Decathlon Kiprun KD900X LD Introduction

“Goedkoop is duurkoop” is a popular Afrikaans saying which means if you pay cheap prices, you will pay more in the long run. This is particularly relevant to the Kiprun KD900X series from Decathlon.

The Kiprun KD900X is Decathlon’s budget carbon-plated super shoe series. Decathlon is one of the biggest sports retailers in the world, spanning across more than 69 countries and Kiprun is one of their house brands.

When I reviewed the original version 2 years ago, I was not impressed and it received the lowest score I’ve ever given to a running shoe. The upper was extremely uncomfortable, the ride was firm and it didn’t even feel like Pebax in its midsole because of how dense/flat it felt.

It cost only $125 but you didn’t get the same level of performance as a premium, $250 super shoe. Runners who bought this shoe as a racing option, looking to save a lot of money, probably needed to also buy a $250 Vaporfly/Adios Pro/Metaspeed Sky because the difference in performance was so big.

The Kiprun KD900X LD is the second version of the KD900X. There wasn’t a new version last year and this year’s version has a brand new midsole called VFOAM PLUS. I bought my pair in England for 160 GBP which is the equivalent of about $200 so the price has increased.

It weighs 7.3 oz (206 g) for a men’s US9 which is about the same as the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4. It weighs 0.6 oz (grams) less than the original version which is quite a substantial amount. It has more foam in the forefoot so the drop has been reduced from 8 mm to 4 mm.

Decathlon Kiprun KD900X LD First Impressions

My first run in the KD900X LD was a 20 kilometre easy run. I enjoyed that run much more than any previous run in the original version. The main difference was the midsole which felt much softer and much more cushioned.

I still had some issues with the upper and I had to stop to adjust the lacing mid-run. I could feel the bottom of the tongue, where it’s attached to the upper on the top of my feet, which was annoying but it didn’t cause any blisters.

To me, it still didn’t feel like a super shoe racer. It felt more like a speed trainer. It didn’t feel as energetic or as propulsive as flagship racers from other brands.

Decathlon Kiprun KD900X LD Upper

The upper of the KD900X LD is disappointing because not much has changed from the original version which was also a terrible upper and possibly the worst I’ve ever experienced. It feels hard, scratchy and it’s too narrow.

The flat tongue is not gusseted and at the point where it’s attached to the shoe at the bottom, it pokes into the top of my foot and creates annoying pressure.

It also has a long paper tag attached to the side of the tongue which gets in the way when you’re putting the shoe on. You can’t cut the tag off because then you can’t return it if any part of the shoe breaks.

The forefoot feels too narrow so I get some hot spots on the sides of my feet during medium and long runs even though I have narrow feet. This is not a shoe for wide feet. I recommend going true to size because the length will be way too long if you up a half size.

Decathlon Kiprun KD900X LD Sole Unit

You get many different types of Pebax and the version that’s in the KD900X LD doesn’t quite have the same pop or energy return as Pebax that you find in say the Alphafly/Vaporfly, SC Elite, or Rocket X.

In this version, they’ve changed from VFOAM, which was a beaded Pebax (like Saucony’s Pwrrun PB), to VFOAM PLUS which is a single chunk of foam. The result is a softer, more comfortable midsole which compresses more with each foot strike.

I found the midsole in the previous version way too firm but in this version, it’s a lot more pleasant and easy on the feet. It has a heel stack height of 37 mm, substantially lower than competitors which are 40 mm or just below 40 so the KD900X LD doesn’t feel as tall or as cushioned.

The longest run I did in the KD900X LD was 32 kilometres. During that long run, I wanted more cushioning in the final 10 kilometres. The fit also felt too narrow when my feet expanded which made it uncomfortable.

The carbon plate in the original version wasn’t very stiff and neither is the one in this version. It flexes relatively easily compared to other super shoes so you don’t get that powerful snap during transitions and your feet have to do more work.

The KD900X LD is relatively versatile thanks to its medium-soft ride. It felt comfortable on easy runs, steady runs and tempo runs but it flexes a bit too much during really fast bursts like intervals. Stability is good for a racing shoe so it’s suitable for slight overpronators.

The outsole is very similar to the previous version and is extremely durable. The rubber is thick and hard-wearing while the exposed foam is also durable so it doesn’t picture or chip very easily. You can use the KD900X LD for racing and training.

Decathlon Kiprun KD900X LD Conclusions

The KD900X LD feels more like a speed trainer than a long-distance racer. It doesn’t have as much cushioning as the other flagship racers and it doesn’t offer as much speed assistance due to the flat midsole foam. Its carbon plate also isn’t stiff enough.

It costs 25% less than a carbon-plated super shoe from other brands but you get what you pay for and in this case, it feels a lot slower, less versatile and it’s not as enjoyable to run in. If you buy the KD900X LD as your main racer, you’ll still crave the full “super shoe experience.”

I would recommend saving your money for a top-tier super shoe or else buying one of last year’s top-tier models at a discount. If you really can’t afford one, Atreyu’s Race Model is only $120 and feels more like a super shoe racer than the KD900X LD.

Version 2 is better than version 1 because it has a much softer ride with more energy return but it still has a really uncomfortable upper which is hard and pokes into your feet. If they can make the upper softer, wider and smoother inside, I might be able to recommend it, but as it is now, the KD900X LD still doesn’t feel like a polished product from one of the world’s biggest sports retailers.