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After months and months of training, it all culminates in this day, race day. Whether you're prepared or not, you want the best option to get you from the start to the finish line in the quickest possible time.
8 years ago, this list would have looked completely different. Racing shoes used to be thin, ultralight flats with very little cushioning. Nowadays, racing shoes are very well-cushioned and most of them have carbon fibre inside their midsoles to increase efficiency and propulsion.
This is a list of the best racing shoes for various distances, all designed to help you achieve a PB on race day.
The Adios Pro Evo 1 is one of the lightest and fastest long-distance racers on the market. It belongs to the new generation of racers which are stripped down and designed to be as featherlight as possible. Featuring a new PEBA midsole, this lightweight rocket makes fast running feel efficient and effortless. It has a similar Energy Rods system as the Adios Pro 3 in its midsole but it has a less aggressive forefoot rocker which starts earlier. The upper of the Evo 1 feels paper-thin but it provides plenty of comfort with good breathability. The Evo 1 is suitable for every distance race from 5K’s to full marathons.
The Endorphin Elite is the pinnacle of Saucony racing shoes. It’s the lightest, stiffest and most aggressive Saucony racer. What makes the Endorphin Elite so special is its high toe-spring and super aggressive forefoot rocker which feels like it is throwing you forward when you lean into the rocker. This makes it feel incredibly efficient and punchy. It also has an extremely breathable upper with holes in its tongue and large ones on its midfoot. It’s best suited to half and full marathons.
The Takumi Sen 10 is an agile speedster which shares many features with the long-distance racer, the Adios Pro 3. It has an energetic, full-length Lightstrike Pro midsole with Energy Rods for support and propulsion. The Takumi Sen 10 has a super lightweight build thanks to its thinner midsole which makes it feel more stable and more snappy during short-distance races. It has grippy Continental rubber on its outsole which provides first-in-class traction and durability.
The New Balance SuperComp Elite v4 is a massive improvement over its predecessor. It now has a PEBA midsole which results in a more responsive, more energetic ride. The SuperComp Elite v4 has a wider base than most super shoes, making it very stable and very supportive. This is the perfect shoe for runners who are looking to buy their first carbon-plated racer because it has friendly ride transitions and plenty of long-distance comfort. It’s also suitable for runners who are slight overpronators due to its supportive ride. It’s best suited to the marathon distance.
Priced significantly lower than most long-distance super shoes, the Velociti Elite 2 is one of the most underrated racers on the market. It has a stiff, full-length carbon plate and an aggressive rocker which results in a high level of speed assistance. It also has no outsole rubber, so landings are soft and padded. It has a dual-density midsole with a softer, bouncier top layer and a firmer, more durable bottom layer. The Velociti Elite 2 is best suited to 5K, 10K and half marathon distances.
If you have wide feet or feet that are high in volume, you would have noticed that most racers have snug, narrow fitting uppers which are designed to save weight. They also don’t come in wide versions. The Vaporfly 3 is unique in that it has a very spacious upper which is more suited to high volume feet. It has a wide forefoot and midfoot as well as a high toe-box ceiling. It also has a full-length, soft ZoomX midsole and a carbon plate for speed assistance. The Vaporfly 3 is best suited to half and full marathons.
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The Adios Pro 2 is Adidas’ premium racing super shoe and is the weapon of choice for Adidas elite athletes. It's a unique carbon fibre racer in that it doesn't utilise a full-length carbon plate. Instead, it has a heel plate for stability and carbon Energyrods in its midfoot and forefoot to keep the sole stiff and propulsive.
The Adios Pro 2 relies on a high toe-spring and rocker to propel you forward during races. The ride feels more natural and more relaxed than other carbon fibre racers.
The Adios Pro 2 has a thinner, lighter upper than the first version and it has a cutout on the medial side of its midsole to save weight and display the Energyrods.
The Prime X is a brand new super shoe built for maximum speed. It has a giant 50 mm heel stack height which makes it illegal to use in any official World Athletics event.
The Prime X not only has a plate in its heel and carbon Energyrods, but it also has additional carbon blades in its forefoot for extra propulsion.
The massively thick Lightstrike Pro midsole of the Prime X provides the most cushioned ride of any super shoe while the sky high toe-spring rocker shoots you forward during transitions.
The Rocket X is a super light racer with a full-length carbon plate. Being the lightest Hoka super shoe, it's the first choice of many Hoka One One elite athletes to race in.
The Rocket X uses a CMEVA (compression molded ethylene-vinyl acetate) midsole which provides enough lightweight cushioning for a full marathon. It also has a non-intrusive carbon plate to keep the midsole stiff and snappy. The Rocket X has rubber coverage on its outsole which makes it durable enough for racing and training.
The Rocket X has a stable, natural ride with smooth transitions thanks to its single-density midsole and full ground contact outsole.
The Carbon X 2 is a super shoe designed for marathons and ultramarathons. Unlike the Rocket X, the Carbon X 2 has a high toe-spring which functions as a rocker to save you energy during long-distance runs.
The midsole of the Carbon X 2 is a dual foam setup of CMEVA on the top and a thin layer of rubberised EVA on the bottom which also forms its outsole. Its full-length carbon plate is situated between these two foams. The Carbon X 2 has a smooth, natural ride with good ground feel due to the absence of outsole rubber.
The Carbon X 2 rides softer than its predecessor due to a greater proportion of CMEVA in its midsole and a smaller amount of rubberised EVA.
The Endorphin Pro 2 is the racing counterpart in Saucony's Endorphin Series. It's the more rigid, more propulsive, faster version of the Endorphin Speed 2.
Pwrrun PB is the PEBA based foam which forms the Endorphin Pro 2's midsole. It provides explosive energy return and is more durable than other modern super foams. A stiff, full-length carbon plate gives the Endorphin Pro 2 its spring-board propulsion.
The Endorphin Pro 2 has been updated with a thinner, more breathable upper which provides better lockdown.
The RC Elite v2 is New Balance’s flagship long-distance racer. It uses a supercritical FuelCell midsole which is infused with nitrogen. Embedded in its midsole is a full-length carbon plate.
The ride of the RC Elite v2 is one of the softest and most cushioned of all the super shoes. Transitions in the RC Elite v2 are super smooth and feel very efficient.
The RC Elite v2 has a thicker, more cushioned midsole than its predecessor and a thinner, cooler upper. It also has a carbon plate with a steeper curve which results in a more propulsive ride.
The Magic Speed is a brand new racing shoe. It has better durability than other high end super shoes and it has a more affordable price.
The Magic Speed has a single-density Flytefoam Blast midsole and a carbon plate situated in its forefoot for snappy transitions. The plate design doesn't result in a spring-board like effect, it just guides the transitions.
The ride of the Magic Speed is on the firm side which makes it efficient for short, fast distances. It has a full ground contact outsole which results in a smooth and natural ride.
