Tracksmith’s New Super Shoe Is Unlike Anything Else on the Starting Line

OVER THE LAST half-decade, premium running shoes have evolved into towering slabs of rubber and mesh that wouldn’t look out of place next to a showroom floor filled with concept sports cars. There’s some novelty in all the bulbous midsoles and neon colorways, and I have loved wearing many of them—but these super shoe aesthetics can also be seen as an attempt to communicate to other runners that you’re cut above in a nouveau riche, tech bro type of way. These shoes aren’t always easy to wear, thanks to the high stacks of foam that pair with carbon plates meant to provide high-level energy return; unless your race course is relatively straight, it can be tough to maintain a stable stride at top speed on the bouncy platforms. The market is due for something different, and there’s a contender waiting in the wings to bring more muted style to race day starting lines.

Boston-based Tracksmith is entering the performance running scene with the Eliot Racer, a classically-styled super shoe that takes a unique approach in its design. The brand has positioned itself as the heritage-inspired alternative to space-aged aesthetics with its throwback varsity themes and high-quality apparel since it was founded in 2014, but has released only one pair of shoes: the Eliot Runner, a solid daily trainer designed more to be a competent piece of gear than a record-breaker. It was only a matter of time, though, before Tracksmith threw its vintage hat into the battle to own race day.

The new Eliot Racer is an attempt to marry Tracksmith’s classic style with modern performance tech, including a novel solution to keep the midsole height reasonable to make the kicks easier to wear. I had the opportunity to test out the shoes ahead of launch, taking on a few different runs, including a 5K road race. The Racer does some things well, others not so much—but it mostly succeeds in creating a super shoe that hews closer to a normal running experience (in a good way) than the rest of the pack.

The Eliot Racer Specs

The first time I saw the Eliot Racer, I did a double-take. The cream and gold colorway of my test pair (officially called “White”) was definitely luxe, but its design looked strikingly similar to Tracksmith’s other shoe, the Eliot Runner. Both models have the same basic features: a clean mesh upper emblazoned with the brand’s signature elements, including its thick sash across the side leading into the lace eyelets, the “racing stripe” tab on the heel, and illustrated hare logo (also called Eliot), on the tongue.

Once I had the Racer in hand, however, the differences were obvious—and the changes are all geared toward fine-tuned performance. The new model has a thinner, lighter mesh upper, and the sash logo runs all the way into the laces, ostensibly for a more secure lockdown. Most notably, the midsole is totally reworked; in a reversal of super shoe convention, the Racer looks like it actually has less foam than its predecessor. In a world filled with kicks that scoff at the World Athletics’ 40 millimeter limit for sole height in sanctioned road racing, the lack of a sky-high stack is surprising.

There’s more to meet the eye with the Racer, however. There are actually 38 millimeters of material underfoot; it’s just broken up into four parts so it doesn’t look nearly as dramatic as its high-performance peers with similar measurements. When I dug into the shoe, the trick was revealed: The insole (which Tracksmith calls a “drop-in ATPU midsole”) is removable, a thick chunk of high-rebound foam, the bottom of which is emblazoned with a dramatic poem and one of Tracksmith’s mantras, “Race Day Is Sacred.” That makes up the bulk of the stack height. Beneath that is a full-length carbon fiber plate, visible via a small window, then the real star of the show, a layer of Pebax foam (which Tracksmith calls a “midsole chassis”). For super shoe newbies, PEBA (polyether block amide) is the reigning champ of the footwear world for responsive, lightweight performance, while Pebax is the brand name its main producer uses. The fourth and final piece is the outsole, with a two millimeter sheet of rubber for traction. The outsole also features a medial cutout, but unlike other brands, the carbon plate isn’t exposed.

The Racer feels light at 7.7 ounces for a men’s size 9, a comparable weight to other high-performing racers, and has a 7.5 millimeter drop from heel to toe.

