I road-tested Lidl’s new £40 super shoes around Vatican City – this is what they were really like, and my expert advice to any marathon runners thinking of buying them

When most people rock up to Lidl for their weekly shop, they expect to exit with their groceries. Perhaps a cheeky pastry from the bakery section if they’re feeling frisky.

But these days you might just find yourself leaving the supermarket with a pair of carbon-plated super shoes. 

You may even go on to wear them for a five-kilometre run around the border of one of the most sacred areas on planet earth, Vatican City.

At least, that’s what I did.

The moment I saw that Lidl, the German-owned chain where I normally stockpile pains au chocalat, were set to release the Crivit CarbonLite 1.0 running trainers, it piqued my interest. I simply had to rip up some roads in them.

Then it dawned on me that I was soon to be running the Rome Marathon, and while no sane person would test out Lidl running shoes for the first time in a 26.2-mile race, I decided to instead use them for a shakeout run the day before it.

Two weeks went by before I had my usual training clobber on, laced up the £39.99 carbon shoes, and set off on the cobbled roads of Rome in the hope of becoming the first person to wear Lidl running trainers in St Peter’s Square.

Daily Mail Sport’s Harry Bamforth (pictured) tested the super shoes on the streets of Rome

CRIVIT CarbonLite 1.0 Running Shoes

Product Specs

• FeaturesRubber sole for grip; ergonomic moulded insole; cushioned, shock-absorbing midsole
• Sizes availableMen’s UK 8-11.5

What we love

• SolesTough and hard, but provides a good grip on difficult terrain

• PriceSuper affordable at just £39.99

What could be better

• ComfortSoles felt ‘rock hard’

• NoisyThey make a squeaking sound with every stride

• Ineffective carbon platesCould hardly feel their effect

• WeightHeavier than premium shoes

Within a handful of strides, it was clear why the shoes were so cheap.

The soles made for both an uncomfortable and noisy experience. The shoes have a ‘High performance EVA midsole’ that is described as ‘lightweight, cushioned and shock-absorbing’ by Lidl, but to me, they felt rock hard.

My feet could feel every step as the shoes slapped into the road, while they also made a peculiar quacking sound that distracted somewhat from the beauty around me.

I was running just outside the wall that surrounds the Vatican, on stunning roads that host the most gorgeous rustic and colourful houses, and all I could think about was how much my shoes sounded like Donald Duck.

Only when I reached St Peter’s Basilica did I forget what was on my feet. The sheer beauty of the world’s most famous church took my mind off the fact it felt like I was wearing empty tissue boxes.

Now, that may sound dramatic, but for somebody who was taking on the gruelling test of a marathon the next day, the fear that these shoes would lead to injury was very real. Thankfully, I navigated the rest of my shakeout run without causing any harm to my precious feet.

I love Lidl as much as the next person, maybe even too much, and while it gave me a giggle to try these running shoes out in one of the most iconic locations on the planet, I wouldn’t advise following my lead and getting a pair if you are serious about running marathons.

We have to remember, they are less than £40, which is around £200 cheaper than most super shoes on the market. Lidl aren’t trying to make the best shoe around; they clearly just want to tap into the carbon shoes addiction that has swept the running community.

The carbon plate in the Crivits supposedly provides ‘exceptional energy return’, but if I hadn’t been told that the shoes had plates, I wouldn’t have guessed they did. They give no kick; you can’t feel any extra propulsion.

They also weigh a hefty 280 grams, which is considerably more than other super shoes on the market, and the knitted upper is far from the ‘lightweight and breathable’ material it is advertised as.

The soles of the shoes made for both an uncomfortable and noisy experience

While you may save money on the shoe, expect your bill at the physio to skyrocket

However, credit where it is due, the rubber soles on the shoe – while tough and hard – provided a good grip on difficult terrain, such as the uneven and cobbled roads in Rome.

Would I wear them again? Personally, no. But in a world where it costs you an arm and a leg to get the latest cutting-edge carbon-plate technology, it is understandable why people on a budget may be intrigued by the Crivit CarbonLite 1.0. Lidl have made an affordable shoe, and you can’t knock that.

However, while you may save money on your footwear, expect your bill at the physio to skyrocket.

Even if you don’t have deep enough pockets to secure the best super shoes on the market, I would still rather invest in a solid training shoe than this gimmick by a supermarket.

That’s what this is: a gimmick. A gimmick that is working wonders, I must say. The shoes have taken the internet by storm, with many, I presume, having the same feeling I had when I first saw news of their release.

If you have read this review and still fancy yourselves a pair, firstly, I pray for your feet… and secondly, they are available in UK Lidl stores from March 29.