New Release: Tracksmith Unveils Its Premiere Super Shoe, Slightly Overshadowed by Lesser Light
In the ever-evolving world of running footwear, Tracksmith has entered the fray with the introduction of the Eliot Racer, a super shoe designed for long-distance running.
Priced at $280 on Tracksmith's website, the Eliot Racer is available in two striking colours: ivory-gold and black-gold. This shoe is a significant departure from Tracksmith's previous focus on running garments for non-professional competitive runners.
The defining feature of super shoes is the integration of a carbon fiber plate in a thick, responsive midsole foam system designed to improve running efficiency and speed. The Eliot Racer follows this trend, featuring a drop-in midsole that is free-floating on the interior of the sneaker, providing better propulsion with a mapped distribution.
Weighing approximately 7.7oz (U.S. men's size 9), the Eliot Racer boasts a rubber outsole for durability. The midsole is thick and offers superior cushioning and energy return, a key characteristic of super shoes. The forefoot midsole thickness is 22mm, while the heel measures 12mm, with a stack height of 38mm at the heel and a 7.5-mm drop to the toe.
The outsole, midsole, and stack height details are all outlined in the Eliot Racer's spec sheet. The shoe's upper is crafted from an engineered woven mesh with a microsuede lining for comfort and breathability.
The Eliot Racer bears a striking resemblance to the Eliot Runner but boasts the highest energy return of any shoe "tested in the lab." Tracksmith aims to eliminate the controversy surrounding super shoes by keeping the focus on the athletes themselves rather than the technology.
Since the release of the Vaporfly 4% by Nike in 2017, super shoes have been making waves in the running industry. The past five years have seen a significant increase in world record-breaking performances, with 11 records broken in 2021 alone. Interestingly, every major world record in endurance racing since 2020 has been set by a wearer of super shoes.
Tracksmith, a highly respected boutique running brand founded in 2014, has now joined the ranks of super shoe manufacturers. Despite its late entry, the Eliot Racer is poised to make a mark in the world of long-distance running.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7168908/ [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6347208/ [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6105487/ [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6764767/ [5] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-50821-z
