Tracksmith’s Eliot Ryder Has a Massive Drop-In Midsole. We Tested How It Performs on the Run.

The rundown: The Eliot Ryder is a sporty, capable max-cushioned trainer with a resilient, lightweight, responsive drop-in A-TPU midsole. We like it for daily training and mid-distance runs. The fit is wide for narrow feet, especially in the heel area.Since the Hare’s entry into performance footwear with the Eliot Runner four years ago, Tracksmith has launched its Eliot Racer, a super shoe with a removable super foam midsole/insole. You can see how these learnings influenced the Eliot Ryder, the brand’s entry into max-cushioned footwear. The 45mm trainer has a wide platform and toebox that doesn’t squash the little piggies. It houses an impressive 25mm A-TPU drop-in midsole, which delivers a surprisingly responsive ride for a shoe with a 200-needle embroidered sash.A Smart-Looking Max-Cushioned TrainerProsWide, accommodating fitResponsive A-TPU foamDurable rubber mesh outsoleRocker profileConsStiff, firm woven area by lacing dug into some testers’ feetWide for narrow feet, especially by the heel areaTypeNeutral RoadCushioningMaxWeight9.5 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W)Drop7 mmHeel Height45 mm“The Biggest Drop-In Midsole”On its website, Tracksmith refers to the midsole as the biggest on the running market. The thick slab of foam, or midsole chassis, has thin sidewalls to cup your heel and midfoot, a woven footbed, and a long inspiring quote (see photo below) hidden on the bottom, stamped into the foam.A-TPU, which is becoming the new PEBA (brands like Asics and Puma are using the foam in their super shoes and super trainers), is favored for its resiliency, lighter weight, and bounce. A rocker profile also helps smooth turnover.You notice that A-TPU ride running in the Eliot Ryder. I did back-to-back 4-milers in the New Balance SC Rebel, a plated super trainer with TPEE-based foam, and the Eliot Ryder. Even though I had to work a little extra in the Eliot Ryder (on account of the climate being soupier and my legs already tired from the SC Rebel workout the day before), I still managed to clock a consistent 7:35 pace for both runs. I strongly believe that I could hold that pace because of Tracksmith’s thick bed of foam helping with rebound and recovery.Winston ZhouThe drop-in 25mm midsole has an inscription underneath.Editor Monique LeBrun, who tested the shoe, also praised the Eliot Ryder’s cushioned platform. “I really appreciate max-cushioned shoes since I’m a back-of-the-packer who spends longer time on her feet even when it comes to shorter distances,” she said. “Having a cushioned insole definitely came in clutch when running in the Ryder, in terms of comfort.”Sash and Hare DetailsTracksmith’s shoes tend to look like sneakers first, running shoes second. But these smart-looking shoes are functionally capable. The fancy suede overlays, for instance, serve as stabilizers to help keep your foot aligned and protected. The funny thing we noticed with the woven upper’s fit is that it makes your feet look like they’re wearing baby booties from the wearer’s POV. (I assured fellow testers that it didn’t look like they were wearing baby shoes.)It’s another quirk that actually makes me fond of the Eliot Ryder. Like Altra’s wide toebox that has some runners describe the trainers as “clown shoes,” I appreciate how the midfoot area slightly billows out, creating space for wide feet and bunions. Constriction was an issue I had with the Eliot Runner, even when I sized up.Winston ZhouSuede acts as a stabilizer on the upper.This accommodating fit caused some slippage inside the shoe. LeBrun experienced some foot sliding and said the poor heel support was her least favorite feature of the trainer. Another tester said she needed to resize, saying her heel kept popping out.I felt some slippage on the footbed, but my confidence stayed intact because of the traction; the rubber net mesh outsole gripped sandy turns and didn’t wear despite my hard, sometimes dragging footfalls.My biggest gripe with the shoes wasn’t the width (I’m a wide-foot runner, after all); it was the discomfort of the heel collar by the lacing. The lip of the thick woven stitching by the second-to-last eyelet dug into my ankle when I made sharp turns. You can feel how hard and stiff this area is with the tip of your finger.Winston ZhouThe rubber outsole has good durability and traction.It’s a small hang-up I have with Tracksmith: pushing tech while trying to preserve an aesthetic. It was a similar experience I had with the Eliot Racer, where the upper also felt too stiff in the midfoot area of the shoe and caused some rubbing by the toes.This time around, the suede overlays and 200-needle embroidered sash don’t result in a rigid build, and the shoe doesn’t overheat in the Northeast’s swampy humidity despite the thick woven material. But stripping down some cosmetic flourishes could make the shoe comfier and sportier.So Who’s the Eliot Ryder For?The key takeaway: this shoe can perform. After some break-in, the beefy A-TPU slab delivers spring for mid-distance and longer runs. Runners with narrow ankles will likely want to heel-lock lace their shoes or opt for the slimmer Eliot Runner instead, but the Eliot Ryder has a bounce the Runner doesn’t have. It’s also fun to tell non-runners, “I actually did a 7:35-paced 4-miler in these sashed puppies this morning.”Shop Men’s at tracksmith.com | Shop Women’s at tracksmith.comAmanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.