From the September/October issue of Canadian Running (on newsstands now), here’s a selection of the best plated running shoes for training and racing, including new models, updates and time-tested favourites for fall 2024.
MIZUNO Neo Vista
Editor’s Pick: Best Marathon Shoe
Category Neutral max cushioning/plated
Men’s 266 g (9.4 oz.)
Women’s 218 g (7.7 oz.)
Offset/Drop 8 mm
Stack Height 44.5 mm/36.5 mm
$230
The Neo Vista represents something of a breakthrough for Mizuno and is bound to capture a significant chunk of the max-cushion super-trainer market this summer and fall. The main components are a super-high, supercritical EVA midsole with a glass-fibre-reinforced nylon plate and a knit upper. The shoe also has a durable and grippy rubber outsole. It’s very bouncy and fun to run in, and the fit is true to size. Our tester loved it.
With a knit upper that moulds to your foot after a bit of wearing in, a sock-like collar and integrated tongue on top of a super-thick midsole, the shoe is extremely comfortable and cushy for your long marathon-training miles (or for your half-marathon or marathon), and all that foam will make your recovery a breeze. It’s also slightly lighter than many comparable max-stack trainers. It might not be the best choice for runners with overpronation issues, since the knit upper and integrated tongue don’t provide a lot of structure, but for anyone else, it’s a pleasure to run in.
SALOMON S/Lab Spectur
Category Neutral cushioning/plated
Unisex 235 g (8.3 oz.)
Offset/Drop 8 mm
Stack Height 38 mm/30 mm
$280
Salomon’s plated racer for regular folks (the brand calls it the “democratization of speed”) is exactly what it claims to be: a high-quality, high-cushion, fast shoe that’s more accessible for recreational runners. With a slightly more substantial (but still very light) mesh upper than is typically found in a pro shoe, a padded heel collar and tongue, a two-layer midsole (peba next to your foot, EVA on the bottom) and a carbon-fibre plate that’s split at the back for maximum stability, it’s both more stable and more comfortable than many “racehorse”-type shoes, while still delivering great performance in workouts and racing. Our tester wore it for a 21-km run fresh out of the box, with no issues, finding it to be light, responsive, well cushioned and comfortable. A note about fit: the shoe is very snug through the midfoot (runners with wider feet may find it too narrow), but wider in the toe box without being sloppy.
There have been some justifiable grumbles about the positioning of the shoe for “slower” marathoners (which it defines as three-hours-plus), but despite the brand’s questionable grasp of runner psychology, it’s still a good shoe.
BROOKS Hyperion Max 2
Editor’s Pick: Best 5K/10K Racer
Category Neutral cushioning/plated
Men’s 258 g (9.1 oz.)
Women’s 230 g (8.1 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 36.25 mm/30.25 mm
$240
The Hyperion Max, introduced last year, has received a major update; it’s almost like the brand threw out the original and started again. Not only is there a more responsive foam in the midsole, but there’s a lot more of it: it’s a full 4 mm higher in the heel and 6 mm higher at the front. The offset/drop has been lowered from 8 mm to 6 mm, making it more attractive to faster runners—but be aware of this if you’re updating from the original version, since you may feel the difference in your calves.
The shoe also now has a full-length plate made of bio-based peba (a rigid version of the advanced cushioning material, but not as rigid as carbon-fibre), to add snap to your toe-offs. The additional cushioning and plate have made the shoe well over an ounce heavier than the previous version (not to mention $20 more expensive), but it’s still a relatively light shoe, and comparable in weight to other high-stack plated trainers. Our tester found it comfortable and fast, and the fit perfect. We particularly like the flat, nubby laces and securely gussetted tongue. The shoe is stable and responsive, and will appeal most to runners who like a firm ride.
NEW BALANCE SuperComp Trainer v3
Category Neutral max cushioning/plated
Men’s 258 g (9.1 oz.)
Women’s 207 g (7.3 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 40 mm/34 mm
$250
The SuperComp Trainer is a fully carbon-plated, high-stack trainer you can use for tempo runs, interval workouts and races of any distance. The curved plate (which is the same one used in the SC Elite v4) and peba-blend midsole hit the sweet spot of lightness, responsiveness, cushioning and durability that you’re looking for in a training and racing shoe.
Though the shoe is now in its third iteration, the brand continues to refine its basic specs; for one thing, it keeps getting lighter. Both the men’s and women’s shoes come in two widths, which is something you don’t often see in a supershoe, especially one with separate men’s and women’s sizing.
Our tester found the new version to be slightly less stiff and more cushioned than v2, and liked the seamless, breathable upper and secure heel collar. They described it as a less aggressive and springy version of the carbon-plated SC Elite racer. It’s a bit unwieldy for fast track workouts, due to the broad base, but it’s great for just about anything else, and the fit is true to size.
ASICS Magic Speed 4
Category Neutral max cushioning/plated
Men’s 242 g (8.5 oz.)
Women’s 207 g (7.3 oz.)
Offset/Drop 8 mm
Stack Height 43.5 mm/35.5 mm (men’s), 42.5 mm/34.5 mm (women’s)
$220
There are some major updates to the Magic Speed, now in its fourth iteration, that make it more versatile than previously, and more appealing to less experienced runners. The most noticeable change is that the brand has added a ton more cushioning—it’s now fully 7.5 mm higher than before (and definitely not race-legal, by World Athletics standards, but weekend warriors needn’t worry about that). It has the brand’s very soft FF Turbo (peba) foam in the forefoot midsole; the offset/drop is also a touch higher, making it better than ever for heel strikers who like to get after it occasionally. (The Metaspeed shoes, by contrast, have a 5-mm drop, which feels significantly different and is preferred by highly trained, faster runners.) Despite being higher, the shoe has been made wider in the forefoot, giving it better stability than the previous version.
Second, the very thin Motion Wrap upper from the previous version (it’s used in the Metaspeed also) is gone; the shoe now has a regular engineered mesh upper similar to that of other Asics models.
These changes have made the shoe heavier, with more overlap into daily trainer territory, while still working well as a 5K/10K/half-marathon race shoe. (It could also be a gateway shoe for those who’ve never run in a plated shoe.)
PUMA Deviate Nitro 3
Category Neutral max cushioning (plated)
Men’s 265 g
Women’s 233 g
Offset/Drop 10 mm
Stack Height 39 mm/29 mm
$220
The Deviate Nitro, Puma’s propulsion-oriented trainer (now in its third iteration since the brand’s nitrogen-infused running shoes were introduced in early 2021), has received some interesting updates. It’s still the reliable, light, fast training shoe many runners have come to love, and the carbon-infused, forked propulsion plate is unchanged, but there are a couple of notable differences in the latest version of the shoe.
The brand has decided to go with a knit upper, which feels quite different than the mesh upper of the 2; this is a popular innovation this season and feels comfortable, light and breathable.
We’re less keen on the 10-mm heel-to-toe offset (formerly 8-mm), which seems to encourage heel striking; runners with hamstring issues might prefer a lower shoe, to avoid any tendency toward overstriding. Also, you’ll want to use that furthest-aft lace eyelet to prevent heel slippage.
Though it doesn’t feel quite as responsive as some firmer, lower-drop models, for many runners, the Puma will be a comfortable and reliable choice for daily training, workouts and races.
