You’re spoilt for choice with the current range of carbon plate running shoes available. No longer is the market dominated by a couple of big brands. Now most companies have a contender for best carbon plate shoe in their collection.
In this video (also the podcast), Nick, Kieran, Tom and Mike chat through their current top choice for carbon plate shoes, as well as the options we hope to see in 2025.
Check out the monthly podcast for the latest kit news and updates:
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
00:24 – Current Best Carbon Plate Running Shoes
10:47 – New Carbon Plate Shoes in 2025
17:04 – Carbon Plate Running Shoes for Different Types of Runner
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Hey Tommy from the Run testers in this Video we are going to be talking about Car plate shoes so what are the big ones Out at the moment what the ones that We're excited about in 2025 and what Carbon plate shoes are best for Different types of people this video is Also the podcast so if you're planning On listening to the podcast don't watch This video right let's dive in and do The chat Okay so in this video also part of the Podcast we're going to be talking about Carbon shoes so we're going to be Talking a little bit about the uh the Big ones out at the moment and some of The big ones coming up that we're Excited about um and we think we're Going to be um be big players this year I'm also going to be setting a few uh Questions for you on how different types Of people would choose a carbon plate Shoe because there's a lot of them out These days they're very expensive it's Quite hard to pick the right ones for What you're trying to do um so let's Kick this off uh and start talking about What are the big carbon plate shoes at The moment and which are the ones that We really like he going First uh should we talk about the Brooks We've already done a bit of that in the Podcast but the Brooks Hyper Elite 4 PB Another name that I'm not a fan entirely
Of because there's just too many bits to It but the shoe itself I think is a huge Step on from the last generation it's Obviously got that vastly new and Improved Midol foone the DNA gold and Everything else up top is pretty much The same which I think really worked on The first shoe so you get the kind of Same fit and feel same Comfort around The uppers and then you've just got a Really nicely Punchy midsole that I Think feels nice and balanced and Controlled but high energy I can't quite Make my mind up yet whether or not I Think it's as good as the metas speed Sky Paris I want to do a bit more kind Of side by-side testing that but I think It's I think it runs it very close and It's definitely a shoe that I would Happily pick up and race it's a yeah It's finally feels like Brooks have made A shoe that is competitive in that space Race every Distance yeah yeah I've done I did 22 Mile in that shoot it's comfortable one Of my hardest Marathon sessions as well For Seville I'm surprised how Comfortable it is I do think it's got That yeah that nice resilient puppiness To it that really feels fun underf foot A bit like that meta speed or the Puma Devi Nitro Elite 3 and actually that Means now that we are kind of nearly Every brand now has I think caught up
Under aror maybe hasn't I think maybe Their shoe I don't know I don't know About their new one but they're the only Ones haven't really I think got a carbon Racer that's at the similar standard to Everyone else I think Brooks was one of The last big ones to not have it but now Does and we saw on release a fantastic Shoe last year and I think everyone is Now you know on that bandwagon and Performing at quite a high Standard I love that shoe think it's Great yeah great um I've not I've not Actually I might use it on Sund day for Uh right half marathon but I've only Used it up to 10K now so um yeah I Wasn't sure how it would do longer Distances but um all right sounds like It's I was surprised I conf it was I I Think genuinely the hardest training Session of my life in it as well which Was another one that was up towards 30k And yeah really impressed the the other Thing about it the last thing said I Think even if you even if you're running Ragged and your form's not so great I I Think it's it's quite forgiving in terms Of the platform as well so Yeah I think I think it's one of those That I would rather if I was risking on A knife edge and the race might go wrong I think it's it's a shoe that would Still see you home which I think is some Of the other shoes that we'll talk about
Now I'm not so convinced that's the case But I really like the upper as well I Not I hadn't tested a previous um uh Brooks um hyperian Elite and uh is it The same upper as the previous one did You say Ken exactly yeah really like That up really nice see basically though Because they literally swapped the Foams Out from the to the 4 PB and Hyper Elite 5 is going to be built I guess more Around the phone to take more advantage Of it we'll see that's this it's this Year as well so we'll see how you know If that's a big upgrade even more okay Uh Mike I'm guessing I know which shoe You're going to pick for moment I mean We've had some good shoes in I think we Talked about the Brooks there the S Dophin Elite 2 which I thought we talk About as well we've also had the cell X1 2.0 and for me that's been the one of The new shoes that I've tested that I've Just really liked I really like The first shoe I think my feelings of The first shoe is that it was really Enjoyable I loved it for long runs I Felt like that was a shoe that I would Want to run you know a marathan longer Distances in this shoe I still think it Has that in its locker but it's Definitely more aggressive it's Definitely lighter I do think I would Use this I'd feel more comfortable using This for shorter distance races compared
