14 best carbon plate running shoes

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If your pockets are deep enough – and your running goals are strong enough – these are the shoes to help you race at your best Vane Pump Accessories

Whether or not you agree with them (and chances are, you do – especially if your 2024 running resolution is a shiny new PB) carbon plate shoes have runners, from the amateur to the elite, hooked. This speed-focussed technology is set to go from strength to strength in 2024 with some exciting new 'super shoe' releases.

Born out of the Nike Breaking 2 project in 2017, the carbon plate trainer has become a staple in the offerings of pretty much every running shoe brand, with new iterations emerging year on year.

Generally speaking, they contain a combination of Pebax (or EVA) foam and a carbon fibre plate. Pebax is a highly resilient, super-light foam that returns a significant proportion of energy, giving a bouncing feeling as someone runs. The plate also has a spring function, which is thought to work in conjunction with the foam.

But not all carbon plate shoes are created equal and they certainly don't all perform the same. Not only is there the type of foam to consider (PEBA vs EVA), there’s also the choice of ½ length vs full-length carbon plates to weigh up, as well as different types of uppers and stack heights.

We've clocked up hundreds of miles in a number of carbon plate shoes, to bring you our pick of the best. Shop them here, at a glance, or keep scrolling to read more.

The shoes listed below, unless otherwise stated, are designed for longer races from half marathon onwards. Whilst they will still feel bouncy on a gentle 5k plod, given that they are ultimately designed for the longer distances, our recommendations are based upon use at pace, in longer races. Why is pace important? When you run fast (whatever fast may be to you), you run with greater efficiency and these shoes are built to enhance that efficiency, so that's when you get the most benefit from them.

Carbon plate running shoes all sit around the 40mm stack height (the max height for a shoe stack as set by World Athletics), which is a lot of foam/shoe. This means that if you're a minimal shoe wearer or just someone who likes to 'feel' the ground when running, these might not be for you, as there is a certain amount of disconnect that takes place with any larger shoe. This is not to say that you'll be stomping around unable to feel your feet on the ground, but there is a degree of instability that comes with a larger shoe.

The shoes in this guide have been tested by a variety of runners of all shapes, sizes and abilities over a wide range of distances, but focused primarily on the marathon. We assessed the shoes for their fit, feel, cushioning, responsiveness, comfort, grip, breathability and overall performance.

Perhaps the most revered shoe on our list, this is the one if you have Kipchoge levels of expectation from your shoes – or maybe even Kevin Kiptum. After all, these are the ones Kiptum wore when he set the men’s marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon in 2023.

The Alphafly 3 is a shoe that wants to go fast and show you what it’s capable of. You can really feel that propulsion and responsiveness coming from Nike’s ZoomAir pods in the forefoot, and the ride is punchy, light and, well, an absolute joy. Compared with the previous iteration, the ride feels slightly more aggressive, with more of a tippy sensation on each step. However, this just adds to the overall liveliness and enjoyment of the ride.

The challenge with the new breed of shoes with seriously stacked soles (this sneaks under the World Athletics 40mm limit for sole thickness) is that they’re a bit tippy, especially when turning corners. But, for the latest iteration, Nike has used a continuous outsole for increased stability and an all-new last (shoe mould), fleshed out around the midfoot. These changes make the shoe a lot more comfortable than the Alphafly 2, reducing rubbing through the midfoot and on the Achilles, and give you confidence rounding corners.

If you’re chasing down a PB this year, you’d be hard pushed to find better than the Alphafly 3.

Eliud Kipchoge may have worn the even-higher-spec Alphafly to break the two-hour barrier, but a glance at the sharp end of any major marathon tells you the Vaporfly is a go-to for many serious racers. And thankfully the third iteration feels just as lively and fast as the previous two. Nike has overhauled the Vaporfly from the rubber up, looking to make it the lightest yet.

One attempt to shave weight came in the midsole shaping. The foam is still the same ZoomX that delivers top-of-the-line energy return, but a cutout on the lateral sidewall – your foot doesn’t need support there – and a small channel under the midfoot reduces material. Gone too is the big, flat slab of rubber under the forefoot, replaced with a web of diamond shaped lugs – think waffle sole, rotated 45 degrees, with cutouts. Our testers reported the shoes felt planted in dry conditions, and the new construction eliminates the loud, slappy sensation found in almost all the new super shoes.

