Best All-Round Running Shoes: Six Everyday Trainers Compared

Introduction

Six all-round everyday running shoes went head to head across comfort, value, speed, and that harder-to-define feeling of just how fun a shoe is to run in. The lineup covers the Nike Pegasus 39, Nike Invincible 2, Puma Velocity 2, Reebok Floatride 4, New Balance 1080 v12, and Hoka Mach 4. Every shoe was bought at full retail price for testing, and each was scored out of 10 in four categories for a total out of 40.

Facts and Figures: What the Specs Say

The heel-to-toe drops are closely grouped: the Pegasus 39, Velocity 2, and Mach 4 all sit at 10mm, the Floatride 4 and Invincible 2 at 9mm, and the 1080 v12 alone at 8mm. Weight, measured in a UK size 12, ranges from the Hoka Mach 4 at 264g up to the Nike Invincible 2 at 380g, with the Reebok at 293g, Pegasus at 315g, Puma at 331g, and New Balance at 351g.

Pricing spreads widely. The Reebok Floatride 4 is the bargain at around £75 (often closer to £60 on offer), the Puma Velocity 2 sits near £100, the Pegasus 39 just over £100 at about £109, the Hoka Mach 4 around £120, the New Balance 1080 v12 at roughly £145, and the Nike Invincible 2 tops the list at about £165. None of these shoes contain a carbon plate, and all are fairly flexible. Fit is true to size across the board except the 1080 v12, which runs large; most people should go at least half a size, possibly a full size, down. In terms of cushioning, five of the six offer a medium ride, with the Invincible 2 as the exception with its max cushion setup.

Comfort

The Reebok Floatride 4 scored 6/10 for comfort. Support is limited, and the ankle could use more padding and foam, but it is far from a bad shoe.

The New Balance 1080 v12 earns 8/10, with one big caveat: the sizing. The adjusted heel makes it come up big, and getting the wrong size is a genuine problem. Nail the size and you find a nice sweet spot, a lockdown upper material, and a new ankle collar design that is a big upgrade over the outgoing version.

The Nike Pegasus 39 also scores 8/10. The Flywire lacing system delivers excellent lockdown, there is generous padding around the ankle, and the combination of the air pods and React foam makes for a genuinely comfortable ride.

The Invincible 2 gets 7/10. Lockdown is good and the reworked ankle collar is a welcome tweak, but it is a big, clumpy, heavy shoe that will not suit everyone. It also runs warm over long distances, though no hot spots appeared even after close to 400km of testing.

The Puma Velocity 2, at 7/10, surprises with strong ankle support and a squishy but effective heel lockdown. It laces up well and is comfortable enough to wear casually, which is impressive at this price.

Finally, the Hoka Mach 4 is the standout at 8/10. The flared heel provides good achilles support, the upper material creates a secure fit, and there were no hot spots or issues of any kind. It is simply a very comfortable shoe.

Value

The Reebok Floatride 4 is exceptional value and scores 9/10. At £50 to £60 it is an absolute bargain of a running shoe. The only real knock is durability, which matches the previous version and means it will wear out a little sooner than you would like.

The New Balance 1080 v12 struggles here at 7/10. A further price increase to around £145 puts it £36 above the Pegasus, which is hard to justify, and the ride no longer feels like a premium step up.

The Pegasus 39 also scores 9/10 on value. At roughly £110, and often less during sales, it delivers an exciting, well-rounded package at a sensible price.

The Invincible 2 sits in a class of its own at 7/10. It is expensive, but it pairs well against other max-cushion shoes and simply goes on and on for miles, so there is some real value in the long run.

The Hoka Mach 4 earns 7/10 as a solid, good-value everyday shoe at a mid-range price point, and the Puma Velocity 2 rounds out the category at 8/10. It is not as exciting as the Nike and does not undercut the Reebok, but at around £100 it is genuinely good value.

Speed

The Reebok Floatride 4 is not the fastest shoe here and scores 6/10. Stability on tight corners, such as at parkruns, is its main weakness, and it could use more stiffness.

The New Balance 1080 v12 is the king of the do-it-all shoe at 7/10. Good stiffness and stability through corners, and it will carry you through marathons and half marathons, even if the ride is a little unexciting.

The Pegasus 39 surprises at 7/10. The air pods in the forefoot and heel working with the React foam make for a surprisingly fast, engaging ride in this segment, even if it is nowhere near super-shoe territory.

The Invincible 2, despite its flagship ZoomX foam, scores 6/10. It is the king of the easy run, and while you can run faster in it, this is not the shoe to reach for when speed is the priority. The Hoka Mach 4 also earns 7/10, getting you up on the balls of your feet and turning over nicely at all paces. It is arguably the most enjoyable of the group purely on speed.

The Puma Velocity 2 delivers more than expected at 6/10, holding its own during reps without demanding extra effort from the runner.

Fun and Excitement

The Reebok Floatride 4 over-delivers here at 7/10. It has a slightly old-school feel and you can feel the ground more, but it is engaging, brings a smile to your face, and the money you save makes it even sweeter.

The New Balance 1080 v12 scores 6/10. Earlier generations were more fun, and as the price and bulk have grown the ride has lost some of its spark. It remains an all-out good shoe you will not be disappointed by, just not the most exciting.

The Pegasus 39 earns 7/10 and a genuine turnaround. After disliking the 37 and 38, reaching for the 39 far more often than expected is a pleasant surprise. It is an engaging ride that encourages quicker turnover over all sorts of distances.

The Invincible 2 also scores 7/10. The ride is not engaging in the conventional sense, but that huge stack of ZoomX foam has a poppy, almost playful quality that can turn an easy run into a steady one.

The Hoka Mach 4 takes the category at 8/10. It is simply fun, begging you to go faster, and it is the shoe most often grabbed from the cupboard just for the joy of running. The Puma Velocity 2 finishes at 7/10, bringing a smile to your face and delivering at whatever pace you choose, easy runs, steady runs, reps, even some racing.

Overall Buying Advice

The final scores tell a clear story. The Pegasus 39 wins with 31 points, having hit a sweet spot with its air pods, lockdown, and comfort. The Hoka Mach 4 takes second, with barely a fault to find: wide fit, secure lockdown, no blisters or hot spots, and the lightest shoe in the lineup.

A three-way tie on 28 points goes to the Floatride 4, 1080 v12, and Velocity 2. The Reebok and Puma deliver exceptional value, while the New Balance feels overpriced for what it now offers. Last place goes to the Nike Invincible 2, which is simply too niche for an all-round category, though it remains a solid, if expensive, option for easy and recovery miles.

Conclusion

If you want one shoe to do nearly everything well, the Pegasus 39 is the pick, with the Hoka Mach 4 right behind it for runners who prioritize a fun, lightweight ride. Value hunters should look hard at the Reebok Floatride 4 and Puma Velocity 2, while the 1080 v12 remains a good shoe hampered by price and sizing. The Invincible 2 only makes sense if max cushion for easy miles is exactly what you want.