Article by Michael Ellenberger, Sally Reiley and Ryan Eiler
Tracksmith Eliot Racer ($280)
Pros:
- Lockdown (Michael, Sally)
- Aesthetics (when new!) (Michael, Sally)
- Elegant and classy, true to Tracksmith image (Sally)
Cons:
- Midsole composition (Michael)
- Squeaky! (Michael)
- Lack of pop/energy return (Michael, Sally)
Tester Profiles (full run bios at the end of the review)
Ryan: 2:13 marathon PR (2024)
Michael: 2;20 marathon PR (2024)
Sally: 3:24 marathon PR (2023, age 63)
Stats
Spec Weight: men's 7.7 oz / 218g US9
Sample Weight 7.8 oz / 221g US8.5
Stack Height: men’s 38 mm heel / 30.5 mm forefoot (7.5mm drop)
Platform Width: 76mm heel / 112 mm forefoot
Available at Tracksmith stores March 14 and online here March 18, 2025
Introduction
I’ve been a longtime fan of Tracksmith. Their commitment to classic, understated running apparel is unmatched, and I own plenty of their pieces - many of which I wear with perhaps concerning regularity. Their advertising is so distinctly “real” that I get suckered into buying something nearly every time I go to their website.
So when Tracksmith announced the Eliot Racer, I was immediately intrigued - and a little concerned. A Tracksmith racing shoe? That felt like a big leap, even given the Eliot Runner, but if any brand was going to do it with the same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail as their clothing, I figured hey, it might just work.
Truthfully, I tend to be skeptical when apparel companies venture into the footwear space (there aren’t all that many examples - perhaps for good reason), but especially with something as specialized as a racing shoe.
Designing high-performance footwear isn’t the same as crafting the perfect pair of split shorts, and we’ve seen that many brands have struggled to break into this category successfully.
With a $280 price tag, the Eliot Racer isn’t just aiming to be a solid option - it’s stepping directly into competition with some of the best racing shoes on the market, meeting or topping many of the major players, including the Alphafly 3, Vaporfly 4, Metaspeed Paris, Endorphin Pro and Elite, SC Elite v4, and more.
After logging about 50 miles in my oh-so-very-Tracksmith white-and-gold pair of the Racers, I have a lot to say. There’s a lot to like, but also some clear limitations. Let’s break it down.
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Michael: Tracksmith has built its brand on an aesthetic that blends classic racing heritage with modern performance, and the Eliot Racer - at least on paper - embodies that philosophy. At first glance, the shoe presents a sleek, understated design that stands in stark contrast to the towering, futuristic super shoes (think Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro, Nike Alphafly, and Puma Fast-R dominating the market).
The White/Gold colorway, in particular, looks clean and premium right out of the box. I’ve now put 50 miles on my pair across a long run, 3 workouts, and a couple easy runs, and feel qualified to give my thoughts here on Tracksmith’s latest and greatest.
First, that pristine appearance doesn’t last long - the upper seems to attract stains with surprising ease, and not just from outdoor running. Black socks, in particular, left noticeable discoloration across multiple runs. While this doesn’t impact performance, it does detract from the premium feel - something you expect at a $280 price point. If anything, I expect this to be more apparent in the warmer months when sweat is abundant.
The fit is decent, though not flawless. The bootie-style construction provides a snug, locked-in feel, and the newly designed last accommodates a roomier forefoot while maintaining a secure heel fit. I had no issues with lockdown or heel slippage.
However, the tongue design is a bit of a letdown. It rides unnecessarily high, which can be distracting and takes away from the otherwise streamlined feel. That said, the micro-suede collar and tongue offer a nice touch of comfort, balancing out the structured nature of the fit. Oh, and the laces have this grippy material on them that is sublime. Probably my favorite laces to date, to the extent that moves the needle.
Overall, the Eliot Racer’s upper is functional, but it doesn’t quite deliver the seamless, almost-second-skin-like sensation found in the best racing shoes today. And, if you care - it quickly looks dirty, to boot.
Ryan: Tracksmith is primarily a running lifestyle brand. There, I said it. They make undeniably beautiful looking products, from half tights to outerwear to footwear. To their credit, this Eliot Racer stays right on brand, and delivers an aesthetically pleasing, elevated experience out of the box.
I agree with most of Michael’s thoughts above. The shoe’s appearance is clean and classy, but begs to . The materials feel more luxurious than most other racing shoes, from the satin finishes to the gusseted, brushed (but too long) tongue.
