Tracksmith Eliot Racer Introduction:
After debuting the Eliot Runner back in 2023, Tracksmith is now making its return to the footwear scene. This time, stepping into the race day category for the first time. As always, I expect the materials to be just as premium as the design suggests, with a luxurious aesthetic that stands out. While it doesn’t appear as high-stacked as some of the current super shoe contenders, Tracksmith may have a few tricks up its sleeve to deliver more protection than meets the eye. Let’s find out if the Eliot Racer distinguishes itself not only through design but also in performance.
Premium materials and workmanship make the Eliot fit Tracksmith’s ethos
Ivan: As always, Tracksmith manages to stand apart from other running brands by offering a design language that’s refreshingly different from what you typically see in the running world. Much like their popular apparel, the Eliot Racer exudes the feeling of a product that’s been thoughtfully crafted, down to the smallest details. It even arrives in a sleek, luxurious box. The experience is elevated further by the subtle touches: satin/gold accents. Even motivational quotes hidden inside the shoe.
Sure, some of it may come off as fancy showmanship or borderline gimmicky. However, it’s still refreshing to see a brand that wholeheartedly commits to its heritage and values.
You get a shoe that not only looks the part but is built to be pounded on the roads of something like the local Boston Marathon. Meanwhile, it wouldn’t look out of place lounging poolside at any White Lotus resort. Whether that’s your vibe is entirely up to you, but one thing’s certain. It stands out in a race day category still ruled by teen-gamer colours like volt, pink, and neon orange.
Beyond the aesthetics, the upper of the Tracksmith Eliot Racer is a bit of engineering craftsmanship. Arguably, this is part of the justification for the premium price tag. Like the Eliot Runner, this model features high-end materials and thoughtful detailing. This includes a microsuede-lined collar and tongue, rarely seen stitching throughout the upper, and a nicely textured fabric on the insole. Even the laces get special treatment, with a rubberised texture on one side to help keep them securely tied. It’s all very refined.
That said, considering it’s not among the lightest options in the race day category, I can’t help but wonder if a few grams could’ve been shaved off with different material choices. Then again, for most loyal Tracksmith fans, this kind of extravagance is probably part of the appeal.
When it comes to fit, I have to be honest – getting into the Eliot Racer has been a bit of a struggle every single time. That’s not entirely unusual for race day shoes. In this case, it’s the gusseted tongue that creates the issue. The stretchy fabric holding it in place makes it tough to slip your foot in. Every time I do, I worry I’ll rip it. I don’t even have a particularly high arch, so I imagine others might find it even more challenging.
That being said, once the shoe is on, I really enjoy the overall fit. It’s not as aggressively snug as some race day shoes, but it’s incredibly comfortable. There’s zero heel slippage, a secure mid foot wrap, and a toe box that fits my foot shape and preferences perfectly. A more rigid/reinforced bottom part of the upper adds structure all the way around. Furthermore, the heel counter brings some stiffness to offer stability without ever feeling intrusive. The engineered woven mesh upper has a sleek, almost silky appearance, though it does feel a bit plasticky to the touch. Still, it feels great on the run. However, I do wish it were a bit more breathable, but it’s never been a deal-breaker.
Maisie: Everything about the upper of the Tracksmith Eliot Racer looks and feels premium. I wouldn’t expect anything less. It looks very different from any shoe on the market right now, especially a carbon plated race shoe and I am here for it. The Eliot Racer is a really sophisticated looking shoe with an understated and sleek silhouette. The gold detailing, the delicate shimmer to the mesh and the embellished iconic ‘Eliot’ hare logos. Honestly, I love it all!
I am not sure how Tracksmith has created a gold running shoe that still manages to look understated compared to the rest of the racers on the market, but they somehow have. They really are an elegant shoe, but the detailing isn’t just for aesthetics. The gold sash is aligned with the carbon plate. Therefore it also supports lockdown in the midfoot. Another big bonus is that due to the sophisticated look of the shoe you can happily wear them beyond racing; think race at 9am, brunch at 11am!
A lightweight engineered mesh takes upper duties. With this, it hugs the foot securely offering a tailored fit but for me was not at all restrictive. The shoe is notably snug, therefore this isn’t a surprise. As Ivan notes, the woven mesh does feel a bit plasticky. In this particular detail, it feels that Trackmith has gone for aesthetics over practically, as it does tend to hold the heat. It isn’t a deal breaker, but I agree with Ivan I would have liked a bit more breathability.
Stable, nimble and comfortable. The midsole may be your race day choice
Ivan: As mentioned earlier, the visual appearance of the Eliot Racer suggests a more traditional, lower-stacked race day shoe. One which disguises the 38mm stack height in the heel. Tracksmith has employed a similar approach to the On Cloudboom Strike. In this instance, using a drop-in midsole construction (22mm/12mm) made from an A-TPU foam compound. This sits above a Pebax chassis. Sandwiched between those two layers is a full-length, fairly flexible carbon plate, positioned close to the ground thanks to that drop-in design. All in, this offers a fair amount of protection underfoot.
On paper, this midsole setup should deliver plenty of energy return and propulsion. But in reality, something is lacking. The ride is surprisingly muted. It is not quite as bouncy or energetic as I expected. This stands out especially compared to the offering of most modern day super shoes. The rocker is also quite subtle, which doesn’t help when it comes to creating an aggressive toe-off. Overall, the ride remains comfortable at all times. However, it just lacks the kind of pop and excitement that many runners look for on race day.
