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Less than a decade ago road racing shoes were simple things, designed to be as lightweight as possible while providing just enough cushioning that your legs didn’t completely fall apart before the end of your race.
That all changed with the advent of the carbon plate super-shoe, sparked by the Nike Vaporfly 4%. Now every brand offers a carbon racing shoe, with most following a similar design where that plate is slipped into a high stack of soft and bouncy foam in the midsole.
Check out our round-up of the best running shoes of 2025
Between us we have tested pretty much every major carbon shoe on the market and reviewed them on the channel. Below you’ll find our round-up of the best carbon plate tuning shoes available right now, along with individual reviews of each shoe.
Check out the YouTube channel for many more carbon shoe vids, including comparisons of shoes plus race tests.
Who Are The Run Testers?
The Run Testers are a group of experienced journalists based in the UK who have been testing and reviewing kit for many years. We’ve been reviewing carbon shoes since the original Vaporfly 4% – Kieran even got to test the Nike Vaporfly Elite shoe used by Eliud Kipchoge at the Breaking2 event at Monza..
There’s more info on the core Run Tester team here, including some insights into their preferred kit and PBs. Since we’re talking carbon shoes, for the record two of the team (Nick and Kieran) set their marathon PBs in the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris, Tom was in the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 for his PB, and Mike was in the Asics Metaspeed Sky+.
The Best Carbon Plate Running Shoes 2025
We’ve broken our round-up of the best carbon shoes available into three sections. The first is our top tier of racers; the ones we’d pick to use ourselves when in shape and hunting for PBs.
Then we have the largest section that contains a whole load of other excellent shoes that don’t suit us quite as well, but are still very fast options that might be perfect for some runners. Finally we have a few also-ran carbon shoes that we don’t think will be the best option for runners.
Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3
Price: £260/$250 | Weight: 187g/6.6oz UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The Puma Fast-R 3 launched amid a maelstrom of hype thanks to research suggesting it boosting running efficiency even more than top racing options like the Nike Alphafly 3 and Adidas Adios Pro Evo 1.
In our testing, we found that the Fast-R 3 lived up to the hype, and it’s immediately become one of our top options for race day, with Kieran and Nick using it at the London Marathon.
The ride you get from the Nitro Elite foam and carbon plate, which extends beyond the front of the shoe, helps making holding faster paces feel easier, and even when we are tired at the end of a marathon we found the Fast-R 3 still helped us to keep ticking over at a good pace.
It’s also an exceptionally lightweight shoe, which is the biggest upgrade you get here on the Puma Fast-R 2, which was a good shoe but too bulky to compete with the very best.
Read our full Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 review
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
Price: £240/$270 | Weight: 169g/6oz (UK 9) | Drop: 5mm
The Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris was our top racer of 2024 and its successor is even better thanks to the addition of FF Leap foam to the midsole. This makes the Sky Tokyo even lighter and bouncier than the Sky Paris, and it’s undoubtedly one of the very best racers you can buy for any event.
It has a poppy and responsive ride that feels aggressive and quick for short races and reps, but enough comfort for long events, where the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo helps you lock into your race pace and hold it until you hit the finish line.
As with past models of the Metaspeed Sky and Edge, we’re leaning towards the Sky as our preference, but the Edge Tokyo is also an excellent option, and both are a little cheaper and more stable than the new Asics Metaspeed Ray, which is the softest and lightest Asics racer in the line-up.
Read our full Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo review
Asics Metaspeed Ray
Price: £265/$300 | Weight: 136g/4.8oz (UK 9) | Drop: 5mm
An all-new shoe for 2025, the Metaspeed Ray is the lightest Asics racer and one of the most phenomenally fun shoes on the market from any brand. It’s unbelievably light and bouncy thanks to the full FF Leap midsole, and even though it only uses a teardrop-shaped half plate, it still has a highly propulsive and efficient ride.
There are drawbacks to its design though, with the Metaspeed Ray being very unstable, especially when landing at the heel, and it’s not a durable shoe even compared with other carbon racers. For the right runner, this might be the best racer out there, but Asics’s other options are safer bets both in terms of value and performance for longer events.
Read our full Asics Metaspeed Ray review
Nike Alphafly 3
Price: £285/$285 | Weight: 220g/7.7oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The Nike Alphafly 3 is the lightest Alphafly to date and manages to retain the incredible propulsion the line is known for in its new, sleeker design, that has a more aggressive ride thanks to the continuous midsole. It’s a shoe with incredible pedigree at the pro level, with both the men’s and women’s world marathon records being set in the Alphafly 3, and one we also found to be an amazing option for amateurs.
While the Vaporfly 3 is still lighter and more nimble, which can give it an edge in short races especially on twisty courses, the Alphafly 3 is still very light shoe and the extra bounce it has from the Air Zoom pods under the forefoot make it the top option for marathoners. It’s not just for marathons either, with Nick recently setting his 10K PB in the shoe.