Foot lockdown is solid, and holds the foot like a racing shoe should. However, breathability takes a significant hit, as the myriad layers of fabric and overlays impede airflow — especially those thick, gold TS stripes on either side.
There isn’t necessarily a problem with heel lockdown, but I never felt like my heel was truly seated and secured.
I’d expect a heel collar this stout to express more confidence about its job.
It looks like a $280 shoe, but in my opinion isn’t built to be a true racing shoe at my race pace of about 5:05 per mile for the marathon.. There’s too much unnecessarily complicated stitching and layering going on which undoubtedly adds a few grams (and does make for a small squeaking noise noticeable when walking).
Sally: I am likewise a huge fan of the Tracksmith brand, owning more than my fair share of their incredible merino tops, from the do-it-all Brighton baselayer to the versatile run-to-dinner out Downeaster quarter-zip to my absolute favorite Session short for both marathons and daily training. As a New Englander with an Ivy League degree, I love and appreciate the classic preppy aesthetic and the premium materials and workmanship.
I have enjoyed Tracksmith’s first shoe the Eliot Runner (RTR Review) and have run many miles in it, and admittedly also wear it as an attractive casual shoe (goes well with dresses in the summer!). I first saw the Eliot Racer at TRE (The Running Event) in Austin last fall and have been excitedly anticipating this launch.
Let me say up front that my experience in a race shoe will be different from Michael’s and Ryan’s - they are both elite young male marathoners.
Everything about this Eliot Racer suggests elegant luxury. It arrived in the traditional Tracksmith packaging with the red/white sash, and comes with a classy canvas shoe bag (navy with red/white sash, of course). The shoe does not look like its competitors; while they tend to have unbelievably high and very visible heel stacks underfoot and come in bright flashy colors, the Eliot Racer is understated and looks like a traditional shoe (the stack is there, it is simply incorporated into the insole so not visible on the outside).
The fit is immediately comfortable and very true to size with plenty of wiggle room to accommodate a wider foot.
As the others point out, all the materials are premium. I especially like the silky suede-like fabric of the heel collar and that oversized tongue. The tongue might be a tad high, but I like the stretchy give of the tongue (reminiscent of an ASICS tongue) that assists in pulling the shoe on.
The laces are unique with a classic look that belies the technical rubbery nubs that hold the laces tied (though I found I needed to double knot the laces after some knot slippage when new).
The heel lockdown and overall hold is excellent for my foot. After 40 miles, I have yet to experience a hot spot or irritation on any part of my foot. All in all, a classy, elegant, premium shoe with an understated aesthetic very true to the Tracksmith brand. If you look good, you feel good, which translates to running confidently. The speed is up to you and your legs.
Midsole & Platform
Michael: Tracksmith’s approach to the midsole is unconventional. It features a drop-in ATPU midsole with 80% resiliency sitting directly beneath the foot, approximately 22mm at the forefoot and 12mm at the heel with a full-length carbon plate beneath that sitting in a Pebax® midsole chassis with 70% resiliency..
The idea behind this setup is to maximize energy return by eliminating excess glue and layers, allowing for more direct foot-to-foam contact. And, on paper, it is an intriguing design - but in practice, it doesn’t quite deliver the magic expected from a modern super shoe.
The ATPU drop-in midsole is soft - perhaps too soft - resulting in a ride that feels somewhat mushy rather than springy. My testers are also really very squeaky with nearly every stride, though I don’t know if that’s specific to my pair or my footstrike.
The low-mounted carbon plate provides some structure, but perhaps because it sits so far beneath the soft foam, the shoe lacks that snappy, propulsive sensation that defines elite racing models. Some shoes have managed this effectively - I just didn’t find it engaging here.
At slower paces, this issue is even more pronounced. The Eliot Racer doesn’t feel particularly lively or efficient during easy runs, making it difficult to justify using it as an “all-arounder” (and, to be clear, Tracksmith does not market it that way).
Without a doubt, things improve as the speed and cadence increase - at faster paces, the shoe starts to feel more in sync with its intended purpose, offering a smoother and more responsive experience.
Still, compared to the top-tier options in this category, it falls short of the exhilarating forward roll and explosive toe-off that make other carbon-plated racers so special. There’s too much mush here to really feel like you’re getting that explosive output.
Ryan: I strongly agree with Michael’s take here. The foam feels pleasantly soft on impact, but there’s a distinct lack of energy return as compared to most other super shoes. I never felt that I never felt that I was getting quite as much back as I do with other ‘supers’. I could really get up and go like I can with other ‘supers’. While it doesn’t deliver the cushioning of other maximal stack shoes, it does have a nice amount of stability which is always a nice attribute when the legs get tired. The stiffness of the plate is certainly noticeable, and serves to assist with toe-off, while also detracting from the shoe’s versatility and ability to handle more casual running.
