KIPRUN has expanded their line up, literally in this case. The KS900 has grown. Now a max cushioned monster, does it soak up the shocks without breaking the bank?
KIPRUN KS900 2: All Grown Up
Tim: In 2022 and early 2023 KIPRUN, the running brand of Decathlon, decided to address two new markets: racing shoes, and max cushion daily trainers. The first one with the KD900X (superfoam and a carbon plate) while the second was addressed by the KS900.
If we are honest, durability and price aside, neither were great successes. Of course, they were really affordable shoes (€150 for the first one and €120 for the second) but the value for money was not very impressive. In 2024 KIPRUN returns with a 2nd iteration for both shoes. Is the value for money of the KS900 2 better? This is the question we will try to answer through this multi-tester review
Specs:
Product details from KIPRUN
Weight: 300g | 10,6oz (men’s US8,5)
Stack height: 39mm
Heel-to-toe drop: 6mm
Price: €140 | £120
KIPRUN KS900 2 Upper: A New Recipe But Still Missing Magic
Tim: KIPRUN have changed a lot on the KS900 2, including in the upper. What hasn’t changed is the amount of padding. You have a lot of padding everywhere, in the heel cup but also the tongue. While the heel cup works pretty well for me with a comfy but secure heel lockdown, the tongue is too padded for my liking. The good point is that you will probably never experience lace bite. On the other hand, it feels over-padded, almost like a duvet on the top of the foot. For me, in this situation, less padding would be more comfortable. Here is where similarity with the previous version ends. Everything else has changed.
Where the previous laces were too thin and could be improved, KIPRUN has implemented thicker laces. The lockdown is good enough without runner’s knot and I didn’t experience any issue with the laces coming untied. Nevertheless, for a reason I cannot explain, they are long, very long. They could do with a reduction of at least 5 – 6 cm. Meanwhile, the upper itself has also changed for a full knit mesh with no forefoot reinforcement like its predecessor. It’s definitely more pleasant to wear than the mesh used in other KIPRUN shoes (KD900X, KD900 Light) but it’s not as comfortable as it looks.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not uncomfortable, nor abrasive like a Nike FlyKnit may be. However, I would love to have something a bit more pleasant to the touch. Finally, this new mesh is completely unstructured in the forefoot and offers a decent amount of space from a lateral point of view which could please people who are looking for a bit of volume.
Nevertheless, I would not recommend the shoe for people with wide feet, as the shoe tapers to finish in a pointed tip. Furthermore, this is why I consider it a TTS shoe despite the roomy feeling. I can understand that doing it reduces the weight. However, as the shoe is a max cushion daily trainer, I would say that comfort must take precedence over weight. Therefore, it’s a mixed feeling for the upper, a good lockdown, a comfortable heel cup, but a fit with too much volume while being narrow at the end of the toe box.
Foot Hugging Comfort
Andy: I broadly agree with Tim about the upper of the KS900 2. Initially, the step in is comfortable and lockdown is easy to achieve. However, I do disagree about the material. I do find it like the older types of Nike’s Flyknit which was much more of a sock like material. Stretchy, comfortable and moulds itself to the shape of my foot while still leaving some wiggle room for toes.
The shape may indeed be a little concerning for people with wide feet. All along the forefoot, the taper becomes more emphasised before ending in a narrowed point. Despite the stretch of the material, the shape of the last isn’t that accommodating. Furthermore, I do agree about the tongue. Whilst it does reduce lace pressure, the longer the shoe is on foot for, the more constrictive it becomes. There was a day when I had the KS900 2 on for many hours and had to untie the laces to reduce the pressure from the thick tongue.
Overall, it is a shoe with good step-in comfort and easy to achieve lockdown.
Midsole: Now We Can Talk Maximalism
Tim: Unlike the upper, the midsole is the same EVA based MFOAM as the previous version. The main change comes from the stack as it has been increased by 10mm! A massive increase and KIPRUN now has a true max cushion shoe that the KS900 wasn’t truly. Underfoot, you really feel the 39mm of foam that absorbs shocks.
How does it ride?
It’s softer than its predecessor, the KS900 2 while still in the firmer range of maximalist shoes. To give you some comparison, it’s softer than the HOKA Bondi 8 or Altra’s Olympus, but firmer than Nike’s Invincible, ASICS’ Nimbus 26 or even the Brooks Ghost Max. Take into consideration that she shoe needs about 20 – 30km of break in time to really feel the softness.