One gripe: the Flyknit upper is extremely thin and breathable, but it doesn’t stretch at all so take care not to lace too tightly or you can suffer pressure on the tops of your feet.

To commemorate turning 125 this year, Saucony launched its fastest ever racing shoe: the Endorphin Elite. As the ‘elite’ signals, this is the pair you pull out with the intention of maxing your performance on race day. Saucony’s metabolic testing on athletes running at varying speeds found that in terms of energy efficiency from 5K to marathon pace, the athletes – not all of them elites – had better running economy wearing the Elite compared to running in other Saucony models.

That efficiency comes in part from a new foam, Pwrrun HG (‘highest grade’). In lab testing, Saucony found it outperformed the brand’s other foams on energy return. Besides energetic foam, any decent super shoe needs a carbon-fibre plate and the Elite’s is slotted and shaped like a fork to provide aggressive toe-off. The result is a shoe that testers felt finally feels like a true equal to Nike’s Alphafly and Vaporfly when it comes to all-out speed.

Like Saucony’s other racing models, the Endorphin Pro+ and Endorphin Pro 3, the Elite’s propulsive ride demands that you run faster. Testers reported that easy four milers transformed into marathon-paced long runs and the ‘indisputable bounce’ had them eyeing up extra races.

The squishy, bouncy v2 was a totally different shoe than v1, and the v3 is a complete rebuild again. Though it feels different underfoot, it’s still capable and speedy. So, what’s new? Well, start with the thick sole that’s 40mm under the heel, right at the limits of what’s allowed by World Athletics, but 5mm thicker under the forefoot than the v2 (which was 39mm in the heel and 31mm in the forefoot). Despite the extra thickness, it doesn’t feel quite as soft and bouncy as before, but it’s still ‘a good lightweight racer with a responsive forefoot and a cushy heel stack’ as one tester summed it up.

Helping to keep weight down is the sole construction you find on all the SuperComp family. A deep channel in the foam creates almost a horseshoe shape under the heel. You sink into that empty space a little, which boosts cushioning and allows the curved plate to flatten just slightly under your bodyweight.

The new bootie upper proved polarising. Some testers loved the snug fit all around their feet, but those with high insteps found it hard to get into the shoe and felt pressure on top of the foot in the run. One tester also reported some foot pain from the rope used for eyelets after a 10-miler.

1 February 2024 will see the release of the V4 which we tested and reviewed here.

If major races won is a barometer of how good a shoe is, since it first appeared, the Adizero Adios Pro has helped a number of elites to the top step of the podium – and none more so than the latest Adizero Adios Pro 3.0, worn by everyone from Amos Kipruto when he won the London marathon last year, to Peres Jepchirchir, who won the 2022 Boston marathon wearing the shoe.

This latest version is as fast as ever, with no carbon plate as such in the midsole, but five energy rods (mimicking the five metatarsal bones of the foot). These make the shoe lighter and less 'slappy' and also provide some stabilisation to counterbalance the super-bouncy Lightstrike foam.

The upper is breathable but very thin and, as a result, our tester, who has bunions, found the eyelets rubbed the bone at the base of her big toe when she tested these during the recent half marathon, so they might not be the best fit for runners with bunions.

Along with its twin the Metaspeed Edge+, Asics' Metaspeed Sky+ is one of a pair of super shoes designed to suit runners with different mechanics – those who take longer strides to speed up, and those who take more. While the Sky+ is tailored for ‘stride’ runners, you’ll feel a boost in either model. Although you have the option of drilling down into the cadence and pace data from your Garmin, the best way to choose between them may be simply to go with what sounds more enjoyable.

Both shoes have more of Asics’ Flytefoam Turbo foam than their predecessors, but the Sky+ also has a carbon-fibre plate placed higher inside the midsole. This lets the foam between the plate and the outsole compress more, storing more energy and giving ‘stride’ runners extra height on their long, bounding toe-offs. Testers had no issues with traction, even on wet pavement. The mesh uppers fit like a second skin, helping to lock your foot in the shoe.

