Best Carbon Plated Running Shoes (2024)

“The Hoka Rocket X 2 is a top-tier marathon racer with a soft, energetic ride. It has smooth, stable transitions and a stiff carbon plate for speed assistance. Version 2 is a vast improvement over the original version although it comes in at a higher weight and a much higher price. ”

“The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly 3 is a soft, bouncy super shoe best suited to marathons. It doesn't offer as much speed assistance as other top tier carbon racers because of its gentle forefoot rocker but it's incredibly lightweight and extremely comfortable. Version 3 has been improved in a number of areas including stability, cushioning and weight. The forefoot is softer so it doesn't feel as fast as the Vaporfly 2 but its ride is plusher and it has more long-distance comfort. ”

“The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 is a versatile racing shoe with copious amounts of cushioning and good stability. While it can handle everything from easy runs to fast workouts, it doesn’t have the “oomph” that some of the other carbon-plated racers have so it doesn’t feel as fast.Version 3 has a lot more foam and a wider base, making it softer and more stable; however the new minimal upper runs a half size too small. ”

“The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 is a long-distance specialist. Its highly cushioned midsole and its efficient, energy saving ride make it perfect for marathons and beyond. Version 3 has more foam in the forefoot, a wider net base and a more aggressive toe-spring which makes it softer, more stable and more propulsive than the previous version. ”

“The Saucony Endorphin Elite is a brand new, top of the range marathon racer with a super aggressive toe-spring and a propulsive ride. It’s an S-tier racer which can compete with the fastest marathon shoes on the market. The Endorphin Elite uses Saucony’s new PWRRUN HG foam which has a slightly firmer feel than PWRRUN PB. It has a firmer but more stable ride than the Endorphin Pro 3 however its main weakness is its low outsole durability. ”

“The Reebok Floatride Energy X is an affordable trainer/racer with a carbon plate in its forefoot. It doesn’t possess as much speed as a top tier racer but it has plenty of long-distance comfort and excellent durability. Its forefoot rocker provides efficiency while its wide base makes footstrikes feel planted. ”

“The Atreyu The Artist is a $100 super shoe with a full carbon-fibre plate and a thick, supercritical midsole. It has good cushioning with rockered transitions and it can be used for racing if you're on a budget. Its outsole rubber is very thin and wears down incredibly fast so durability is very low. ”

“The Skechers Speed Beast is a marathon racer or long run trainer which has a firm but efficient ride. It doesn't provide as much speed assistance as other super shoes due to its forefoot-only plate and its dense midsole but its wide base makes it incredibly stable. The Speed Beast’s low price makes it excellent value for money. ”

“The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite is a uniquely designed super shoe which is best suited to races up to the half-marathon, intervals and short threshold runs. It has an aggressive sole design which encourages fast heel-to-toe transitions but its firm EVA heel makes transitions feel disjointed at slow paces. The Fast-R Nitro Elite isn’t as versatile or durable as the Deviate Nitro Elite 2 however it does feel faster during short bursts. ”

“The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Pacer is a brand new racer which is best suited to short-distance racing. It has a snappy, smooth ride which is on the firm side and it has a flexible full-length carbon plate for propulsion. The Pacer does not have a durable outsole so it should only be used on race days. ”