Kiprun Kipstorm Lab
Price: £240/€300 | Weight: 174g/6.1oz (UK 8.5) | Drop: 4mm
The Kipstorm Lab is the best racing shoe yet from Decathlon’s in-house brand Kiprun, and one of the lightest shoes on the market from any brand. It uses a combo of PEBA and TPU foams in its midsole, along with a J-shaped plate, to deliver a very fluid and fast ride, and is an especially good pick for shorter events like 5Ks and 10Ks.
In our testing the Kiprun Kipstorm Lab performed at a very high level for all-out track workouts as well as road sessions doing longer reps at slower race paces, and it can compete with the best racing shoes available. A quick note on fit; this is one where we recommend going half a size down.
Read our full Kiprun Kipstorm Lab review
Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo
Price: £240/$270 | Weight: 166g/5.9oz (UK 9) | Drop: 5mm
The Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo is one of the best racing shoes on the planet, but for us suffers in comparison to the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Metaspeed Ray. That said, some runners will prefer the feel of the Edge Tokyo, and it’s undoubtedly an extremely fast racing shoe for any distance.
The Sky and Edge do feel a bit different on the run, with Asics suggested the Sky Tokyo will benefit runners who primarily lengthen their stride length when racing, while the Edge Tokyo benefits those who primarily increase their cadence. Rather than worry about that too much we reckon you should try both if you can and go with the one that feels best to you for fast runs.
Here’s a more in-depth comparison of the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Edge Tokyo, for those trying to decide between the two.
Hoka Rocket X3
Price: £220/$250 | Weight: 208g/7.3oz (UK 9) | Drop: 7mm
The Hoka Rocket X3 is an interesting update on the Rocket X2, in that Hoka has focused on making it a more stable and friendly shoe. This makes sense in its line-up as the Rocket X3 sits alongside the wildly-rockered Hoka Cielo X1 2.0, which is a more aggressive shoe, making the Rocket X3 a better pick for those who want more comfort and support in their racer.
It’s still a fast shoe though, and the lightest carbon racer Hoka has produced to date. The Rocket X3 is one that we keep going back to in training too, because of its more controlled ride, and it won’t let you down on race day. While it doesn’t have the verve of our favourite racers, the Rocket X3 will be a great pick for lots of runners, and it’s a little cheaper than most super-shoes as well.
Read our full Hoka Rocket X3 review
On Cloudboom Strike LS
Price: £309/$330 | Weight: 192g/6.8oz (UK 9) | Drop: 4mm
The On Cloudboom Strike is comfortably On’s best carbon racing shoe yet, and the LightSpray version of the shoe we tested comes in even lighter than the standard edition thanks to the one-piece spray-on upper.
That upper has been comfortable and supportive for us for over 100km of running with our regular running shoe size, but it’s a bit risky to pick up the LS version of the shoe (when possible) without trying it on or getting a personalised upper, so the standard On Cloudboom Strike might be a better option.
You’ll still be getting the key feature on the shoe, which is the Helion HF midsole design. The Cloudboom Strike is a much more comfortable and bouncy shoe than the On Cloudboom Echo 3, and one of the top carbon shoes going right now, though the typically high On price-tag makes it a hard sell over the cheaper Metaspeed Paris shoes, which we still prefer.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
Price: £220/$250 | Weight: 202g/7.1oz (UK 8.5) | Drop: 6mm
The Adios Pro 4 was a long-time coming, with Adidas opting not to update the popular Adios Pro 3 for two years, though they did launch the elite-focused Adidas Adizero Pro Evo 1 in the meantime (a shoe we’ve not been able to get our hands on yet). The Adios Pro 4 is lighter and softer than the Pro 3, with a new rocker shape that’s inspired by the design of the Pro Evo 1.
Run Tester Kieran has put in the miles testing the Adios Pro 4, which has impressed with its ride, though the comfort of the upper still leaves a little to be desired, with the shoe lifting Kieran’s toe-nails during the course of a marathon test. If that doesn’t happen to you, the Adios Pro 4 is a top racing option to consider.
Read our full Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 review
Hoka Cielo X1 2.0
Price: £250/$270 | Weight: 214g/7.5oz (UK 9) | Drop: 7mm
The Hoka Cielo X1 was one of our favourite shoes of 2024, but it wasn’t one of the best racing shoes you could get simply because it was a bit too heavy compared with top racers. The Cielo X1 2.0 sheds about 40g of weight and this, along with other changes including a new medial cutout, make it a more effective and impressive racer than the original Cielo X1, and one of the best on the market.
Check out more of the best Hoka running shoes 2024
You do lose some stability compared with the Cielo X1, which was a brilliant trainer/racer because of its bouncy, fun design, but the Cielo X1 2.0 retains the bouncy feel of the original while having a more aggressive rocker that helps it to shine in fast sessions and races.
It’s our preferred Hoka racer overall, being lighter and more propulsive than the Hoka Rocket X2, which is still a good shoe but likely due for its own update in the near future.
