Superfoam Showdown: Adidas Lightstrike Pro, Nike ZoomX, Saucony PWRRUN PB, Tracksmith Pebax

It's wild territory in the world of performance running shoes. Brands are dropping new race day shoes with proprietary super foam blends everywhere we look. Consider us your compass here at Supwell. To make sense of the market (aka jungle), we looked at a few of the different popular super foams to let you know how they perform, what they're best for and how they can be used in your rotation.

Superfoams Compared: Adidas vs Nike vs Saucony vs Tracksmith Pebax

For our first batch of super foam comparisons, we looked at three of the most popular race day foams and one wild card specifically formulated for daily training. We added the Tracksmith into the mix to see how the foam compounds can vary based on the shoe and maker, as the Pebax in the Eliot is sourced from the same manufacturer and is the same compound as Nike ZoomX. 

The Contenders:

• Adidas Lightstrike Pro: as found in Takumi Sen 8
• Nike ZoomX: as found in Nike Vaporfly Next% 2
• Saucony PWRRUN PB: as found in Endorphin Pro 3
• Pebax: as found in Tracksmith Eliot Rubber

Adidas Lightstrike Pro: Bouncy, Resilient, Firm

Lightstrike Pro is firmer bouncier and not as cushioned as some of the other race day foams on this list and in the market. What it lacks in softness it makes up in with a responsive underfoot feel that, when combined with Adidas' carbon fiber Energy Rods, provides a propulsive ride. Lightstrike Pro is a supercritical TPE, meaning the base compound has gone through a process where gas is injected into the foam. This results in an airier foam with more bounce and pop. Other supercritical foams on the market include Brook's DNA Loft v3 found in the Aurora BL and Glycerin 20 and Saucony's PWRRUN HG found in the Endorphin Elite.

Supercritical foams are almost like those bouncy balls that you could get as a kid from the machines in the drug store where you throw a quarter in, spin the dial and get the thing to come out (yes, we just called it a drug store and no we're not your grandma). It's not going to give you a cushioned and plush ride, and is firmer to the touch than some of the other foams, but it is going to feel fast and bouncy. In shoes like the Takumi Sen, Lightstrike Pro feels best for efficient runners who don't mind a firmer ride.

Shoes with Adidas Lightstrike Pro:

• Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
• Adidas Takumi Sen 9
• Adidas Boston 12 (top layer only)
• Adidas Adios 8 (forefoot only)
• Adidas Adizero SL (forefoot puck only)

Saucony PWRRUN PB: Soft, Cushioned, Bouncy

The PWRRUN PB compound from Saucony is a beaded PEBA that's soft and bouncy. It uses the same compound that's in the Tracksmith Eliot and the Nike Vaporfly, but here the expanded bead application gives it a different feel. This foam is the most forgiving and versatile of the batch we tested. It feels compliant at slower paces and makes the Pro 3 and Speedd 3, both shoes with thick stacks of PWRRUN PB, decent options for running at everyday paces. 

Because it's softer, it benefits from having a full carbon fiber plate to reinforce the platform. For faster runners targeting a sub-3 hour marathon, the PWRRUN PB in the Speed 3—paired with a nylon plate—can feel too soft at fast training paces. The Pro 3 feels just right with the full-length carbon plate.

Shoes with Saucony PWRRUN PB:

• Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
• Saucony Endorphin Speed 3
• Saucony Kinvara Pro (layer)
• Saucony Sinister
• Saucony Tempus (inner core)

Nike ZoomX: Airy, Responsive, Bouncy

ZoomX first came out to the public in 2017 with the original Nike 4% shoe that redefined racing shoes for the modern runner. It was the first super foam on the market, and with it, Nike demonstrated that the formula for energy return and efficiency was to pair a bouncy foam with a rigid and lightweight reinforcement in the carbon fiber plate. To date, brands have been unable to match the energy returning benefits provided by the ZoomX and carbon fiber (it's been tested by scientists. More on that here).

The ZoomX compound is firmer to the touch but soft underfoot. The foam provides a floating sensation from the lighter weight and bouncy properties. We can also feel the ZoomX compress more under our feet than any of the other foams tested—and we suspect that its ability to rapidly compress and expand is what gives it the edge on race day.

Shoes with Nike ZoomX:

• Nike Vaporfly Next% 3
• Nike Alphafly Next% 2
• Nike Streakfly
• Nike Invincible 3
• Nike Zoomfly 5

Tracksmith's Pebax: Firm, Responsive, Stable

For their first running shoe, boutique running apparel brand Tracksmith sourced their midsole foam from Arkana, the makers of real-deal Pebax as seen in Nike ZoomX and Topo's Cyclone shoe. Each of the brands have a different take on the compound, likely working with Arkana to customize it to the needs of each shoe. In Tracksmith's Eliot Runner, we see two versions of the foam: a supercritical Pebax injected with gas in the removable sockliner and a standard version in the midsole.

The supercritical Pebax in the Eliot Runner sockliner is soft, squishy and cushioned. We can feel it compress and provide a plush platform for our feet, especially when standing, walking or jogging at slow paces. The non-supercritical Pebax in the midsole is firmer and more responsive, providing a stable platform for landings and a snappy toe-off when you pick up the pace. At everyday running speeds, however, the Pebax in the Eliot Runner feels less like a super foam as constructed in the Adidas, Saucony and Nike shoes and more like a standard EVA foam. The Eliot is a daily trainer, after all, so it's not designed to give a super bouncy feel.

Shoes with Pebax:

• Tracksmith Eliot Runner
• Topo Athletic Cyclone 2
• Speedland GS:TAM
• Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 (ZoomX)
• Nike Alphafly Next% 2 (ZoomX)
• Nike Streakfly (ZoomX)
• Nike Invincible 3 (ZoomX)
• Nike Zoomfly 5 (ZoomX)

Head-to-Head Comparisons: Lightstrike Pro, ZoomX, PWRRUN PB, Tracksmith Pebax

Here's a quick recap of our findings.

Lightstrike Pro vs ZoomX

Adidas Lightstrike Pro is a firm and dense supercritical TPE, while Nike ZoomX is a soft, bouncy and airy Pebax. ZoomX feels more forgiving underfoot, while Lightstrike Pro can be harsh at slower paces. Both Lightstrike Pro and ZoomX are great options in their brand's respective marathon racing shoes.

ZoomX vs PWWRUN PB

Nike ZoomX and Saucony PWRRUN PB are soft, bouncy and lightweight PEBA foams. PWWRUN PB is a beaded compound, so you can see the expanded pellets in the midsole. In their comparable raceday applications—Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 and Saucony Endorphin Pro 3—the ride of ZoomX feels more like rhythmic gliding, while the PWRRUN PB feels more like a bouncy trampoline.

Tracksmith Pebax vs PWRRUN PB, ZoomX, Lightstrike Pro

Tracksmith uses two types of Pebax in the Eliot runner: a supercritical one in the removable sockliner, and a standard one in the midsole. The standard midsole Pebax compound is firmer and considerably less bouncy than PWRRUN PB, ZoomX or Lightstrike Pro. The supercritical sockliner is similar in feel to ZoomX and Lightstrike Pro, but its limited application in the sockliner is used to provide cushion rather than speed.

Final Thoughts

Each brand has a different take on what a super foam should be. Adidas goes for energy return above all else; Saucony provides comfort; and Nike goes for airy (and dominant, in the lab and on the podium). Whichever you choose, there's a great super shoe out here waiting to help you chase your next goal.