To the clo X1 and I think the changes Have made this a shoe that's really more In par with the the kind the best of the Best in this category and I think for me That's the shoe I've enjoyed spending The most time in the the last couple Months when you've had these shoes in And yeah I think you know H's got a Really good shoe in his Hands okay well you mentioned the uh Soccer doin Elite 2 there I haven't Tried that one yet but you're getting You're getting mixed reactions from you Guys well I think we all think it's Pretty great in terms of actual speed And how fun it feels but it's also just A bit wild it's it's almost it's a bit In the Muno W Bell Pro category for me Which is oh it's definitely fast but not Sure not sure I'd run a long way in it Um we yeah like say a bit more aware of It than other shoes it's unbelievably Soft underneath the foot and although it Does really bounce back and it does Direct that bounce forwards it's not one That I think we all not sure about Cornering in it for that and yeah and I Think Kieran hit the nail on the head we Talked about in the podcast saying uh He's Bo you're more aware of the shoe Than many others I think okay it's one If I was if I was going to go run like a Big US city marathon where it's just big Long straights of tarmac I think it
Would do well I think if I was going to Go and do a twisty turny I saw someone Do that that crazy Olympic Park half Marathon in London I saw that the stav Map like Mr spaghetti or whatever that Yeah not so Much okay uh anything else we're missing Well we've got I've got the deodora Carbon in G yeah I'm EXC does look very Similar to the g carbon which Mike Tested last year gonna start soon and Then we've also had the new Kip run in Which is no longer a budget shoe I Couldn't really get on with it I tried Very short run before our first run Video that kieran's done that so I can Actually manage to get into I had a bit Of a weird Arch pain I'm trying a Different size but Kieran you've run in That no longer really budgets is it Going to hit the standards of other Shoes yeah I mean I I don't think it Quite does I think it is an improvement And I think they basically the pham's Been updated so it's now got a higher Percentage of people in the overall Blend so it's got more energy to it But it's got the upper still feels sort Of quite I don't know got sort of Plastic quite s structured uppers and There is it just doesn't feel quite as Comfortable as some of the other carbon Races you put on still there's a bit of Cheapness about that I think and then
The weirdest thing about it or the thing That I think people are finding Challenging is I'm just holding up You've got a cut out sort of in the Middle here and this might be what Causing was causing you a problem I've Seen other reviewers where that that Collapses quite a lot and you almost Feel like these two parts are slightly More disconnected because there's almost Not enough stiffness in the middle to Make it work as as one piece of that Collapses I haven't had so much of that Myself but I know that is something Other people have reported but to me the Ride is more akin to like a super shoe Sorry it's like a super trainer rather Than a really out carbon racer it's so It's it's good but doesn't hasn't Excelled I definitely noticed the upper As well over one you're putting a lot of Money and investment to try and get These phones right I sort your uppers Out because their uppers the uppers on KI on shoes are fine on the training Range and or most of the training range Actually one of them did hurt my k a bit I think yeah there's a lot of little Things that still qu clicking but I'm Going to try it in my correct size what I had was basically a numbness on the Art I think people had it maybe with the Original Alpha fly which also had quite A big cutout in that area I didn't get
It on that shoe but I did notice the Plate numbing the outside of one of my Feet a bit even over just a quick 1K Test so I'm hoping that doesn't happen If I get this correct size um well Tom You've done the Muno I've got the new Mauno in W Brant Pro 3 I haven't chance To running it because again felt like it Was tempting fate just before the spille Marathon to start testing that but you Just I'm just about to to put up the my Full review of that it's I mean it's It's it's more of the same really it's They've slightly adjusted it it's a Slightly different ride but it's still a Massive ridiculous wedge of foam it's a Fun shoe I think it's probably better Designed now for longer distance running Um but it's still the same sort of shoe You're probably not going to pick it as Your as your top marathon pick um based On how it rides but I I do eny running It I feel would you feel confident I was Going to say would you feel confident Running a mar than it Tom I think so I Think previously I when I when I'd used The um wave reading Pro two for a couple Of mar half marathons it it didn't it It's you've run it as well Nick it yeah It's fun it doesn't really help you Though it just sort of like bounces you U but it's not like aggressive it's not Really pushing you forward whereas this Moves the uh positioning of that big dip
