In the hard fought world of running footwear, we never expected one of our favorite apparel brands to launch their own shoe, but Tracksmith inspires us again with the Eliot. This is a classic style everyday trainer with a modern soul and maybe is more about delivering a premium aesthetic experience than a true every day running shoe, but it still gets the job done and yes, looks good doing it. Sure there are better, cheaper, daily trainers out there, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one that could match Tracksmith’s style.
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- Weight – 9.2oz or 261g for a US Men’s 9, 8oz or 227g for a US Women’s 7
- Cushion – 33.5mm of cushion and a 9mm heel/toe drop
- Pricing – $198 USD
- Colors – 2 colors
Construction and Materials
Upper
The Tracksmith Eliot features an engineered mesh upper with a woven sash, offering a stylish and modern design that enhances breathability. The addition of a suede collar and eyestay not only adds a touch of sophistication but also provides extra comfort and durability to ensure a pleasant running experience.
Midsole
The Tracksmith Eliot features a supercritical Pebax® insole and midsole, showcasing an advanced design that maximizes performance and comfort. The supercritical Pebax® material provides a lightweight yet durable foundation, offering optimal support and responsiveness for an exceptional running experience.
Outsole
The Tracksmith Eliot features a high-quality rubber outsole that delivers exceptional durability, traction, and grip, making it an essential component for a reliable and confident running experience.
Performance Review
Color us surprised, but the Eliot was just not something we expected from Tracksmith. Of course, their apparel is some of the best in the business both in terms of materials and performance, but getting into the shoe game… seems like a huge leap.
When the Eliot first arrived however, it was clear Tracksmith brought all their design and experience resources to bear because from the packaging to the unboxing, these things are dialed in. And yes, for $200 you expect this quality, but Tracksmith just knows how to own it. Stylistically, the closest shoes to it are definitely indoor soccer shoes or maybe classic track shoes. From Adidas Samba to Puma Super Liga to Nike Killshots, you will feel like you have seen the styling before… but Tracksmith takes it up just a touch. The materials feel higher quality, the shoe more built up, and a bit more performance centric.
In the run, the Pebax midsole is firm as again, these look and run more like a classic track shoe than a bouncy everyday daily trainer we have seen so regularly nowadays. They can actually be incredibly fast when you want them to because at just over 9oz, they are pretty light. The gum rubber outsole grips really well and handles wet weather without a problem.
We do have some issues though with the fit as a runner. The collar dips a little low, the shoe can run a bit narrow and sizing can be totally wonky, so make sure you like the fit. Some folks are seeing these run small, some large, and some dead on. Once you have it dialed in, the fit is less of an issue, but we still struggled a bit as to whether these made for a great everyday run. For us, if we were traveling with a shoe and only had one to bring, this makes sense because something like Allbirds Tree Flyers/Dashers, they function decently both every day and in the run.
Last thing and most important, we totally dig the Eliots, but for more than running. The styling is solid and we love being able to rep a running shoe without feeling like you’ve got a lot going on. The Eliot is understated and classic and looks just as good with a pair of jeans as they do in a run.
Overall Conclusion
The Tracksmith Eliot has all the markings of a classic shoe. It’s styling put it somewhere between old school indoor soccer shoe mixed with a modern high-end sneaker that you could wear to the office, but then at its core has all the capabilities of a daily runner. For us, Tracksmith’s styling is one of the best in the business, but we do believe if you are looking for a pure daily trainer, there are definitely better options. The Eliot has a few areas we would love to see resolved, but stylistically, we would use these shoes as every day wear because it’s just so good looking. It’s simple, modern, and shows off your passion without being in your face.
Learn more on the Tracksmith website
These shoes were provided by the manufacturer or its partners for the sole use of review. No implied or explicit guarantees were provided as it relates to the provision of these products and all editorial commentary is strictly the property of Running Northwest. In short, the fact they allowed us to test these shoes does not mean we are required to give it a favorable review… every product must earn it. We appreciate our manufacturer partnerships and if you have any questions, you can read our Disclosure Policy in further detail.
Check Out Other Reviewers Thoughts
As always, we gather together some of our favorite reviewers so you can get a well-rounded view of the shoe. Here are our favorites.
