The Best Carbon Plate Running Shoes of 2020
Discover our guide to choose the best carbon plate running shoes for you.
Last update: September 2020
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It comes with a high-stack cushioning with a height of 35 mm under the heel and 25 mm under the forefoot. The FuelCell foam gives a soft and plush cushioning with a firm touch under the heel. The soft feel of the sole is very similar to that of the Adidas Adios Pro. The result is a very comfortable ride, but the testers judged the bounce to be moderate. The carbon plate—discreet under the foot—does its job and provides a responsive ride with fast transitions but maybe not as impressive as on other similar models (like the Nike AlphaFly, to name only one). Therefore, the ride is actually close to what you get from a traditional running shoe, making it an exciting option for runners looking for a more accessible, more comfortable carbon plated shoe.
Next, the mesh of the upper is soft and relatively thick for a racing shoe, which reinforces the overall feeling of comfort. The shoe fits true to size, but the lockdown is a little loose in the middle of the foot, according to several runners. It's one of the main issues of this model: runners are concerned that it may not be secure enough for racing. The toe box offers enough room, and the heel counter perfectly locks-in the foot. The design is very nice with a sleek build and bright neon colors, although, of course, it's a matter of preference.
Finally, the Dynaride outsole and its small triangular rubber lugs give good traction and seem durable: testers didn't notice any signs of wear after several runs. Besides, the lugs also equip the tip of the shoe to act as a toe bumper that protects the toes and makes the shoe more sturdy.
To summarize, the FuelCell TC is a great carbon plate running shoe with a soft and flexible platform that received high praise from many seasoned runners. Its combination of performance and comfort make it a very versatile shoe. Make no mistake though: it's a shoe built for marathon racing, but it's also suitable for daily training.
- Soft comfortable cushioning
- Discreet carbon plate that provides a good bounce
- Roomy and flexible upper
- Good versatility that makes it accessible and suitable for both racing and training
- The upper could be a little more secure around the midfoot
- Perhaps not as "explosive" as its direct competitors in terms of ride
When we mentioned that the Adios Pro featured a carbon plate, we only told half of the story (or even less). Indeed, the shoe has not one but six plates! First, there's a carbon-infused nylon plate under the heel to improve stability and compensate for the narrow profile of the rearfoot. Second, there are five "EnergyRods" made of carbon-infused TPU that support the toes to promote smooth transitions and a springy ride. These propulsion plates are surrounded by the new Lightstrike Pro foam, which is very flexible. The result is a high stack sole with 39 mm of height under the heel and 31 mm under the forefoot. The testers found the outcome breathtaking in terms of performance and running sensations. Indeed, they noted "fast transitions" from heel to toe and a perfect balance between softness and bounce. In other words, the feel is soft and plush with the Lightstrike Pro foam, but the carbon plates give good structure and a natural impulse while running. The only downside is the weight of the foam, which is heavier than that of its competitors (such as Nike's ZoomX). The shoe is far from being heavy, but it is not as light as one would expect from this high-tech racing shoe.
The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro also shines thanks to its Celermesh upper that offers amazing foot lockdown with its unique design. Also, it provides excellent airflow throughout the run and features a roomy toe-box without reducing lockdown. The only criticism we've seen is that the collar could irritate the Achilles tendon, but this may be an isolated incident.
Finally, the outsole is rugged rubber but with a surprisingly flat sandpaper-like surface. Rest assured, however, the testers didn't find that this configuration diminished durability or grip—quite the contrary!
In summary, the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro is an excellent running shoe to go fast comfortably that offers a unique and impressive configuration, especially with the EnergyRods carbon plates under the toes. The comfort is there, and the cushioning is spectacular, according to the runners who have tested the shoe.
- Great overall comfort
- Impressive cushioning that combines energy return and softness
- The well-ventilated mesh offers precise lockdown while being roomy for the toes
- EnergyRods (TPU/carbon rods) provide excellent results at toe-off
- Stunning design
- The narrow platform under the heel is surprising at first even if the stability is adequate overall
- Lightweight shoe but heavier than some of its direct competitors
It's a lightweight shoe (221 grams for men, 190 grams for women) with a thick sole (35 mm under the heel) that features a brand new cushioning technology: PWRRUN PB. It translates into Pebax fused granules with a texture reminiscent of Adidas Boost. Inside, the carbon plate is there to make the ride more responsive by facilitating a snappy rebound. So what's the verdict?
First of all, what surprised testers the most was the firmness of the cushioning despite the high stack height. They note that the cushioning is very bouncy but without offering the "trampoline" effect of the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%. This configuration has the advantage of giving a more stable and natural ride with a good ground feeling. It may not perform as well as the Nike Vaporfly—only time will tell—but overall, Saucony's approach is convincing and original.
Regarding the upper, the FORMFIT mesh gives a strict foot lockdown for more safety when you go fast. The runners were impressed by the excellent ventilation of the foot during the effort. However, the shoe has a tapered profile, so it can be too narrow if you have wider feet.
Finally, the carbon rubber of the outsole ensures good durability and excellent traction on urban surfaces.
All in all, the Saucony Endorphin Pro is a very good carbon-plate running shoe that's already a solid contender to Nike's NEXT% collection.
