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The ultimate fall racing shoe round up

Looking for a fall race shoe? Here's your guide

Fall racing season is upon us, and if you’re toeing the line in the coming weeks, having a shoe you feel confident in is part of race day success. Carbon-plated shoes are all the rage right now, and with so many good options on the market it can be tough to know which shoe is right for you. Here’s a breakdown of this year’s racing flats and suggestions as to which is your best option.

For the runner who’s looking for a huge PB

Photo: Nike

If you’re concerned about squeezing every last second out of your legs, the shoe you’re looking for is the Nike Vaporfly or Next%. The shoe has been tried and tested by every kind of runner and while it’s more expensive than almost any other shoe, the results speak for themselves. The carbon-plated original is what you’re looking for if every second counts in your next race.

RELATED: Nike releases ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% in time for London Marathon

For the middle distance runner

If you’re a middle distance runner looking to kill it on the roads, the New Balance 5280 is your shoe.  It’s carbon-plated, it’s super light and it’s insanely fast.

The shoe is designed for the mile, and I think could be worn for a race as long as the 5K–any longer than a 5K and you could be asking for trouble in your calves, due to the aggressive nature of the plate and the stiffness of the foam.

RELATED: SHOE REVIEW: New Balance FuelCell 5280

For the runner who wants speed and cushion

Photo: Matt Stetson

The Hoka One One Carbon X was designed to race up to 100K at a time, and it can be worn for training runs and races and hold up well for both. The Carbon X is also less expensive–at $270 CAD it’s a touch more affordable than some of its competitors. If you’re looking for a shoe that’s quick, with a nice rocker to it and a little more cushion that the Nike, you’ve found your racing flat.

RELATED: REVIEW: Hoka One One Carbon X

For the runner who’s looking to save a little cash

Photo: Matt Stetson

The Saucony Kinvara is only $150 CAD and has been a staple in the company’s lineup for a decade. This is a shoe designed for speed. The Kinvara is a light, no-nonsense shoe that gets the job done in a big workout or on race day.

RELATED: SHOE REVIEW: Saucony Kinvara 10

For the minimalist

The New Balance Rebel is one of the company’s new fall shoes, and it’s built for speed. While shoes like the Vaporfly or Carbon X have huge stack heights and built-up midsoles, the Rebel takes a more traditional approach to building fast shoes. It’s minimal, light and snappy. There’s enough cushion that you don’t feel like you’re running barefoot, but certainly nothing extra.

RELATED: SHOE REVIEW: New Balance FuelCell Rebel

For the over-pronator

Photo: Madeleine Kelly

The Sensation 4 is 361 Degrees’ moderate-stability trainer. One of the most surprising features of this stability trainer is its weight. The shoe only weighs a shocking 240 grams, which for context, is only 30 grams heavier than the newly released New Balance FuelCell Rebel.

You’re hard-pressed to find a stability shoe this light, so if you’re looking for something that can get you through a race while keeping your foot supported, I think you’ve found your shoe.

RELATED: REVIEW: 361 Degrees Sensation 4

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