Super Trainers!
By DOR Editorial Team
While carbon plated running shoes become an essential fixture of every brand, super trainers have suddenly become the next wave of footwear that each brand feels the need to deliver on. Super trainers are shoes that take the key elements of a super shoe - stiffener (carbon plate or similar feel), Peba foam, and aggressive rocker. The major difference is that they are a bit more relaxed often (heavier, more stable for daily use) and can break convention by adding a stack height over 40mm - the maximum legal stack height for professional marathon road racing shoes. The trend as we know it broke open with the Adidas Prime X which completely shattered convention in 2021 with a massive 50mm stack height and somewhat scary platform that many adored. Today, super trainers have become a bit more refined for stability while providing the intended comfort for long run training, and for some, a wildly cushioned race day shoe.
About this Page
The following page features all of the super trainers currently available in the market. We will update this page regularly when new super trainers release.
Sections
(Click to jump to section)
Additional Resources about Super Shoes ↓ Jump to Section
Super Trainers Available Now: A-to-Z ↓ Jump to Section
Believe it or not, the stability of the foot, our arches, and our ankle also depends on the strength and stability of our hip. These are the muscles that really help drive your leg behind you and push the rest of you forward during fast running. Most individuals tend to think the hip extensors are limited to the gluteal muscles, but that does not do justice to multiple powerful muscle groups that make up the hip extensors. Today we’re focusing a bit on the abductors.
Running is a series of single leg stances/hops. Having only one foot on the ground means that gravity is attempting to pull your body down or collapse toward the opposite leg (that is off the ground). Without your hip abductor muscles, you would either fall or more commonly, your femur would collapse medially (inward). These muscles are very important to keeping your knees, hips and back stable and in line while you run. Weak hip abductor muscles contribute to collapse of the pelvis, femur, knee and back (and ankle actually due to connections to knee mechanics) with every footstep. Now take in the fact that running is 3-4x the amount of force with each footstrike compared to walking. Now multiply that amount of force combined with atypical movement of your spine, knees, hips and ankles over 1 mile, 3.1 miles, 6.2 miles, 13.1 miles, 26.2 miles.
Neglecting these muscles and letting them become weak puts a great many structures at risk and puts even at and even greater risk of compensation with other muscles that do not have the connections or the set up to perform these jobs. Compensation is rarely a good thing. Making sure every muscle is contributing in the correct manner to movement is a great way to work toward injury prevention.
Also: What is a Super Trainer Anyways?
The intention of these shoes tends to be towards training, but these for many will be more than capable of racing marathon distances and higher on the road.
Guide to Preparing Yourself for Super Shoes
Additional Resources
What is the Role of Carbon Plates in Shoes (Video)
The Science of Rocker Sole Shoes (Podcast)
Update on PEBAX Research (Feature)
How to Train and Adapt to Super Shoes (Podcast!)
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Super Trainers
From A to Z, a list of super trainers available in the market now. We will keep the latest and available in the market models available.
Adidas Adizero Prime X 2 Strung
REVIEW | SHOP
Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung 2Price: $300 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 10.4 oz, 295 g (men's size 8.5), 9.9 oz, 281g (women's size 8) Measured Weights: 10.7 oz (men's size 9), 11.5 oz (men's size 10)
Stack Height: 50 mm / 43.5 mm
Drop: 6.5 mm
The Adidas Adizero Prime X 2 Strung is a super stack height maximal training shoe for daily training, long runs and uptempo efforts. A brand new, slightly more flexible Strung upper finally creates a sock-like fit that is true to size. A brand new midsole design makes the shoe far more stable, with two carbon plates instead of rods and three layers of Lightstrike Pro (with an interesting, mysterious, super soft middle layer). A dramatic increase in weight is the trade-off for these clear improvements, moving the Prime X series away from being a super racer to a true super trainer. Those wanting a solid long-run shoe that does an excellent job performing at easy and marathon-pace runs and has more stack height underfoot than any other shoe may be interested in this shoe.
Asics Superblast
REVIEW | SHOP
Asics SuperblastPrice: $219.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.4 oz, 239 g (men's size 9), Women's Weights Not Provided
Stack Height: 45.5 mm / 37.5 mm
Drop: 8 mm
The ASICS Superblast is the lightest of the current super trainers. It functions as a maximal stack height, lightweight trainer that can handle long runs, daily miles, and workouts. The shoe does not have a plate, but does a great job of stiffening the shoe to stabilize the super stack height. A slightly snug fit sits up top with a lightweight mesh providing the security of a performance shoe. The ride is rockered in the heel, stiffer in the forefoot, compressive, responsive and protective for almost every type of run. Those who want a shoe that can handle daily training, longer runs, uptempo efforts and almost any workout in a premium super maximal stack height should consider the ASICS Superblast.
Hoka Skyward X
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Hoka Skyward X
Price: $224.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 11.3 oz, 320 g (men's size 10), 9.6 oz, 272 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 49 mm / 44 mm
Drop: 5mm
The HOKA Skyward X is a super trainer aimed at providing the most cushion possible underfoot for your mileage. The shoe uses a new generation Peba midsole, a supercritical EVA frame underfoot, and a carbon plate. It also features really large sidewalls - which may be a make-or-break component for some runners - and big sole flaring. The Skyward is a premium daily trainer built to eat mileage.
On Cloudmonster Hyper
REVIEW | SHOP MEN | SHOP WOMEN
On Cloudmonster HyperPrice: $219.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.3 oz, 272 g (men's size 9), 7.5 oz, 212 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 40 mm / 34 mm
Drop: 6mm
The On Cloudmonster Hyper is a brand new max cushion training model from On Running. It features a combination of their CloudTec (EVA) and new Helion HF (Peba) foams, pushing the shoe into super trainer territory. The Hyper provides a versatile ride for longer distances and different paces. It comes in at a high price, but offers one of the best rides our team has seen from On Running so far.
FUTURE UPDATES
- Mizuno Neo Vista Coming Soon
- ???????????'s Super Trainer (!)
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NEXT: Best Carbon Plated Racing Shoes