New Balance 1260

WHAT'S NEW? This is a substantial revision of the 1226, its predecessor. A new heel collar for less rubbing, softer rubber in the outsole, chunkier pronation support and a more flexible forefoot are among the changes.

WE SAY It's not often that a shoe wins an award by such a distance but in this case the 1260 was a, er, shoo-in for a gong. Every tester praised it to the heavens, with the pronation support being solid but not obtrusive, the new mesh giving excellent breathability, a new foam in the forefoot giving bounce and the softer heel collar and seamless inner adding that little bit of luxury. Most suitable for light to normal weight overpronators after an everyday high mileage shoe.