The finest carbon plate trainers don’t come low cost, so when Decathlon introduced the unique Kiprun KD900X—a carbon racing shoe for £130—I used to be excited. Nevertheless, the Kiprun KD900X was a agency shoe that lacked the texture and efficiency of prime super-shoes, and whereas nonetheless a quick and sturdy choice for coaching, it didn’t actually rival the likes of the Nike Vaporfly.
Decathlon has come again stronger with the Kiprun KD900X LD. It’s costlier than the KD900X, however nonetheless comparatively low cost, and presents a better stage of efficiency due to the up to date midsole foam. If you need one of the best racer then there are sooner footwear obtainable, however the Kiprun KD900X LD is a superb choice for these on a price range.
Kiprun KD900X LD: Value And Availability
The Kiprun KD900X LD launched in April 2024 and is accessible from Decathlon. It prices £159.99 within the UK and €180 within the EU, but it surely’s not offered within the US. It’s £30 costlier than the Kiprun KD900X, the primary carbon plate shoe from Decathlon, however considerably cheaper than most carbon super-shoes, which often price a minimum of $250/£220.
How I Examined This Shoe
I’ve run simply over 30 miles within the Kiprun KD900X LD, utilizing it for a mixture of coaching runs together with a testing observe session and a development run ending at my aim marathon tempo. I’ve additionally examined the Kiprun KD900X (though it was stolen earlier than I might full my testing for a full overview) and nearly all the finest carbon plate trainers obtainable from main manufacturers.
Design And Match
The primary change to the Kiprun KD900X LD in contrast with the KD900X is in midsole foam. It’s modified from VFOAM to VFOAM PLUS, and whereas each are Peba-based supplies, the PLUS is softer, lighter and bouncier.
Decathlon has halved the drop of the shoe to 4mm, with a 36.8mm stack peak on the heel and 32.8mm on the forefoot. This implies there’s extra foam below the forefoot, which can even enhance the consolation of the trip in contrast with the agency really feel of the Kiprun KD900X.
Regardless of the additional foam, the load has gone down. The Kiprun KD900X LD weighs 8.1oz/230g in a UK measurement 9/EU 44. That’s lots lighter than my overview pattern of the Kiprun KD900X, which was 8.8oz/249g in a barely smaller measurement, an EU 43.5.
Just like the KD900X, the KD900X LD got here up lengthy for me, and I might suggest going a minimum of a half measurement down in your regular operating shoe measurement. There’s an excessive amount of room within the toe field, and though I didn’t expertise any slipping on the heel, I did discover the plastic strip on the higher that accommodates the lace eyelets reduce into the highest of my proper foot just under the ankle.
This was significantly unhealthy on my first and longest run within the shoe, which was round 13 miles. On my runs since I haven’t had the issue to the identical extent, so hopefully it’s one thing that goes away when the shoe breaks in a bit, but it surely’s a priority in the event you’re planning to make use of the shoe for a marathon.
Other than this, the breathable open-knit mesh higher was effective and held my foot securely when operating quick. It’s a light-weight materials and has minimal padding across the collar and tongue, as you’d count on from a racing shoe.
A midsole cut-out on the underside of the shoe shows the carbon plate. There’s uncovered foam in the course of the underside of the shoe, however two patches of rubber on the heel and a bigger part on the forefoot cowl the principle impression areas. The Kiprun KD900X was constructed to final 1,000km and whereas the softer midsole may cut back the lifespan of the Kiprun KD900X LD, I nonetheless count on it to be a long-lasting shoe.
Operating Efficiency
The Kiprun KD900X LD is notably softer and bouncier than the KD900X, and feels extra in step with different super-shoes. It’s not as springy as footwear just like the Nike Alphafly 3 or Hoka Cielo X1, however VFOAM PLUS is a reasonably bouncy materials and it’s much more comfy than VFOAM.
That’s significantly noticeable below the forefoot, the place there’s extra foam. You get a springier toe-off because of this, and I had no discomfort below the forefoot on my longest run within the KD900X LD.
I did a observe session within the shoe operating 4 miles at 5min 40sec/mile, my aim marathon tempo, adopted by 12 reps of 400m alternating 72sec and 77sec per rep. The Kiprun KD900X LD was comfy when cruising alongside at marathon tempo and sprightly sufficient for the shorter reps.
It has a flatter trip than many super-shoes owing to the low drop, and it’s not a extremely rockered shoe. I observed the day after the session that my legs have been extra overwhelmed up than normal the day after coaching in a super-shoe. The Kiprun KD900X LD additionally places a bit extra pressure in your calf muscular tissues than higher-drop racing footwear, which can have an effect on heel-strikers like myself greater than forefoot-strikers.
The trip is much less propulsive and feels much less quick than one of the best super-shoes, and the KD900X LD suffered as compared with the very bouncy and rockered Hoka Cielo X1, which I used to be utilizing on the similar time. Nevertheless, the Kiprun shoe has fairly a pure really feel, and I used to be comfy utilizing it for simple paces in addition to quick ones, which isn’t true of some super-shoes that really feel worryingly wobbly and unnatural at sluggish speeds.
Is The Kiprun KD900X LD Value It?
When you’re keen to spend large cash in your racer, the Kiprun KD900X LD will not be among the many finest carbon plate trainers. My standout picks for the time being are the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris, Nike Alphafly 3, Nike Vaporfly 3 and Hoka Cielo X1.
Nevertheless, it’s considerably cheaper, and there’s no shoe obtainable for a listing worth of £160 I’d moderately race in—if I might get the match proper to keep away from any unwelcome friction with the plastic strip on the higher. Even one of the best super-trainers just like the Saucony Endorphin Velocity 4 or Adidas Boston 12, that are nearer in worth, don’t match the velocity of the Kiprun KD900X LD.
The largest competitors to the Kiprun KD900X LD for individuals who are in search of a less expensive racing choice comes from the reductions obtainable on older carbon footwear. The likes of the Asics Metaspeed Sky+, Adidas Adizero Adios Professional 3 and Saucony Endorphin Professional 3 are sometimes obtainable in gross sales, and if you may get them or different older carbon footwear for round £160, they’re stronger racing choices.
I used to be impressed by the Kiprun KD900X LD, although, and it’s not far off the usual of these footwear. It’s now a racing various at a lower cost that’s value contemplating, whereas the unique KD900X was extra of a long-lasting coaching choice than a real racer.