Decathlon Kiprun KD900X LD
£159.99 Weight 170g Drop 4mm decathlon.co.uk|Tester Laura
The fit
Like most carbon racers, the Kiprun KD900X LD has a ‘racer’ type fit, meaning it fits closer to the foot. The laces gave a good lockdown and my foot felt securely in place. The fit is true to size.
The comfort
While the VFOAM PLUS foam isn’t the most bouncy foam I’ve run in, it does have good step-in comfort. It feels soft underfoot when you first pull the shoe on, and while the shoe is very light, there’s still a good amount of material in the upper to make it comfortable. The only slight issue is the heel collar which comes a little high for me on the outside of my ankle and could cause rubbing on longer runs.
On the run
I’ve taken this shoe out for a couple of runs from easy to marathon paced. The most noticeable thing about it for me was the 4mm drop is lower than any other carbon-plated shoe I’ve run in. I don’t think this lower drop worked for my running style or helped me get the most out of the carbon plate.
The shoe is comfortable and easy to run in – it feels pretty stable, and that’s possibly because it doesn’t have a huge stack. While it does feel like a shoe that wants you to run fast, it lacks the punch of some of the best carbon racers out there. It isn’t as propulsive as shoes such as the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 or the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3, but to be fair it’s also a lot cheaper than those shoes. At less than £160, the KD900X LD is priced more like a supertrainer.
Should you buy them?
The price makes this shoe appealing and for the amount you’re paying, it’s a solid option. If you’re looking to pick up a bargain carbon race shoe, it’s a good option but bear in mind that you could find great deals on last year’s shoes such as the Asics Metaspeed Sky+ (more of which over on the left).