Lidl Carbon Plated Running Shoe Review: Can a £40 Supermarket Super Shoe Really Work?

Introduction

Average running shoe prices have crept up steadily in recent years, with many high-end carbon race shoes now costing around £300. So when supermarket discount chain Lidl announced its own carbon plated running shoe for just £39.99, plenty of runners got very excited, and justifiably wondered whether it was a publicity stunt.

To find out, this shoe was pitched against one of the best value carbon shoes currently available, the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Challenger, and one of the world’s very best premium super shoes, the Asics Metaspeed, which costs six times the price of the Lidl option. The results were genuinely surprising.

Who This Shoe Is For

This is a carbon plated speed and race shoe, and it is clearly aimed at shorter distances: 5Ks, 10Ks, and park runs. It is not a shoe for long distances, so a marathon or half marathon is off the table. It is also not a jogging shoe; this is very much the second shoe in a rotation rather than an everyday trainer.

At £39.99 in the UK and €50 in Europe, it sits in a price bracket of its own. It is not yet clear whether Lidl sells it in America. The closest comparison is the Decathlon KDSH 900.2, now rebranded as the Kiprun Storm Challenger.

Specs and Fit

The key numbers: 38mm of stack height at the heel, an 8mm drop, and a weight of 305g. That is on the heavier side, as you would expect at this price, especially next to the Asics Metaspeed at 191g, a full 114g lighter.

Sizing tops out at a UK 11.5, which fit fine for a runner who regularly takes that size. The fit is very narrow, more of a racer fit, and it caused a small blister on the outside of the foot over the first few runs.

How It Performed in Testing

A 6 x 1K session served as the comparison test, with two reps in each shoe at roughly 5K effort. In the Lidl shoe, the first two reps averaged 3:25 per kilometre, which projects to a 5K time of around 17:05. Genuinely impressive for a £40 shoe.

The Li-Ning Feidian 6 Challenger averaged 3:19 per kilometre, around 16:35 for 5K, while the Asics Metaspeed averaged 3:14, projecting around 16:10. The stride length data explains the gap: 1.50m average in the Lidl shoe versus 1.54m in the Metaspeed. Those extra centimetres per stride come from the more responsive plate and much lighter, livelier foam, and they add up fast.

Main Strengths

Despite the price, there is a lot to like here. First, the upper, while quite firm, is very breathable. On a hot test day, airflow through the shoe kept feet cool, which was a pleasant surprise for a shoe this cheap.

Second, the grip is solid, with good rubber coverage at the front and back of the outsole. For park runners eyeing the corners of their local course, this shoe should hold its own.

Third, it simply does not look like a cheap shoe. It is clearly built to a tight budget, but it looks and feels more solid than plenty of more expensive options on the market.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The narrow racer fit is the first real concern. The upper is a little abrasive on the outside of the foot, and a blister appeared during the warm-up and reps of the test session.

Second, the midsole uses quite outdated EVA foam. It is very firm and does not provide much energy return. Carbon plates help the premium super shoes, but what really makes the biggest difference in shoes like the Asics Metaspeed is the latest highly responsive PEBA and PEBA-adjacent foams, and this shoe does not have that, despite having a plate.

Third, it is a heavy shoe with odd weight distribution: a very light, minimal upper paired with a noticeably heavy midsole, which makes it feel a little strange underfoot.

Buying Advice

For the occasional park runner, someone doing short speed sessions, or a runner dipping a toe into racing for the first time, this shoe is a reasonable buy at £39.99. It is remarkable what Lidl has achieved at this price point.

Just remember it is definitely not a jogging shoe. You will need to pair it with something else for the bulk of your mileage, because easy runs in this shoe are nowhere near comfortable enough. If you are on a strict budget and want a single shoe to do everything, a daily trainer like the Puma Velocity Nitro 4, regularly available well under £100 and currently on sale around £58, is a far better all-rounder with great grip and durability, even without a plate.

If you specifically want a plated shoe, lightly used options on resale platforms are worth a look: the Nike Zoom Fly 6, Adidas Boston 13, Puma Deviate Nitro 4, or the Adidas Evo SL regularly appear around the £50 to £60 mark. The Decathlon Kiprun Storm Challenger is another genuinely good value plated option, with a £100 RRP but sizes currently on sale for around £60. And the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Challenger massively over-delivered at the £91 paid for it, though prices fluctuate a lot on AliExpress.

Conclusion

The Lidl carbon plated running shoe is not a gimmick. It held its own in a head-to-head test against shoes costing several times more, and for occasional racing and park runs it is hard to argue with at £39.99. It has real weaknesses: a narrow fit, outdated firm foam, and a curious weight balance. But as an entry point into plated shoes, it is a surprisingly competent little racer.