Since carbon-plated shoes were introduced, countless world, national, and personal records have fallen. But most pairs are helpful for only a certain group of runners: the rigid carbon-fiber plate combined with a soft foam favors those with efficient strides over those with less-than-perfect form. The new ($200), one of the few carbon-plated trail kicks on the market, defies that pattern. This is a high-tech shoe for all abilities. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the few carbon-plated shoes that I鈥攁 not-fast runner with poor form鈥攃an actually appreciate,鈥 noted one tester. What鈥檚 the secret sauce here that makes everyday athletes feel like superstars? For starters, designers ditched the standard single carbon plate in favor of two parallel ones positioned next to each other. These plates move independently, producing a more forgiving, flexible ride. Then there鈥檚 the dual-density midsole: Hoka鈥檚 most responsive, energetic EVA topped with a layer of softer foam directly underfoot.鈥淭he shoe is poppy without being stiff,鈥 remarked one tester. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard not to feel energized,鈥 said another. Underfoot, tightly spaced four-millimeter lugs offered what another tester described as 鈥渆nough of what you need, none of what you don鈥檛.鈥 The result is a grippy yet sensitive ride on everything from gravel roads to dusty, winding singletrack. All in all, the result delivers supershoe benefits to FKT chasers and weekend warriors alike. 8.5 oz (men鈥檚) / 6.9 oz (women鈥檚); 4mm drop