The carbon plate offers a reactivity that seeks to maximize our performance while the lightness, only 239 g., make it perhaps a shoe not suitable for all runners, that is, someone heavier could opt more for the Bondi X than for these and someone thinner for the Rocket X, anyway, what is clear is that they are shoes to go fast.

SALOMON S/LAB PHANTASM CF: DATA SHEET

• Price: 200€* not official
• Weight: 225 g
• Ground high: 32 mm/ 23 mm
• Drop 9 mm
• Upper: Matryx material
• Midsole: Salomon Energy Surge
• Energy Blade technology
• R.Camber rocker sole geometry

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ASICS METASPEED EDGE: 250€ | 8 MM DROP | 184 G

The METASPEED Edge competition shoe seeks to help cadence-type runners go faster, extending the length of their stride and allowing them to control the cadence more easily. This type of runner increase both cadence and stride as they run faster. For them, the energy foam of the midsole and a carbon plate propellant seek to enhance their style helps lengthen their stride and conserve more energy while controlling their rhythm.

According to Asics, we are already seeing concrete improvements Cita as an example that at the Hokkaido-Sapporo Marathon Festival 2021, German anchorager Katerina Steinruck became the first CADENCE-style runner to register an official personal record with the METASPEED Edge, setting a time of 1:10:43 in the half marathon event to get a fourth place. The Japanese brand claims that according to its data, they could help reduce the number of steps of a runner to finish a marathon by approximately 2.6%

ASICS METASPEED EDGE: DATA SHEET.

• Price 250€ (Same price)
• Weight: 184 g
• Ground height 21mm in front – 29mm behind. (28mm-33m for the Sky)
• Drop 8mm (Drop 5mm for Sky.)
• Design mesh instep that favors breathability
• FF BLAST TURBO damping that improves compression and creates a greater feeling of respesta under the feet
• Curved sole design that helps runners conserve more energy at each step
• Carbon plate that guides your foot along the tread and propels it forward
• ASICSGRIP sole

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ASICS METASPEED EDGE: 250€ | 8 MM DROP | 184 G

Although we have not yet been able to shoot it, the news that comes to us from other more fortunate points to some positive first impressions. FuelCell foam blends well with the shoe’s carbon plate. for joints offer a feeling of agility, without losing a certain comfort for longer distances.

The new cover gives a feeling of a more refined fit, hugging the foot in a secure way, looking for us to feel almost like a second skin. Among the pros, versus other carbon ones, perhaps that sole provides more confidence-inspiring traction. Among the cons, perhaps point out that the softness of the foam in the midsole can make us feel somewhat unstable in tight corners.

In any case, a shoe that does aim to exploit enormous potential to improve marks over a wide range of distances: From the 5k to the Marathon.

NEW BALANCE FUELCELL RC ELITE: DATA SHEET.

• Price 230 €
• Weight 207gr
• Drop 10mm
• Ground height 24mm forefoot – 34mm heel.
• Cushioning New, more responsive Fuelcell foam.
• Sole: New Dynaride sole, redesigned to guarantee better traction.
• Shoe with integral carbon plate.

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NIKE ZOOMX VAPORFLY NEXT 2: 250 € | 8 MM DROP | 200 G

The Vaporfly are real racing shoes. That means it must be light and light. For most Spanish runners, where the 43EUR is the most common number in the samplers, its weight will be around 200 grams, perhaps a few grams more than the previous one but nothing relevant.

The Vaporfly 2 fits your usual brand size faithfully. There may have now a little more toe space than in the original NEXT%, but it will be very rare for your foot to feel better by changing size now.

This Vaporfly 2 is a shoe designed for racing. And more, at the next price… Givenits lightness it will be an excellent choice for short races like 5K, while for its large amount of cushioning it is also comfortable enough for the marathon. There will even be athletes that will bet on them in the ultra distance. However, we insist whenever your fine technique allows you to squeeze them without damaging your ankles or knees.

In fact, the  running efficiency gains you get from them, will perhaps be greater in longer events, such as half marathons or marathons. If you move it well, maintaining your running pace should be a little easier for longer.

The 2021 changes are generally welcome all: Not only the price, but also the wider fit now on the front, as we now have more space on the toe in particular. The knit mesh used is also more breathable than the Vapor in the original NEXT% and also drains water more and better if you have to compete in the rain.

NIKE ZOOMX VAPORFLY NEXT 2: DATA SHEET.

As you can see, it’s a pure and hard racing shoe. Expensive, too. But for those who train days, weeks, months or even years to improve their PB, it can be a very profitable investment.

• • • Price: 250€. A healthy reduction from the first Vaporfly in 2019.
    • Weigh: 200gr. Among the lightest in the segment… or almost. A standout advantage.
    • Recommended Use: Competition or very fast runs. Running sub35m the 10k would be reference.
    • Runner type: Lightweight up to 65kg and with fine technique so not to suffer with the enormous height to the ground.
    • Drop 8 mm. With that wedge and that height on the ground, to take advantage of it, you have to know how to run.
    • Ground height: 32mm front – 40mm rear. The maximum allowed by World Ahtletics.
    • Available colors: 2 (see below)
    • Sizes: 37.5EUR to 47EUR

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SAUCONY ENDORPHIN PRO 2: 220€ | 8 MM DROP | 213 G

Competition shoes. The Endorphin Pro 2 evolves to continue fine-tuning the race pace with them. The improved grip and fit this 2021 join the solid combination that already formed the ultralight PWRRUN PB damping.

Without forgetting, impossible at this point, that carbon fiber chassis omnipresent today in maximum performance, which seeks to give us that final tip of maximum speed.

SAUCONY ENDORPHIN PRO 2: DATA SHEET

Competition shoes. The Endorphin Pro 2 evolves to continue fine-tuning the race pace with them. The improved grip and fit this 2021 join the solid combination that already formed the ultralight PWRRUN PB damping,
Without forgetting, impossible at this point, that carbon fiber chassis omnipresent today in maximum performance, which seeks to give us that final tip of maximum speed.

• Price 220€
• Running shoes for competition.
• Weight: Male 213 gr| Female 179 gR
• Cushioning: PWRRUN PB
• Drop: 8 mm (35.5 mm / 27.5 mm)
• Category: Neutral

RUNNING CARBON PLATE SHOES 2022: CONCLUSIONS

At the moment, HOKA stands out from the big brands as it is the only one (maybe together with New Balance) who offers different Carbon plate assisted shoes for different types of runners and distances, like the HOKA Rocket X, the New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite V2

So, as we have seen in the analysis above all the brands move in a price range of €200-€250 and the weight varies from the lightest Asics with 184 g to the “heaviest” Hoka’s with 239 g. IN relation to the dorp, only Hoka moves with a Dorp 5 mm, while all the others are between 8 mm and 10 mm. We should remenber at this point that Hoka shoes have been traditionally influenced by the triathlon world, meanly Ironman, so the usage of big drops after swimming and running, can generate more muscular issues while running a marathon.

If we would like to compare the different plate assisted shoes, the HOKA Carbon X 2 would be on the same line as the Asics Metaspeed Edge, Salomon Phantasm CF and the Nike Vaporfly Next 2%, while the New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite would be similar to the Saucony Endorphin.

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