Welcome,
First, this newsletter is sponsored by Netic Health. As I mentioned on the blog, I've been using online physical therapy with Netic Health. Netic Health is designed for runners, by runners. You aren't going to get someone who looks at you and automatically says: "stop running." My PT, Susan, is an incredible athlete and completed ultramarathon events, the Boston Marathon, and even Ironman Kona! She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy.
Netic Health is inexpensive, and you can get the quality care you need without leaving your home.
This is especially helpful if you live somewhere that it takes an hour or more to drive to an appointment (like me).
The first month of Netic Health is FREE. You can learn more and try it out yourself here.
This is one of the longer newsletters. In fact, due to the size it would not allow me to keep photos of every shoe so I skipped a few that most people are familiar with.
If you've read for a while, one of the first newsletters I wrote was about was carbon-plated shoes. That was over 2 years ago! Then I wrote another updated newsletter last year.
Running shoes continue to change, so that newsletter is outdated as well. We are lucky there are more carbon-plated shoes. But that also makes things confusing because you have no idea whether some shoes are just expensive gimmicks.
One of the most asked questions is: "Are carbon plated shoes worth it?"
It is hard to justify any $200-250 running shoe.
Short Answer:
Research proves you’ll run faster in carbon plated technology, but it won’t substitute training. Only you can answer: is a few seconds worth $250 to you?
Longer Answer:
While running, most runners expend energy bending toe joints during impact. When you bend other areas such as your arch and ankles, they spring back into position, ready for the next stride.
Your toes don’t spring back, and energy is wasted. The carbon plate keeps your toes straighter, which in turn saves energy. The curvature in the carbon plate almost functions as a spring. Combined with unique foam to each brand, the midsole creates “energy savings.”
Just the carbon plate or just the foam doesn't make you run faster, but the carbon plate+the foam will. Each brand uses a combination they see as "the best." Here is a good article about it.
Current Carbon Plated Shoes:
361 Degrees Flame (review here):
New from 361 degrees it was used to win the women's Olympic Triathlon bronze. This has the most similar fit and feel to the Nike Vaporfly without being the shoe. It actually baffles me this shoe is "only" $160 because it feels almost identical to the Vaporfly. I will even say the heel is more comfortable. If you're looking for the best valued and just one of the best carbon plated shoes, the under-the-radar 361 Degree Flame is a good option.
adidas adizero Adios Pro 2 (Review here):
The adidas adizero Adios Pro 2 is a mouthful. Now that I got that out of the way, this shoe blends in with the rest and is a good option but not a great option. I don’t have a lot to say about it other than it’s “just ok”. If you are someone who loves the feeling of adidas, you may enjoy this option.
Asics Metaspeed Edge (review here):
Last year Asics didn't have any "real contenders" in the carbon-plated world. This year they have two. The Asics Metaspeed Edge is a great shoe for half marathons and below. You'll *probably* want more cushion for the marathon. It's one of the lightest carbon plated shoes out there, but it's also one of the most narrow. Size up half to full size if you plan on trying it. Personally, it's one of my favorite carbon-plated shoes.
Asics Metaspeed Sky (review here):
Worn by Sara Hall, you know this must be good. Truthfully, I believe this is one of the best carbon plated shoes out there and one of the few that can contend with Nike. Like the Asics Metaspeed Edge; it does run narrow and short. You should definitely size up. I've also noticed this shoe doesn't always respond well to downhill, so if you're running a hilly race, it might not be your best bet.
Yes, both the Asics Metaspeed Edge and Sky look near identical. So much so that I’ve written a blog post about that too.
Brooks Hyperion Elite 2 (review here):
Of any of the carbon plated shoes, the Brooks Hyperion Elite 2 is the widest. Even looking down, you can tell it's wide. It's extremely lightweight and breathes well. While the first version was lackluster, the second version has proved to be a great option. With how wide it is, it has some inherent stability. While it's not a "stable shoe," it is more stable than other options.
Hoka Carbon X2 (review here):
While it's not going to be your fastest marathon shoe, it is the one with the most cushion. In fact, it was used in an attempt to set a few ultra marathon records. The drawback is the lack of blown rubber on the bottom which means it's not the most durable. For me, it fits well as a workout or long-run shoe.
Hoka Carbon Rocket X (review here):
When Hoka came out with a second carbon-plated shoe, people wondered...why? The Hoka Rocket X is a marathon racing shoe. It's the shoe most Hoka professionals use to race. It's going to feel a lot firmer than most other carbon plated shoes which means if you like the feeling of older racing flats or like feeling the ground, it's a good option.
New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite 2 (original review here):
I recently tried the updated New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite 2, and it's been a great update. I'll have a full review soon. The extra stack of the Fuelcell foam makes the carbon plate pop much more than the original.
Why get the New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite 2? It's wider than most other carbon-plated shoes. The upper is also one of the most breathable, and there is a lot more traction. If I were running in the torrential rain, this would probably be the first shoe I would grab.
Nike Alphafly (review here):
The Nike Alphafly is the fastest running shoe out there. It's been used to set world records, win major marathons, and was given to all of the Olympic Trials Qualifiers.
The high stack height and softness might not make it ideal for some and it’s known to irritate the Achilles. Many people find it "too bouncy" and soft.
Nike Vaporfly 2 (review here):
While I haven't run in the Vaporfly 2, I've tried them on. Why choose the Vaporfly over the Alphafly? It's like choosing an iPhone 4 over the iPhone 12.
The Vaporfly is less aggressive and less likely to change your running form. It's lighter and still one of the most popular racing shoes for every distance. I wrote extensively about how this shoe was not right for me and aggravated my Achilles.
Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 (review of the original here):
It's fairly similar to the original version. The Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 is lower to the ground than most carbon plated footwear, and the carbon fiber plate is "less pronounced." This means it's much firmer than most shoes, and you'll feel the ground more.
On Cloudboom:
I've tried the On Cloudboom but not enough to write a review about it. It's definitely a fast shoe, but there isn't a lot of cushion to it. If you are looking for a fast shoe for a 5k or maybe a 10k, it's a great option; in fact, maybe one of the best. But for longer distances, you probably want more cushion.
Trails: North Face Vectiv Flight (review here):
North Face, what?! This is actually a trail shoe and designed to run hard on trails. Don't buy this for your road races. The interesting part about carbon plates and trail shoes is you can negate carbon plated shoe extra speed by making a course more technical. While you'll run faster in the Vectiv Flight, it might not make as much of a difference if you're running a technical race.
Conclusion:
You will probably run faster in a carbon-plated shoe. The best advice I have is to try as many on as possible and figure out which one feels most comfortable. Like every shoe, not everything will feel comfortable to everyone.
What is Keeping Me Entertained?
How Running Strides Will Help You
Runchats with Ron: Jen Bigham Jen has been a friend for nearly 10 years (whoa), and she recently qualified for the Olympic Trials. It was fun to learn even more about her story.
Sara Hall ran a 66:48 Half Marathon
Courtney Frerichs becomes the first woman to run under 9 mins in the 3000-meter steeple.
Finally, thank you, Netic Health, for sponsoring this week's newsletter. You can learn more and try it out yourself here.
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