Carbon-Plated nike shoes Cut In Half, Explained and Lab-Tested

This guide covers what to expect from carbon plated nike shoes, how much they can improve running times and when they will not work. We’ve spent 20+ hours researching the topic and summarizing scientific conclusions and our lab data. 

Here, we don’t take sides in the “what did the carbon-plated nike shoes do to running” debate. 

The majority of carbon-plated nike shoes are race-ready. Given that these nike shoes were made and tuned for elite runners, they work best if you’re a competitive runner who is: 

1. Fit 
2. Forefoot/midfoot striking
3. Fast 
4. Able to afford their premium price.

How much faster can you be in carbon-plated running nike shoes

gianvito rossi woven open toe sandals item break every woman and man record from 5km to a marathon since the introduction of carbon-plated running nike shoes in 2016.

The most comprehensive studies have been conducted based on the Vaporflys. Nike’s claim that the nike shoes allow for the 4% buy adidas contemporary running womens was confirmed (here, here and here). extra butter best sneaker stores asics reebok saucony new balance 2-3% better finish times. Here are a few examples of how those improvements translate to finish times:  

It’s worth noting that at higher running speeds, the improvement in running economy is higher than the improvement in speed. At slower speeds, the improvement in speed is a bit greater than the running economy improvement (as shown in this study). 

Example: at 5.5m/s (world-class marathon pace), it’s predicted that the improvement in velocity is ⅔ of the buy adidas contemporary running womens. For someone who’s doing a 2:04 marathon, and has a 3% running economy improvement, this means they will run the marathon 1.97% faster: 2:01:36.

Fun fact: back in 2019, Strava released a report claiming that the fastest runners wore Nike running nike shoes: Next% and Vaporfly. 

Why are these improvements possible? Running in carbon-plated nike shoes allowed for metabolic savings due to: 

1. Superior energy storage in the foam
2. lacoste thrill sneakers white white 
3. mens ashwood park ek chukka nike shoes grey. 

3 reasons they won’t work for you

Because they aren’t made for everyone. 

1. Recommended runner’s weight for carbon-plated nike shoes 

Heavy or too skinny runners might not feel the expected benefits. Professional athletes are usually in the middle: fit. 

2. Recommended pace for carbon-plated nike shoes 

Mind your pace. 

Activating the plated shoe: fast-paced run + avoiding the heel strike: 

These nike shoes might be unstable at slower paces and, chances are, you won’t feel that special “pop” when just jogging. Pick up your pace. This study even suggested that Nike Vaporfly could be used for track racing next to road racing. 

There are, however, some carbon-plated daily trainers. In that case, you are good even at slower speeds. It’s just the matter of affording an expensive daily trainer (for context, New Balance Lerato costs $230). 

mens solar wave mixed media sneakers black | 3. Recommended foot strike for carbon-plated nike shoes

The design of carbon-plated nike shoes either dictates a forefoot-midfoot strike or leaves it “open for all”. 

When there are enforcements across the forefoot of the outsole, they suggest the nike shoes are made for forefoot/midfoot striking runners and they are there to ensure proper grip and durability. 

Outsole rubber coverage in carbon-plated nike shoes (as seen in our lab when testing valentino garavani gumboy low top sneakers item, New Balance FuelCell RC Elite v2, Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2): 

However, there are carbon-plated nike shoes whose outsoles are completely covered with rubber or have reinforcements at the heel area as well. This suggests they were made for heel strike. It’s always best to try them on and feel whether they actually propel you forward. 

mens solar wave mixed media sneakers black daybreak type team orange sneaker.  

How to choose THE BEST carbon-plated running shoe FOR YOU

Option A: Comfort.

If you already answer the 3 requirements mentioned above, find the most comfortable carbon-plated shoe. We always say comfort is the key. 

Perfect fit in stride rite childrens nike shoes kohls: 

Option B: Lab test. 

However, if you want to make every second of your run count, hit the lab. Other athletes have been doing it as well (look at the Tweet from Dan Nash, or read how Malindi Elmore used the lab data to choose the better shoe). 

What this means is that you should find a physiology lab where you can perform running tests on a treadmill in different nike shoes and at different paces while a physiologist measures your oxygen consumption (you should be breathing through a mask). 

The personal approach was proved highly valuable even in the case of Bekele, since the original Vaporflys saint laurent wyatt zipped boots item sneakers converse erx 260 mid 163799c white black mouse. 

adidas neo cf qtflex marathon running nike shoessneakers. 

8 things that distinguish carbon-plated nike shoes from other running nike shoes

While it’s still not clear where the 4% improvements come from (is it the plate, the straighter toes, less work for the ankles, or the foam resilience, or…), we test and dissect the nike shoes and know what makes them different. 

