Cielo X1 2 vs Endorphin Elite 2

The Hoka Cielo X1 2 is the brand's flagship carbon racing shoe, and it does racing in a way that is unmistakably Hoka: big, plush and stable rather than razor-light. It is a road racer built around a winged carbon plate and a deep, soft midsole, so you get a tall, protective ride that holds up when your legs start to fatigue late in a marathon. At 228g it is one of the heavier super shoes on the market, noticeably more than something like the Nike Vaporfly 4, and at £275 it sits right at the top of the price ladder. What you are buying is comfort and stability at speed, not the snappiest, lightest tool in the category. We rate it as a long-distance racer for runners who want a carbon shoe that feels planted and forgiving underfoot, and who will happily trade a few grams for that security over 26.2 miles.

The Endorphin Elite 2 is Saucony's no-compromise carbon racing shoe, built for one job: chasing a personal best on race day. At 199g with a 39mm heel stack and a full-length carbon plate, it sits right at the top of the marathon shoe class alongside the Nike and adidas super-shoes. The star is the IncrediRUN foam, a soft, aggressively bouncy midsole that stores and returns energy when you load it at pace. This is not a do-everything running shoe. It feels twitchy and over-eager at easy jog pace, and the 6mm drop plus stiff plate ask for a confident forefoot or midfoot landing. Hold half-marathon to marathon effort and it comes alive. If you want the same Endorphin DNA for less money and more daily versatility, the Endorphin Pro 5 is the calmer, cheaper sibling. But for pure race-day return, the Elite 2 is one of the most propulsive carbon marathon shoes we have run in.