“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”>
New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up!
>”,”name”:”in-content-cta”,”type”:”link”}}”>Subscribe today.
Sure, super shoes have ushered in a running renaissance. These carbon-plated, “supercritical” foamed spaceships let us run faster, recover better, and smile bigger. But there’s a dark side to this brave new world that no one has addressed—until now. Enter the Tracksmith Eliot Racer.
For some entirely inexplicable—and, frankly, inexcusable—reason, shoe brands have felt compelled to make their super shoes as neon, patterned, and just downright garish as possible. Speed has come with a cost, quite literally to your wallet, but also to your dignity. Want to PR in the marathon? Brace yourself to do it in pink leopard print.
If the super shoe market is filled with ridiculous Lamborghini Veneno Roadsters (look it up), the Tracksmith Eliot Racer is a Bentley Continental GT. That is to say, the timeless elegance speaks for itself. And like the best luxury cars, form begets function. Peel back the classy exterior and you’ll find a high-tech, high-quality, expertly-crafted, nearly-perfect machine designed for speed.
It’s a remarkable debut super shoe (and just second shoe ever) from the classy New England brand known for quiet luxury running apparel designed to last you season in and season out. And just like, say, the highly versatile and beloved Tracksmith Session Tee, the Eliot Racer rises to the challenge for a wide range of applications over many, many miles. I’ve been running in the Eliot Racer for over a month now to see if it performs as beautifully as it looks—everything from track sessions, to tempos on pavement, to long runs on dirt, and even a 5K road race.
(I won the race, for what it’s worth. If that’s worth nothing to you, I commend your critical thinking skills. Keep reading.)
Tracksmith Eliot Racer
Price: $280
Weight: 7.7 oz (218 grams) for men’s size 9
Stack Heights: 38mm (heel), 30.5mm (forefoot)
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 7.5mm
Available on March 14 at Boston, Brooklyn, and London Trackhouses
Available for try-on and order on March 14-15 at the LA Marathon Envoy Pop-Up
Available online on March 18 here
At a Glance
Pros
- Elegant design
- Soft yet responsive
- Poppy and snappy for high-energy feel
- Relatively stable
- Roomy forefoot lets toes splay
- Performs at wide range of paces
- Very durable for a super shoe
- Fits true to size
Cons
- Higher end of price range
- Lacks “trampoline bounce” feeling of some super shoes
- A little wobbly in the ankle for some
Tracksmith Eliot Racer Review
Underfoot, the Tracksmith Eliot Racer is pretty much a perfect super shoe. That’s largely thanks to the removable Atpu midsole that eliminates the need for a sockliner, glue, and other “extra stuff” that slows you down and reduces groundfeel. This Atpu midsole sits on top of a Pebax foam layer and a spoon-shaped carbon plate that, all together, deliver a luxuriously cushy, peppy ride right in the middle of the softness spectrum. The result: a bouncy-enough shoe that isn’t overly squishy or sloppy. Think On Cloudboom Strike, which feels about as similar to the Eliot Racer as it looks. Overfoot, well, that’s where things get a little provocative. Here are my biggest takeaways about the Eliot Racer:
The Tracksmith Eliot Racer is…Elegant?
Removing the Eliot Racer from its suave canvas shoe bag, the first thing I noticed is that these shoes are pretty. Like an even more chic Eliot Runner. It’s just a shoe. Who cares what it looks like? Some might say. To those some I say, in the words of my college teammate Ashley Higginson, “look good, feel good.” Ashley, the queen of looking good on the track, medaled multiple times on the national stage in the steeplechase.
And like everything Tracksmith makes, even the looks aren’t just about the looks. Yes, the gold sash matches the Strata race kit perfectly. But it also connects directly to the carbon plate and bottom layer of Pebax foam, serving the dual purpose of providing this distinctive Tracksmith branding mark while also locking down the midfoot.
The Tracksmith Eliot Racer is Peppy
The next thing I noticed after putting on the Eliot Racer that it’s surprisingly peppy for such an understated silhouette. The Eliot Racer doesn’t have that in-your-face (or should I say feet) trampoline-like feel of, say, a Nike Alphafly. But the tradeoff is its much snappier, poppier, quieter, and more stable. You will not terrorize your training partners with a “Slap! Slap! Slap!” as you stride along.
