The Best Supercritical Foam Running Shoes for Training & Racing
Supercritical foam is one of the advances in running shoe technology that has made shoes faster and more fun. Here are the best running shoes with supercritical foam on the market today.
Over the past decade, running shoe foam technology has evolved in leaps and bound. While we used to race in minimalist shoes with layers of foam as thin as a slice of vegan cheese, the racing shoes of today have Impossible burger–like stacks of lightweight, responsive and highly bouncy foam. One type of foam used in the top racing shoes of today—and some training shoes—is supercritical foam. Here, we dive into what supercritical foam is, the top types of supercritical foam on the market and the best training and racing shoes using it. Let's get into it.
The Best Supercritical Foam Running Shoes
In the context of running shoe foams, a supercritical process is a step in manufacturing where gas is injected into the foam. Supercritical foam injected with gas is typically lighter, airier and bouncier than its non-supercritical counterpart. Visually, supercritical foam typically has a slightly shiny sheen to it, and often, small bubbles can be seen in the foam. Below, we've listed some of the widely used supercritical running shoe foams on the market today.
Popular Supercritical Running Shoe Foams:
- Adidas Lightstrike Pro
- Brooks DNA Loft v3
- Brooks DNA Loft v3
- Brooks Flash
- Hoka ProFly+
- New Balance FuelCell
- Puma Nitro
- Puma Nitro Elite
- Tracksmith Pebax (sockliner)
- Under Armour Flow
Not all supercritical foam performs the same. Whereas supercritical Adidas Lightstrike Pro is on the dense and firm end of the spectrum, the supercritical New Balance FuelCell foam is soft and squishy. Both have a slightly shiny, translucent appearance from the supercritical process, but their ride differs from the polymers used in the foam itself and the ratio of gas to foam. Nitrogen gas is commonly used as the gas in supercritical running shoe foams.
Some of the key differences between the behavior of different types of supercritical foam is the base compounds that comprise the foam. For example, Hoka ProFly+ is a supercritical EVA, while Saucony PWRRUN HG is a supercritical PEBA. As such, the type of foam used will have a large impact on the best use case for each supercritical foam shoe; in general, EVA is a better training foam due to its structured cushioning, while PEBA excels on raceday for its energy return and bounce. Below are the best supercritical foam shoes for both training and racing applications.
1. Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 ($250): Best Supercritical Foam Racing Shoe
The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 is a marathon racing super shoe with a bouncy and fast ride. It uses Adidas' supercritical Lightstrike Pro foam, which is dense to the touch and has a slightly firm feel underfoot. Carbon fiber energy rods help stabilize the platform and create a responsive feel at race paces, making the Pro 3 one of the best marathon racing shoes out there. Along with the Vaporfly Next %3, this shoe is one of the most common to see on the feet of elite runners grabbing marathon podiums at major races around the globe (see: Evans Chebet winning the Boston Marathon in this shoe in 2023). While these shoes won't turn you into a 2:05 marathon, they are a great tool to help you chase down a PR in your next goal race.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
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2. New Balance Rebel v3 ($130): Best Daily Trainer with Supercritical Foam
The New Balance Rebel v3 is one of the best everyday running shoes on the market that uses supercritical foam. New Balance's FuelCell compound is a soft, squishy and responsive TPU and EVA blend that's gone through a supercritical process. In the Rebel v3, the result is a lightweight and snappy daily trainer that can handle everything from everyday aerobic base building runs to speedwork to two hour long runs. While all of the other New Balance shoes using FuelCell either have a plate (SC Pacer, SC Elite, SC Trainer) or another foam in the mix (880), the Rebel is your chance to try pure, unsullied FuelCell in all its glory.