On the on the on the mids so actually is A lot it's not it's not massively great It could never be that aggressive in That level of like softness in it but it Really does sort of plow you forward and Does feel like it's designed for a bit More efficiency now but it's still it Still doesn't feel fast like you know The other sh I was found that sh Basically you've got to hit that rocker At exactly the right point so it means Me like so actually with the first two Versions I do on my right CU it's set Quite far back The Rocker point so it is Kind of almost a rear midfoot towards it And that's where I land on my right foot But not on my left foot so it's a bit More work on my left side almost to land There actually I always felt really with The Hocus yellow X1 and now the 2.0 is Getting a similarly vibrant midfoot Bouncy rocket feeling from it but it's Done in a more racy way done in a way That feels like it's going to be more Effective for more people yeah yeah I Think I think this one will you'll find It different because of the way you you Land for me it doesn't make much of a a Difference because I'm I'm Just Landing A bit before it but it's a bit further Back in this one so if you're not Hitting it then yeah it's just what You're getting from it cuz I know people Who like very pronounced for strike
Never liked it that much or because you Don't get the rocker almost from it so Yeah it's a but also it's 60 Ms isn't it The middle there I think some point World Athletics probably nip that in the Bud you to think and go yeah you can't Just measure the shoe at the back where You've cut out the hill yeah uh right Let's move on to talking about new Things Then right so uh shoes coming up there's Been a pretty big one that's been um With was already marketing it now Nike Vaporfly 4 and the streak fly which Streak fly is it streak fly two Street Fly two so that so that's just being That Nike has just uh released the Marketing for that and looks interesting Looks very interesting it's big it's a Big weird one the vaporfly reducing the Stack height who have yeah I mean that's Going to be I don't know like because I You know looked very Alp flyes obviously When we saw the leaked images and then Actually know it is quite a big there is A big separation now because it is 35 m At the hill it's almost as low as the I Think the original VAP like 4% that and That's just not a step people are taking Like it makes it really light but I Still think it's only a little bit Lighter than some of the shoes out there Like the metas speed sky and I guess the Adidas Pro one still lighter with a 40
Mil stack so it's it's a bold move um What's the line from dodgeball it's a Bold move can let's see if it pays off For Them I don't I think night Nike's in a Tricky position now as you said earlier Obviously every brand has got um really Good carbon play shoes now and Nike's Got two that are a bit complicated now When you're comparing with other brands Because previously obviously that you Know Ally was the bigger one had had a Different ride than the vaporfly but I I Was fine with like Ally 3 it feels more Like the vaporfly to me so it's Difficult to have those two shoes if You're not differentiating what they do Well I feel like the outly now is so Dominant because it's set a lot of World Records in not just in the thing it's Almost like this is the shoe now and the VAP it's quite weird because V play was The shoe for so many people it's it's Strange to think they're almost yeah Downgrading it in a way like yeah it be It' be really interesting to see how it Comes out like because people will want Some people will want that lower stack Feeling but same time it's you know Unless it's like 100 grams I'm not sure I want the lowest I think with with that I always thought there's a lot of people Who still wanted what the old vaporfly Did that kind of sensation I for me
That's why I migr a little bit to the Met speed because of that and to Differenti have something does quite a Different job whereas they sort of I Think the three they just made it a bit Soft and a bit I didn't really see why You choose it over the alpha but the Thing this is that I if they are if They're going to kind of recapture that Especially the early vaporfly 4% but That had an 11 mm drop it was a much Higher drop and they actually made the The dropped lower so that's interesting Because I know people do crave that old Vapor life 4% in my mind I think people Just remember that because it felt so Good because it was so different come Before but um I I I mean it's Interesting to have those two different Options and you know it is you know You're talking a couple of millimeters Here and there it probably won't make That much difference and if it shows a Bit of weight that's good but yeah it Does feel like the out is very much Being put front and center now doesn't It okay uh any any other shoes coming up Well there is I think everything else is Nothing else is official right apart From the no we're just going to have to Assume on the uh on the other ones so It's aex um aex will come out of Something you assume a meta speed this Year I guess World Championships is in