What exactly are you missing out on without that supreme trampoline-like feel? The jury is still out on how much of that type of spring translates from perception to performance. Tracksmith says that third-party testing with Heeluxe, an independent biomechanics lab, found that the Eliot Racer was in the top five percent for energy return for any shoes the lab has tested. (Granted, the major shoe companies have their own labs, so take this comparison for what it’s worth.)
We already mentioned the removable Atpu drop-in midsole that sits on the carbon plate and bottom layer of Pebax foam. (Remove the midsole for some words of inspiration thoughtfully printed underneath.) By eliminating the traditional sockliner and the lasting board (which is a thin mesh with a central cutout), Tracksmith says it’s able to maximize cushion depth while staying comfortably below the World Athletics 40mm heel height limit. (Because of the drop-in midsole, the stack height is quite a bit higher than the visible Pebax layer suggests, once again lending to the classic silhouette.) The combination of these two foams, with no glue to add weight and get in the way, lends to the responsive and soft feel I felt underfoot while minimizing weight.
The Tracksmith Eliot Racer is Versatile
I’ve found the Eliot Racer feels fast while I’m up on my toes at 5K pace and also while striding out at marathon pace. That’s partly thanks to the rocker, which is shaped a bit like an exponential curve. The rocker starts curving slowly, kicking in a little later than the ball of the foot, before sloping up steeply. This allows for a delightfully stable stance while your foot sinks into the thick foam before rebounding with a quick roll. This rocker shape helps make the shoe exceedingly comfortable at a wide range of paces. I think runners who feel like they’re wallowing in some super shoes with an earlier rocker will be thrilled with the more gentle rocker here.
The Tracksmith Eliot Racer is Durable
In true Tracksmith form, the Eliot Racer uses high quality materials that are durable, while still giving a light-enough, high-performance feel. That’s reflected in the translucent and breathable (yet surprisingly resilient) upper and the suede-like, lightly padded tongue and heel collar. Yes, that means that Tracksmith has foregone engineered mesh—the gold standard for super shoe uppers these days. (I promised you this would get a little provocative at some point!) This may be a deal-breaker for some who are unwilling to compromise on weight and fit: Sure, it’s a little heavier, but it adds to the aesthetic, and more importantly the durability.
And durability is one place where Tracksmith has decided to carve its own lane. This is most obvious in the outsole. Tracksmith didn’t skimp on the rubber underfoot, making this an excellent do-it-all super shoe for track sessions, long runs on pavement and dirt, and races. My pair still feels like it’s at the beginning of its life.
It’s Almost Perfect
The heel is undoubtedly a little wonky. I was a little worried that the unusual, exposed counter (where the stay runs vertically on a stiff heel cup) would rub my heel. I’m delighted to report a total absence of rubbing—not even a little bit in my own testing. However, the shoe can feel a little sloshy in the ankle rounding sharp turns. Otherwise, I’ve found the Eliot Racer fits like a glove, with an amply wide toebox to let your toes breathe and your feet work. I raced in it after one light track session with no issues.
It also helps that the Eliot Racer fits true-to-size (hallelujah). This may seem like a “duh,” but I am so sick of ordering super shoes in my normal shoe size only for them to be far too small.
Tracksmith Eliot Racer: A Super Shoe for Dedicated Runners with Taste
So who is the Eliot Racer for? I’m going to use answering that question as an excuse to grandstand for a second.
Running fashion is, mercifully, undergoing a rebirth. Gone are the days when amateurs wanted to emulate the look of the professionals. Why spend your hard-earned dollars on apparel and shoes that pros not only receive for free, but also get paid to promote? Shoe companies quite literally make their pro athlete kits as loud and as branded as possible to maximize exposure—there is no reason for you to give them free marketing. You may think you’re inflating your ego, but you actually look like a goober.
And so: Flashy neons, garish patterns, and loud colorblocks are out; understated elegance is in. And Tracksmith has helped cultivate this mindset shift by pioneering a classy alternative with its apparel. Being an “amateur” runner is once again a badge of honor. These are the people who carve out time from their industrious lives to dedicate themselves to their craft, an inner, quiet pursuit of excellence. These are the people who understand it’s worth investing in quality running gear that will last you for years. Now you can embody that aesthetic head-to-toe on race day.
And so, yes, the Tracksmith Eliot Racer is for—what did my boss Chris call us?—“twee” northeasterners,” but it’s also a versatile and durable super shoe for runners of all speeds. It’s for runners who want just one shoe that can do it all for many, many miles. And it’s for all the dedicated runners out there who want to look as classy on the roads as they do off of them.
Similar Shoes
On Cloudboom Strike
