Just a few years ago, keen runners would line up at the start of races wearing stripped-back shoes that prioritised being lightweight above all else. You got just enough cushioning to make sure your legs didn’t fall off, but everything else was sacrificed.
These days, however, the preferred racing option for many is a shoe with an almost comically high stack of foam and a carbon plate in the midsole. New proprietary foams that are soft and springy but very light allow brands to cram a huge amount of them into a shoe without making it too heavy to race in, providing more comfort so your legs are fresher in the closing stages of a race, which makes more of a difference the longer the event is. At the elite level these shoes have led to records tumbling, and the same is true of PBs at amateur level.
After a couple of years in which the Nike Vaporfly line was the only show in town, in the form of first the Vaporfly 4% and then the NEXT%, most major brands released a carbon plate running shoe in 2020. Now in 2023 we’re seeing second and third generation models – some refine success stories, while others hit after an initial miss.
How I Test Carbon Plate Running Shoes
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I am Coach’s main running shoe reviewer, and as an obsessive road racer I love testing the best carbon shoes. I have a 5K PB of 15min 30sec and a marathon PB of 2hr 28min (both set in the Nike Vaporfly NEXT% 2, if you were wondering), and I'm constantly training and racing trying to better those times, which gives me plenty of opportunities to test carbon shoes.
I'm one of the few running journalists to have tested almost every carbon plate running shoe out there, which means I can compare each new release with the best options on the market. I aim to race, or at least do an all-out parkrun (which we all know is not a race but a friendly weekend run), in any carbon plate running shoe I review, and I also put them to the test with fast training sessions on the track and road.
I’ve tested almost all the carbon plate shoes available and ranked those still available to buy here. I’ve also linked to our longer reviews for each so you can dig deeper.
The Best Carbon Plate Running Shoes
Nike didn’t dump the Vaporfly 2 formula with the Vaporfly 3, just made small but important updates that make the shoe lighter, while adding more ZoomX foam to the midsole. The upper is also more breathable, and while the outsole is thinner than on the Vaporfly 2—which may reduce durability—the Vaporfly 3 has gripped well for me throughout my testing.
The result is a super-shoe that strikes the perfect balance between weight and energy return, making it the top pick for any distance in my opinion, though some may prefer the heavier but more cushioned and propulsive Alphafly 2 for the marathon.
Read more in my Nike Vaporfly 3 review
Nike Vaporfly 3 Video Review
Despite all the new kids on the carbon plate block, including the Vaporfly 3, there’s a good case for sticking with the Vaporfly 2 as a better-value alternative because it is often in sales for less than $200/£200.
The Vaporfly NEXT% 2 is still an outrageously good shoe, and the one I have my 5K and marathon PRs in. It’s firmer and more grounded than the Vaporfly 3, but still cushioned enough for longer events and it excels over shorter distances. While I prefer the Vaporfly 3, it’s hard to say it delivers more than marginal performance benefits, so grabbing the older shoe in sales before it disappears is a wise move.
Read more in my Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2 review
There are a lot of carbon shoes available and most follow a similar design pattern, which means it takes something special to stand out. The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro is something special, with a unique design that delivers a bouncy, propulsive and comfortable ride that will help you speed around your races.
The heel-less, rocker design works best for mid-forefoot strikers, but even as a heelstriker I loved using it for fast runs of any length, even if it’s primarily pitched as a marathon shoe. It worked a treat during a 5K race in my testing. In the UK, the Wave Rebellion Pro is also a relative bargain with its RRP of £200, making it even more tempting to give this distinctive shoe your attention.
Read more in my Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro review
The most expensive carbon plate running shoe lives up to its hefty price tag by offering a spectacularly bouncy ride, with the combination of Nike’s ZoomX foam, a carbon plate and the Air Zoom pods under the forefoot coming together to provide maximum energy return. At its best – when on straight roads with good surfaces – the Alphafly is unbeatable, although on twisty courses it can feel cumbersome, since it’s larger and heavier than many carbon shoes. But it’s a particularly good pick for marathons, where the cushioning and efficiency gains from the plate provide the most benefit in protecting your legs deep into the event.
