"Hwang Youngjo Warns: 'Amateur Runners Should Never Wear Them, I Wouldn't Even for Money'... Comparing 7 Carbon Shoes"

Korea Consumer Agency Compares Carbon Running Shoes from Seven Brands

Hwang Youngjo Recommends Stability or Cushioned Shoes for Beginners

As the running boom fuels growing interest in 'carbon running shoes' designed to enhance propulsion, it has been found that there are differences between products in terms of shock absorption, knee fatigue, and durability.

Experts advise that when choosing running shoes, you should consider not only the shoes' performance but also the wearer's fitness level. Olympic marathon gold medalist and marathon coach Hwang Youngjo previously recommended stability shoes or cushioned shoes for beginners, noting that leveraging the functions of carbon shoes requires muscular strength.

Hwang Youngjo, the marathon coach at the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and gold medalist in the marathon at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Screenshot from the YouTube channel Youngjo Hyung

On the 6th, the Korea Consumer Agency released test and evaluation results on carbon running shoes from seven brands—Nike, New Balance, Skechers, Adidas, Asics, Puma, and Hoka—assessing their functionality, durability, safety, and other factors.

All Products Excel in Propulsion, but Shock Absorption and Knee Fatigue Vary

The evaluation showed that all seven products performed well in terms of propulsion, but differences were observed in shock absorption and how well the pressure on the soles was dispersed during running.

Shock absorption was relatively superior in Nike's 'Zoom Fly 6' and Puma's 'Deviate Nitro 4'. Hoka's 'Skyward X' rated best for dispersing plantar pressure, while Nike's 'Zoom Fly 6' excelled in providing stable body movement.

Regarding knee fatigue, five products—New Balance's 'SC Trainer V3,' Skechers' 'Aero Spark,' Asics' 'Magic Speed 5,' Puma's 'Deviate Nitro 4,' and Hoka's 'Skyward X'—were rated as performing relatively well. Maximum traction force was found to be especially high for the Skechers and Asics models. These evaluations were conducted by having 30 consumers run at a set speed on a treadmill while measurements were taken three times for each product.

The Korea Consumer Agency announced the results of comparative tests on seven types of carbon running shoes that use carbon plates to enhance propulsion and strengthen shock absorption, evaluating functionality, durability, stability, and price, on the 6th at the Fair Trade Commission press room in the Government Complex Sejong. Yonhap News

Durability also showed differences across products. For the adhesion strength between the upper and the outsole, four products—New Balance, Adidas's 'Adistar BYD,' Asics, and Hoka—performed relatively well. The outsoles of Hoka's products exhibited the least wear, and all products met the standard for abrasion resistance of the upper and lining materials.

In terms of user satisfaction, Puma's product scored highest at 4.6 out of 5, with all other products scoring above 4.0. In terms of price, Skechers was the most affordable at 189,000 won, while Hoka was the most expensive at 279,000 won. For weight (based on size 270mm), Asics was the lightest at 198g, and Hoka was the heaviest at 301g.

All products were found to comply with safety standards for five hazardous substances, including formaldehyde. However, Adidas, Puma, and Hoka reported, or plan to address, issues related to incorrect fiber content or missing lining material labels. The Korea Consumer Agency recommended that consumers compare not only the functionality, such as shock absorption and propulsion, but also durability and price when purchasing carbon running shoes.

Citizens are running sweatily at Jamsugyo Bridge in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Hwang Youngjo: "I Wouldn't Wear Them Even If You Paid Me" ... Cushioned Shoes Recommended for Beginners

In addition to comparing the performance of each product, assessing whether carbon shoes are suitable for you is also important. Hwang Youngjo, marathon coach at the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and gold medalist in the marathon at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, advised on the CBS radio program 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' last year that recreational runners should be cautious about indiscriminately using carbon shoes.

Coach Hwang explained, "Carbon shoes are for elite athletes to wear during competitions" and emphasized, "You can only utilize them when you have sufficient muscular strength." He also added, "Even if I try to wear carbon shoes now, I can't. I wouldn't wear them even if you paid me."

He particularly recommended stability or cushioned shoes instead of carbon shoes for older individuals, those who are heavier, and beginners. His advice is that, rather than simply following others in choosing shoes, you should select footwear that fits your own body condition and fitness level.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.