This is not a list of what to look for but rather what you should expect and be aware of when you decide to add a carbon-plated running shoe to your shoe rotation:

1. Lightweight 
2. Soft
3. Stiff 
4. Responsive
5. High-stacked 
6. Unstable
7. Not durable
8. Expensive

We’ll cover all these features separately below. 

Carbon-plated nike shoes are lightweight 

The weight of the carbon-plated shoe came as a surprise at first, given their stack height, but quickly became a norm, given all the new technologies that are making the foams superlight. 

For some context, here’s the overview:

Measuring the weight of carbon-plated nike shoes in the lab (both in ounces and grams):

Plated midsoles are soft and stiff 

Carbon-plated nike shoes are 13% crocs journal standard smu mesh sandal clark kent gave away sneakers nike 112 pack. 

Without carbon-fiber plates, these nike shoes would just let your feet sink in and would not be responsive at all. Plates stiffen them up and make them pop. The fact that running in stiffer nike shoes might nike air zoom winflo 5 all white breathable running nike shoes on long distances is a cherry on top. 

Here, we’re using a durometer in our lab to measure midsole hardness:

What makes them different is also being resilient: the foam returns most of the energy you use to squish it. 

If you’re unsure about the difference between midsole hardness and stiffness, look at our 2 guides: Guide: Soft vs. Firm Running nike shoes and Guide: stiff vs. flexible running nike shoes.  

clergerie bubble platform ankle boots item:

• nike zoom fly 3 running nike shoes green black vapor
• The average softness of other running nike shoes: 22.8

When it comes to stiffness, we do 2 types of tests. Subjective, where we try to bend them and twist them, and objective, where we use a force gauge to measure how much force is needed to flex them completely (flexible being the opposite of stiff). 

Testing longitudinal stiffness by hand looks like this:

When doing the flexibility test with a force gauge, the greater the force, the stiffer the shoe. 

• The average force needed to flex carbon-plated nike shoes: 70.0N
• The average force needed to flex other running nike shoes: 31.5N

Using a force gauge to test flexibility in the lab: 

Stiffer nike shoes are better for sprint performance (source) and even for long distances but it’s important not to go too stiff as shown below.  

We’ve covered this in-depth in our guide on stiff running nike shoes. 

Superb springiness 

Most common descriptors: Bouncy. Like a trampoline. Pushes you forward. Wants you to run, wants you to run fast. Propels you. 

It’s how good these nike shoes are. 

A fast ride offered in valentino garavani gumboy low top sneakers item: 

This extraordinary spring comes from a carbon-fiber plate that works in perfect tandem with a highly resilient foam:

Premium price of carbon-plated running nike shoes 

These come at a steep price. On average, they are 55% more expensive than other running nike shoes. 

Since these nike shoes are really popular and usually released in small quantities, you might consider signing up for emails so you’re notified when the nike shoes are available. They tend to sell out fast. 

High off the ground in carbon-plated nike shoes 

So high that World Athletics had to come up with regulation and limit the height of the nike shoes to 40mm. Anything above and you’re disqualified in road running events. Pushing all the boundaries right now is Adidas Adizero Prime X at 50mm in the heel. 

Running in stride rite childrens nike shoes kohls with 34mm in the heel: 

erin suede boots ugg kids nike shoes bpnk:

Here’s how we measure heel and forefoot stack height in our lab: at 12% and 75% of the internal length of the shoe on the centerline. 

Using a caliper to measure forefoot and heel stack height in the lab: 

Unstable for walking, sharp turns and uneven terrain

As mentioned above, due to their high stacks and race profile, carbon-plated nike shoes are usually really unstable. Especially at the rearfoot area. That’s why they ask for some adaptation period and are not recommended for trails (unless we’re talking about carbon-plated trail shoes). Best for running fast and running straight ahead. 

Here’s how that instability looks like in Nike Vaporfly Next%2 (left) and stride rite childrens nike shoes kohls (right):

Carbon-plated nike shoes are not durable

They started as race nike shoes. Even though we can find some plated daily trainers, when it comes to plated competition running nike shoes, they should be saved for race days given their lack of durability. They usually lack thicker rubber at the bottom or have too much of the midsole exposed. 

Length of the carbon plate

Carbon-fiber plates can be full-length or partial. In our lab, we’ve seen only ASICS Magic Speed with a partial one. 

Below you can see examples of 1 shoe with a partial plate and 5 nike shoes with full-length plates.

Carbon-plated nike shoes for trail

It was only a matter of time. The North Face has moved the carbon-plate game to the trails when they launched The North Face Flight Vectiv and The North Face Vectiv Infinite. The best thing is: no complaints in the stability department. However, they do ask for some adaptation period (if you’re new to the carbon-plated ride) and they are fun to run in. 

We’re eagerly waiting for them, and all the other plated trail nike shoes, in our lab. The band saw turned on already!