Read more in my Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% 2 review
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 is a great racing shoe, and yet the Endorphin Pro 3 manages to be an improvement in every way. It has a higher stack than the Pro 2, which creates a more cushioned and comfortable ride, and is also lighter than its predecessor. However, the Pro 3 still has the speed for shorter events like the 5K. Over longer distances the extra cushioning on the Pro 3 really comes into play, as does the smooth ride from the Speedroll rocker. It’s the best competitor on the market to Nike’s Vaporfly and a fantastic option for fast running at any distance – and as a bonus, Saucony has improved the grip on the shoe for races in slick conditions.
Read more in my Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 review
Asics has come the closest to toppling Nike from its perch at the top of the carbon leaderboard with the Metaspeed Sky+, which ticks a lot of boxes for those chasing PBs. It’s light, it has a nylon-based midsole foam, plus it has that carbon plate. We did indeed set a PB in it in our first proper run in the shoe.
The Sky+ is one of two Asics super-shoes, along with the Edge+ (review to come soon). The Sky+ is aimed at bounding runners who increase their stride length when running fast, and the Edge+ for runners who have a more shuffling style and increase their cadence in races. Both are great options for those seeking a super-shoe without a swoosh.
Read more in my Asics Metaspeed Sky+ review
The SC Elite V3 is billed as the long-distance racing shoe in New Balance’s line-up, while the SuperComp Pacer is the low-stack, short-distance option. However, the SC Elite V3 is the only true super-shoe in the line-up and would be our pick from New Balance for any distance.
With the third version of the shoe New Balance has created a faster, more aggressive ride thanks to the pronounced rocker shape. The SC Elite V3 is a great racing option for events of any distance – it feels nimbler and faster than the RC Elite V2 over 5K or 10K and is still cushioned enough for the marathon.
Read more in my New Balance FuelCell SC Elite V3 review
The Adios Pro 3 is heavier and more expensive than the Pro 2, both of which are unwelcome developments. However, it’s also more stable, more comfortable and bouncier than its predecessor, and a better option for the marathon in particular as a result. It’s still pretty good over shorter events, too.
Adidas clearly hopes that runners will pick up the Takumi Sen 8 for their shorter events and use the Pro 3 for longer ones, and that is one hell of a racing shoe combination. However, there is better value to be found in picking up a more versatile carbon racer like the Vaporfly 3 or Endorphin Pro 3. If you’re a committed marathoner, though, the Adios Pro 3 is worth looking at in detail. A word of warning on the fit: this shoe can be small and narrow at the forefoot, so try before buying if possible, or go a half size up.
Read more in my Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 review
The Rocket X 2 is comfortably the best carbon shoe Hoka has made and it competes with the best racers from other brands too. If you prefer a low-drop racing shoe, it’s definitely one to test out, though I have a couple of concerns with it that relegate it slightly behind the top tier of super-shoes.
One is heel rub – the Rocket X 2 rubbed my left achilles raw if I didn’t heel-lock the laces and bandage the area before running. The other is that the stack is lower and softer than other shoes, and I found it lost a little of its spring deep into runs. It was still great, but you get a more propulsive feel from higher-stack shoes that have firmer foams.
Read more in my Hoka Rocket X 2 review
Saucony’s new top racing shoe is firmer and bouncier than the Endorphin Pro 3, with the Speedroll rocker in the Elite creating a faster and more aggressive transition from heel to toe. It’s a remarkable shoe and a joy to run fast in, especially over shorter distances, but the ride is a little harsher than many carbon shoes and may prove too uncomfortable for many runners over the course of a marathon.
The other problem with the Elite is its price: only the Nike Alphafly NEXT% 2 is as expensive. You can get brilliant carbon shoes that match the Elite for a lot less, so until it starts cropping up in sales it’s hard to recommend over the likes of the Nike Vaporfly NEXT% 2 or Asics Metaspeed Sky+.
Read more in my Saucony Endorphin Elite Review
The Cloudboom Echo 3 is a big leap forward for On’s super-shoes, and the first from the Swiss brand that I consider competitive with the best on the market. The new Peba-based midsole foam is springy and the pronounced rocker on the shoe—as well as the carbon plate—creates a fast and propulsive ride for races of any distance.
The performance is excellent, but the Cloudboom Echo 3 may get lost in the crowded carbon market. This is due to its high price, and because I’ve seen more wear on its outsole after 30 miles of running than most super-shoes. I think it’s a great shoe, but I still prefer options like the Nike Vaporfly 3, Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 and Asics Metaspeed Sky+—and they are all cheaper than the Cloudboom Echo 3.
Read more in my On Cloudboom Echo 3 review