I run about 500 km a month, my marathon best is under 2:30, and I picked these seriously. This is my conclusion as of Oct 21, 2026. For a half marathon, whether you need a plate (a thin plate that carries your foot's energy forward) and how light a shoe should be both depend on your goal time. For around 1:30 (4:16 per km), the On Cloudboom Volt (210g), built for 10km to the half. For around 2 hours (5:41 per km), the no-plate ASICS NOVABLAST 6 at 253g does the job at a price within reach.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
For one half marathon shoe, pick the On Cloudboom Volt. The reason is that it won't be a shoe with a single race-day appearance. Its dimensions, a 39.5mm heel and 210g, are the same as the original Cloudboom Strike. It was reworked for distances from 10km to the half and made so you can use it in training too. A half is a distance with many races and many training sessions. So I'd rather pick a shoe I can train in than pay for one made only for race day.
Key points
- 1:30 is 4:16 per km, 2:00 is 5:41. The faster the goal pace, the more a light shoe and a plate help
- The lightest is the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4, at about 170g. The lightest without a plate is the Mizuno HYPERWARP PACER (about 205g, JPY 18,700, on sale Dec 10)
- The no-plate NOVABLAST 6 at 253g is JPY 17,600. It's the first shoe to look at if you run around 2 hours
A half marathon shoe isn't a scaled-down full marathon shoe
A half marathon is 21.0975km. It's half the distance of a full, but choosing shoes isn't the same as for a full. The distance is shorter, so the pace is quicker. That's why the answer splits by goal time.
First, here is the pace per kilometer for each goal time. These numbers are the yardstick for choosing a shoe's weight and plate.
| Goal time | Pace per km | 5km split |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hr 30 min | 4:16 | 21:20 |
| 1 hr 50 min | 5:13 | 26:04 |
| 2 hr 00 min | 5:41 | 28:26 |
How I Chose: Best Half Marathon Shoes
I didn't rank by what sells. I ordered them by three points, from shoes for a faster pace to shoes for a slower one.
| Criteria | Reason |
|---|---|
| 1. Weight of 250g or less | At a 1.2m stride, each foot leaves the ground about 8,800 times (21,097.5 ÷ 1.2 ÷ 2). The lighter the shoe, the more it helps your legs late in the race |
| 2. Choose with or without a plate by goal pace | At a fast pace a plate helps. At a slower pace a no-plate shoe is enough |
| 3. Official price under JPY 30,000 | A price that lets you train in them too |
Half Marathon Shoes Compared: 6 Pairs
Scroll the table sideways →
| Goal range | Shoe | Weight | Plate | Official price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Around 1:30 | On Cloudboom Volt | 210g | Yes | JPY 26,400 |
| Around 1:30 | PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4 | About 170g | Yes | JPY 29,700 |
| Around 1:50 | adidas Adizero EVO SL | 224g | None | JPY 19,800 |
| Around 1:50 | Mizuno HYPERWARP PACER | About 205g | None | JPY 18,700 |
| Around 2 hours | Nike Pegasus Plus 2 | About 249g | None | JPY 22,000 |
| Around 2 hours | ASICS NOVABLAST 6 | 253g | None | JPY 17,600 |
1. On Cloudboom Volt: A Plated Shoe for 10km to the Half, Usable in Training Too
Why this one: it's a plated shoe made for the half-marathon distance, and you can use it in training too. A 39.5mm heel, a 34mm forefoot, a 5mm drop, 210g. The plate is a Speedboard blended with carbon fiber. The women's version is 182g, 28g lighter than the men's.
It's 19g heavier than the Cloudboom Strike 2 above and JPY 8,800 cheaper. The Strike 2 costs about JPY 463 per gram saved (8,800 ÷ 19).
Watch out for: the width is a single regular. If your feet are tight, look first at a shoe that offers width choices.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
On Cloudboom Volt
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 26,400 (as of 10/20). Some shops ask up to JPY 50,800. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaThe Cloudboom Volt review also compares its dimensions with the original Strike.
2. PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4: Go for the Weight at About 170g
Why this one: it's the lightest of the six, at about 170g. It has a carbon plate, a 40mm heel and a 32mm forefoot. It's 24g lighter than the Elite 3, at the same price.
Watch out for: the target distance is a short 400km, about JPY 74 per kilometer (29,700 ÷ 400). Treat it as a shoe for the half marathon itself and a few finishing sessions.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 24,000 (as of 10/20), ranging up to JPY 30,800 depending on the shop. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaOther plated shoes are in the plated running shoes under JPY 30,000 article.
