The short version
Carbon plates usually delaminate long before the outsole does. The Meridian Vector 4 is the first plated trainer we have tested that finished a full 400km cycle with its geometry measurably intact, and it is the reason this shoe scores where it does.
What the lab measured
Energy return came in at 78.4 percent on the force plate, the highest figure we have recorded. Midsole durometer read 52C at the heel and 48C at the forefoot when new, drifting only three points across the test cycle. Most plated shoes in this category soften by eight to twelve points over the same distance.
Stack height measured 39mm heel and 31mm forefoot for an 8mm drop. Weight was 241g in a UK 9, which is unremarkable for the class but acceptable given the durability.
Where it disappoints
Wet-grip coefficient was 0.62, which is mid-table. On our polished concrete loop the outsole let go earlier than the tread pattern suggests it should. The upper is also thinner than the price implies, and two of our three test pairs showed fraying at the medial eyestay by 300km.
Verdict
Expensive, but not cynically so. If you are running enough mileage that plate longevity actually matters, this is the first shoe in the category that justifies the outlay.
