Best carbon plate running shoes
A carbon plate is a stiff curved sheet embedded in the midsole. It does two things: it stiffens the shoe so your toe joints bend less, which costs less energy, and it works with the foam around it to roll you forward onto your next step. The plate is not really the magic on its own, the foam is, and the two are designed together.
The measured effect on running economy is real, generally in the region of a few per cent for most people. What that is worth in time depends entirely on how long you are running for, which is why these shoes make more sense over a half or full marathon than over a parkrun.
The honest downsides. They are expensive, they wear out faster than a trainer because the foams are light and delicate, and they are less stable than a normal shoe, which some people never get on with. They also do not suit everyone: the benefit is smaller and less consistent at slower paces, and a small number of runners get no benefit at all.
The shortlist
These are the shoes the Shoe Finder quiz returns when you answer it as someone in this situation. Same database, same scoring, nothing added by hand. Answer it yourself and you will get a list shaped around your own feet, weight and budget rather than an average.
Brooks Hyperion Elite 6
£240 · Race day · 192g · 7mm drop · 40mm stack · carbon plate
Brooks' carbon plated racer. Very light, very fast, and saved for race day.
- Carbon plated, the fast and propulsive feel you asked for
- Carbon plate, which is what you want on race day
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A race day shoe, not an everyday trainer
Saucony Endorphin Pro 5
£250 · Race day · 206g · 8mm drop · 39mm stack · carbon plate
A proper carbon marathon racer that stays stable. Save it for your goal race.
- Carbon plated, the fast and propulsive feel you asked for
- Carbon plate, which is what you want on race day
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A race day shoe, not an everyday trainer
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
£239.99 · Race day · 169g · 5mm drop · 39mm stack · carbon plate
Very light racing shoe built for runners who lengthen their stride at speed.
- Carbon plated, the fast and propulsive feel you asked for
- Carbon plate, which is what you want on race day
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A race day shoe, not an everyday trainer
Nike Vaporfly 4
£239.99 · Race day · 166g · 8mm drop · 40mm stack · wide fitting · carbon plate
Feather light race shoe for 5k up to marathon. Save it for the big days.
- Carbon plated, the fast and propulsive feel you asked for
- Carbon plate, which is what you want on race day
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A race day shoe, not an everyday trainer
Hoka Cielo X1 3.0
£250 · Race day · 213g · 7mm drop · 38mm stack · carbon plate
Hoka's fastest carbon race shoe. Aggressive, expensive and only for race day.
- Carbon plated, the fast and propulsive feel you asked for
- Carbon plate, which is what you want on race day
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A race day shoe, not an everyday trainer
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
£219.99 · Race day · 200g · 6mm drop · 39mm stack · wide fitting · carbon plate
Adidas' top marathon racer. Very light, very fast and fits on the narrow side.
- Carbon plated, the fast and propulsive feel you asked for
- Carbon plate, which is what you want on race day
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A race day shoe, not an everyday trainer
Puma Deviate Nitro 4
£150 · Tempo · 250g · 8mm drop · 38mm stack · carbon plate
One shoe that handles long runs, faster sessions and a half marathon happily.
- Carbon plated, the fast and propulsive feel you asked for
- Carbon plate, which is what you want on race day
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A race day shoe, not an everyday trainer
Asics Magic Speed 5
£170 · Tempo · 196g · 7mm drop · 35mm stack · wide fitting · carbon plate
Light carbon plated shoe for faster running. A cheaper way into race style shoes.
- Carbon plated, the fast and propulsive feel you asked for
- Carbon plate, which is what you want on race day
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- A race day shoe, not an everyday trainer
How this list was put together
Every shoe in our database is scored against a set of rules, and this page shows the top eight for this particular need. The rules are written down in full on the how it works page, including which ones rule a shoe out completely. Nothing on this page is ordered by commission, and the prices are RRP, so shop around because they are very often discounted.
This is a starting point rather than a fitting. Where you can, try shoes on, and if you are running through pain see a physio rather than buying your way out of it.
Common questions
Are carbon plate shoes worth it?
If you are racing a half or full marathon and chasing a time, probably yes. If you run for fitness and enjoyment, the money is better spent on two good daily trainers. The gain is a few per cent of your running economy, which matters more the longer you are out there.
How long do carbon plate shoes last?
Usually 150 to 250 miles of hard running, well short of a normal trainer. The plate is not what fails, it is the foam, which is chosen for lightness and bounce rather than durability. Most people keep them for races and key sessions only.
Can beginners wear carbon plate shoes?
You can, but it is not a good first purchase. They are firm, unstable at slow speeds, and demand more from your calves and achilles than a normal shoe. Build up in a daily trainer first.
Get a list for your feet, not an average one
The shortlist above assumes a fairly typical runner. The shoe finder asks about your width, how your ankles roll, your weight, where you run, your budget and any recurring niggles, then gives you three shoes and tells you why each one made it. It takes about a minute and there is no email or sign up.