Also, I notice that the more I heel strike, the softer the ride seems to be. Therefore, I would say that if you’re a true heel striker (which is completely fine and normal, it’s important to remain that) you could find it quite soft. While it’s soft and absorbs the shock, it’s not bouncy at all. Therefore, don’t expect to push the speed with the KS900 2. For me, it’s made for recovery and easy only.
Knowing the capability of Decathlon to build robust products, I would not be surprised if the foam remains the same for a huge distance. That being said, the drawback to this huge amount of dense foam is probably the weight. The shoe is one of the heaviest maximalist shoes I’ve ever experienced and, even if it’s not my first criteria for this kind of shoe, I would love to reduce it a bit. Here, it’s a bit too heavy and due to the lack of bounce, I feel it is energy sapping even for those slower recovery runs.
Don’t also forget that I’m a very light runner and therefore feel even more the difference in terms of shoe weight compared to my own body weight. On the other hand, as the foam is quite dense, stability is good for this stack height. Stable without forcing me to land in a specific way.
To sum up for the midsole and the ride, I found that the shoe does the job. Nothing fancy at all, especially if you are a midfoot or forefoot striker, but totally okay if you’re a heel striker and even more if you’re above 70kg.
Dense, Durable Cushion
Andy: I concur with Tim about the shoe needing some break in time. The more miles I have put into it, the softer it has become. MFOAM, as Tim says, is dense and insulates the legs from shock rather than giving a lively bouncy ride like ZoomX or FuelCell. It does share more in common with Brooks’ DNA Flash foam which gives it stability.
As Tim says, it is not a fast shoe, nor is it designed to be. It is a shoe for easy running and soaking up the miles. Here, it does well. I have no real issue with the weight of the shoe, it is not something I have found myself particularly noticing in my running so far. As the shoe rolls through my gait cycle, I don’t find it sinks too much due to the density of the foam. Being a forefoot striker, Tim is correct, the KS900 2 isn’t a flashy or exciting shoe. It is a stable, daily, easy-paced cruiser.
KIPRUN KS900 2 Outsole: Thick and Robust
Tim: When we come to the outsole, I was really impressed by the amount of rubber. Trail shoes aside, it’s probably one of the thickest outsoles I’ve seen. As always with KIPRUN, it seems to be really robust. After more than 50km in them, it looks nearly untouched. Therefore, I would not be surprised if the shoe goes above 1000km (600 miles) easily. For a shoe with a MSRP of €140, it’s quite impressive. The grip is solid and even when I’ve run on wet concrete or pavement I didn’t experience any slips.
Andy: Here, I don’t have much to add. The rubber has kept me stuck to the ground through rainy cobbles to mud spattered pavement and the occasional jaunt across the grass.
KIPRUN KS900 2 Conclusion: Durable But Sapping
Tim: On the positive side, KIPRUN finally has a true maximalist shoe! It could be your partner in crime for your easy or long recovery runs especially if you’re heavier than me (57kg) and heel strike. As always with KIPRUN and Decathlon, the durability seems very high and I see the shoe going 1000km (which is really rare these days). Finally, the price is good and, even without discount, it’s probably one of the most affordable maximalist shoes on the market. On the other hand, the shoe has for me some real areas of improvement.
Whilst it’s comfortable in the heel area, it could be improved with a better last shape in the front, enhanced mesh and shorter laces. It has a pleasant ride, but it is heavy and lacks bounce which is unfortunate as it drains some energy on what is supposed to be a recovery run. Finally, even though the price without discount is really good, you can already find previous iterations of other maximalist shoes with massive discounts. Consequently, at a lower price than the KS900 2.
Dependable But Dull
Andy: This is a big, maximally cushioned shoe. What it lacks in versatility it makes up for in comfort and value. If you are looking for excitement in your easy runs, the Nike Invincible or something similar will be more to your taste. That being said, if you want a shoe which will last you many a mile, keep you protected from the pounding of the pavement then the KS900 2 is well worth considering.
For a KS900 3.0, I would like to see the foam become a little softer from the offset and, as Tim says, a little less harsh taper through the forefoot. The tongue could also do with losing some padding as it is constrictive if your feet swell during your wear time. Overall, KIPRUN have done a good job of creating a more budget friendly maximally cushioned shoe which is sure to outlast most of its competitors.
Tim
30 years old
169cm (5’5″) – 57kg (125lbs)
Heel/Midfoot striker – Cadence runner
Moderate pronator