3. adidas Adizero EVO SL: The Same Shoe for Race Day and Training
Why this one: it has no plate, weighs 224g, and has a 38.5mm heel. It's the race-focused Adios Pro 4 with the rods taken out, so you can train every day on the same stack height as race day. The drop is 6.5mm.
Watch out for: it came out in Oct 2024, so it isn't new. The price is JPY 19,800.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero EVO SL
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 15,840 (as of 10/20). Some shops ask up to JPY 19,800. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten Ichiba4. Mizuno HYPERWARP PACER: No Plate, but the Same Tilt as Race Day
Why this one: it's a training shoe that keeps the drop at 3.0mm even without a plate. It weighs about 205g and costs JPY 18,700. In place of a plate, a part called a shank insert goes in the midfoot to keep the shoe from bending too much. The gap to the RACER is JPY 3,300 (22,000 − 18,700).
Watch out for: it's due to go on sale Dec 10. The 3.0mm drop is low, and if you're used to a high-heeled shoe the difference in tilt is big.
Mizuno HYPERWARP PACER (out Dec 10)
Pre-release: available from Dec 10The HYPERWARP PACER review compares it with the RACER.
5. Nike Pegasus Plus 2: A Second Generation With an Air Unit Added Up Front
Why this one: it weighs about 249g and has an Air Zoom unit in the forefoot. Nike says energy return is up by 18% or more over the original. It's 38g lighter than the Pegasus 42, with a 10mm drop.
Watch out for: it comes in regular width only. The wide and the waterproof versions exist only on the Pegasus 42 side.
6. ASICS NOVABLAST 6: For Around 2 Hours, This Is Enough
Why this one: it has no plate at 253g, and at JPY 17,600 it's the cheapest of the six. The bouncy foam, FF TURBO SQUARED, goes in only the forefoot. The stack is about 41.5mm, the drop 8mm, and the width comes in standard and wide.
Watch out for: the bouncy foam is only in the forefoot, where you push off. If you're aiming around 1:30, picks 1 and 2 suit you better.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
ASICS NOVABLAST 6
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 13,200 (as of 10/20). Some shops ask up to JPY 22,000. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaIf you're running your first, start with the running shoes for beginners article.
Quick Guide: Which of the 6 Pairs?
| If you are | Pick |
|---|---|
| You're aiming around 1:30 and want to train in it too | On Cloudboom Volt |
| You're aiming around 1:30 and put weight first | PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4 |
| For about 1:50: one shoe for race day and training | adidas Adizero EVO SL |
| For about 1:50: no plate, but the same tilt as race day | Mizuno HYPERWARP PACER |
| Running about 2 hours and want rebound up front | Nike Pegasus Plus 2 |
| Running about 2 hours and want it cheap, with a wide option | ASICS NOVABLAST 6 |
Who is it for?
- Good fit: people entering a half marathon, and people who want their training shoe and race shoe closer together for 10km to the half.
Race cutoffs and paces are in the half marathon cutoff article. For full marathon shoes by goal time, go to 12 Full Marathon Shoes by Goal Time.
FAQ
Do I need a carbon shoe for a half marathon?
If your goal is around 1:30, a plate starts to help. For around 2 hours, a no-plate shoe is enough. In this article, the plated shoes are the two at 1 and 2, and the no-plate shoes are the four from 3 to 6.
What shoes should a half marathon beginner choose?
For your first 1 pair, start with a no-plate training shoe. In this article, the NOVABLAST 6 at JPY 17,600 and 253g is the entry point. More entry-level picks are in the beginners article.
What pace is a 1:30 half marathon?
It's 4:16 per kilometer (5,400 seconds ÷ 21.0975 = 255.9 seconds). You pass 5km at 21:20.
Can I use the same shoe for a half as for a full marathon?
Some people do. I look at the amount of cushioning first for a full, and for a half I first decide the weight and plate to match the goal pace.
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- On Press Cloudboom Volt
- On official Japan site: Cloudboom Volt (men's)
- PUMA official Japan site: men's Deviate Nitro Elite 4
- adidas Japan announcement (Sep 25, 2024: ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 4 and ADIZERO EVO SL)
- Mizuno press release (HYPERWARP RACER / PACER)
- Nike announcement: Pegasus Plus 2
- ASICS news release: NOVABLAST 6 (Jul 2, 2026)
Related reading
Shoes & GearHYPERWARP PACER Review | JPY 18,700, no plate, and vs RACERThe Mizuno HYPERWARP PACER is out Dec 10, 2026 at JPY 18,700. A no-plate shoe for training at race pace: about 205g (27.0cm), 3.0mm drop. Plus how it differs from the RACER and how it fits.Oct 21, 2026
