Saucony – Endorphin Elite 2 – £280.00
The subsequent technology of supershoe, this mannequin options what looks like probably the most responsive and ‘springiest’ foam ever!
The brand new IncrediRun midsole may be very tender and with a deep, 40mm stack, it’s one of many softest-feeling race footwear available on the market proper now.
A full-length carbon plate helps maximise the return from the froth and provides to the toe-off, which due to the rocker toe design, provides the shoe an aggressive pop.
Not like some carbon racers, which I usually really feel might be too aggressive for the marathon distance, this mannequin feels higher the extra miles you cowl. Over 5k, it felt a bit too tender, however over a 20-mile tempo run, the shoe got here into its personal, with a extremely responsive and cushioned really feel that was easy all through the run.
This actually might be the following shoe to take the marathon race day market by storm!
Saucony Endorphoin Elite 2
Purchase right here
HOKA – Cielo X1 2.0 – £250.00
Though technically an replace to an present mannequin, the X1 2.0 might simply be a brand new shoe, such are the modifications. Now we now have a shoe with nice cushioning and a carbon plate however in a light-weight bundle that feels quick from the phrase go.
A mixture of aggressive forefoot rocker, carbon plate and PEBA midsole foam make this shoe a brilliant snappy race that propels the foot ahead.
Regardless of the tender foam, the winged carbon plate retains the shoe secure sufficient at velocity to maximise vitality return, whereas the Metarocker positively flicks the foot ahead into toe-off very similar to a monitor spike.
Finally the result’s a fast-feeling race shoe that’s versatile sufficient for a variety of distances and the model’s greatest racing shoe thus far.
HOKA Cielo X1 2.0
Purchase right here
Mizuno – Wave Insurrection Professional 3 – £210.00
Being rather less aggressive than the earlier mannequin, the brand new Insurrection Professional 3 ought to enable a wider vary of runners to expertise the model’s ‘Clean Pace Help design.
Whereas the brand new fashions look acquainted, the tweaked heel design provides a bit extra stability and maximises the impact of the deep cushioning and propulsive geometry of the shoe.
It’s nonetheless a shoe that calls for a extra environment friendly, impartial gait however for those who go well with the shoe it actually does return each little bit of vitality you place into it. With this in thoughts, Mizuno is aiming the Professional 3 at runners protecting the bottom at round 6-minute mile tempo and at this velocity, it comes into its personal.
The only real design is one other nice, usually missed component. Right here the low profile ‘G3’ materials acts like miniature enamel that handle to ‘chunk’ into the highway for distinctive, non-slip traction.
The Insurrection Professional 3 is a good selection for sooner, environment friendly athletes seeking to maximise efficiency on the roads.
Mizuno Insurrection Professional 3
Purchase right here
Puma – Deviate Nitro Elite 3 – £195.00
One of the crucial versatile carbon race footwear available on the market, the Nitro Elite manages to offer a extremely responsive journey at any tempo due to the sleek, nitrogen-injected foam and carbon PWRPLATE.
It’s a really secure feeling shoe too which once more provides to its versatility for a variety of runners no matter gait or tempo.
The PUMAGRIP outsole has now develop into established as a byword for excellent traction and, alongside a light-weight higher, completes the all-around high-performance match and really feel of this race day mannequin.
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3
Purchase right here
Brooks – Hyperion Elite 4 PB – £200.00
A ‘mid-season’ replace to the Elite 4, the PB version provides PEBA foam to make the shoe softer and finally sooner. Whereas the earlier model was an awesome mannequin for shorter distances, the softer really feel of this model makes the shoe smoother using and finally extra able to dealing with longer distances.
The PEBA midsole options the identical carbon fibre plate, so has nice toe-off at velocity and the shoe feels softer, lighter and naturally faster from the outset.
A brilliant-breathable mesh higher retains weight down additional and offers the shoe a monitor spike really feel and a high-performance match. Constructed for velocity, that is the all-time racing shoe from Brooks!
Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB
Purchase right here
ASICS – Metaspeed Sky Paris – £220.00
With the model’s quickest and lightest FF Turbo Plus foam midsole and a carbon plate tuned that can assist you take advantage of out of your stride, the Metaspeed Sky is an actual long-distance performer.
On the marathon distance, the shoe has nice credentials and road-proven kind due to the extremely responsive foam and plate mixture.
The shoe takes benefit of the model’s lengthy historical past and expertise and manages to get probably the most out of a minimal bundle with the shoe weighing in at beneath 200g. It virtually disappears on the foot and but provides nice vitality return for a quick and extremely environment friendly journey that’s excellent over the marathon distance.
ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris
Purchase right here
ENA – Proto Runner 1 – €230.00 (Euan – worth EURO)
A brand new model, born of Greek heritage, the Proto Runner 1 is their first mannequin and a caron-plated racer designed to supply a pure journey that works for any gait kind.
Each component of the shoe has been designed with sustainability in thoughts, with a bio-based midsole and recycled, sustainable supplies within the higher. The bizarre design with cutaway components provides the shoe a hanging look, however the journey is nice. The geometry rolls the foot into toe-off and the carbon plate provides it a extremely propulsive really feel.
It might be maybe extra correct to explain the shoe as a racer-trainer because it’s not as mild as nearly all of race footwear however does really feel rather more supportive, sturdy and capable of deal with extra common use than most race-specific fashions. It’s definitely a shoe to look out for because it turns into extra extensively out there.
ENA Proto
Purchase right here
New Steadiness – FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 – £260.00
Maybe probably the most secure of supershoes, the Elite v4 is a good selection for these wanting a high-performance racer however are aware of rearfoot stability.
Right here the FuelCell foam and sculpted carbon plate mix to present all the advantages of the supershoe elements however in a secure and sturdy bundle. On the identical time, the soundness doesn’t detract from the shoe one bit and it stays quick, easy and responsive for the marathon distance.
The sunshine, breathable higher provides a minimal however supportive match and good rubber protection of the only real gives nice, sturdy traction. The Elite v4 is an elite-level shoe with versatile efficiency and sturdiness for the plenty.
New Steadiness SC Elite
Purchase right here
Decathlon – Kiprun KD900X LD2 – £159.99
Definitely the least costly of carbon-plated race footwear, this second-generation mannequin from Kiprun, Decathlon’s in-house operating model is feature-packed for prime efficiency.
The formed carbon plate and cut-away arch helps improve vitality return which, mixed with the extremely responsive VFOAM PLUS midsole provides this shoe a propulsive really feel that matches fashions costing 100 kilos extra!
The slim match and single-layer breathable mesh higher improve the racer design and match, which means the shoe reveals its intentions from the second you pull it on: to maneuver rapidly. For these desirous to expertise an awesome worth carbon plated racer, this can be a nice choice to strive.
Kiprun
Purchase right here
Puma – Quick RB Nitro Elite – £300.00
Okay, so just like the title says, RB is for rule breaker and this shoe definitely doesn’t adjust to World Athletics 40mm stack top restrict, but it surely does give us a glimpse of what goes on with the minds of footwear designers when there are not any limits!
With an almost 50mm heel stack and triple plates mixed within the midsole, this shoe breaks all the foundations, but it surely does create a singular operating expertise. For mid and forefoot strikers, the journey is nothing wanting extraordinary and does assist admire the ‘help’ fashionable applied sciences can supply.
shoe for some runners for quick coaching classes, however for many a conceptual glimpse of potential footwear design.
Puma Quick RB
Purchase right here
» Subscribe to AW journal right here, take a look at our new podcast right here or signal as much as our digital archive of again points from 1945 to the current day right here
