I need some new shoes
I really like PEBA foam. They don't seem to make the super-cheap Reebok (yes, Reebok) PEBA shoes that I like anymore. (I've put 600 miles on them which I think makes them some of the cheapest shoes per mile I've ever bought.) So I had my associate Claude make some charts for me.
Running Shoe Foam Technology Chart
A comprehensive mapping of proprietary foam names to underlying chemistry
PEBAX/PEBA
EVA/Supercritical EVA
TPU
TPEE
Mixed/Blend
Proprietary/Unknown
Brand | PEBAX/PEBA Foams | EVA-Based Foams | TPU Foams | Other/Proprietary |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nike |
ZoomX
PEBAX
|
React / ReactX
TPE + EVA blend
Phylon
Compressed EVA
Cushlon
EVA
|
Lunarlon
EVA + NBR
|
Air (various)
Pressurized gas
|
Adidas |
Lightstrike Pro
PEBA
Dreamstrike+
PEBA (20% bio-based)
|
Lightstrike
EVA
|
Boost
TPU pellets
|
Bounce
Proprietary
|
Hoka |
"Unnamed PEBA"
Dual-density PEBA
ProFly X
PEBA plate in Mach X
|
ProFly / ProFly+
Supercritical EVA
CMEVA
Compressed EVA
|
— |
J-Frame
Firmer foam support
|
ASICS |
FF Blast Turbo
PEBA (generic form)
|
FlyteFoam
EVA
FF Blast / FF Blast+
EVA + OBC
FF Blast MAX
Enhanced EVA
|
— |
GEL
Silicone gel
|
Saucony |
PWRRUN PB
PEBA pellets
PWRRUN HG
Premium PEBA
|
PWRRUN
EVA
|
PWRRUN+
TPU beads
EVERUN
TPU
|
SSL
Super Lite EVA
|
New Balance |
FuelCell v4+
PEBA blend (recent)
|
Fresh Foam / Fresh Foam X
EVA (some w/ 20% PEBA)
|
FuelCell (original)
Nitrogen-infused TPU + EVA
|
ABZORB
Proprietary
|
Mizuno |
Enerzy Lite+
PEBA
Enerzy XP
PEBA or TPEE*
|
Enerzy
TPE (EVA-based)
Enerzy NXT
EVA or TPU versions
U4ic / U4icX
EVA
|
Enerzy NXT (TPU)
Supercritical TPU
|
Wave Plate
PEBAX structure
|
Brooks |
DNA Gold
PEBA (2025)
|
DNA Flash
Nitrogen-infused EVA
DNA Loft / DNA Loft v3
EVA + rubber blend
DNA / BioMoGo DNA
Basic EVA
|
DNA AMP
PU foam in TPU shell
|
DNA ZERO
Proprietary
|
Reebok |
Floatride
PEBAX
|
EVA+
High abrasion EVA
|
Floatride Energy
TPU
Hexalite
TPU structure
|
Zig Tech
Zigzag TPU design
DMX
Air transfer system
|
Note: Many companies use the same base materials (PEBAX, EVA, TPU) but give them proprietary names and modify the formulations. PEBAX is actually a trademarked name by Arkema for a specific type of PEBA (Polyether Block Amide). Some companies also blend different foam types or use dual-density constructions to achieve specific performance characteristics.
*Enerzy XP Chemistry Confusion: Sources contradict each other on whether Mizuno's Enerzy XP is PEBA-based or TPEE-based, highlighting how companies often obscure their actual foam chemistry behind marketing names.
*Enerzy XP Chemistry Confusion: Sources contradict each other on whether Mizuno's Enerzy XP is PEBA-based or TPEE-based, highlighting how companies often obscure their actual foam chemistry behind marketing names.