New Balance Rebel v3
3. Hoka Mach 5 ($140): Best Non-Plated Uptempo Shoe with Supercritical Foam
The Hoka Mach 5 is a lightweight uptempo shoe that uses a dual-foam midsole to serve a cushioned and responsive ride. One of the most comfortable uptempo shoes on the market, the Mach 5 has a top layer of supercritical EVA ProFly+ foam that's airy and bouncy; below, there's another full-length layer of standard EVA that also serves as the Mach 5's outsole. Because there's no plate in the Mach 5, the shoe maintains a comfortable, cushioned feel across the range of paces. It cruises along nicely at recovery efforts, and it feels appropriately zippy when pushed to marathon pace and below. The only downside is that the lack of a proper rubber outsole means that durability won't be as high as some other shoes—heavy scuffing runners can expect to get 200 miles maximum from the Mach 5, so it's best reserved for those speed and tempo days.
Hoka Mach 5
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4. Adidas Takumi Sen 9 ($180): Best Fast Workout Shoe with Supercritical Foam
The Adidas Takumi Sen 9 is a lightweight workout shoe and 5k racer that uses the same supercritical Lightstrike Pro as the Adios Pro 3. In the Takumi Sen, a lower stack provides a more connected ground feel that delivers a fast and no-frills ride. The Lightstrike Pro here is also reinforced with Adidas' rigid EnergyRods, making this an excellent shoe for pushing to your fastest pace zone: 5k speed and below. In our experience, the Takumi Sen excels at those speed workouts where you'll be doing short repeats, like the classic 8 x 400m, 6 x 800m sessions at the track. For longer efforts where you'll be working for more than a mile at a time (e.g., 6 x 1 mile or 3 x 2 mi), we prefer something with a slightly softer feel and more cushion in the forefoot.
Adidas Takumi Sen 9
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5. New Balance FuelCell SC Pacer ($150): Best Short Distance Racer with Supercritical Foam
The New Balance FuelCell SC Pacer is a speedy shoe with a full-length bed of supercritical foam and a carbon fiber plate. Similar to the Adidas Takumi Sen, it's designed to excel at fast, short distance efforts, whether that's a 5k race or a VO2 max workout at the track. It has a lightweight construction, coming in at a competitive 7.1 ounces for a US mens sample size 9. The ride is responsive, firm and bouncy, with more snappiness than cushion due to a 25mm heel stack and 17mm forefoot stack (8mm drop). Most marathon racing super shoes have a stack around 40mm, so the SC Pacer feels much more minimal and streamlined on foot. This will work well for efficient runners, but heel strikers or bigger, more powerful runners with a low cadence may appreciate the cushion of something like the Adios Pro 3 or New Balance's own SC Elite racer.
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Pacer
6. Brooks Hyperion Max ($170): Best Non-Plated Uptempo Supercritical Foam Shoe
The Brooks Hyperion Max is a non-plated uptempo shoe with a responsive, rockered ride. It uses Brooks' top-tier DNA Flash supercritical foam, which is also used in the Hyperion Elite 3 marathon racer. The feel is on the firmer side for supercritical foams, more similar to Adidas Lightstrike Pro than New Balance FuelCell or Hoka ProFly+. Underfoot, the DNA Flash feels structured and stable at slower paces, but the rocker helps the shoe roll along nicely when not pushing the pace. At uptempo efforts, the DNA Flash supercritical foam comes alive and provides a snappy, responsive feel that shines around marathon pace. Due to the versatility of the ride and the relatively lightweight (7.8 ounces), this is a great option for a speed-oriented daily trainer. However, keep in mind that it's not going to feel as plush and cushioned as some other Brooks shoes like the Glycerin, so consider a shoe like the New Balance Rebel v3 if you want a soft supercritical foam shoe for everyday runs.
Brooks Hyperion Max
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7. Saucony Endorphin Elite ($275): Best Marathon Racing Supercritical Foam Shoe for Fast Runners
The Saucony Endorphin Elite is one of the newest marathon racing super shoes to hit the market. While Saucony's other marathon racer, the Endorphin Pro, uses a standard PEBA that has a beaded formulation (PWRRUN PB), the Endorphin Elite uses a supercritical version of the foam. This supercritial PEBA compound, called PWRRUN HG, is similar to Adidas Lightstrike Pro in that it is dense and firm, but extremely bouncy and responsive when pushed at fast paces. The Endorphin Elite also has a rigid slotted carbon fiber plate, snug toebox and aggressive rocker, which make this uncomfortable at anything but the fastest paces. Most runners will be better served by the Endorphin Pro 3, but sub-3 hour marathon runners looking to shave a few minutes off their PR should lace up the Elite and get ready for a wild ride.
