The Kiprun KD900X.2 is an affordable carbon plated shoe that offers a lot of value for money whether you plan to use it as a racer or as the fast trainer in a running shoe rotation.
While it’s not as fast and propulsive as the best carbon plate running shoes like the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, or indeed the Kiprun Kipstorm Lab, the KD900X.2 is an excellent option worth considering thanks to its low price.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £120/€130
- Weight: 205g/7.2oz (men’s UK 8.5 / US 9.5)
- Drop: 8mm
- Stack: 40mm heel, 32mm forefoot
- Upper: Lightweight mesh
- Midsole: TPU Foam with full-length carbon plate
- Outsole: Rubber covering most of the bottom of the shoe
Kiprun Kipstorm Lab review
How’s The Fit
Nick tested the Kiprun KD900X.2 for our review and went half a size down on his normal UK size. We recommend going half a size down with Kiprun shoes in general, or ideally using cm-based sizing to get the right fit. With the right fit, the Kiprun KD900X.2 is a comfortable shoe with a secure upper for fast running.
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The Run Test: Likes
The Kiprun KD900X.2 easily outperforms its modest price-tag, delivering a fast ride that reminded us of some earlier generation carbon racers like the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite.
While it’s not the softest shoe, the midsole delivers the super-shoe benefits you expect with a springy, responsive ride powered by the plate. Whether you’re doing long reps at slower race paces or going flat out with short intervals, the KD900X.2 performs well.
It also protects the legs pretty well, even if it’s not the most cushioned-feeling carbon racer. Nick did a double workout day in the shoe and his legs felt pretty good the next day, something we’ve come to expect (rely on) from high stack carbon racers.
The ride is also quite natural for a carbon shoe. It’s not too unstable or aggressively rockered, and it’s a shoe you can use on uneven pavements easily. The outsole has good grip too, and it will handle parkruns on all-weather paths well.
The Run Test: Dislikes
The Kiprun KD900X.2 is not an especially comfortable shoe that works well as an all-rounder. We did some more general daily training in the shoe and it’s a bit firm and aggressive for this — super-trainers with higher stacks like the Hoka Mach X3 or Nike Zoom Fly 6 work better as an all-rounder as a result, even if the KD900X.2 is faster.
As you’d expect from the price, it’s also not a shoe that feels quite as fast and efficient as some of the very best racers on the market, including Kiprun’s own Kipstorm Lab. If you’re all about performance on race day, whatever the cost, there are a few shoes we’d have ahead of it.
Verdict And Alternatives
The Kiprun KD900X.2 is one of the best running shoes we’ve tested this year when you take value into consideration. It’s an outstanding speed shoe/B-racer to add to a rotation, and also a great racing option if you don’t want to spend over £150 (it’s even under £100 right now at Decathlon).
While it’s not a shoe he’d use for every run, if you do have a rotation it can easily fill the speed-shoe slot as well as anything else, and it will cost you less than almost any alternative you can think of.