India, Sept. 30 -- I have never been someone who buys running shoes only for running. If a pair is comfortable enough to wear all day and looks good with my everyday clothes, I am much more likely to keep reaching for it.

So when I tried the ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28 and Campus Alexa running shoes, I paid attention to more than just how they looked. I wanted to know how comfortable they felt after several hours, whether I could style them easily and, most importantly, whether there were any small details that became annoying with regular wear.

The two pairs are very different in price and styling, and my experience with them was quite different too. One feels more premium and elevated, while the other is an affordable everyday option with on...