Saucony Endorphin Elite
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8. Under Armour UA Flow Velociti Elite ($250): Best Supercritical Foam Racer with a Firm Ride
Used by YouTube elite-running sensation Stephen Scullion, the Under Armour UA Flow Velociti Elite is a dual-foam midsole super shoe with a firm and snappy ride. Compared to the most popular super shoes on the market like the Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 and Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, which have relatively soft and squishy ride, the Velociti Elite has a more connected, ground feel experience. The midsole has a top layer of Pebax, the same compound that makes up Nike's famed ZoomX foam found in the aforementioned Vaporfly, plus a bottom layer of Under Armour proprietary Flow foam, a rubberized supercritical foam that also serves as the shoe's outsole. In between, there's a carbon fiber plate for rigidity and energy return. Efficient runners who find popular super shoes too soft will appreciate the firmness of the Velociti Elite, while others may appreciate the cushion of marathon racers from Saucony, Nike and Adidas.
Under Armour UA Flow Velociti Elite
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9. Adidas Boston 12 ($160): Best Supercritical Foam Running Shoe for Long Runs
The Adidas Boston 12 is a high mileage trainer that uses a dual-foam construction to provide a cushioned and responsive ride. The Boston 12 has a top layer of Adidas' supercritical Lightstrike Pro foam also found in shoes like the Takumi Sen, Adios Pro and Adios 8. The bottom layer of foam is a standard EVA compound called Lightstrike 2.0, which sits beneath the rigid fiberglass Energy Rods. Whereas the previous two versions of the Boston (10 and 11) were firm and an acquired taste, the Boston 12 takes a softer, more approachable tone. The larger serving of Lightstrike 2.0 in the heel is soft and forgiving, while the supercritical Lightstrike Pro in the forefoot is peppy and responsive, aided in that mission by the rods. The energy return and midsole construction make this a great option for long runs, as the shoe will help your legs do the work of running over the course of two hours.
Adidas Boston 12
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10. Atreyu The Artist: Best Affordable Racing Shoe with Supercritical Foam
If you scrolled this far and thought all the supercritical foam shoes listed above were too expensive, you're in luck. Atreyu's The Artist shoe is a carbon-plated racing shoe that uses a supercritical EVA compound similar to Hoka's ProFly+ and comes in at $100, less than half the cost of standard super shoes. The Artist has a snappy and responsive ride from the carbon fiber plate and a slightly cushioned feel from the supercritical EVA. If we had to nitpick, the one downside is that the foam used here doesn't have the same inherent energy-returning qualities as a standard PEBA like Nike ZoomX or supercritical PEBA like Saucony PWRRUN HG. However, unless you're ripping off sub-16 minute 5ks, you likely won't notice the performance difference between The Artist and a PEBA-based racer like the Nike Vaporfly or Adidas Pro 3.
11. Altra Vanish Tempo: Best Zero Drop Training Shoe with Supercritical Foam
The Altra Vanish Tempo is a non-plated uptempo shoe with a soft and bouncy ride. It uses Altra's supercritical EGO Pro foam and is the best speedy zero drop training option on the market today. All of Altra's shoes use a zero drop platform where the forefoot is the same height as the heel, plus the shoe's use a "foot-shaped" last rather than the triangular, rocket-like design of other mainstream brands. The underfoot experience of the Vanish Tempo is a mix of comfort and responsiveness, with the supercritical EGO Pro foam providing a versatile, cushioned ride that responds well to pace changes. Faster runners may prefer a firmer option for speed workouts like the Brooks Hyperion Max (also non-plated but does have a drop) or Altra Vanish Carbon.