Tokyo so that that was suggest there'll Be something I guess launch of that well It's actually Tokyo Marathon this Weekend so we'll see a whole load of new Prototypes probably there yeah yeah Yeah alas is already released I'm think I'm finally getting hold of those but Quite excited for this although I've got To beware of my toes right Kieran yeah I mean did you go it' be Interesting did you go did you go um Regular Size yes but I'm small for my Size so that's always works for me in my Because I'm basically us99.5 which is What uk9 is for them so I've just Started using us sizing it's getting a Bit more complicated that really Stitched me up in the Endor in Elite 2 Because it's such a tight fitting shoe Yeah yeah yeah it' be interesting to see How that because if you don't have those Problems I think it essentially a really Good shoe it's different I it's you know I was s mentioning Earlier I feel that shoe is a little bit Uncontrolled at times and again I have To engage the brain a little bit about Where I'm hitting in the shoe to get the Most out of it and not to have some Wobbles but it's got good energy from The midsole um and then there's just Yeah if you have the toe problem which Is basically it it calls me the worst Black toenails I've
Had out of many any runs I've done if You have that problem and you feel it With 20 miles in it's it's going to put You off the shoes a lot if you don't Have it I think they're probably a step On from the from the pro three someone Actually said told me that or someone They as soft as the Endorphin Elite 2 is That is that True I don't nothing no I wouldn't say So no I wouldn't say so You know the way that the the Elite 2 Has sort of it sometimes feels like it's Got different moving parts right if You're hit different areas of the shoe I Think the the pro four still has a bit Of that where you can if you land one Way it might it feels like it's tilting You a bit from the hill which is got a Little cut away and stuff like that so It depends how you land on how you Experience the shoe in the same way as The elite but I don't think it's Anywhere near as like you know when you Put it on in the elite in the in your Kitchen it's like presses right down you Don't get that with a pro for I don't Think so that's one of the ones yeah CU I' got got London marathon in April and I've PB in Seville so I'm thinking of I Won't just use the M Sky Paris again so I think the moment the Hocus yellow X1 2.0 is the one that's leading my pick to Wear on race day but I think the OS Prof
For will be up there based on what People have said including yourself as Long as I don't rip off all my tone now Okay I think for London I'm thinking I'm Thinking the Brooks just I want to see what it can do Like you got you got good for AG in this Year haven't you I did yeah I've got it yeah I was old Enough this Year we changes next year with the uh The London spots doesn't it have to do Our London Marathon podcast again Something yeah um oh yeah because next Year the championship time doesn't Guarantee you a championship spot you Might get pushed into good for age and I Think then has knock on effects for good For age so oh yeah get out stay off our Stay off our T Man I'm not bothered about G anymore It's not going to be me don't Worry all right let's uh all right let's Let's have some Fun okay so I am going to give you a Hypothetical Runner uh who is about to Do a race probably a barathon um and you Need to help them pick the right shoe For what they're trying to do it's a Linker man he's racing along the sea Front these These are going to be fake But one of them is actually a real man From lincolshire so See if you can guess uh right first one
Nice and easy you're looking at a guy he Is going to run his first uh he wants a Two and a half hour marathon time um That's a big PB for him 10 minute PB What ratio does he Get I still say the metp guy Paris yeah Yep Mike can you go with that or the Puma maybe I kind of like the pummer but I mean yeah I mean that's probably from A way performance point of view aex is Probably still a little bit ahead so You're just going all all out Performance not worry too much about Anything else other than speed um and Efficiency I get that or the outfly 3 if You like the springier kind of softer Feeling sh I think that is a bit more Like that the metas speed I think some People might will find that better I Mean yeah it obviously performs very Well at the Marathon distance the Alp 3 Obviously I've used the metas speed to Set two PBS so it's the one I'm going to Say okay pretty uh pretty conclusive Decision then all all right your next One is somebody who is running a uh Their first marathon they're aiming to Get over well not around four hours They're trying to get it's the first one They've done they don't know what time They're going to get they've ran I don't Know hour and 50 minute half marathon so They they they're close to a 4 Marathon What shoe would you go for
