The Kiprun KD900X LD+ has been an unexpected but welcome addition to my carbon-plated running shoe rotation.
It’s not flashy or overly aggressive, but that’s exactly what makes it stand out from the crowd right now, in a good way.
For marathon and half marathon efforts, it hits a sweet spot — super comfortable, soft enough to keep your legs fresh, stable enough to keep form locked in, and efficient enough to keep you cruising.
While it’s not the springiest or lightest super shoe out there, it delivers a consistent and comfortable ride that just works — and sometimes, that’s exactly what I’m looking for on race day OR fast and long training runs.
Alastair Dixon
Key Specifications
- Price: £200 at decathlon.co.uk (not available in the USA yet)
- Weight: 8oz (227g) – US Men's 9 (my pair)
- Drop: 4mm (39mm at the heel, 35mm under the forefoot)
- Upper: Breathable engineered mesh with rigid structure, quick-drying
- Midsole: VFOAM PLUS with carbon plate
- Outsole: Durable rubber with excellent grip, even on wet roads
- Extra Attributes: Midfoot groove design, rocker geometry, wide forefoot
Sizing and fit
The fit runs a little long, so although I have been running in my usual sizing and enjoying them, I can't help but think a half size smaller would give me the perfect dialled-in race-day fit.
The heel lockdown was very sloppy out of the box, but easily fixed using a racer’s loop lacing — without it, heel slippage is a real issue.
The forefoot and toe box are nice and wide, giving my feet plenty of room to splay, which adds to the overall comfort and efficiency in power when running fast.
Performance review
What stood out the most in testing the KD900X LD+ was how comfortable and consistent the ride felt, even on longer tempo runs and race-pace efforts.
The VFOAM PLUS midsole has a soft and protective feel underfoot, without being mushy — it’s not trying to wow you with bounce but instead delivers a quiet efficiency that I’ve come to really appreciate.
After long efforts, my legs and feet still feel fresh, which says a lot about the cushioning and stability this shoe provides.
There’s plenty of forefoot cushioning thanks to that low 4mm drop, which helps especially over marathon distances, and the snappy toe-off makes it feel responsive.
If you like high-energy shoes with a big rebound, you’ll probably find this one a bit subdued — but I found the stability of the carbon plate more useful at marathon pace than a trampoline-like feel.
The balance between cushioning and response is very well tunes for such a comfortable racing shoe - it feel super accessible and I know lots of middle of the pack runners are going to love them for it.
The midfoot groove helps encourage a forefoot strike, which suits my form, but I can see it feeling slightly unstable if you’re a heel striker.
The ride feels a little segmented at faster paces — during 5K or 10K efforts, the transitions don’t feel quite as smooth or seamless, so I’d keep this one for steady-state racing or long tempo runs.
Grip is excellent — I’ve taken them out on wet roads once, and never felt like I was going for a trip to slip town. Durability has been impressive so far too.
The upper is structured but not stretchy, so don’t expect a sock-like feel. It’s breathable and dries quickly though.
If it weren't for me having to use the Racer's Loop Heel Lock lacing method, the laces would have been very long - but as it stands, they're perfect length.
My verdict
The Kiprun KD900X LD+ isn’t trying to be the most explosive super shoe out there — and that’s what makes it so appealing, and it comes in at £200 at decathlon.co.uk which is very reasonable when you look at competitor pricing.
It’s comfortable, efficient, and stable — great for anyone looking for a no-nonsense race-day shoe that supports long-distance efforts without beating you up.
If your priority is reliable performance over flashiness, and you don’t mind tweaking the lacing or sizing to dial in the fit, this is a very solid option.