Altra Vanish Tempo
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12. Altra Vanish Carbon: Best Zero Drop Racing Shoe with Supercritical Foam
The Altra Vanish Carbon is a zero drop marathon racer with a supercritical foam and a half-length carbon plate (forefoot only) that provide a bouncy, soft and stable ride. All of Altra's shoes use the zero drop platform, so the brand is limited with the type of set up they can use for a racer—where other brands use a higher drop of at least 6mm to put runners up on their toes, Altra had to get creative. As a workaround, the Vanish Carbon has a strong forefoot rocker that helps make the stride more efficient and move you quickly through the gait cycle. The Vanish Carbon comes in at 7.3 ounces, on par with shoes like the New Balance SC Elite v3 (7.7 ounces), Asics Metaspeed Edge+ (7.4 oz) and Sky+ (7.2), Endorphin Elite (7.2 oz) and Endorphin Pro (7.2), but heavier than the race-day king Vaporfly Next% 3. For runners seeking a zero drop race day shoe with a supercritical foam, the Vanish Carbon is the best (and only) option with a carbon-fiber plate.
Altra Vanish Carbon
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13. New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2: Best High Mileage Running Shoe with Supercritical Foam
The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2, also known as the SC Trainer v2, is a training shoe designed to handle the high-mileage needs of marathon preparation. One of the best high-mileage trainers on the market, the SC Trainer has a cushioned and bouncy ride, a rare combination that comes from the supercritical FuelCell foam paired with the rigid carbon-fiber plate. The bottom of the shoe uses negative space via a cutout in the center heel area of the midsole to create stable landings. The upper is padded and comfortable, giving the shoe a general vibe that leans pleasant and plodding rather than fast and aggressive. Plus, at a heavy 9.7 ounces, you won't want to pick up the pace much in this.
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2
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14. Atreyu Daily Trainer ($110): Best Affordable Shoe using Supercritical Foam
The Atreyu Daily Trainer is an everyday running shoe that uses a full-length midsole of supercritical EVA. Atreyu is committed to delivering simple running shoes at affordable prices, and the Daily Trainer executes on that brief as the approachable shoe in the lineup. Where the Base Model skews no-frills and minimal and the Artist is the plated racer, the Daily Trainer sits in the middle as the versatile workhorse. With a 30mm heel stack of foam and 6mm drop, it has a moderately cushioned platform that's perfect for those 4 to 8 mile base-building runs that make up the bulk of training. It also has a full covering of outsole rubber with nobs that are almost as pronounced as lugs on a trail shoe, making this a solid all-terrain option. The Daily Trainer also has a clean and classic design that looks great for casual wear—the only downside of this shoe is that it's like driving a Kia EV instead of a Tesla; it looks great, but you'll be answering questions all day about what it is.
Atreyu Daily Trainer
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15. Puma Deviate Nitro 2 ($160): Most Durable Running Shoe Using Supercritical Foam
The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is a dual-foam midsole training shoe that has a bouncy and responsive ride. The midsole uses two different types of supercritical foam: Nitro, which is a supercritical EVA, and Nitro Elite, which is a supercritical PEBA. The EVA foam creates a firmer heel area for landing while the supercritical PEBA in the forefoot provides pop and peppiness. The Deviato Nitro also has a carbon composite plate which assists the PEBA in adding snap to the platform and also stabilizes it out on the run. Unlike many of the other supercritical foam training and racing shoes on this list, the Deviate Nitro 2 has a large application of rubber on the bottom of the shoe, which adds grip and will prevent the foam from degrading. At 9.2 ounces, the Deviate Nitro 2 is on the heavier end for supercritical training shoes, but the tradeoff is that you're getting more durability.
Puma Deviate Nitro 2
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Final Thoughts
Supercritical foam is one of the advances in running shoe technology that has made shoes faster and more fun. From race day rockets like the Endorphin Elite to workhorse training shoes like the New Balance Rebel v3, the world of supercritical shoes has something to offer every runner. To see the full list of supercritical shoes available today, head over to the supercritical shoe section on the Supwell running shoe marketplace.
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