Tracksmith Eliot Runner Shoe Review

I was intrigued and excited for the Tracksmith Eliot Runner running shoe to come out. Tracksmith has been a high-end brand in the running world for several years, and I wondered what the Tracksmith running shoe would be like. Is the Tracksmith running shoe good? Could I run far in it?

One thing is for sure, good or not, I knew it would have a cult-like following, just like the Lululemon Blissfeel Shoe. Hopefully, the Tracksmith Eliot Runner was better.

Tracksmith Eliot Runner Quick Facts:

Weight: 8 oz

Heel to Toe Drop: 10 mm

Cost: $198

Tracksmith Eliot Runner Intro:

You might be curious why it was named the “Eliot Runner.” That’s because Eliot is a hare and the logo of Tracksmith. With the following Tracksmith has, I wondered if the Tracksmith running shoe would sell out immediately or if I could get a pair for myself.

When the Tracksmith running shoe arrived, I noticed its beautiful packaging, which is always a nice touch, but I also thought this be $10-$15 cheaper if they used a regular shoebox. Oh well, I’m reusing this shoe box to wrap birthday and holiday gifts (so I guess in theory it saves me money on gift boxes).

It’s not secret the Tracksmith Eliot Runner looks good. It’s a shoe you want to wear casually. But that extra walking around puts the miles on the shoe and makes it wear down faster. From a Tracksmith perspective, the more you do your daily errands in it, the more people see it and think: wow, I wonder what she they are wearing.

Tracksmith has made premium and “look good” clothing for a while. It’s never been an inexpensive brand, so their running shoe placed at nearly $200 made sense for them. While there are plenty of racing shoes well over $200, it’s one of the few training shoes at that price. Sadly, it will price a lot of the running population out.

Tracksmith Eliot Runner Upper:

While the Tracksmith Eliot Runner isn’t the first running shoe to do identical shoes for both men and women, it is the most recent. Generally, when shoes have one shoe for men and women, they fit a little wider for women. That’s because men’s shoes are about 1-1.5 in size and a width larger than women’s.

You can still order your regular women’s size and don’t have to worry about converting it.

Anyway, back to the Tracksmith running shoe upper. This isn’t a whole lot of information about it. The Tracksmith Eliot Runner has an engineered mesh upper with a woven sash. The collar is made from suede (an interesting choice to include in a running shoe upper). It’s available in one color, white. This makes for interesting runs in the desert as after several runs, mine is already a beautiful desert sand brown.

But the Tracksmith running shoe breathes well and I don’t have to worry about my feet overheating. As guessed, it is wider than average for women which plays in my favor.

I am a firm believer the best runner shoes disappear off your feet. You shouldn’t feel them while running. The Tracksmith Eliot Runner does that, and there are no hot spots. I was worried about the suede collar, but it hasn’t bothered my feet at all.

The Tracksmith Eliot Runner does fit true to size. I am usually a women’s size 10-11 wide, and the women’s 11 fits perfectly. Women’s 11 is also usually a men’s sample size 9.5 so that always goes in my favor.

Tracksmith Eliot Runner Ride:

I was curious to see what cushion the Tracksmith Eliot Runner would have. Sometimes it feels like the Tracksmith brand is geared toward the sub-elites. Would the Tracksmith running shoe have enough cushion and support for us non sub elites?

Each brand uses its type of cushion, and Tracksmith uses Pebax. Pebax is on the firmer side. It’s not a unique cushion, and many running shoes use it. Pebax is used in much faster but not carbon-plated shoes, so it feels like the obvious choice for the Tracksmith Eliot Runner.

The Tracksmith Eliot Runner uses a two-part system that mimics the feel of soft surfaces. The soft and thick midsole sits right under the foot, whereas the firmer midsole creates protection from the ground. According to Tracksmith, together, they provide a cushioned feel.

Durability and Traction: I flipped the Tracksmith Eliot Runner over and thought, wow, that’s a good amount of traditional rubber, but the bottom looks so familiar. That’s because it looks similar to many Reebok shoes, including Reebok Floatride Energy 4. I wonder if it was the same designer.

Anyway, the Traction for the Tracksmith Eliot Runner is excellent. I’ve used it with no issues in inclement weather and on sandy trails.

Regarding durability, I’ve put close to 100 miles on them, and I suspect they’ll last around 400. I hope so because $198 is not cheap for running shoes.

I was curious about where the Tracksmith Eliot Runner would fit into my rotation. Would it be a daily running shoe? A fast shoe? Immediately when I put it on and ran a few miles, I knew it would be a daily trainer. It’s lightweight and soft. It doesn’t have a lot of cushions, so I prefer more shoes for recovery and easy runs. But for a daily run shoe or warmup shoe, it’s a good option. Because it’s a response, you can pick up the pace much easier. It resembles the Reebok Floatride Energy 4 in a lot of ways and the ride feels fairly similar too. Many people will like how responsive it is (see the Saucony Endorphin Speed). I do, but occasionally I want something soft and that I can run slower.

Tracksmith Eliot Runner Conclusion:

I like the Tracksmith Eliot Runner, and I think it performs well. It’s an excellent daily trainer. It is, however, hard to justify the cost. Plenty of running shoes from $60-$70 cheaper are just as good.

Who shouldn’t purchase the Tracksmith Eliot Runner? If you want to save money, you can find cheaper shoes. Or, if you like high-cushioned shoes and want something soft under your foot, you might find the Tracksmith Eliot Runner too firm for your needs.

But if you are looking for a shoe that feels good but also looks good, plus you don’t have a budget the Tracksmith Eliot Runner is a great option.

You can purchase the Tracksmith Eliot Runner here.

My Current Shoe Rotation:

Easy/Daily Runs: Tracksmith Eliot Runner, Saucony Triumph 20, New Balance 1080v12, Diadora Mythos Blushield Volo, 361 Degrees Centauri

Speed Work: Hoka Solimar, Altra Vanish Carbon, 361 Flame, Nike Tempo Next%, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike ZoomX Streakfly, Reebok Floatride Energy X

Long Runs: ASICS Superblast 

Trail Running/Hiking: Brooks Caldera 6, Hoka Speedgoat 5, Hoka Zinal Shoe, Speedland SL:PDX, 

Races: Nike ZoomX Streakfly, Asics Metaspeed Sky, Hoka One One Rocket X, adidas Adizero Pro, New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%,  Saucony Endorphin Pro 2, Reebok Run fast Pro 

You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.

Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook, I talk about why you need a good running shoe, a shoe’s anatomy, neutral vs. stable, and even myths about running shoes.

Questions for you:

Have you tried the Tracksmith Eliot Runner?

What is your favorite running shoe?