PEBA/Super Shoe Models by Brand
Road racing and trail running shoes with PEBA foam or "super shoe" technology
Road Racing/Training Shoes
Trail Running Shoes
Brand | Road Racing & Training Shoes | Trail Running Shoes |
---|---|---|
Nike |
Vaporfly 4 / Next% 3
ZoomX foam, carbon plate
Alphafly 2 / 3
ZoomX foam, Air Zoom pods, carbon plate
Streakfly
ZoomX foam, no carbon plate (5K/10K racer)
Invincible Run 3
ZoomX foam training shoe, no plate
|
Ultrafly Trail
ZoomX foam, carbon plate, Vibram outsole
Zegama 2
ZoomX foam, carbon plate
|
Adidas |
Adizero Adios Pro 4
Lightstrike Pro (PEBA), carbon rods
Adizero Prime X 2
Lightstrike Pro (PEBA), carbon plate
Adizero Takumi Sen 10
Lightstrike Pro (PEBA), carbon-infused rods
Adizero Evo SL
Lightstrike Pro training shoe
|
Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra
Lightstrike Pro, carbon plate
|
Hoka |
Rocket X 2
Dual-density PEBA, carbon plate
Cielo X1 / X1 2.0
Dual-density PEBA, winged carbon plate
Skyward X
PEBA + EVA, carbon plate (training)
Mach X / X 2
PEBA + EVA, Pebax plate (training)
Cielo Road
PEBA foam, no plate (5K/10K)
|
Tecton X 2 / X 3
Dual-density PEBA, parallel carbon plates
|
ASICS |
Metaspeed Sky+ / Sky Paris
FF Blast Turbo (PEBA), carbon plate
Metaspeed Edge+ / Edge Paris
FF Blast Turbo (PEBA), carbon plate
Magic Speed 4
FF Turbo+ (PEBA), carbon plate
Superblast 2
FF Turbo+ (PEBA), no plate (training)
|
No PEBA trail models yet
|
Saucony |
Endorphin Pro 3 / 4
PWRRUN PB/HG (PEBA), carbon plate
Endorphin Elite 2
incrediRUN (PEBA), carbon plate
Endorphin Speed 3 / 4 / 5
PWRRUN PB (PEBA), nylon plate
Endorphin Trainer
incrediRUN (PEBA), carbon plate
Kinvara Pro
PWRRUN PB + PWRRUN, carbon plate
Tempus
PWRRUN PB (PEBA), stability, no plate
Freedom 5
PWRRUN PB (PEBA), no plate
|
Endorphin Edge
PWRRUN PB (PEBA), carbon plate
Endorphin Rift
PWRRUN PB (PEBA), no plate
|
New Balance |
FuelCell SC Elite v4
100% PEBA FuelCell, carbon plate
FuelCell SC Trainer v3
PEBA-blend FuelCell, carbon plate
FuelCell Rebel v4
PEBA + EVA blend, no plate
|
No PEBA trail models yet
|
Mizuno |
Wave Rebellion Pro 2 / 3
Enerzy XP (PEBA/TPEE), carbon plate
Wave Rebellion Flash 2
Enerzy Lite+ (PEBA), carbon plate
|
No PEBA trail models yet
|
Brooks |
Hyperion Elite 4 PB
DNA Gold (PEBA), carbon plate
Hyperion Elite 5
DNA Gold (PEBA), carbon plate (upcoming)
|
No PEBA trail models yet
|
Reebok |
Floatride Run Fast Pro
Floatride (PEBA), carbon plate
Floatride Energy X
Floatride (PEBA) + Energy (TPU), carbon plate
|
No PEBA trail models yet
|
Other Brands |
Tracksmith Eliot Runner
Dual PEBA system, no plate
Topo Cyclone 2
100% PEBA, no plate
On Cloudboom Echo 3
Dual PEBA layers, carbon plate
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2/3
Nitro Elite (PEBA), carbon plate
Decathlon Kiprun KD900X
VFOAM (PEBA), carbon plate
|
Dynafit Sky DNA
PEBA foam, ultralight design
Topo Specter
Pebax-powered foam in EVA frame
|
Note: This chart shows running shoes that use PEBA foam (polyether block amide) or are considered "super shoes" with advanced foam technology and/or carbon plates. Many brands are still developing their PEBA trail offerings, which explains the limited trail options compared to road shoes. Foam names in parentheses indicate the brand's proprietary name for their PEBA formulation.
I suppose I could have just read this website instead.
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