With ever-evolving shoe tech and maximalism dominating the racing category, it’s refreshing to see some super shoes going rogue. Models like Nike’s Air Zoom Alphafly are maxed out with towering stack heights, sharp heel spoilers and aggressive silhouettes. But there’s also a small bracket containing the Saucony Endorphin Pro+, Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite and Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2. These shoes have the features we expect with super shoes – carbon-fibre plate, responsive midsole foam – but they’re more streamlined and pared down, as opposed to the just-passing-World-Athletics-guidelines set.

The Deviate Nitro Elite 2 has a double layer of nitrogen-infused PEBA in the midsole. This makes the cushioning feel a little firmer. It’s lighter than its predecessor, and has a new last. The spoon-shaped plate is more evenly levelled with the foam and there’s also more space in the forefoot for added toe-spring and stability. Some of our testers had never run in Pumas and found themselves – appropriately – deviating from other brands’ super shoes ‘thanks to its lightweight design, firm cushion, subtle but effective propulsion, and minimalism,’ in the words of one. Another was sold on the combo of being ‘super lightweight without losing the comfort factor’ and found they ‘also gripped well in wet conditions’.

The Endorphin Pro series has rightly acquired an excellent rep for helping runners push the PB envelope in longer races. In terms of evolution, the Pro 2 was basically the same as the original version, but as a teaser between the second and third iterations, Saucony released the limited-edition Pro+, on which the upper was built like a track spike and the overall package came in ultra-light. Its follow-up, the Pro 3, hits the sweet spot weight-wise: it’s lighter than the Pro 2 and just a smidge heavier than the Pro+.

Weight savings partially come from sizeable perforated holes in the tongue and a thinner outsole. And the looks? Let’s just say Saucony added a little sparkle. Some testers were initially wary of the Pro 3’s beefiness – it has the thickest stack yet and at 39.5mm under the heel nudges right up to the allowable limit under World Athletics rules.

Despite the towering platform, the bouncy, propulsive sensation that won hearts and soles in previous models remains, thanks to the carbon-fibre plate and Pwrrun PB foam cushioning. In fact, it feels springier now. Like other Pros before it, the 3 begs that you go fast.

Designed for marathoners who speed up by increasing their cadence more significantly than their stride length, this super shoe excels for road runners of any gait style, racing any distance from the mile to a 50K. The Edge has more foam underfoot than its predecessor and uses Asics' most premium nylon-based Flytefoam Turbo, the lightest and springiest the brand currently dishes. However, the Edge still has less of the material than the Sky, with a carbon-fiber plate placed lower inside the midsole.

Its full-length plate dips closer to the ground near the forefoot, making it easier for cadence runners to roll quickly into each stride. The aggressive rocker and steep toe spring in the Edge remind us more of Saucony’s Endorphin Pro. Compared to the Endorphin Pro, though, and also the Vaporfly, the Edge+’s forefoot and heel are a smidge wider and, as a result, transitions feel very stable. And though the ride is exceptionally springy, it remains smooth and predictable; when climbing steep hills, our tester said they 'felt the carbon plate propelling my toe-offs, but it remained nicely controlled from stride to stride'.

The upper is made from a translucent airy mesh that Asics calls Motion Wrap, which although doesn’t stretch and looks fragile and sheer, it’s remarkably sturdy – just stiff enough to lock your foot down on the midsole.

The Rocket X2 is a technology-packed shoe that looks to rival the Nike Alphaflys of this world. The carbon fibre plate is sandwiched between two layers of super responsive foam, with an internal midfoot cage for a locked down fit that you’ll value on race day. Weight-savings have been made through a barely-there upper, although the paper-thin heel counter is likely to divide a crowd.

There’s a noticeable sense of propulsion when running in the Hoka Rocket X2. The rocker shape pops you up on your forefoot, while the carbon-plate combined with the new Peba midsole creates a responsive and cushioned feel underfoot. So if you’re looking for a soft but speedy ride, this is it.