One annoyance worth mentioning is a noticeable squeaky noise coming from the midsole. Annoyingly, this has only grown more pronounced over time. It’s not the first time I’ve run into this kind of issue with a running shoe. It might just be a one-off with my pair – but still, something to keep in mind if you’re sensitive to that sort of thing.
So, who’s the Eliot Racer for? If you’re someone who appreciates the cushioning of a modern race day shoe but prefers a ride that doesn’t feel overly detached from the ground, this might be just your thing. While it’s not a stability shoe by any means, it also doesn’t fall into the category of the most unstable super shoes either. It feels nimble and agile underfoot, even when shifting gears. That agility might be the Eliot Racer’s strongest asset, at least for my personal preferences.
While I don’t see it as my go-to shoe for races, I do appreciate its comfort and versatility across a range of paces. Although the price is definitely up there, the premium build, durability, and versatility could make it a more justifiable investment. Overall, it is a comfortable, capable all-rounder with uptempo potential that feels naturally connected to the road.
Maisie: Initially, I was pretty sceptical about how the Tracksmith Eliot Racer would perform. I always knew it would look the part, but Tracksmith is an apparel brand at its core. Honestly, I wasn’t too sure if they would hit the mark on a carbon plated race shoe.
To begin with, they were a lovely surprise. The ride of the shoe is smooth, light and surprisingly cushioned. It feels comfortable, you feel connected to the ground. Moreover, it has just enough energy return to make your easy miles feel light and effortless. However, this is a carbon plated running shoe and as Ivan notes, there really is something just lacking. I just wanted a bit more energy return, propulsion, a ‘pop’. However, they just feel a bit too flat for me. The rocker is also subtle and much less aggressive than other racing shoes on the market. Some may prefer this, but again for me, I’d prefer more propulsion and a more responsive ride for a racing shoe.
The biggest issue I have with the ride comes from the insole. The inner section of the insole is a geometric patterned fabric, which offers both comfort and traction. However, the outer perimeter of the insole is a slightly slippy fabric, which has a plasticky feel to it.
This caused some real issues for me for a number of reasons. The primary concern was an issue around traction of my foot inside the shoe. With the sleek and slippy nature of the fabric around the outer edge of the insole, my feet had a lot more forward and backward movement than usual. I found my feet slipping forward in the shoe, despite getting a good lockdown before heading out on the run.
This only got worse the further I ran as sweat built up in the shoe (linked back to the breathability issues). The slipping in my foot led to some hot spots and also a slightly off running gait and aching at the front of my shins. I tried various different socks, but unfortunately, nothing seemed to help.
The other issue linked to this slippy plasticky fabric around the insole is the squeak. Wow, when I say the squeak is loud, this doesn’t do it justice. I have never experienced a squeak this loud in a running shoe. Honestly, I actually felt a bit ridiculous the first time I wore them! I am aware that others, including Ivan, had the same issue. Unfortunately, it sounds like a design fault, rather than an issue with my own pair.
Durable, reliable traction from Tracksmith
Ivan: The Tracksmith Eliot Racer features a surprisingly generous amount of rubber outsole coverage. Much more than you’d typically find on most race day shoes. It’s a design choice that fits right in with the overall emphasis on durability seen throughout the rest of the shoe. Honestly, I can’t imagine the outsole wearing down anytime soon. If anything, the midsole will likely give out first.
Traction has been consistently solid, even on wet tarmac. I’ve put in several runs during heavy rain without any issues. And truth be told, there’s something strangely satisfying about getting them dirty. It makes me feel more like a “real” runner and less like the pool boy at a White Lotus resort. No pun intended.
Maisie: The Tracksmith Eliot Racer offers a well balanced outsole. It has a good combination of durability, traction and aesthetics. They have a generous full-length rubber outsole, with subtle lugging. The shoe offers reliable grip over various surfaces and they coped well over gravel trails; a terrain that most of my other carbon shoes would struggle with. Like Ivan, I had no issues with traction regardless of surface or weather and they coped very well on a number of wet runs.
I agree with Ivan that the durability seems significantly better than most race day shoes. Certainly a good selling point for the shoe, considering the premium price point.
The Eliot Racer is a work of art which lacks a little race day pop
Ivan: This one’s a bit tricky. As much as I appreciate Tracksmith’s first entry into the fiercely competitive supershoe arena, the Eliot Racer falls short of truly contending with the top-tier options. There’s no denying the consistently high quality of materials, Tracksmith absolutely delivers on that front. Even if it does come with a bit of extra weight as a trade-off. It’s undeniably comfortable and offers enough cushioning to handle longer efforts, but despite the thoughtful dual-layer insole/midsole setup, it feels more like a high-end, versatile uptempo trainer than a purebred raceday shoe.
That said, if you’re someone who values comfort and a more grounded, balanced ride over an aggressively tuned raceday feel – and if you’re drawn to Tracksmith’s premium, heritage-inspired design – the Eliot Racer might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Maisie: Although I was pleasantly surprised, overall the Tracksmith Eliot Racer hasn’t quite hit the mark for me. I do really like elements of the shoe, but I wont be picking them up for my next race day. On some of the features it seems as though Tracksmith has opted for aesthetics over practically, the plasticky insole being the biggest bug bear of mine. It also lacks the energy return and propulsion I like to have in a race day shoe.
That said, if you want a carbon plated shoe that offers a smooth ride, is a bit less aggressive while retaining versatility, it may work really well for you. That’s if you don’t mind the squeaking!
