Should my child race in carbon-plated super shoes?
For most under-16s the honest answer is "not yet" — and that's a coaching decision, not a budget one.
- For
- Parents, Athletes
- Age stage
- During PHV
- Season
- Evergreen
- Read
- 7 min
- Updated
- 2026-06-20
Who this is for
Parents weighing a significant kit purchase before a key race, and athletes asking because their training partners have a pair. The question is rarely about the shoe — it's about whether this athlete, at this stage, will get anything back from it.
Why the plate doesn't do much yet
Carbon-plated shoes are designed to return energy in a mature, high-output stride. Developing athletes are still building that stride: the foot, ankle and calf are growing and adapting, and the mechanics that make the plate "work" aren't fully there. So the marginal gain is small — and it comes with a change in loading that a growing body may not be ready for.
The next step
Talk to your coach about this athlete's stage before buying. If you'd like a straight answer for your child, message the coach and we'll talk it through.
How to decide
- 1
Is the athlete consistently racing where marginal shoe gains matter?
If not, ordinary racing flats or trainers are plenty. Save the spend for coaching and recovery.
- 2
Does the shoe fit a still-growing foot safely?
Plated shoes change loading at the ankle and calf. Check the fit carefully and introduce them gradually, not on race day.
- 3
Is this a want, or a need framed as a want?
Both are fine — just name it honestly and make the call with your coach rather than under start-line pressure.