Fast 5k Road Racing Flat

Agree with previous posts on the Streak LT4. Very fast racing flat but have some comfort and reliability issues. I find they are very stiff and confining out of the box but become quite comfortable after 50 miles or so. The only downside is the upper deteriorates quickly. I have a couple pairs which I use for workouts that are WELL broken in. I use shoe goo to reinforce the uppers on these when they tear, while reserving a new pair for racing.

I plan keeping up this rotating system as long as they make the shoe; In terms of 5k speed they can’t be beat.

Land Down Under wrote:

Agree with previous posts on the Streak LT4. Very fast racing flat but have some comfort and reliability issues. I find they are very stiff and confining out of the box but become quite comfortable after 50 miles or so. The only downside is the upper deteriorates quickly. I have a couple pairs which I use for workouts that are WELL broken in. I use shoe goo to reinforce the uppers on these when they tear, while reserving a new pair for racing.

I plan keeping up this rotating system as long as they make the shoe; In terms of 5k speed they can’t be beat.

These are a great shoe, for mile-half marathon races.

I found them to be completely dead on tracks though. Not a good substitute for spikes for track workouts.

Adidas Takumi Sen (if you can find it in the States....), 6mm drop, 170g on the usual reference size. The grip of these shoes is phenomenal. Holds the current 10k road world record btw...

KAV wrote:

Adidas Takumi Sen (if you can find it in the States....), 6mm drop, 170g on the usual reference size. The grip of these shoes is phenomenal. Holds the current 10k road world record btw...

Another vote for Takumi Sen over the Streaks, though both are solid and I haven't tried many of the others listed.

AhWhatTheCheese wrote:

I like the Reebok Floatride Run Fast Pros as the lightest traditional flat with pebax and the Skechers Speed Elite are aslo excellent short distance racers. They are under 6oz, and basically feel like a lighter, faster, but more forgiving Asics Metaracer. They have a carbon plate in the forefoot that turns over and toes off faster than anything else I have tried.

The New Balance RC Elite is a lot like the 4% with a less aggressive drop off up front, but a super nice outsole and less awkward feeling.

Which shoe are you saying "turns over and toes off faster" of the ones you mention?

Thanks

KAV wrote:

Adidas Takumi Sen (if you can find it in the States....), 6mm drop, 170g on the usual reference size. The grip of these shoes is phenomenal. Holds the current 10k road world record btw...

It seems like these are either discontinued or just not a priority for Adidas...been keeping an eye out for them for a while and haven't seen anything.

It seems like most shoe companies are all moving away from low drop, low stack racers, unfortunately.

shoe collector wrote:

AhWhatTheCheese wrote:

I like the Reebok Floatride Run Fast Pros as the lightest traditional flat with pebax and the Skechers Speed Elite are aslo excellent short distance racers. They are under 6oz, and basically feel like a lighter, faster, but more forgiving Asics Metaracer. They have a carbon plate in the forefoot that turns over and toes off faster than anything else I have tried.

The New Balance RC Elite is a lot like the 4% with a less aggressive drop off up front, but a super nice outsole and less awkward feeling.

Which shoe are you saying "turns over and toes off faster" of the ones you mention?

Thanks

The Skechers Speed Elite. It is designed like the Metaracer with a plate up front, but it is lighter, more forgiving, and has a quicker turnover. It really flies at 5k pace. The toeoff and turnover feel quicker than anything else I have tried, and I have tried all of the new racers other than the Adidas Adios Pro, any of the Hokas (their foams are not inspired typically), and On which just looks totally normal.

For a traditional flat, go with the Reebok Floatride Run Fast Pro. It is the lightest you can get, has Pebax, and is great for 5ks. It is on sale for like half off right now at $125.

The Skechers Speed 6 is another traditional flat to mention. I'd take the Reebok for traditional or the Speed Elite over the Speed 6 for it's turnover and toeoff, but the Speed 6 is a good flat and runs cheaper than the Reebok base price. The Reebok is on sale in one colorway though...

For a shoe that combines newer plate designs with a lower stack, get the Skechers Speed Elite. The Reebok is lighter and more traditional in design with pebax, but this takes the plated design to the forefoot of the midsole with a nice rocker. The shoe is still only 5.7 ounces and that roll, turnover, and toeoff is just incredibly quick and light.

The New Balance 5280 would also kinda be one to mention. It is basically a track spike for the road with Fuelcell and a carbon plate. Where the Skechers is almost like a spike for 5k-10k and up to half for some, the 5280 is more like mile-5k.

The Asics Metaracer is a lot like the Skechers except worse in my opinion. It is heavier by like an ounce, awkward forefoot fit, midsole is meh, transition is not as quick, and equally to less forgiving.

The Adizero Pro is also pretty meh except it is also a lot heavier than the Metaracer. More of a trainer tbh. Feels decent at easy pace and picking up the pace. Insole needs to cup the foot more though because sitting on top with a low upper is a not great for lockdown.

For a Vaporfly/Alphafly alternative, the New Balance RC elite is the most comparable. It feels like a 4% more than a Next%, but it has that soft bouncy midsole feel. The outsole grip is excellent though and it has less of an awkward arch feel and feels better at slower paces because of less narrowness and dropoff.