Then carbon shoe yeah gotta be carbon Yeah gotta be Carbon I'd I'd say the SC Elite V4 I Think for me that probably the most Accessible one for a a mixture of Paces I think and I think it will give you Enough in terms of protection and Comfort but also I think a liveliness That will will give you that kind of Feeling that you you can put in a good Time in that's probably what I would B Based on what I've tested and what I Think is probably going to work I think That's probably what I would okay that's Good that's probably a good choice as Well I I've been looking through these Uh recently to see if there's any that Are like more cost effective and SE Elite seems to be the one that is a bit Discounted in some places so I would say The C X1 first version if you can find It in the sale it's very expensive full Price but it should be discounted now And I think that's a really really good Surprisingly stable fun bouncy shoe that Works at a range of Paces good choice That is a good Choice okay uh what about you've got a You've got a you've got you've got a Chap he is uh trying to get a three-hour 15 Marathon never run a marathon before He has um out it's Buy he's grading quite a lot so he it's It's it's it's possible
Confident yeah but the Puma fast RB doesn't have a lot of money so is There's the cost is an issue here oh This is the real one isn't it Tom this Is the real one obviously because of Detail it pummer surely surely it's a Pummer if you're going full price yeah Humor deviate nital Elite 3 I the best Discounted ones I think are the adios Pro 3 and vaporfly 3 yeah okay and Kieran give Kieran a chance go I'm just Waiting for the question whether it's a Greek Runner who wants a brand New that's a bit out there and in that Case it's the unit Proto Runner one yeah But then you got to get into the Realms Of unlimited Budgets it's got lots of more money than Sent and He's going a marathon and it's just it's Just an entire Island that's one big Hill if you can imagine it's like Something out of a cartoon he's going to Run up and down all right and your last One is somebody who is very cost of of Probably aiming for a 3our 30 Marathon They they the cost is a big issue so They're not going to they're going to Have like you know 120 pounds Max to Spend what shoe do they get they don't Have to get a carplate Shoe you still get a carplate I'd go on Go on you know your usual discount Websites and I try and find the adios
Pro 3 I'd get one off Vinted if you Needed to cuz I think that shoe is so Cheap all the time it seems in lots of Places and it's still a really good shoe Effective shoe you can get the sizing Right I think we all had some slightly Dodgy sizing with that but um I think That's the one that's easiest to find in Sales and that's what I do I wouldn't Get a noncarbon sh other Guys if you can find it if you can find That and you know that that would be the One I would go and you he can fight you Probably will find it for a good you Know a good price and a price that's Going to get you something you can train In and something you can definitely have A good time race in it as well so one of The brands that are on Amazon as well Which obviously always means bigger Discounts so yes so New Balance carbon Shoes occasionally pop up the the New Balance SE elely 3 is often on Amazon Reduced as well I think I'd get the Endorphin Pro 3 like Mike says ahead of That I think that's I it's a very good Choice Karen I might even trade this I Mean it's my favorite shoe so I'm gonna Say it but the go and look for a speed Three or speed four if you can get those Cheap I don't have to speed four be on Discount now but speed three maybe Suckin speed yeah yeah that's on Amazon As well yeah you can find that K I'll
Get you one if you Want okay I think that I'll do is for uh Car plate shoes on this don't Amazon Though obviously go and check your local Running store always check your local Running I was trying to work out because Obviously one of those is real um some People have like V Vitality discounts They get like 50% off at Runners need Don't they and and things like that they Don't have that many carbon shoes in There sometimes no you'd have to go for Like the the bug standard option I don't Know which which the big brands that They stock also with eBay and vintage You can get this certified if you're Really worried about getting a dodgy Shoe off there you can get this Certification process where it gets sent To a third party to verify I've bought I've bought carbon shoes off eBay before And I was they're fine I've running them They're the real deal um and I got I Think I got a pair of alpha FL ones for 100 quid and that is and they were brand New so you can definitely find shoes That are brand new or near New also you Can find if you really are on a budget I Went there the other day to try and find A RC Elite V2 for my friend so you know The RC Elite new B the second one one of The softest most comfortable car shoes Ever so yeah really one that suits People in a certain way and you can find
Ones there yeah this this model's got 400 miles in it you can have for 20 Quids it's like well you know if you're Really on a budget one more Marathon Maybe that's the way to go you know it Will it will do it um and so you can Really the carbon shoe market is now so A wash you can definitely get a good Deal Basically cool okay then well thanks Guys on this carbon chat um and we'll be Back with more chat next Month by bye that's it from us on this Video thanks a lot for watching don't Forget to like subscribe and click that Little bell if you go to the caption Below you can find a link to our podcast Which comes out a couple of times each Month thanks lot for watching catch you Next time
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