Kiprun KS900.2 review

Hailing from Decathlon’s Kiprun brand, the KS900.2 has been ‘designed for passionate long-distance runners, or those looking for stability due to their weight or preferences.’ Jude Palmer puts them to the test…

The shoe is very much in the maximalist cushioning camp with one of the thickest soles on test, a decent 39mm at the heel and 33mm at the midfoot, giving a 6mm heel drop overall.

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First impressions of the Kiprun KS900.2

The dimpled exterior, which extends up and around the heel cup, invokes the look of a soft mattress and puts the M for mattress in MFoam. This is a shoe that looks inviting and a little bit different.

This desire for comfort extends to a plush padding around the inside of the heel cup and to the duvet-like tongue. I doubt anyone would suffer lace rub, but likewise it felt like it led to overly warm feet. 

A personal bug bear I have with many Decathlon products is the inclusion of a chunky set of labels and on the KS900.2 these are unhelpfully found on the tongue, right where it sits on the foot when the shoe is laced. Yes, the labels can be removed but then you’re left with a potential rub spot. 

The KS900.2 will give you a cushioned ride but not an exciting one. Compared to other shoes on the market the foot roll (how the foot transitions from landing to toe off) felt sluggish. It felt like I had to think about the roll through and it would be great to see Kiprun refine this.

The landing felt squishy and as a result it felt there was little in the way of bounce to propel the runner onward. While it’s a very comfy ride, this shoe isn’t going to do the work for you. At 243g (UK5.5) the KS900.2 was pretty much the average weight of the women’s shoes on test. 

The KS900.2 felt true to size, but take out the sock liner and compare its shape to your foot, as it looks narrow compared to other shoes.

The extra width needed to accommodate my foot was taken up by the mesh upper, but this meant my foot was bulging out and which may have led to the foot not feeling completely held by the shoe. In fact, my feet were noticeably shifting beyond the foot base on downhills and when changing direction. 

Final thoughts – is the Kiprun KS900.2 worth buying?

Compared to the other shoes on test the sock liner is basic and offers little extra cushioning or shaping to support the foot. Plus, the laces are narrow and harder to thread through the loops than others on test. This does mean you get a good lock, though.

Kiprun KS900.2 spec

Price:	$120/£119.99
Sizes:	3-8 (women’s UK), 6.5-12.5 (men’s, UK)
Stack:	39mm heel, 33mm midsole
Drop:	6mm
Midsole:	MFOAM cushioning
Weight:	243g (size 5.5 women’s, UK)