The specialist running brand of the sports retailer Decathlon, Kiprun has established itself as a maker of quality running shoes at great value prices. And as its first carbon-fibre plate shoe, the KD900X certainly has a compelling USP – to offer super shoe benefits at around half the typical cost. At first glance, all the key ingredients are here – it’s light, with a Pebax-based midsole foam, and the Vaporfly-style upper is minimalist to cut down on weight, with a thin tongue and a couple of internal foam pads to act as a heel counter. But on the run, while it undoubtedly feels light, you don’t get the recognisable springiness of the best carbon shoes, and the ride is on the firmer side.

Kiprun say the shoe is more durable – it was run in for 1,500km by one of its testers – but there’s no way of testing this claim in the short term. On the plus side, the shoe feels stable and sure-footed even on cambered surfaces and when cornering, a feeling enhanced by the excellent grip in all conditions. But ultimately, while it’s a decent lightweight option for speed sessions or race day, those looking for super shoe-type energy return should probably look elsewhere.

Since Des Linden won the Boston Marathon in a prototype of the first shoe, the Hyperion Elite has always had the performance kudos of a carbon shoe but initially failed to deliver (firm ride, short self-life etc). Version 2 and 3, however, have been different – delivering speed in spades. For the 2, Brooks amped up the lightweight but thinly cushioned midsole, replacing its DNA Zero foam with nitrogen-infused DNA Flash, which provides 14 percent more cushioning than DNA Zero, and higher rebound.

New Rapid Roll Technology also promotes a rocking heel-to-toe motion for faster turnover. These midsole and outsole improvements carry over unchanged to the new Hyperion Elite 3 – and, as a result, it goes great-guns when you up the pace. The latest version features a new knit upper with a traditional heel collar and partially gusseted tongue that we found provides a much more locked-in fit than its predecessor. Our only gripe is that the latest version is 14g heavier than the 2, so we're crossing our fingers for a lighter fourth version.

The Cloudboom Echo 3 is On Running's high-performance carbon-plated shoe – designed for race day. It features On’s signature CloudTec technology, a full-length carbon speedboard and new Helion HP hyperfoam.

Weighing in at 215g, there’s no denying it’s a lightweight shoe, but the ride is definitely on the firmer side and lacks the level of cushioning you’ll find in the likes of the Alphalfy. In fact, one of our team described it as feeling ‘more akin to that of a racing flat’ and to get the most out of it, you have to really hit race paces – the more you put in, the greater the energy return and sense of propulsion.

Of course, if you're already a fan of On Running, then the shoe's high-quality materials and advanced design make it worth the investment, but if you're after something that feels a little softer and more cushioned, then perhaps steer your gaze towards New Balance's FuelCell SC Elite v3 instead.

This is Under Amour announcing itself as a serious contender in the super-shoe space. One of the first things you notice is the weight-shaving rubberless bottom. UA’s Flow foam is infused with olefin, making it resilient against wear. The Velociti Elite grips well on slick surfaces, despite the absence of an outsole, and feels like a track spike with the support of a moderately cushioned trainer.

Its rubber-less midsole is a lighter Flow compound than in the Flow Velociti Wind 2, infused with nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The midsole also has a full-length thermoset plate with an angular scoop to provide a nice roll off. UA’s designers also minimised the upper, called Warp 2.0, by replacing its base mesh with a thin monomesh. Vertical and horizontal tape lines create an exoskeleton over your foot to keep it secure.

One tester compared the Velociti Elite’s manoeuvrability on the road to sprinting on the track, while another praised the comfort and the fact that, in contrast to other super shoes, ‘it doesn’t feel heavily contoured or shaped; it doesn’t force the foot to mould to the shoe’.

Ben is the Multiplatform Director and has worked at Runner's World for over 10 years. In this time he has replaced core childhood memories with miscellaneous stats about running shoes and tech. Ben is a firm believer that running is just as much about adventure and fun as about chasing PBs, and he likes nothing more than a day spent explore new trails.

Rick Pearson is the senior editor at Runner’s World UK. He’s been with the brand since 2017 and loves testing PB-friendly shoes for on and off road. Rick is a sub-three marathoner and occasionally likes to remind people of this on the Runner’s World podcast, which he co-hosts. He once raced a steam train over 14 miles (he won, narrowly) and a horse over a marathon (he lost, comfortably).

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