Best Carbon Plate Running Shoes in 2023

1. Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%

This is the original blood line of carbon fiber shoes, the ones that started the revolution and the ones that are still at the bleeding edge of ultra-performance racing footwear. These may seem a bit like space shoes. In fact, their indulgent stack height is the subject of some controversy. World Athletics even revised their guidelines for competition-legal shoes based on how the Alphafly is pushing the boundaries. But every piece of their unique design serves a purpose, and performance-wise, they’re a great choice. (They’ve also landed on the “Legal” list. You can wear them without breaking the rules!)

Let’s start at the top! Nike’s new AtomKnit upper is lightweight and contoured, and breathes well while being water-resistant at the same time. The fabric is steamed and then stretched over the shoe, providing a contoured, hugging fit.

A ZoomX foam cushion midsole is padded and responsive, giving you the best of both bounce and impact protection. Add the 2 Zoom Air Units and you’ve got a luxuriously cushioned shoe.

But we’re really here to talk about carbon plates, and Nike’s is the world standard. It runs the full-length of the midsole, and creates one heck of a responsive, snappy shoe.

All that stuff takes up some room, and the Alphafly’s stack height is a bit unusual. The outsole also looks somewhat weird in addition to being huge, but it’s super effective for a powerful toe-off, thanks to its textured, ridged forefoot.

If you can get around the somewhat clunky look of these shoes, and the fact that they may feel a little unstable going around corners, they’d be worthwhile getting for their bouncy energy return. If you need convincing, watch Eliud Kipchoge cruise to his mind-bending 1:59:40 marathon in these shoes, and then watch any other professional marathon and see just how many runners are wearing them – even those sponsored by other shoe companies.

2. On Cloudflash

If you were to do a quick visual comparison between the Alphafly and On’s Cloudflash, you’d be forgiven for thinking there’s no way they are the same kind of shoe. But they are, and the Cloudflash shows that carbon plate shoes don’t have to look like moon boots to provide comfort and performance.

If you’re a 5k-er, this shoe is our choice for you. It’s designed for mild to mid-range overpronation, so it focuses on stability on the road.

This shoe is made for road running, and road running fast. Every bit of technology in the shoe is about improving performance and pushing you ahead to achieve goals you never thought you could!

An ultralight mesh upper maximizes airflow and is surprisingly water-resistant.

It’s nice and flexible, not restrictive, and has adequate space in the forefoot for the toes to rest comfortably without feeling cramped.

The Helion super foam cushioning is labeled “soft” and provides a shock-absorbing platform for your landing. It won’t lose its shape with heat or heavy wear.

Another interesting piece of tech in this shoe is CloudTec. These are the unusual-looking pods underneath the shoe, called “clouds.” They give softness during the landing and protect your joints from the force, but stiffen up with the movement to provide a firm toe-off.

Below the midsole and above the cloudy sole lugs, there’s the Cloudflash Speedboard. This is your carbon plate, and it’s not called Speedboard for nothing! It’s light and springy, giving a superb energy rebound when activated.

If you’re aiming to improve your 5k time, these shoes will (literally) push you forward to get you there!

3. ASICS MetaRacer

This is ASICS’ most advanced shoe, and it’s reputed to be both extremely comfortable and rather speedy. It’s designed to help runners shave wads of time off their pace, and to do so while reducing fatigue.

The MetaRacer is a neutral shoe with a fairly minimalistic design. It’s quite light too, which is a bonus for runners who are looking to run like the wind. The women’s shoe weighs around 5.4 ounces, while the men’s is ever so slightly heavier at 6.7 ounces.

It’s super soft, thanks to FlyteFoam midsole, which provides plush cushioning. Guidesole technology makes for a rigid forefoot, which powers the push-off and reduces fatigue in the legs.

The outsole features ASICS Grip rubber compound for durability and safety on a variety of surfaces. Wet Grip technology does exactly what it sounds like, and creates a stickiness even when it’s wet out.

Between the midsole and outsole is the all-important carbon-fiber plate. It’s integrated into the sole, with a much lower stack height than most, allowing for more control and feel.

The carbon plate provides an unmistakable feeling of bounciness and impressive energy return, spurring you on towards the finish line with greater efficiency and far less fatigue than usual.

Another unique feature we liked, which is small but effective, is the hole in the toe cap. This can make your toes a little freezing during winter, but it’s fantastic for ventilation in the heat.

4. Adidas Adizero Adios Pro

Before Nike crashed the marathon party with the Vaporfly, Adidas was the reigning heavyweight of record-setting distance shoes. Dennis Kimetto rode an early non-carbon version of the Adios to the world record in 2014, the last in a long line of Adidas athletes to set the mark. Adidas has been playing catch-up since then, but has now arrived. They are still working with some of the fastest runners in the world to create a shoe that is responsive and easy on the feet. This is their final product.

Their Celermesh upper is light, flexible, and breathable. It supports the foot without feeling restricting. But the big deal is the carbon-plated midsole.

Unlike other carbon plate shoes, this shoe doesn’t have a full-length carbon plate. A small plate in the heel adds stability and a springy push-off. But it’s the forefoot that’s interesting.

