LESS THAN A decade ago, the first pair of carbon-plated super shoes arrived, allowing runners to achieve higher levels of energy return, go faster than ever and shatter long-standing records. Super shoes revolutionised the performance footwear industry, but they came with a few problems.
For starters, super shoes don’t come cheap. Carbon plates are expensive, and you’d be lucky to find a super shoe for less than $350. They also don’t last very long. Estimates place the longevity of a super shoe at around 200-300 kilometres before they’ve lost the bouncy, propulsive qualities that make them so appealing in the first place. This means they’re not ideal for training, as they’ll be worn out by the time you get to race day.
Elite runners only wear super shoes on race day, and they’re too expensive for regular runners to splurge on when they won’t even last the length of their training block. Footwear brands have been doing their utmost to remedy this issue, and now most of them have put out a solution: the super trainer.
What are super trainers?
Super trainers are a hybrid form of running shoe that bridges the gap between the shoe you wear for daily training and the one you wear on race day. They’re carbon-plated, with as much speed, energy return and propulsion as a super shoe, but they’re also built to be more durable.
Another benefit is that, seeing as they don’t need to adhere to racing regulations that ban foam stacks over a certain height, super trainers usually have higher stacks and more foam than race day shoes. This makes them more comfortable, durable and suitable for longer runs.
The only issue that persists is the price. Carbon plates haven’t gotten any cheaper, so don’t expect to find a super trainer that’s any less expensive than a super shoe.
What are the best super trainers?
9. Hoka Skyward X
The Skyward X is a max-cushioned road runner with an ultra-plush yet responsive ride. Featuring Hoka’s new Pebax-powered superfoam, it delivers exceptional energy return while maintaining the brand’s signature comfort. A carbon fibre plate is embedded within the midsole, offering a propulsive feel that enhances efficiency without sacrificing cushioning.
8. Asics Magic Speed 4
Taking full advantage of the freedom to use a high stack, the Magic Speed 4 measures up at 44.5mm in the heel. It combines a full-length carbon plate with FF Blast midsole foam, complemented by a forefoot insert of FF Turbo foam. This configuration delivers a responsive ride, making it particularly suitable for tempo runs and speed workouts when you’re really pushing the pace.
7. Brooks Hyperion Max 2
Updated with Brooks’ new DNA Flash v2 midsole foam, The Hyperion Max 2 delivers a bouncy, smooth ride that feels energetic without being overly aggressive. The rocker geometry encourages forward propulsion, while the widened base enhances stability during faster efforts. With its breathable upper and improved step-in comfort, the Hyperion Max 2 offers a race-day feel with training-day durability.
6. Saucony Endorphin Trainer
The Saucony Endorphin Trainer is one of those shoes that just makes running feel easier. It’s lightweight, springy and surprisingly versatile; perfect for tempo runs, intervals, or longer efforts when you want a bit of extra pop. The PWRRUNPB foam gives it a fast, energetic feel, and the nylon plate adds a smooth sense of propulsion that helps you pick up the pace without overdoing it.
5. Adidas Adizero Prime X2 Strung
The Adizero Prime X2 Strung would be an ideal race day shoe, if you were actually allowed to use it in a race. But because World Athletics prohibits the use of shoes with a stack height of more than 40mm (the Prime X2 Strung’s stack height is a whopping 50mm), this one is best used for training. Adidas proudly proclaims that the Prime X2 Strung was “designed without the constraints of world race regulations”. That much is clear upon first glance, with three layers of Lightstrike Pro foam, a powerful energy core, and not one, but two carbon plates in the midsole.
4. Nike Zoom Fly 6
The Zoom Fly 6 is Nike’s answer to the super trainer emergence. It features two layers of foam, with ZoomX foam on top and SR-02 EVA foam underneath. Sandwiched in between is the all-important carbon fibre FlyPlate, delivering a responsive, speedy ride.
3. Mizuno Neo Vista
The Mizuno Neo Vista is suitable for everything from your weekly 5K to a full-on half marathon. That versatility comes courtesy of a glass-fibre Wave Plate (in lieu of a super-trainer’s usual carbon plate), ENERZY NXT foam and Smooth Speed Assist geometry.
2. Adidas Boston 13
The Adizero Boston 13 brings a race-day feeling to every hit-out. Stepping into it, you’ll immediately notice a more comfortable feel than previous models. This comes from having 13.8 per cent more Lightstrike Pro midsole foam than its predecessors. The result is a far softer underfoot feeling. Other key technology and design updates include a new padded tongue and collar, providing a more comfortable feeling on top of the foot. The Boston 13’s outsole has also been reworked, with a new LIGHTTRAXION outsole in place to reduce weight and add grip. And while it doesn’t use a traditional carbon plate, glass fibre EnergyRods sit underfoot to limit energy loss and provide a propulsive sensation to every stride.
1. New Balance SC Trainer V3
The SuperComp Trainer V3 is the best super trainer on the market, truly bringing race day performance to everyday training. It’s capable of handling anything from short-burst interval training to long runs, plus everything in between, with all the heavy cushioning of a regular daily trainer but double the responsiveness. With a curved carbon plate in the midsole, you can take it on a long run or a quick sprint, and the SC Trainer will give you everything you need and then some.
