I was excited to try the new rabbit Pace Chaser running shoe. I’ve been a fan of rabbit since 2017, when the brand was primarily known for its running apparel, especially shorts. Over the years, rabbit has expanded into running shoes, and I’ve reviewed several of them, including the Dream Chaser 2.0 and High Country trail running shoe. The new Pace Chaser takes rabbit in another direction, with two full-length carbon plates, a lightweight upper, and an ATPU midsole designed for faster running.
And you know what? I really like the rabbit Pace Chaser. I’ve tried plenty of carbon-plated running shoes over the years, and sometimes I wonder how many more variations brands can introduce. At $200, rabbit is entering an already crowded category of performance running shoes, where there are established options.
The rabbit Pace Chaser is marketed as an uptempo training shoe, although the lightweight construction and carbon plates make racing a possibility too. What caught my attention was the combination of a dual-density midsole and two separate carbon plates, which is a different approach from the single full-length carbon plate found in many racing shoes. To do all of that and keep at $200 is very interesting to me.
Let’s get into an honest rabbit Pace Chaser shoe review.
Here are a few questions runners might have.
Is the rabbit Pace Chaser a carbon-plated running shoe?
Yes. The rabbit Pace Chaser uses two full-length Carbon Trax plates alongside dual-density SuperCritical Flowstate Pro Foam. The construction is designed for responsive cushioning and propulsion during faster running.
Can you race in the rabbit Pace Chaser?
Yes. The rabbit Pace Chaser is marketed primarily for uptempo training, including tempo runs and track workouts, but its lightweight construction makes it an option for road races as well.
How much does the rabbit Pace Chaser cost?
The rabbit Pace Chaser retails for $200, which places it below several flagship carbon-plated racing shoes while remaining a premium running shoe.
rabbit Pace Chaser Quick Facts
- Price: $200
- Weight: 6.5 oz women’s size 7; 7.8 oz men’s size 9
- Stack Height: 40 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 8 mm
- Category: Carbon-plated performance trainer
- Best For: Tempo runs, faster workouts, road running, and potentially racing
rabbit Pace Chaser Fit and Upper
The rabbit Pace Chaser has a fairly unusual upper construction. The forefoot uses a lightweight resin-coated woven mesh, while the tongue, gusset, and heel have a sock-style knit construction that rabbit calls its 360-degree fit system. Essentially, rabbit has combined a more traditional mesh forefoot with a knit interior intended to hold your foot in place.
I appreciate that rabbit has put attention into the upper rather than concentrating exclusively on the carbon plates. When you’re running faster, a secure fit is important, especially if you’re doing shorter intervals, changing direction on a track, or running around corners. There is little benefit to having an energetic midsole when you’re spending the workout adjusting your laces.
One consideration is that the Pace Chaser comes in unisex sizing. As someone who frequently wears a women’s size 10 or 11 wide, I always pay extra attention to how unisex performance shoes fit. I’ve found rabbit shoes to fit well and the rabbit Pace Chaser in size 9.5/11 was comfortable right off the bat. Keep in mind, unisex shoes do fit on the wider side (which benefits me). In short, the fit has worked really well for me and I took it box to two hour run with no issues.
rabbit Pace Chaser Midsole and Ride
Rabbit uses dual-density SuperCritical Flowstate Pro Foam, made from ATPU, with a higher-rebound upper layer and firmer lower layer. There’s also a supercritical TPU insole. The concept is fairly straightforward. The upper layer is designed to provide cushioning and rebound, while the firmer base helps control how the shoe compresses during landing and toe-off.
I tend to enjoy faster training shoes that have some structure underneath them because I don’t always want an extremely soft, unstable platform during a workout. Rabbit also incorporates its SpeedCore Design, with cutouts in the midsole intended to reduce material and influence how the shoe behaves under load. Those cutouts give the Pace Chaser a distinctive appearance, although they may also be something to watch if you regularly run on roads with loose gravel. I do, but I really haven’t had a lot of issues of it picking up tiny rocks.
