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Decathlon is launching new running shoe ranges and they look seriously good. For my marathon and especially my Hyrox I’ve been running in the Saucony Endorphin Speed with a carbon plate — I’ll admit, completely overkill for my level, but I was blown away by the comfort and lightness of the shoe. Not to mention the psychological aspect of feeling like you’re moving faster for the same effort.
However, after a year I’ve got a hole in the mesh on both sides 😱. Holes I’m going to try to repair, but in the meantime I’m saving them for races and I’ve picked up Decathlon’s latest offering: the Kipstorm Tempo .
What’s under the hood
The Kipstorm Tempo weighs 230g in a size 43 (EU), has an 8mm drop, and features Up’bar foam that delivers solid energy return. No carbon plate here, but the sole geometry is designed to give a similar propulsion effect. All for €139.99.
In the new Kiprun range, it sits between the Kipstorm Flow (ultra-light, pure speed) and the Kipstorm Strike (with carbon plate, for racing). The Tempo is the everyday shoe for tempo runs and intervals. You can also race in it up to a half marathon.
Kipstorm Tempo vs Saucony Endorphin
The feel is on par with the Saucony 👌 Decathlon has done solid work. The foam returns energy well and you can feel it rolling under your foot. On my tempo sessions around 4'30/km, honestly I didn’t notice a significant difference from the Endorphin.
Where it differs is the price. The Saucony Endorphin Speed runs around €170–180 depending on colorway. The Kipstorm Tempo at €140 is €40 less for a comparable feel. And if the Saucony is showing holes after a year, I’m curious to see how the Kipstorm holds up in terms of durability.
Why support Kiprun
Besides, in these times, rewarding French R&D is an act of conviction 🇫🇷. Decathlon has built a research lab in Lille with engineers working on foam compounds and sole geometries. It’s not just a distributor brand slapping its logo on outsourced shoes.
And when you see the Kipstorm range going up against Saucony and Nike, you realize the investment has paid off.
My plan going forward
For now my setup is: Kipstorm Tempo for training and Saucony Endorphin for race days (as long as they hold up). I’ll post an update to this article in a few months to tell you whether the Kipstorm lasts longer than the Saucony. Because that’s really the key question.
If you’re looking for a fast shoe without breaking the bank, seriously give them a try. Head to a Decathlon store and put them on — you’ll form an opinion pretty quickly.
Feel free to reach out if you’d like to react to this article.