The Saucony Endorphin Pro/Speed are great as well. The really have that pebax response and a very quick roll. They definitely feel less forgiving than some of the others though. The roll is fairly aggressive and the midsole is firmer than zoomx or fuelcell. They are certainly a fast shoe, but not as leg saving. I don't think it would matter as much in a 5k though.

The Hyperion Elite 2 is a good stable, well cushioned, cruiser. I wouldn't recommend it for shorter races and the midsole is not the most responsive of these, but it does feel very protected and stable. It has some give and bounce as well, but is definitely a long distance shoe.

I also have the Xtep 160x, which is actually excellent as well. It has pebax and feels a bit like a mix between the 4% and Pegasus Turbo or is a bit like the Fuelcell RC elite. It feels better at normal paces than the 4%, but is has a plate with some flex and has pebax. The shoe can be ordered from Asia, but sizes are very limited and may be almost out now.

I have not tried the Hoka Carbon Rocket, CarbonX, or RocketX. Their foams have not been exciting to me.

I have not tried the On shoe either. Just seems like they stuck a plate in a traditional flat and their On gimmick.

I have also not tried the Adidas Adios Pro. I didn't get it the first time and missed the second drop. I looked on the app and it wasn't there, but it was on the website I think.

I have also tried the 4% flynit, Next%, and now the Alphafly. I prefer the Next% over the 4%. I have only run once in the Alphafly, but definitely still prefer the Next% currently. I am not a huge fan of the airpods in Tempo/Alpha and not a fan of air in other Nike running shoes.

After trying all of these, the Next% is my favorite high stack one still. The Skechers Speed Elite is my favorite lower stack plated shoe. The Reebok RF Pro is my favorite traditional flat.

Great overview. I have the Next% and love them for longer road races.

Gonna get the Speed Elite for shorter stuff.

shoe collector2 wrote:

Great overview. I have the Next% and love them for longer road races.

Gonna get the Speed Elite for shorter stuff.

Have fun. They really are quick shoes. The other advantage is you can take them on even an indoor track for repeats because of the lower stack and stavle forefoot and toeoff. I have done 400 repeats on an indoor track with them and they killed it. I wouldn't dream of doing that in the Next% rounding those curves at 60 something second 400s on an indoor track.

They are called the Adidas Takumi Sen 5. A japanese high schooler wore them in a track race and ran 13:56 or 57 so I bet they are fast.

I got proof of it also：

https://twitter.com/yk43150_4/status/1198960837320331264

Disclaimer: Replies of "Companies don't make any money on racing flats" not welcome (nor persuasive).

Anyone have any insight on why, years after Nike has had Zoom X foam (bounce shoes) - or even React foam - they have NOT made a new Streak-like shoe using one or both? Like, I'm guessing, Reebok's super lightweight flat.

I can see some delay. But years? Lots of people wouldn't want a thin, super racy shoe with bouncy/soft foam? I know I would (although I've yet been too cheap to buy the Reebok version).

What am I missing ?

The reply you won’t allow certainly is part of it.

But the other answer is that they are busy showcasing technology and charging a ton for it.

Keep in mind that the Reebok Pro is almost always half price.

Remember the original adidas sub 2?

Me neither.

They are working on it and it is called the Hyperfly. They also have the Dragonfly now for the track.

New Balance also has the Fuelcell 5280 and their Fuelcell LDX and MDX for the track.

Great overview by "AhWhatTheCheese".

I'm not sure why some people are pushing the Takumi Sen. I have one (boost version), and it's fine, but nothing special. Not sure it's even available anymore either.

I'll add that I have the Reebok Run Fast Pro and will 2nd that it's an amazing traditional flat. Much lighter than the Takumi Sen but with better cushion. My Takumi Sens have long since been retired in favor of the RFP when I'm looking for pure light and fast (not slightly heavier and plated).

Skechers Speed Elite is supposed to be great, but I'm annoyed that they're still not producing half sizes. I bought a 10 and an 11 and returned both. For a pricey purchase and for a racing shoe, I really want it to fit properly and for me that means a 10.5. But for runners who aren't in between the full sizes, it's definitely worth a look for a plated shoe that's still really light.

My Sen 5s both felt much more natural in the toe-off than RFP and lasted longer. They are like 2 oz heavier, yes. RFP are crazy light.

if i hated the ride in the razor 3 would i enjoy the speed elite?

*stipe wrote:

The reply you won’t allow certainly is part of it.

But the other answer is that they are busy showcasing technology and charging a ton for it.

Keep in mind that the Reebok Pro is almost always half price.

Remember the original adidas sub 2?

Me neither.

But wasn’t the Zoom X foam exactly half of the showcased tech in the new shoes? (The other half being the plate). They’ve been selling just that half in a $180 Peg Turbo for a few years (one of the best shoes I’ve ever run in, and I go back decades to when flats were truly flats).

So, again, perplexing to me why, if they’ve “bothered” to sell a low tech Streak LT for years and years (for a modest price), they wouldn’t throw some Zoom X foam on it (and perhaps sell it for considerably more). If they can sell a Turbo for $180, couldn’t they sell a Zoom X (or perhaps React) Streak LT for somewhere between $100 and that? Or more? Reebok bothered to do so. Why not Nike?

datrippeleffect wrote:

if i hated the ride in the razor 3 would i enjoy the speed elite?

Hard to know unless you specify what you didn't like. The foam is the same, but the geometry, ride, and transition are quite different.