The most unusual feature is the two full-length Carbon Trax plates. Rabbit says the dual-plate design offers propulsion with greater stability than a conventional single-plate construction. That’s an appealing concept, although the presence of two plates alone doesn’t establish that a shoe will be faster or more stable for every runner…The plate geometry, foam, overall stiffness, and individual running mechanics all influence the experience.
What I particularly like about the direction of the Pace Chaser is that rabbit has created a dedicated faster-training shoe rather than making another traditional daily trainer. With a claimed weight of just 6.5 ounces in women’s size 7, the Pace Chaser is lightweight enough to be taken seriously for workouts and racing.
rabbit Pace Chaser Outsole and Durability
The rabbit Pace Chaser uses a lightweight crystal CPU outsole with what rabbit calls its carrot tread pattern. Yes, carrot tread, because of course rabbit had to incorporate a carrot somewhere into the running shoe. I love it, I want more brands to be fun like this. The outsole is designed to provide traction without adding excessive weight, and rabbit describes the material as highly abrasion-resistant.
Crystal outsoles have become increasingly common on performance running shoes because they allow brands to reduce weight while retaining some protection underneath the foam. I’ve put just over 50 miles in the rabbit Pace Chaser with no signs of it slowing down. I suspect it will last between 200-300 miles, which is good for any carbon plated model.
As far as traction, I’ve been happy with it. El Nino is hitting Southern California fairly hard, so I’ve done a lot of inclement weather runs lately. I haven’t slid around in the Pace Chaser. I wouldn’t take it on rigorous trails, but for road running, it’s been good.
Where Does the rabbit Pace Chaser Fit in a Running Shoe Rotation?
For me, the most appealing role for the rabbit Pace Chaser is as a faster workout shoe. I enjoy having a shoe specifically for tempos, longer intervals, and workouts where I want something lighter and more responsive than a daily trainer. Rabbit markets the Pace Chaser for faster running, and that’s where you should use it. If you’re looking for a softer daily trainer for recovery days, rabbit’s EZ Chaser is the model specifically designed for that role.
I’ve previously reviewed the rabbit High Country trail running shoe, which also incorporates Carbon Trax technology, although it is designed for a completely different running environment.
rabbit Pace Chaser vs. Other Running Shoes
rabbit Pace Chaser vs. rabbit Dream Chaser 2.0
The rabbit Dream Chaser 2.0 is a more traditional running shoe designed for daily mileage. The Pace Chaser takes the performance category further with dual carbon plates, a lighter build, and faster training as its primary purpose.
rabbit Pace Chaser vs. Saucony Endorphin Pro 5
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 is a dedicated carbon-plated racing shoe priced at $240, while rabbit positions the $200 Pace Chaser primarily as an uptempo trainer. The Saucony is more explicitly focused on longer-distance racing, including half marathons and marathons, while the rabbit offers a potentially broader workout role.
Who Should Buy the rabbit Pace Chaser?
The rabbit Pace Chaser is a good option for runners looking for a lightweight carbon-plated shoe for faster workouts without paying $250 or more. It may also appeal to runners who want a more structured performance platform rather than the extremely soft feel of some modern racing shoes.
If you’ve enjoyed rabbit apparel or the brand’s earlier running shoes, the Pace Chaser is another addition to its expanding footwear collection. You can read more about my experiences with the brand in my rabbit Cadence Collection review.
Who Should Skip the rabbit Pace Chaser?
I wouldn’t recommend buying the rabbit Pace Chaser exclusively for recovery running or walking. There are less expensive daily trainers designed for those activities, and the carbon-plated construction is aimed at faster performance.
Runners who prefer highly flexible shoes, need a dedicated stability model, or require a confirmed wide-width option may also want to consider alternatives.
rabbit Pace Chaser Conclusion
I’m happy to see rabbit continuing to develop its running shoe lineup, especially with something as ambitious as the Pace Chaser. I’ve enjoyed following the brand for years, and the addition of a lightweight carbon-plated trainer expands its footwear collection beyond the traditional daily trainer and trail shoe. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the rabbit Pace Chaser and I think it will be one of my top shoes of 2026.
You can find the shoe on the official rabbit Pace Chaser product page.
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Questions for you:
Have you tried the brand rabbit?
What is your favorite faster running shoe?