Apexbeat Swift Review: Thai Carbon Shoes with Great Energy Return and Durability

Apexbeat has been becoming more familiar and well-known at racetracks and training grounds in Thailand over the past year. Images of top Thai and international runners wearing them in major races in Thailand have led runners to wonder what kind of shoes they were and where they came from, only to be even more surprised to discover that they are a Thai brand developed by Thai people. 

 Starting with the first model, Apexbeat Speed 1, which made Thai runners familiar with the brand and left a very strong impression—not only with its responsive speed performance, which runners can confidently use in actual races, but also with its durability, handling both races and heavy training with ease, all at a very affordable price for runners.

 And now, the latest model is the Apexbeat Swift , which can be said to be quite a sensation. I have seen more and more runners wearing this model while running around Lumphini Park almost every day, and I have asked the runners wearing them how they feel about the shoes. Runners also come to ask me about them regularly. So, today I will tell you. After using the Apexbeat Swift for about two weeks, I have worn them for all my running paces, from slow long runs and easy runs to intense 10K tempo runs and even 5K all-out efforts.

 

 Let's take a look at the materials and technology in this Thai carbon shoe, the Apexbeat Swift. 

•  Upper  The upper material is Aura Mesh, made from TPE fibers for durability and excellent breathability. I have worn this shoe for 2.5-hour slow long runs on the Lumphini Park track and have not encountered any issues with heat buildup inside. Its breathability is excellent.

•  LACES  The laces are a two-layer design with stitched seams. Many people have asked whether they come untied. At first, they never did, but they came untied once during a recent 10K tempo run when the laces were too short to be doubled over. It was quite frustrating, so yesterday I had to stop and retie them, and I solved the problem by tying them permanently.

•  INSOLE  The insole is made of a TPE and rubber blend that is soft, lightweight, and does not compress. It molds to the shape of the foot, and I have not had any issues with foot irritation even after many runs without socks.

• MIDSOLE : S+ Power Foam ; PEBA Supercritical. Lightweight, soft, and bouncy, it is considered a top-tier foam on the market.  The foam is molded from TPE, a material renowned for its softness and bounce. The supercritical molding process gives the foam a smooth, non-granular appearance and makes it up to 45% lighter, softer, and bouncier than conventional foam. I must admit that the foam in this shoe is extremely bouncy. On my first day wearing them for a slow run, I was amazed by how bouncy the foam was. It is soft, bouncy, and highly responsive—far more than I needed for my easy, slow runs. With a 40 mm heel height, 32 mm forefoot height, and an 8 mm drop, it really delivers. It is soft, bouncy, and highly responsive, perfectly meeting runners' preferences.

• Power Plate is an S-shaped carbon plate embedded between the foam layers. The carbon fiber plate has a stiffness rating of 85%, the highest on the market. During easy, steady runs, I do not really feel the carbon plate because of the thick, soft foam. But when running fast enough for the carbon plate to engage, the harder you press, the more it delivers. The soft, bouncy foam combined with the rebound from the carbon plate makes it truly incredible. It is so bouncy and responsive that you need to keep your legs moving fast enough to keep up with it. 

• OUTSOLE The forefoot is made of non-slip rubber, while the heel features High Abrasion Rubber for enhanced durability. I have run nearly 100 km in them, and they show almost no wear. However, I still find them slippery on wet surfaces after it rains. When running fast on wet ground, you need to be extra careful when placing your foot. 

 

• Heel Counter The foam padding around the Achilles tendon is soft and comfortable, providing a secure fit without the heel slipping during runs. However, the outer area under the ankle bone still chafes me.

 My experience after running nearly 100 km in the Apexbeat Swift.

         On the first day I wore them for a run, they felt very light, weighing only about 200 grams each. They were comfortable to wear, and standing up did not make me feel forced to lean forward. On the first day, I ran 26 km at a pace of 6:30–6:40 and was extremely impressed by how bouncy the foam was. It was soft and incredibly bouncy—so bouncy it surprised me. It was soft and bouncy without collapsing. At this pace, it is more than responsive enough to show whether you can handle the speed and keep it under control. The foam is 40 mm thick, but it does not feel high or clunky; it is agile and allows for a full foot strike. It does not force the foot forward at all, which suits my foot strike well. During slow runs, I did not feel the carbon plate engage at all. The foam alone was more than enough to handle the job.

        Then came the first day I ran fast in them. Just as I expected, I really could not keep the Apexbeat Swift under control. Because I rarely do speed workouts and mostly run easy, slow, and long, I got carried away when running with such bouncy shoes. But the following week, on my speed run day, I had to force myself to control my pace. When the foot strikes and kicks back, you need to keep your legs moving fast enough to keep up. The harder you press, the more it delivers. You have to keep your legs moving fast enough to keep up with it.

        I can truly say they are bouncy and fight back against the ground. Personally, I tend to strike with a full foot rather than on my forefoot, so I do not feel them pushing me forward, but they provide excellent rebound through the stride. However, when I try to strike on my forefoot, they propel me forward so well that it is too fast for my style. It really takes off if you cannot keep it under control. In terms of bounce and speed, I can confidently say they can compete with any pair from any brand on the market today. Personally, if I were to choose them for my style, I would use them for 10K–21K races and just let them carry me to the finish. With this much bounce, they will get the job done.

 

 In summary, who is the Apexbeat Swift for?

        Simply put, if you are looking for carbon Super Shoes for racing and training that are soft, bouncy, and deliver even more bounce the harder you press, with excellent agility, choose this pair. Affordable carbon shoes made in Thailand with world-class standards—that is no exaggeration.