Here, there’s no solid carbon plate. Instead, Adidas uses EnergyRods: carbon-infused rods that are designed to replace the movement of the metatarsals, reduce impact, and increase support without increasing weight.

Between the heel plate and the Wolverine carbon claws in your midsole, your toe-off will be bouncy and your landings will be padded.

Lightstrike Pro is a super light foam that stores energy and gives a better, bouncier energy return. It’s soft and fairly thick, but not so much so that you lose that road-under-foot feeling.

The sole is super thin too, but grips like a monster. With the generous cushioning, spring-in-your-step carbon elements, breathable upper, and textured outsole, this shoe would be superb for 10k runs or longer.

5. Nike Air Zoom Tempo Next% FlyEase

This shoe is quite funky and definitely eye-catching. But apart from its physical characteristics, it’s got a lot of great features that are both practical and highly useful if you’re aiming to increase your performance.

It’s quick and easy to get on and off, using a lock-and-release system to get a nice tight fit with a single pull.

This is another Nike shoe that features easy step-in technology, so you don’t even need to pick the shoe up or bend down to get your foot into it. Simply step on the heel, and once your foot has slid into the shoe, the heel will pop up again.

It’s surprisingly and impressively cushioned, making use of three different technologies to achieve cloud-like padding. Zoom X foam offers pop in the forefoot and help to push off speedily.

The Zoom Air Unit, which is visible under the forefoot, absorbs shock and impact on every step, keeping your joints and bones protected.

In the heel, you’ll find Nike React. It offers good support and softness, preventing pain on the footstrike.

In the midst of all this great cushioning, there’s a super responsive carbon plate that may surprise you with its energy return.

6. Brooks Hyperion Elite 2

Interval training is a great way to improve your endurance and enhance your cardiovascular strength. And using the right kind of shoe can make all the difference in your training efficiency.

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 2 is known to have a great mix of stability and bounce, which is perfect for intervals. Looking at the shoe, it has a bit of a chunky build to it, but all that chunkiness is put to good use to produce results.

One of the most notable features of this shoe is the unusual DNA Flash midsole. This is a foam that’s been infused with nitrogen, to provide energetic cushioning with less weight than usual. Less weight on your feet means more speed!

It’s said to maintain its responsiveness for 200 to 400 miles. The midsole stack height is also increased, which offers more cushioning and more durability.

A carbon fiber propulsion plate feels stiff underfoot but provides delightfully smooth and energetic transitions, pushing you forward into an effective toe-off.

7. Saucony Endorphin Pro 2

One knock on some of these super-cushioned carbon plate shoes is that they don’t last terribly long. And given the prices being asked, that can be a big problem for the average runner with no sponsorship deal. The Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 stands apart by showing impressive durability, so if you’re after a long-lasting shoe, consider this one.

A neutral shoe, it’s feather-light and won’t weigh you down. The FORMFIT engineered upper surrounds the foot with a locked-in sensation that’s not restricting, but rather supportive and sturdy.

A PWRRUN PB midsole provides all the comfort, while the S-curved carbon-fiber plate gives the lively bounce. Along with those two bits of tech, Saucony’s SPEEDROLL rocker technology assists even more with forward momentum.

You can remove the insole to add an orthotic if you wish. The only thing that could be an issue for some runners is the lack of a heel counter, which offers slightly less stability and could cause heel slippage.

The latest version features a snugger fit, especially around the heel. Plus some anti-slipping laces to really lock you in.

8. Hoka One One Rocket X

When you’re looking for cushioning, Hoka One One is the shoe to look at. They’re well-known for their padding, and their thiccccc outsole, which Hoka does a good job of hiding in their shoe designs and patterns.

Rocket X is a unisex shoe. It’s a great idea in principle, but may mean that some ladies struggle with sizing. In particular, the shoe may feel too wide in certain areas of the foot where women have naturally narrower feet.

Because of its superior cushioning, the carbon-fiber plate doesn’t provide as energetic a return as other shoes. But it’s still a noticeable difference if you aren’t used to the carbon plate, and the cushioning can be a foot-saver on long runs.

The CMEVA (compression-molded EVA) midsole absorbs shock at strategic points to prevent foot fatigue and reduce the chance of injury. Interestingly, the foam is quite firm and not very spongy.

But it’s still a soft ride. The midsole is where the thickness really is, providing impressive cloudiness and stability on your feet.

In addition to the propulsive carbon-fiber plate, this shoe contains an early-stage meta rocker to help push you forward with every step.

9. Skechers GOrun Speed Elite

A large part of being fast is having little to weigh you down. If you’re wearing a big, chunky, heavy shoe, you can be sure you’re not going to end up going as fast as you could be!

At just 6 ounces, this is a light and airy shoe that still features both good cushioning for longer exercise sessions and a carbon plate to boost energy return.

The HYPER BURST midsole is durable and long-lasting, providing great responsiveness and helping you stay light on your feet.

As well as their lovely cushioning, the carbon-infused forefoot “winglet” gives it a stiffness that adds lightweight stability and an excitable energy return.

The Goodyear rubber outsole is grippy and adds extra safety on any surface, as well as being long-lasting.