After analyzing multiple Reddit threads between September 2024 and March 2025 discussing the Tracksmith Eliot Racer, here’s what runners are saying about this premium racing shoe.

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Product details

• Price: $280 USD
• Weight: 7.5 oz (212g) for men’s standard size
• Stack height: 39mm
• Drop: 6mm
• Colors: White/gold (“Leading”) and navy/gold (“Following”)
• Release: Initially scheduled for Tokyo Marathon 202

Performance feedback

• Lacking snap: “It lacks the spring that we traditionally see from 2025-era racers, and instead just reads as mushy” (50 upvotes)
• For shorter races: “I raced a road 5k in them last night and found them extremely snappy and responsive… If anything I felt them better suited to that level of power than cruising at MP” (11 upvotes)
• Squeaky: “They are extremely squeaky (at least my pair!). Every single step.”
• Decent traction: “The outsole was fine, and handled an icy/slushy morning as well as any other modern super shoe”
• Less competitive versus mainstream options: “Genuinely do not think that – for racing – they are a competitive option”

Aesthetics & design

The shoe’s appearance gets mostly positive reviews:

• Classic styling: Maintains Tracksmith’s understated vintage aesthetic
• Easily stained: “For a shoe that looks as nice it does, it got dirty very easily, and genuinely just from socks alone” (with photo evidence)
• Better-looking colorway: Many prefer the navy/gold “Following” colorway over the white/gold “Leading” version

Value proposition

• Expensive entry: At $280, it’s priced at the premium end of the super shoe market
• Brand tax: “Nearly every other super shoe is the same or lower-priced”
• Not competitive: “For $280, I really don’t think this is a good buy”
• The interchangeable insole concept (initially promoted but apparently not included in final product) was viewed as potentially adding value

Innovation features

• Originally marketed with swappable insoles/midsoles (one for training, one for racing)
• Grippy textured laces (though there are reports of untying issues from the original Eliot Runner)
• Excellent lockdown reported by multiple reviewers

Based on feedback, the Eliot Racer might work well for:

• Tracksmith brand loyalists
• Those who value aesthetics alongside performance
• Runners focused on 5K-10K distances rather than marathon
• Runners seeking a shoe that transitions from racing to casual settings
• Those wanting a unique alternative to mainstream super shoes

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