I tried the £39.99 Lidl carbon-plated running shoe – here’s how good it really is

These shoes promise a carbon plate, lightweight design and plenty of energy return for less than £40 - (Harry Bullmore/The Independent)

I didn’t used to think carbon-plated running shoes were worth the hype, then I tried my first pair and immediately knocked seconds off my kilometre splits. This performance boost rarely comes cheap, however, with Adidas’s premium race shoe retailing at £450.

That is why Lidl’s latest running shoe offering has caused such a stir. It costs just £39.99, but promises a carbon plate, lightweight design and plenty of energy return. But is it any good?