Weight 368gEvaluation Once known purely as a big-guy company, New Balance is now making more shoes for lighter and faster runners. Like its decent 730 and 830, the all-new 1040 is built for responsiveness, with a low-profile midsole and a very

NEW BALANCE320 Firecrest Court, Centre Park, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 1RG; 0800 389 1055; www.newbalance.co.uk2005 MODELSCUSHIONED 1060 844 STABILITY 854 1050 766 718 2004 MODELSCUSHIONED 1023 STABILITY 856 1221 PERFORMANCE TRAINING 834 900 MOTION

Weight 406gEvaluation Though the heavy-duty 2000 is an update of the 1700 and looks very similar, it’s a very different shoe. It features New Balance’s new N-Ergy cushioning and stability cartridge in the rearfoot, plus several other changes

of their shoes, and that’s what New Balance has done with the 1021. Half of the depth of the midsole is now made from its Abzorb material (the purple layer). Coupled with the shoe’s deep flex grooves, this gives the 1021 a lot of appeal for forefoot

| Equipment Gazelle Pro Plate | Response Cushion | Ride | Supernova Cushion ASICSGel Cumulus |Gel NimbusAVIA2069 |257 BROOKSHyperion 2FILAF1 |FGT320MIZUNOWave Phoenix |Wave RiderNEW BALANCE879 |1021 |1040 |2000NIKEAir International Triax |Air Max |Air Presto

); Reebok Fusion C (£100); New Balance 1040 (£80)