How the Eliot Racer Feels on the Road

I can appreciate how Tracksmith translated its classic aesthetic into a super shoe, but on race day, looks take a backseat to pure speed. The Racer needs to back up its pedigree with performance. I put it to the test first during a speedy track workout, then a 5K road race, then a few other training runs at varying paces.

My first time wearing the shoes was a mixed bag. Right away, the Racer felt different from other super shoes. Usually when I lace up a new pair and stand up to walk, I wobble around for a few steps before finding my footing, acclimating to the combination of the tall midsole, rigid carbon plate, and wherever the rocker point (the spot on the sole where it curves upward to help runners roll into their strides) is placed. Since the Racer hides most of its midsole height closer to the foot, I was stable right away. The Racer wears (almost) like a normal shoe, and that’s important, especially during high speed training on tracks and snaking race courses with tight turns. “This is a super shoe for normies,” I thought as I walked around, testing the foam’s give.

The Racer fits better than some other performance models I’ve worn, with more space in the forefoot than I’d expect from a super shoe. That said, I’m not going to claim these are a better option for guys with wide feet than others on the market; if that’s you, make sure you try on a racing shoe before making a big investment. I laced up tight and tied the Racer firmly, as I usually do before a run, but a few minutes into my first wear, I felt my foot going numb. I loosened up the laces to pull only at the top eyelets and re-knotted them, then had no other issues with the lockdown or fit over multiple wears.

Every step came with a loud squelching sound, though, since the drop-in midsole was loose within the shoe. Once I started running, the sound wasn’t as dramatic, but didn’t totally go away. These might be sneakers, but everyone around can definitely hear me coming. To be fair, this isn’t unique to the Eliot Racer; anyone who has run a road race over the last year or so has heard the thwap thwap thwap of a fellow competitor’s stride and can attest other super shoes (most notably the Nike AlphaFly 3) are also loud on the run.

I didn’t feel a dramatic forward propulsion into each stride as I walked wearing the Eliot Racer, or even when I started jogging. The midsole foam is soft, which is comfortable, but it doesn’t have the same immediate rebound off the ground as other firmer models I’ve worn; I have felt effortlessly faster wearing other race day shoes. For what it’s worth, Tracksmith says the Eliot Racer scored one of the “highest levels” for energy return of any shoe tested by independent biometrics lab Heeluxe—so part of me wondered if I might be too heavy for the Racer with its cushy foam. I am bigger than lots of competitive runners, at about 210 pounds during the testing period.

Once I upped my effort, though, both in my track workout and when I took on the Life Time Miami 5K, I could feel smooth turnover from each stride to the next once I hit my target pace. I felt confident the shoes could hang with anything else on the road when I got up to speed. My feet didn’t feel heavier at the tail end of any of my runs, which I always take as a good sign, even during the 5K when I went out too hard and gassed myself, overexcited to race the distance for the first time. Me bonking wasn’t the shoes’ fault; if anything, I was able to finish my run stronger thanks to the light, responsive Racer.

Should You Buy the Tracksmith Eliot Racer?

I like the Eliot Racer. The model looks like nothing else on the road, and it’s immediately identifiable as a Tracksmith shoe. It’s easier to wear than many of its competitors, and anyone who does fast track workouts or runs courses that feature turns and cornering will appreciate the level of stability on offer while still getting a cushioned, responsive Pebax midsole for peak performance. The Racer also held up well through testing and still feels like it can take even more training volume, so durability doesn’t seem like it will be an issue here with significantly more mileage (although Tracksmith did not provide an estimate for the Racer’s lifespan).

But do I like the Eliot Racer for $280? Probably not, especially when other, faster-feeling race day shoes can be had at lower price points or right around the same cost. That’s not to say there’s no use for the Eliot Racer. I think it’s in a sweet spot as a go-to for 5K to 10K races, especially for courses that feature out-and-backs or lots of cornering. But if you’re on a budget and you have the money for just one pair of super shoes, you might want to think about another option.

The Eliot Racer will be available for purchase in Tracksmith’s London, Brooklyn, and Boston stores on 3/14. Online availability starts 3/18.