Anta C2027 vs Nike Vaporfly 2: First Run With a Budget Carbon Plated Contender

Introduction

The Anta C2027 is a lightweight, performance-driven carbon plated running shoe from a brand most UK and European runners have barely heard of, and it has to be one of the most interesting carbon plated shoes to arrive in a while. It is not a million miles away from Nike’s brilliant Vaporfly in character, yet it retails for around £130, which makes it remarkably good value when you compare it to similar racers from Asics, Hoka, Nike, Adidas and New Balance.

Anta Sports itself is no small player. Based on revenue it is the third largest sports brand in the world, just behind Nike and Adidas, and the company owns Amer Sports, meaning it sits behind names like Salomon, Peak Performance, Arc’teryx, Wilson and Fila. Its focus is functional, performance-driven products for running, basketball and other sports, and the C2027 is a strong example of what that focus produces.

The Shoes and Key Stats

Before comparing them on the run, here is what the numbers look like. The C2027 retails for around £130 on the Anta website in the UK. It offers 34 mm of stack at the heel and 28 mm under the forefoot for a 6 mm drop, and the men’s UK 10 pair tested weighed in at a very light 236 g. It is available in four color options for men and two for women. The Nike Vaporfly 2 used in the comparison is an older, well-worn pair with roughly 150 to 200 miles on them, but it remains a favorite carbon plated performance shoe and a useful benchmark.

Upper and Fit Details

The C2027 upper is made from an incredibly thin, breathable engineered mesh, so thin you can see straight through the weave, with structural overlays and underlays worked in to give the stripped-back design a little more substance. The tongue is a standard thin, essentially unpadded design, while the ankle collar and heel carry a moderate level of padding for longer-distance comfort. Anta’s halo locking lacing system aims for a secure midfoot hold, and there is a small heel cup for structure low down.

One charming detail: the words “Bekele” are written in gold lettering at the eyelet, a nod to Ethiopian running legend Kenenisa Bekele, for whom this is reportedly the shoe of choice.

First Run Testing Conditions

The plan was a hard parkrun effort, but the event had been cancelled after storm damage left fallen trees blocking the woodland route. Instead, the test became a steady two-mile warm-up followed by a 5K pushed as hard as current fitness allowed, averaging roughly 7:15 to 7:30 minute miling, then a second 5K in the Vaporfly 2s straight after. Underfoot conditions were wet, greasy and muddy, with plenty of leaves and stones, which turned out to be a useful stress test for the outsole.

Sizing runs a touch small, and Anta’s recommendation to go up half a size proved correct, with the UK 10 fitting just right on length.

Anta C2027: Fit and Feel on the Run

The upper felt comfortable throughout and worked well for the tester’s foot shape, delivering a secure midfoot lockdown that never worked loose. Despite the very thin tongue, there was no lace bite across the top of the foot, and the ankle padding hit just the right level while still holding the heel well. For a stripped-back racer, the toe box offers reasonable width and volume, though it is not a wide shoe.

Midsole-wise, the Nitro Edge Pro dual-density setup is the heart of the shoe: a soft, bouncy top layer for energy return over a firmer bottom layer for a planted, stable platform, with Anta’s extended carbon fiber plate sandwiched between. Cushioning and energy return were excellent. It is not the bounciest super shoe, but that stability is a genuine plus for a carbon plated race shoe, and it felt far more planted than some past super shoes when cornering at speed.

The aggressive forefoot rocker, one of the most aggressive in any running shoe, deserves much of the credit. The shoe felt efficient and genuinely pushed you forward in the running motion, light, well balanced, snappy and nimble. The instep shape also fit well, whereas the Vaporfly 2’s arch tends to dig into the foot rather than support it.

Nike Vaporfly 2: The Benchmark Comparison

After switching into the Vaporfly 2s for the second 5K, the verdict was surprising. The Nike shoe still offers more volume and room in the toe box, and the Anta actually felt more comfortable at the midfoot. That said, the Vaporfly’s well-worn midsole is a few years old, so the comparison is not perfectly equal.

On overall preference, the Anta’s dual-density midsole setup edged ahead: comfortable, fast and snappy, with the aggressive rocker adding a forward-rolling efficiency that made the miles feel easier.

Outsole Grip on Greasy Roads

The C2027’s outsole is clad in Anta’s liquid non-slip rubber in all the high-wear areas. It has an unusual, soft and pliable feel that works well with the midsole foam, and on the day’s genuinely challenging wet, leafy and muddy roads it felt sticky with no slipping issues at all. The narrow void cut down the center of the midsole, which saves weight and adds flexibility, also picked up no stones despite a route littered with them.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Two quirks are worth knowing. First, the non-gusseted tongue tends to fold over when you are putting the shoe on, and it takes a bit of fiddling to get it lying flat across the foot to avoid irritation. A gusseted tongue would solve this entirely, and it is the same gripe with the Vaporfly 2. Second, Anta sizing appears to stop at UK 11, so runners with larger feet may be out of luck, which is a shame because the good toe box volume would otherwise make the C2027 a great pick for bigger-footed runners.

Overall Buying Advice

After the first run, the C2027 was pleasantly surprising, especially at the price. At 236 g in a UK 10 it feels light and balanced, and it would happily serve for quick interval sessions or race day from 5K up to marathon distance and beyond. You would be hard pushed to find a better feeling and performing carbon plated running shoe for less.

Conclusion

The Anta C2027 proves that a capable carbon plated racer does not have to cost big-brand money. With excellent cushioning, genuine stability, an aggressive rocker and trustworthy grip, it held its own against the Nike Vaporfly 2 and even felt more comfortable in places. If you are a UK 11 or smaller and looking for a value-priced shoe for fast training or race day, it deserves a spot on your shortlist.