- Great overall comfort
- Responsive cushioning
- Carbon plate that works well while encouraging natural movement
- The soft and well-ventilated upper that keeps the foot secure in the shoe—ideal for racing
- Lightweight model
- An overall rigid platform which may not be suitable for all runners
- The slightly narrow profile of the shoe may not please athletes with wider feet
- Great comfort
- The firm, springy and stable cushioning
- Efficient Carbitex carbon plate to facilitate better propulsion at faster paces
- A robust shoe for this type of shoe (racing with carbon plate)
- Great upper that offers a discreet and effective foot lockdown
- A shoe designed primarily for speed and therefore not very suitable for slow runs (e.g. easy training, recovery sessions)
- Slightly high weight for a shoe of this type (the Nike Vaporfly Next% is less than 200 g / 7 oz in comparison)
The Cushioning has softened and offers greater bounce. The sole is 37 mm thick under the heel with an offset of 8 mm. Brooks has replaced the short-lived DNA Zero foam with DNA Flash, which translates into an even more densely compressed texture to promote a more explosive energy return while running. And, of course, there's the carbon plate to guide runners to a smoother, faster run that requires less effort. Reviewers found the result convincing. They especially appreciated the stable and wide configuration of the platform. Without providing the same level of bounce as some of its competitors like the Nike Alphafly or the Saucony Endorphin Pro, the Brooks Hyperion Elite 2 puts on a good show. The ride is something very personal, so it's a shoe that could appeal to athletes who didn't like these other models.
Moving on to the upper, the stretch woven mesh is comfortable and well ventilated while providing precise foot lockdown. Moreover, it is remarkably roomy to please runners with wider feet. However, despite these pros, some testers did not like certain details. For example, the heel now features a moderately thick layer that some runners found irritating to the tendon. Similarly, the thin tongue tends to move while running, which is not convenient.
Overall, the Brooks Hyperion Elite 2 is a clear step up over the first model. Its comfort and springy cushioning make it a great running shoe for competition despite some flaws.
- Stable and responsive cushioning
- Upper is well ventilated and provides good lockdown
- Versatile shoe
- Lightweight model
- The tongue and the padding layer at the back of the heel are not comfortable according to some people
- Improved but still insufficient durability
- Not as impressive as its price tag might suggest
What are carbon plate running shoes?
The carbon plate is a relatively new technology invented by Nike for its Breaking2 project. The goal of this project was to run a marathon in less than two hours. To do this, the American brand brought together stars of the discipline like Eliud Kipchoge and designed a new shoe: the Vaporfly. The first shoe with a carbon plate was born.
As its name suggests, the carbon plate is a unit made of carbon fiber. This material is famous for its durability and lightness. Thus, most carbon plate shoes are very light (usually less than 220 grams/7.8 oz).
The carbon plate often comes with a high stack cushioning but not always. It’s specially designed to provide a smooth and more efficient ride by maximizing the energy return. To do this, it favors a bouncing and rocking motion while running.
A phenomenal success
If this type of shoe was an immediate worldwide success, it’s because, for once, it’s more than just a marketing gimmick: carbon plate shoes are unbeatable in races! Eliud Kipchoge broke the official world record for the marathon in Berlin in 2018 with a time of 2:01:39. He even came close to breaking the 2-hour magic mark in a Breaking2 trial at 2:00:25 (although World Athletic didn’t officially sanction this record). The same thing with women athletes: Brigid Kosgei shattered the world record in 2:14:04 in 2019 at the Chicago Marathon.
Nike’s carbon shoes are so effective that some athletes sponsored by competing brands wear them while hiding the logo. Many articles have questioned whether these shoes could represent an unfair advantage in the official races. For example, the New York Times conducted a study that found that runners wearing the Next% were 4% to 5% faster than the next-best alternative.
Faced with these concerns, World Athletics (formerly IAAF) has put in place the following rules to regulate the use of these shoes:
- The sole must not be thicker than 40 mm.
- The sole must not contain more than one rigid plate (made of carbon plate or other material) covering either the entire length of the shoe or part of the shoe. The plate can be in more than one part, but they must not overlap.
- The shoe must not be a prototype: it must have been on the market for at least four months.
Nike’s competitors are counter-attacking
Faced with the smashing and undisputed success of Nike, competing brands have begun to develop their first carbon plate models to retain athletes and customers.
Some major brands such as Asics, Saucony, and Adidas took a bit of time to unveil their first model (most likely to make sure they could offer a viable alternative to the Nike Next% collection), but the wait was worth it!
At the moment, here are the best carbon plate shoes available:
Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro
Asics MetaRacer
Saucony Endorphin Pro
Brooks Hyperion Elite 2
New Balance FuelCell RC Elite
Hoka Carbon X
On Running Cloudboom
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why are carbon plate shoes so expensive?
These shoes require a lot of investment in research and development to stand out from the competition and excel in official competition. There, brands set a high price tag to recover their initial investment. Carbon fiber is also an expensive material. Another explanation is that the production of these shoes is often limited, and runners can’t get enough of them, even at $200+! For example, the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro sold out in just a few hours after its launch.
Is it possible to train daily with this type of shoe?
It depends primarily on the model. Overall, their ultra-light build makes them more vulnerable than traditional running shoes. However, some models are quite durable, such as the Saucony Endorphin Pro. However, others will not last longer than 200 km (like the Brooks Hyperion Elite).
Therefore, we recommend that you alternate and do not train exclusively with this type of shoe. It will allow you to better train your muscles while keeping your shoes in good shape for the race day.
Which Nike models feature a carbon plate?
The AlphaFly and the Vaporfly feature one.
Are carbon shoes better than regular running shoes?
It all depends on your goal. If you want to set a new personal best in competition, then yes, there’s evidence that shows that these shoes are faster than usual running shoes.
If you want to run easy with the primary goal of not hurting yourself, then the answer is more complicated. In this case, we recommend to try these shoes on while alternating with other running shoes. You will then be able to decide according to your personal experience what’s best for you.