The 6 Best Carbon Plate Shoes 2023

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Turn your toe-offs into lift-offs with these picks from Nike, Saucony, and more.

If you’ve followed professional racing in the last few years, you’ve probably witnessed the discourse surrounding carbon-plated running shoes. Although plates have been around for decades in some form or another, we saw them properly shift racing shoes into the next paradigm when Nike used them to attempt a sub-two hour marathon in 2017. Since then, brands across the industry have moved to build upon the design with carbon midsoles of their own.

If this is your first time looking into carbon plate shoes, you might be asking what the big deal is. How can a sheet of carbon fiber so significantly affect a runner's performance? Carbon fiber midsoles, relying on the material's impressive structural properties, store a considerable amount of the energy from your shoe's flex as it first hits the ground. Then, they transform that flexion into a powerful, springy boost as you lift back off.

The energy return is noticeably greater than that of a shoe without any plating, especially when you lay down some serious power. And that stiffness doesn't always compromise as much comfort as you’d think. If you’re ready to take advantage of this game-changing tech, read on to see the best carbon plate shoes to satisfy your need for speed.

First and foremost, we need to acknowledge one of the most apparent traits of carbon fiber shoes: the high price tag. These shoes aren't for beginners, and we only recommend committing to a pair if you’re truly passionate about getting every drop of efficiency you can.

These shoes generally perform their best in a race setting, not as a daily trainer, so it's a better idea to cycle a pair into your rotation than replace what you already have.

The benefits you’ll reap from carbon-plated shoes also depend on your speed. At low speeds, you’re not storing as much energy in the midsole through your stride, meaning you won't get nearly as much of a spring in your toe-off at leisurely paces. In turn, this also means that these shoes are going to feel a lot stiffer than what we’d recommend for a gentler trot, and that can get old over the course of a long run if you’re not accustomed to it.

If you’re looking for an easier way to try plate inserts while committing to something less costly, it's worth taking a look at nylon plates instead. While they are heavier and not quite as responsive, they can help you warm up to the feeling of having that support under your feet.

Nylon-plated running shoes also tend to be more durable overall (though the plates themselves might not be), and they feel more versatile and less aggressive than their race-oriented counterparts.

Now more than ever, we have plenty of variety when it comes to the designs and intended purposes of carbon and nylon inserts. A full-length carbon plate is most often what comes to mind, but there are also parietal plates, carbon rods, and proprietary fiber layups that guide the flex of your sole in a specific direction. On your search, be sure to take note of these differences to ensure your shoes are working with your stride, not against it.

Our test team has logged miles in every shoe on this list, even cutting several of them open to better analyze each shoe's most critical components. The kicks we recommend primarily stand out for their impressive energy return, but we also took a look at their comfort, durability, and price to holistically identify which carbon plate shoes can most effectively transform your run.

Now in its third iteration, Nike's self-proclaimed "super shoe" that started it all has been tough to beat. Riding on the success of its previous models, this shoe has made a reputation for itself as a favorite of elite runners for a range of distances.

It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the pricier Alphafly 2, but its ground-up redesign from earlier versions nevertheless offers a much stabler experience while still improving its energy return and losing even more weight.

If you’re looking to put a dent in your PRs, this is a phenomenal shoe to try. Just be careful not to lace this shoe too tight—the upper doesn't stretch particularly well.