Take a look at these four shoes in our mini-review

Asics Roadhawk FF

Price: £100

Weight: 245g

Heel Drop: 8mm

First up, this is a neutral shoe and definitely not for those who over-pronate. The Roadhawk FF weighs in at a lightweight 245g and still provides plenty of plush cushioning (thanks to the Flytefoam midsole). The other noticeable feature is the comfort of the upper – very few seams, soft fabric, and a sock-like feel. We used the shoe for a variety of sessions but it ultimately performed best during a hard interval workout.

New Balance Fresh Foam Cruz v2 Knit

Price: £80

Weight: 250g

Heel Drop: 8mm

If you are looking for a casual looking shoe to double up for a bit of running, the Fresh Foam Cruz could be the answer. Cushioning is provided by the popular Fresh Foam compound, whilst the blown rubber outsole gave decent grip. The knitted upper won’t be to everyone’s liking as it is fairly minimal but does have a “natural running” feel to it.

Salomon Sense Ride

Price: £110

Weight: 275g

Heel Drop: 8mm

This is one of best all-round trail shoes which we have seen for some time. The Contragrip outsole gives great traction on nearly all surfaces whether they are wet or dry. The lugs aren’t quite deep enough for thick mud but handle the majority of other conditions well including some road running. The cushioning and fit is just about spot on, and combined with the grip gives you confidence that every foot strike will be comfortable and secure.

 

The North Face Ultra Cardiac II

Price: £100

Weight: 280g

Heel Drop: 6mm

This shoe from The North Face is not the typical hardcore trail shoe which we have come to expect from them. The sticky outsole is made from Vibram but resembles a road tread rather than a conventional lugged version. The result is a shoe whose grip feels at home on the roads, but just as happy on lighter trails too. Overall, this is a good solid, no-nonsense shoe which fits well too.