the second-density medial post, and a broad last. The 856 differs slightly from the 855 in that its midsole is now made from the lighter, more durable Acteva foam New Balance has introduced to top-end shoes. The biggest change, really, is in the upper, which

Weight 276gEvaluation Nike introduced two performance shoes using its “caged” Zoom Air units – the Swift and the Spiridon last year. While the Swift was a pleasingly smooth and responsive shoe, the lighter Spiridon wasn’t quite so impressive, with a

's update of the DS – much of which remains here – others weren't so keen, but it's still a good choice if you're looking for a highly capable performance shoe. (A review of the previous shoe follows:)Weight 306gEvaluation Every year, Asics updates its

Weight 383gEvaluation The Hurricane has long been one of Saucony's best models, offering a top-notch combination of cushioning, stability and smoothness. Over the years, the company has tended to go for gentle tweaks to the shoe, rather than

Mizuno substantially upgraded the Wave Rider last summer and ended up with a fantastic shoe. Wisely, it has changed little on the Rider other than the upper materials. That said, by using a lighter, more breathable mesh, the Rider's fit now feels

Weight 395gEvaluation Etonic is a classic American brand that developed a loyal following among British runners looking for sturdy, supportive shoes in the 1980s and early 1990s. Unfortunately, it didn't really have enough fans and disappeared from

Weight 349gEvaluation The Supernova Cushion is one of Adidas's most successful shoes, so it's always careful with updates. This latest version sticks closely to the Cushion script, with a few subtle changes. It's now built on a wider last, so

, lighter wearers found that the cushioning worked nicely for them, too. Another surprise was that despite looking rather wide and clumpy the Streetfighter C offered a good fit for narrower feet and a smooth ride.In short A stable cushioning shoe

Weight 334gEvaluation While Inov8’s Mudroc models are among the best examples of extreme off-road shoes – where grip is the most important consideration – they aren’t exactly ideal for long, lazy runs in the trails. Having realised this, Inov8 has

No big changes for 04. The midsole is a bit softer and the upper fits more snugly in the midfoot. With full-length Air and a cushioned midsole, the Pegasus continues to work for neutral runners who need a basic, functional workhorse of a shoe