I also had an issue with the lateral side of the midfoot feeling overly firm. I got minor hotspots in this area on both feet — and I’m a guy who doesn’t get hotspots. It’s not a dealbreaker, and I eventually got used to it, but it wasn’t what I’d hoped for. I don’t know for certain what caused this — perhaps the midfoot width or the thick outsole rubber spanning the entire lateral side of the shoe? Look at any other current super shoe from Nike, Adidas, NB, Saucony, and you’ll notice that none of them have a continuous patch of rubber from heel to toe.
For $280 and a shoe touted as a high-performance racer, a shoe’s midsole better be damn impressive. I just don’t think this one’s performance quite keeps up with the pack that it’s trying to run with.
Sally: I totally understand where Michael and Ryan are coming from with their criticism of the midsole and perceived lack of responsiveness; remember they are both elite marathoners whose paces are considerably faster than mine (my marathon PR run is 3:24:02, achieved in London at age 63, female).
My first run in the Eliot Racer was admittedly a struggle, but that was at altitude in the hills of Aspen, CO after a day of skiing. My subsequent runs have been better and better each time. This weekend I enjoyed a smooth 14 mile run on the Boston Marathon course, and the shoes felt great.
The feel is soft, especially at the heel, but not mushy for me. I don't really feel the plate buried under the insole, but they are smooth and responsive. I agree that they lack the bouncy trampoline like feel and aggressive pop and springy toe-off of some of the other race day options, but the fun is still there for my paces.
Outsole
Michael: For a racing shoe, the outsole is solid, and though not a standout feature, I think it’s satisfactory. The rubber coverage is minimal but well-placed, providing enough grip for most conditions without adding unnecessary weight. On dry roads and treadmill, the traction is more than sufficient, and even in less-than-ideal conditions, the Eliot Racer holds its own.
A particularly telling test came on a pre-dawn run in 33-degree weather. The pavement was slick - not quite icy, but certainly not ideal. Despite the conditions, the shoe performed well enough that switching to another model never felt necessary.
While it’s not the grippiest racing shoe on the market, it’s reliable in most conditions, making it a safe choice for race day regardless of the forecast.
Sally: I have had no issues whatsoever with this outsole, finding it adequately grippy on dry and wet surfaces. It is a relief that there are no channels or grooves to catch rocks and gravel in. Except for the squeakiness experienced the first time I wore the shoes (the squeak disappeared after a few miles). The outsole is pleasantly quiet on pavement. After 40 miles, there is no sign of wear which bodes well for the expected durability.
Ryan: The rubber here is fairly thick for a racing shoe, lending it tons of grip under any conditions. I'm still not sure about the lateral rubber strip running the length of the shoe, and I think there would be minor improvements to be had by breaking up the forefoot rubber from the rubber at the heel, given the stiffness of the plate. Overall, it's a solid design that shouldn't cause any issues.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Michael: The biggest issue with the Eliot Racer is that it simply doesn’t have that “it” factor. The ride is cushioned but overly mushy, and the energy return isn’t as pronounced as it could be. I wonder if Tracksmith could in future offer differing riding, insertable upper midsoles as NNormal does with their Kboix trail shoe.
The low-mounted carbon plate does its job to some extent, but it never fully engages in a way that feels dynamic or propulsive. The result is a shoe that improves with speed but never reaches the elite-tier performance needed to justify its premium price.
And that price - $280 - is hard to ignore. In 2020, this might have been a competitive option. At $180, it could make for an interesting alternative to mainstream racing shoes. But in today’s market, nearly every major brand offers a flagship racer at the same price or lower, with superior energy return, propulsion, and overall ride quality. The Eliot Racer, while unique, doesn’t quite measure up in terms of raw performance.
All told, this isn’t a bad shoe, but it’s simply not a game-changer, and even worse (gasp!), it’s pretty dull. If you’re drawn to Tracksmith’s signature styling and prefer a lower-profile, more traditional racing silhouette, the Eliot Racer could still be worth considering. But for those seeking the absolute best in speed, efficiency, and energy return, there are better options available at this price point.
Michael’s Score: 8.0/10
Sally: My overall experience with the Eliot Racer has been much more positive than that of the much faster elite runner Michael (and isn’t this why RoadTrailRun does multi-tester reviews?).
