Best Carbon Racing Shoes of 2023: 18 Super Shoes Compared

Introduction

Carbon plate racing shoes have become the default choice for road racing, and the 2023 market is more crowded than ever. This roundup covers the top-tier carbon racing shoes we have put real miles into, focusing on how each one actually performs over different distances. One notable absence: the record-setting Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 is extremely limited in availability and carries a premium price, so it is not covered here.

Nike Alphafly Next% 2

The Alphafly Next% 2 remains one of the most cushioned and propulsive super shoes on sale, with a big slab of ZoomX foam and a more stable design than the first version. It excels on flat, straight city marathon courses, where its bounce and protection pay off deep into the race, but it is one of the heavier carbon shoes and feels less at home on twisty, turny courses. It is still a race-day favorite for longer distances and holds up surprisingly well as a short-distance racer too.

If you want maximum protection and bounce for the marathon, this is still one of the first shoes to consider.

Nike Vaporfly 3

The Vaporfly 3 is lighter than its predecessor, with reduced outsole rubber and more foam in the midsole for a slightly softer ride. That softness makes it more accessible to a broader range of runners, though some runners who loved the stiffer, more direct feel of earlier versions feel it has lost a little of its edge. In practice it is one of the most complete carbon racers available: light, snappy, well cushioned, and fast over every distance from short races to the full marathon. The main trade-off is durability, as the minimal outsole rubber can wear quickly.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3

The Adios Pro 3 pairs a thick Lightstrike Pro midsole with energy rods and Continental rubber for a shoe that is both fast and unusually durable for the category. It shines as a long-distance cruiser that can still move quickly, and it has world-record pedigree in its lineage. The fit is complicated: several testers needed to size up half a size, and toe rubbing was a recurring complaint. Expect an update in the lineup, but as it stands this is a very good all-around race shoe.

Adidas Prime X Strung 2

With a 50mm stack and two carbon plates, the Prime X Strung 2 is the biggest, bounciest shoe here. The second version adds stability that the original lacked, but also weight, which pushes it closer to a super trainer than a pure racer. It is a lot of fun to run in and feels surprisingly energetic for something so chunky, yet it is expensive and not clearly faster than the best 40mm shoes. Choose it for enjoyment and training miles rather than all-out racing.

Hoka Rocket X 2

The Rocket X 2 is Hoka’s first genuinely serious top-tier carbon racer, built on a PEBA midsole with a full-length carbon plate and a lower drop than many rivals. It is light, agile, and energetic, and noticeably more stable than many super shoes, making it excellent for attacking corners. The fit runs narrow and cramped, which is a question mark for longer races or wider feet, and some testers found the heel softer than expected. As a racer up to the half marathon, it is a big leap forward for Hoka.

For runners who find most super shoes too unstable, this one deserves a close look.

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro

The Wave Rebellion Pro was one of the biggest surprises of the year and Mizuno’s best carbon racer yet. Its dramatic design features a huge heel cutout, a tall foam stack, and an aggressive rocker built around a midfoot or forefoot strike. It stays reasonably light and handled both fast 5Ks and long workouts well, even for a shuffly heel striker, though runners who do not naturally strike midfoot may not get the most from it. It is best viewed as a marathon-focused shoe for runners who buy into the aggressive geometry.

Saucony Endorphin Elite

Saucony’s new-for-2023 Endorphin Elite introduces the PWRRUN HG midsole foam and a more aggressive rocker than the Endorphin Pro 3. It proved remarkably capable over long distances, holding up well even in 50K races, and works across everything from short races to marathons. The ride firms up noticeably at faster paces, which some runners find fatiguing over time, the upper feels fussy, and the price sits above even the Vaporfly. Effective and fast, but not a shoe every runner will love.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 3

No new version arrived in 2023, but the Endorphin Pro 3 remains a very good shoe that is now frequently discounted. It uses PWRRUN PB foam for a soft, accommodating ride that still delivers on race day, and it is one of the most versatile carbon racers, comfortable enough to use as a near-daily trainer while fast enough for personal bests. One contributor set two marathon PBs in it. If you want a friendly, fast all-rounder at a lower price than the newest releases, it is easy to recommend.

On Cloudboom Echo 3

On got serious about carbon racing this year, and the Cloudboom Echo 3 is a major step forward: more PEBA foam, a stack approaching 40mm, and a scooped carbon plate for a tippy-forward, propulsive ride. The thin race upper is excellent and the shoe is comfortable enough for any race distance. Two things hold it back: the outsole rubber wears very quickly, with flaking reported even on lightly used pairs, and the price is high compared with strong, more durable rivals.

