I ran 45 miles in the Tracksmith Eliot Racer carbon plate running shoe — here's my verdict

Tom's Guide

22-05-2025

Tracksmith is better known for making running apparel than running shoes, but its first performance shoe — the Tracksmith Eliot Runner — was an impressive daily trainer, and there's a lot to like about the Tracksmith Eliot Racer as well.
While I didn't find it to be as propulsive and fast as the best carbon plate running shoes, the Eliot Racer has a more stable and natural ride that makes it comfortable at a wider range of paces than some racers with very aggressive rides, like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.
It's a good option for both training and racing as a result, but the high price is off-putting. You can get a similar level of performance from the best super-trainers like the Hoka Mach X2 for less, and some top of my favorite racing shoes are cheaper than the Eliot Racer, like the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 and Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris.
The Tracksmith Eliot Racer launched in March 2025 and costs $280 in the U.S. and £270 in the U.K., making it an expensive option even compared with other carbon plate running shoes. It launched in two colors — white with a gold sash and navy with a gold sash.
I'm generally in between two sizes for running shoes and went for the larger one with the Eliot Racer to get a good fit. I'd say it fits small in general, and getting a half size up might be worth it.
The Eliot Racer weighs 8.2oz in US men's size 10, which is at the heavier end of the spectrum for a carbon plate racing shoe. It has a stack height of 38.5mm at the heel and 30.5mm at the forefoot for a 7.5mm drop.
The Eliot Racer has a lightweight engineered mesh upper with some classic Tracksmith touches that separate it from normal racing shoes, like the prominent sash and microsuede lined collar and tongue.
I particularly liked the silicone-coated laces on the shoe, which feel like they will always stay firmly tied during races.
The overall feel of the upper isn't as lightweight and racy as many super-shoes — it's more comfortable, which is a good thing for daily runs, but also more built-up, which isn't ideal for racing.
The Eliot Racer uses two different foams in its midsole, with a drop-in top layer made from aliphatic TPU sitting above a chassis made from Pebax foam, both of which are responsive, lightweight materials that you'll find in many racing shoes these days.
This innovative design minimizes the amount of glue used in the midsole, reducing the weight a little, and the carbon plate that sits between the two layers of foams has a rockered shape to boost energy return and the efficiency of the ride.
Aside from the cutout on the inside of the shoe and a central groove that runs its length, the Eliot Racer's rubber outsole covers most of the bottom of the shoe.
I found that the shoe gripped well at speed even on rainy runs and while it's just a thin layer of rubber, it isn't showing any signs of wear and tear from my use as yet.
I did a wide variety of runs in the Tracksmith Eliot Racer, using it for fast, short reps on the track, longer tempo runs and marathon-pace efforts as well as some easy runs as well.
Versatility is certainly its strong point — most carbon racers don't feel comfortable or stable at easy paces, but you can pull on the Eliot Racer for all kinds of runs without it feeling wobbly or harsh.
However, this versatility is a result of it not having an especially aggressive or rockered ride, and I didn't find the Eliot Racer as fast as the best racing options.
The Puma Fast-R 3, for example, really thrusts you forward and helps make running at faster paces feel easier, as does the Metaspeed Sky Paris, and both are a lot lighter than the Eliot Racer.
I didn't feel that same level of punch from the foam and plate in the Eliot Racer. When I did longer fast runs in the shoe, it felt good but not great. It's snappy and quick for short intervals, but doesn't help you maintain race paces over long stretches as much as top carbon shoes.
The Tracksmith Eliot Racer is a versatile speed shoe that I enjoyed running in, but wouldn't be top of my list to pick up unless you're a huge fan of its style.
If you're seeking all-out speed for race day there are faster options available for less. The Puma Fast-R 3 is my favorite racer right now, but even if you're keen to avoid very rockered racers you could look at the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB, which is cheaper, lighter and faster than the Eliot Racer.
There are also plated trainers that offer a high level of versatility at a lower price, like the Hoka Mach X2 and Saucony Endorphin Speed 4.
While the Eliot Racer is an impressive first attempt at a carbon plate running shoe — many more established shoe brands have done worse in the past — the price-to-performance ratio isn't quite there for me to recommend it as a top option.