After an initial lacklustre run done on tired legs at elevation, this shoe has impressed me with its versatile performance at a wide range of paces. No, it is not that aggressive crazy-looking massive stack race day stallion being offered now by the other brands for the elite runners, but it does have its place on the starting line, especially for us mortals.
It is an elegant, classy, premium shoe with an understated aesthetic true to the distinctive Tracksmith brand, and it rolls nicely with a likewise understated soft bounce that provides sufficient responsiveness with a natural feeling ride.
The shoe comes boxed with a letter from Tracksmith CEO and Founder Matt Taylor that concludes with the following: “The Eliot Racer is unequivocally Tracksmith. We spent over two years building a super shoe that doesn’t look like a super shoe. It’s speed without the spectacle.”
I find it does lack that trampoline like forward spring and snappy toe-off of various competitors, but many runners will prefer this more traditional controlled ride and classic aesthetic. For the many runners who find the wild geometry of the AlphaFly and others awkward and unnatural and unwieldy, this is a great race day option.
I am loving this shoe for my longer marathon training runs when the pace is moderate. It responds well to picking up the pace (which for me might be 7:30 - 8:00/mi) but rolls smoothly at most any pace. I will most likely lace up my Alphaflys in Hopkinton next month, as I enjoy the wild bounce and the mental advantage I feel wearing my tried and true race day shoes. But I really enjoy the Eliot Racer! I agree with Michael that the loyal Tracksmith fan will be drawn to this shoe, regardless of the steep price tag.
Sally’s score: 9.0 / 10.0
😊😊😊😊
Ryan: The ride here is pleasantly soft, yet definitely stiff enough to be called a racing shoe. The marketing copy claims that the shoe is “outperforming every other shoe tested” on energy return, but I just didn't feel that the midsole had the same performance as the other super shoes it claims to be up against from Nike, Adidas, Saucony, New Balance, and the like. It feels racy and stable with great lockdown, but it just doesn't have the explosive pop you'd expect from a max-stack, modern-day racing shoe.
Overall, the Eliot Racer stays on brand, and delivers a unique, beautiful experience, which is great and will make plenty of folks smile if that’s the name of the game. But as a competitor in the super shoe game, I think the aesthetic focus causes the performance here to fall a little short.
Ryan’s Score: 8.1/10 (deductions for midsole performance, price, breathability, heel lockdown)
😊😊😊1/2
5 Comparisons
Nike Vaporfly 3 (RTR Review)
Michael: I haven’t taken the recently-released Vaporfly 4 for a spin yet, at time of writing, but I have put hundreds of miles on a couple pairs of the Vaporfly 3, including several races.
As is probably apparent if you read my review, I prefer the Vaporfly to the Eliot Racer. They are relatively similar shoes, on paper - both lacking the crazy-mechanical AirPods of the Alphafly or wacky geometry of the Rebellion Pro, but instead just layering foam over carbon. The Vaporfly simply feels sharper underfoot, and when you put energy in, you get a distinct spring back.
Not so in the Eliot Racer, which feels more squelch than spring - though it is a similarly soft composition to Nike’s ZoomX, for those whose key criteria is softness. I think the best use case of the Eliot Racer is the long run, where the cushion will most distinctly benefit you. Especially on sale, though, the VF3 is a no-brainer.
Nike Alphafly 3 (RTR Review)
Michael: The Alphafly 3 is the racing model I’ve put the most miles on of any current-gen racer, I think, and it’s one of my favorite shoes ever (even though my marathon PR now sits in the Adios Pro 4). The biggest difference between these two is that the AF3 feels more mechanical, compared to the smoother, more minimalist approach of the Eliot Racer, which reads as more traditional. There are still runners who don’t find the (relative) clunkiness of the Alphafly to work, and in those cases I suspect the geometry of the Eliot Racer may be superior - for me, though, the Alphafly remains one of the top shoes ever made and, at the same cost, I’d take the Nike all day.
Ryan: The Eliot is a much simpler shoe and delivers a much more approachable ride. By comparison, the Alphafly and its forefoot pods do feel more foreign and mechanical, but the overall performance and rebound of the Alphafly is far and away superior. The Nike is simply tuned for performance, whereas the Tracksmith (no surprise here) puts more emphasis on aesthetics.
ASICS Metaspeed Edge Paris (RTR Review)
Michael: Both the Edge and the Sky are direct competitors to the Eliot Racer, but the low-mounted plate of the Edge makes it a more direct comparison. After a slight preference for the Edge in the initial Metaspeed run, I flip-flopped and preferred the Sky in the Paris line - but regardless, both ASICS models are more adept and springier than the Tracksmith racer.