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3
Price: £195/$230 | Weight: 215g/7.5oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
Puma has made some wild carbon shoes in recent years and is never afraid to innovate with the geometry of its super-shoes, but the most normal looking racer in its range is also its best. The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is everything you want in a super-shoe; it’s light, bouncy and very fast indeed.
We prefer it to the slightly bouncier but heavier Fast-R 2, and the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 has a more natural ride than most carbon racers out there, plus better grip thanks to the Pumagrip outsole, which we found handy on a mixed terrain race we did in the shoe. It’s also a bit cheaper than most shoes, especially in the UK, and that value shouldn’t be underrated as it’s a top-notch racer for any distance.
The big upgrade with the third version of the Deviate Nitro Elite is the midsole, which is higher and now made from an aliphatic TPU than Puma says gives more energy return than the PEBA-based Nitro Elite foam used in past models. It has a firmer feel than some super-shoes, but it’s not uncomfortable, and it’s certainly effective in facilitating fast running.
Saucony Endorphin Elite 2
Price: £280/$275 | Weight: 216g/7.6oz (UK 8.5) | Drop: 8mm
The Endorphin Elite 2 is a very different shoe to its predecessor, with a new midsole foam called Incredirun delivering a much softer ride than the Endorphin Elite. It might be the softest carbon plate racing shoe we’ve come across from any brand in fact, and the Elite 2 has a wild ride as a result of that springy midsole, though it does come at the cost of stability.
It’s one of the bounciest racing shoes you can get, but the soft midsole does mean the Endorphin Elite is not the most stable shoe, especially when rounding corners, and we found we were more aware of it than other shoes without runs. The fit is also a concern if you have a wide foot, because the upper can rub on the outside of your little toe in our experience.
Read our full Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 review
Nike Vaporfly 4
Price: £240/$260 | Weight: 190g/6.7oz (UK 9) | Drop: 6mm
The latest version of the original super-shoes stands out on the market at large by having a lower stack height than most, standing 35mm tall at the heel rather than hitting the 40mm limit set by World Athletics.
This helps the Nike Vaporfly 4 to be one of the lightest racing shoes on the market, and gives it a firmer, more direct ride that’s great for short events. Some might runners might also like the Vaporfly 4 for the marathon more than more cushioned racing options, such as the Nike Alphafly 3, though in general a little extra foam is no bad thing for long events.
Read our full Nike Vaporfly 4 review
Brooks Hyperion Elite 5
Price: £240/$275 | Weight: 203g/7.2oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
It took Brooks longer than most to release a competitive carbon plate racing shoe, but it has now launched two of them in 2025, with the Hyperion Elite 5 following hot on the heels of the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB.
The Hyperion Elite 4 PB introduced DNA Gold, a PEBA midsole foam that produced a faster, springier ride than past Brooks races, and the Hyperion Elite 5 has built on that platform with a lighter design that has a bit more pop.
It’s an excellent racing shoe for any distance and has a more natural and stable ride than some of our favourites, like the Fast-R 3, though we do rate a few shoes as flat-out faster than the Brooks right now.
Read our full Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 review
Diadora Gara Carbon 2
Price: £250/$300 | Weight: 228g/8oz (UK 9) | Drop: 5mm
Diadora has made some waves in the running shoe world over the past year or so with a string of strong launches, including the original Diadora Gara Carbon racing shoe. The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 is very similar to its predecessor, and offers a more comfortable ride than many carbon shoes, as well as a better-looking design than most – look good, run fast, right?
We found the Gara Carbon 2 was at its bets for longer hard runs. It’s not the most nimble and aggressive shoe for shorter events, and even for half marathons and marathons it does get outgunned by lighter, more aggressive options like the Puma Fast-R 3 and Asics Metaspeed series.
It’s one of the better carbon shoes for runners who might not be going all-out for a sub-3 time though, thanks to its comfortable and fairly stable design. Unfortunately the Gara Carbon 2’s strengths are undermined by its lofty price-tag, especially in the US. There are better carbon racers on this list available for less, in our view.
New Balance SC Elite v5
Price: £260/$250 | Weight: 210g/7.4oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The New Balance SC Elite v5 is a lighter, leaner racer than the New Balance SC Elite v4, and swaps the stable, comfortable ride of the previous model for a more aggressive racing feel.
We liked the updates to the shoe, which make it a faster option for events of any distance, but especially shorter races like 5Ks and 10Ks, but those who loved the stability of the SC Elite v4 might prefer the older model.
It’s also true to say that the SC Elite v4 was a little different to most racing shoes, while the SC Elite v5 now sticks to a similar design to many rivals. It makes it a faster shoe for us, but it doesn’t really stand out from the crowd, and there are a few shoes we rate as better racers.
Best Carbon Plate Running Shoes 2024
For a quick whip through a whole lot of outstanding carbon plate shoes check out our round-up from last year. Many of the shoes included are still the top option from their brand, and all of them are still worth considering today, especially if you find them in deals that make them cheaper than the latest releases.