nicely flexible. It hugs your foot without constricting and can handle changes in pace, too.

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. This is a shoe that is definitely meant solely for race day, and at race pace – the more you put in, the greater the energy return and sense of propulsion you get out. The firmness means that at easy paces, though, you simply don’t feel the benefits of the carbon plate. The ForeverRun has the same Nitro foam that’s found in all of Puma’s running shoes, but here it’s combined with a firmer foam in a dual-density midsole. The result is a lovely, comfortable and soft-but-responsive ride that yes, delivers stability, but also responsiveness. Traditionally, the Gel-Kayano has always been a workhorse stability shoe, but in 2023, the definition of stability has changed. Where once you had medial posts and stiff structure, the next generation of shoes strive to adapt, not constrain, delivering stability through their geometry. 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.

With a shoe as popular as the Gel-Kayano, updating it is always a risk. But in this case, it’s one that pays off. The Pegasus 40 includes two Zoom Air units – at the forefoot and heel – which helps to give that responsive, energised feel. While it’s certainly not one of the new generation of maximalist cushioned shoes, when you step in to the Pegasus, you do immediately feel that comfort hugging your foot securely in place. It has a really plush feel, and fits true to size. 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%. While these are shoes that are gentle on tired legs and great for recovery miles, they also respond well to an increase in pace, making them a great everyday trainer. Finally, On have updated the outsole to include grippy rubber pads to improve stability and durability in all conditions.In the 1940s Adolph and Rudolf Dassler had a falling out, Rudolf went on to create Puma (while his brother Adolph went on to create Adidas). Even though Puma was a new company, Rudolf knew a lot about athletic sneakers. Before Rudolf and Adolph Dassler (brothers) went their own ways, they owned Gebruder-Dassler Schuhfabrik a footwear company.