Ryan: The Edge feels much snappier with a quicker turnover thanks to its relatively minimalist build. It's also far more breathable and provides more explosive cushioning. I see the Edge as more of a purebred racer, whereas the Eliot Racer stays on brand, and blends racing and lifestyle elements.
Adidas Adios Pro 4 (RTR Review)
Michael: I’ll lay out a little early bias here, in that I ran my recent marathon PR in the Adios Pro 4, and am a big fan of the line in general. And, despite loving one and less-than-loving the other, the shoes are more similar than, say, Eliot and Alpha. Both the Adios Pro 4 and the Eliot Racer are predominantly soft (the Adios Pro actually feels, to my foot, less stable than the Eliot Racer, though the Adidas is much improved over its predecessor). The reason I prefer the three stripes to the one is that, while both are soft, the Adidas propels you out of that cushion much more readily - you get a distinct “spring” from the carbon rods and superb foam. In the Tracksmith, you just kind of sink, with not a ton of give back.
Ryan: The Pro 4 is a beast of a racing shoe and is laser-focused on performance at the most elite levels. It rides snappier and propels you forward more aggressively than does the Tracksmith. By contrast, the Eliot Racer puts a bit more emphasis on the aesthetic component, and as a result, its performance suffers slightly. I agree that the Adidas is much less stable than the Tracksmith. However, the propulsion and cushioning from the Adidas midsole is far and away superior for long-distance racing.
Diadora Gara Carbon (RTR Review)
Sally: These two new carbon plated race day shoes feel very similar to me: both are soft and smooth and incredibly comfortable on foot, both are built with premium materials and exceptional quality workmanship (and both come with premium price tags of $280 for Tracksmith and $300 for Diadora), and both lack the aggressive pop and pep of some of the other high end race day options. Both are ideal long run marathon training choices that can pick up the pace when pushed, and both will appeal to the runner who finds the geometry of the other race day options clunky and unwieldy. Toss up - I like them both.
Ryan: Both have nosebleed price tags, and both are on the slightly casual end of the ‘super shoe’ spectrum. But for me, the Diadora is more enjoyable and versatile, thanks to its deeper and more propulsive midsole. As for the uppers, the Diadora takes a slightly more relaxed approach, whereas the Tracksmith foot containment is more powerful. The Eliot Racer’s copious rubber outsole provides superior traction, but its stiffness and ride dynamics make it less able to handle slower paces.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
The Eliot Racer is available March 14, 2025 at Tracksmith stores
Online March 18th HERE
Tester Profiles
Michael is a patent attorney and graduate of Northwestern University Law School. Prior to law school, he competed collegiately at Washington University in St. Louis (10,000m PR of 30:21). Michael’s PRs include a 67:43 half-marathon (Chicago Half-Marathon) and a 2:20:41 marathon PR at the 2025 Houston Marathon. Michael continues to race on the roads, and is chasing a sub-2:20 marathon and potential OTQ in the future.
Sally is a lifelong runner and mother of five who agreed against her better judgment to run her first marathon at age 54; she has since run the past eleven Boston Marathons, three NYC Marathons, two Chicagos, and one London with the WMM Six Star Medal now in her sights (Berlin in 2025). With a Boston PR of 3:25:55 in 2022 (9th place in AG) and three consecutive 2nd place in Age Group awards in NYC, she has competed in several Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships and placed 6th in the world in W 60-64 when she ran an all-time PR of 3:24:02 at age 63 at the 2022 London Marathon. She also competes in USATF races of all distances with the Greater Lowell Road Runners team. To add meaning to her Boston Marathon races she runs with Team Eye and Ear and has raised over $320,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. Sally stands tall at 5’2’’ and 105 pounds, and lives in Marblehead, MA where she trains outdoors year round. She blames her love of skiing out West for any and all Boston Marathon training challenges.
Ryan Eller A hopeless soccer career led Ryan to take up running, and after taking a decade-long break from competing, he is back racking up mileage whenever he can. He calls the 2018 Boston Marathon the hardest race of his life, where he finished in 2:40, barely remembering his name at the finish line. Rya more recently has a PR of 2:13:36 at the 2024 NYC Marathon and ran 2:14:23 at the 2024 Boston Marathon, finishing 3d American and 15th overall.
RoadTrailRun Official Store Custom Fractel Caps and Bucket Hats
Google "roadtrailrun Shoe Name" and you can be quite sure to find just about any run shoe over the last 10 plus yearsd preferred the Sky in the Paris line - but regardless, both ASICS models are more adept and springier than the Tracksmith racer.
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