Under Armour Flow Velocity Elite

Under Armour’s first serious carbon racer pairs a PEBA top layer with firmer foam underneath and a carbon plate. It is one of the more subtle super shoes, with less explosive punch than the top racers, but that character makes it genuinely versatile: stable, natural-riding, light, and encouraging of quick foot turnover. It works well as a punchy super trainer across training and racing, though the price is steep for that role and the molded outsole may limit durability if used heavily day to day.

Asics Metaspeed Sky Plus

The Metaspeed Sky Plus is aimed at bounding runners who increase stride length, but even shuffly runners rate it highly. Extra FF Turbo foam keeps the ride lively and high-rebounding, and the shoe stays remarkably light for its stack. It rewards you when you lean forward and run well, though when fatigue sets in it does not tip you forward as strongly as some rivals. Outsole rubber does not extend far back, so heel strikers should be careful. It is Asics’ stronger carbon option overall.

Across half marathon and 10K distances, it has already delivered personal bests for our testers.

Asics Metaspeed Edge

The Metaspeed Edge targets runners who increase cadence, with a higher drop, less forefoot foam, and a slightly more tippy-forward feel than the Sky. It uses the same FF Turbo foam and carbon plate, and it feels a little more natural underfoot at shorter distances. The challenge is standing out: it feels similar to earlier Vaporfly designs, and the Sky Plus simply gives a bit more of the super shoe experience. Reserve it for racing rather than heavy training, and it delivers a quick, enjoyable ride.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2

The Deviate Nitro Elite 2 is the most conventional of Puma’s carbon racers, with a traditional ride, a genuinely great outsole, and enough versatility to serve as a fast daily trainer when traveling. A few years ago it would have been top tier; today it lacks the noticeable bounce and propulsion of the very best foams, so it is unlikely to be your first pick for a goal marathon. It appears in sales often, and at a good price it becomes a fantastic multi-use shoe.

Puma Fast-FWD Nitro Elite

The Fast-FWD Nitro Elite is Puma’s short-distance oddball, with an aggressive underfoot toe cutout and nitrogen-infused Nitro Elite foam, designed to feel like a road spike. It is nippy and quick to accelerate, primarily over 5K and 10K and track sessions, but it is not a versatile shoe and many runners will not know what to make of it. It is fun and hints at interesting designs to come, though the best long-distance super shoes still outperform it even at short distances.

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite

The Fast-R Nitro Elite uses Nitro Elite foam under the forefoot with a firmer foam at the heel and a decoupled midsole with an exposed carbon plate for a fast, snappy transition. It is propulsive and more super-shoe-like than the Deviate Nitro Elite 2, but the firmer heel and aggressive snap can cause forefoot discomfort over long efforts, so it tops out around half marathon for many runners. With an updated version believed to be coming, this first version is hard to recommend at full price.

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3

The FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 is a strong step up for New Balance, with a much improved racing version of FuelCell foam, a 4mm drop, an aggressive rocker, and the Energy Arc plate system with a central cutout that centers the foot on soft foam. The ride is smooth and quick, the foam is durable and bounces back well, and it is stable enough to double as a training shoe. It may lack a touch of the pop of the very best foams, but it does many distances very well.

Altra Vanish Carbon

Altra’s first carbon plate shoe keeps the brand’s signature zero-drop platform and foot-shaped toe box, using EGO Pro nitrogen-infused foam that feels firm rather than bouncy. The pronounced forefoot rocker means it does not feel entirely like a zero-drop shoe on the run. You can run fast in it, but it does not match the sink-in-and-spring performance of the leading foams, and the zero-drop position places extra strain on the calves. It only makes sense if you are committed to zero-drop running.

Brooks Hyperion Elite 3

The Hyperion Elite 3 is the weakest carbon racer in this roundup. The third version’s changes were limited to a woven upper that made the shoe heavier, while the nitrogen-infuded DNA Flash midsole stayed the same. The result is a fairly hefty shoe, not maximally stacked, that lacks the bounce and propulsion expected from a carbon racer and feels more like a super trainer, where other options are more impressive. Expect Brooks to change the formula significantly; for now, look elsewhere.

If you want a carbon shoe purely for the label rather than performance, this is not the one, and most runners will be better served by any of the options above.

Buying Advice

The right carbon shoe depends on your race distance and running style. For the marathon, the Alphafly Next% 2 and Vaporfly 3 remain benchmarks, with the Adios Pro 3 and SuperComp Elite v3 as excellent alternatives. For shorter races and more versatile use, the Rocket X 2, Endorphin Pro 3, and Deviate Nitro Elite 2 all make strong cases. Look for outgoing versions on sale, as previous-generation super shoes often deliver most of the performance for less money. Durability varies widely in this category, so check outsole wear if you plan high mileage.

Conclusion

2023 offered more genuinely competitive carbon racing shoes than ever, and several brands have closed the gap on the early leaders. Match the shoe to your stride, distance, and fit preferences, and any of the top options here can play a real role in faster race days.