A plate stiffens the sole and works with the foam to roll you forward. Racing shoes have them, and more training shoes do every year.
What we look for in a carbon-plated shoe
A carbon plate or rods. Nylon and other plates are listed as such and don't count here.
Weight for the job. Racers sit near 200 g, while plated trainers carry more foam and weigh more.
A rocker that suits your pace. Most plated shoes have a strong rocker, which feels best at speed.
The lightest carbon-plated shoes
Puma
FAST-FWD Nitro Elite 2
- Weight
- 105 g
- Stack
- 31 / 23 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Carbon-plated, at 105 g. Its heel sits 8 mm higher than its forefoot.
Adidas
Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1
- Weight
- 136 g
- Stack
- 38 / 32 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Carbon-plated, at 136 g. Its heel sits 6 mm higher than its forefoot.
Mizuno
Hyperwarp Pure 2
- Weight
- 136 g
- Stack
- 38 / 35 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Carbon-plated, at 136 g. Its heel sits 3 mm higher than its forefoot.
Adidas
Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2
- Weight
- 136 g
- Stack
- 39 / 36 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Carbon-plated, at 136 g. Its heel sits 3 mm higher than its forefoot.
Mizuno
Hyperwarp Pure
- Weight
- 137 g
- Stack
- 34 / 31 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Carbon-plated, at 137 g. Its heel sits 3 mm higher than its forefoot.
Carbon-plated trainers
Hoka
Skyward X 2
- Weight
- 312 g
- Stack
- 48 / 43 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Carbon-plated, at 312 g. Its heel sits 5 mm higher than its forefoot.
Hoka
Skyward X
- Weight
- 320 g
- Stack
- 48 / 43 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Carbon-plated, at 320 g. Its heel sits 5 mm higher than its forefoot.
New Balance
FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3
- Stack
- 40 / 34 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 6 mm higher than its forefoot.
Cheap carbon-plated shoes, $201 or less
Atreyu
The Artist
- Weight
- 230 g (M9)
- Stack
- 35 / 29 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Carbon-plated, at 230 g. Its heel sits 6 mm higher than its forefoot.
Atreyu
Race Model
- Weight
- 232 g (M9)
- Stack
- 35 / 29 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Carbon-plated, at 232 g. Its heel sits 6 mm higher than its forefoot.
361°
Flame 5 MIX
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 7 mm higher than its forefoot.