Yonex is best known for badminton and tennis, but the Carbon Cruise running range has quietly become one of the most interesting things the brand makes. The newest model, the Carbon Cruise Aerus GT (product code SHRAG1), launched in Japan in late August 2026, and the "GT" on the side isn't decoration. It stands for Graphite Throttle, a new construction that pairs Yonex's latest cushioning foam with a speed-focused carbon plate.
Here's what each part does, in plain English.
Graphite Throttle: the big idea
Most running shoes make a trade-off. Soft foam feels comfortable but can feel slow. A stiff carbon plate feels fast but can feel harsh. Graphite Throttle is Yonex's attempt to balance five things at once: cushioning, responsiveness, low weight, propulsion and stability. It does that by stacking two foams around a carbon plate rather than relying on one material to do everything.
Power Cushion REV
The top layer of the midsole is Power Cushion REV, the newest version of the cushioning Yonex has used in its court shoes for decades. Compared with the previous Power Cushion+, Yonex reports around 14% more shock absorption, 16% more rebound and 27% less weight. That's the part of the shoe your foot feels first on landing. Read more about how it feels underfoot.
3D Power Carbon plate
Sitting in the midsole is the 3D Power Carbon plate. It's stiffer and more speed-focused than the plate in the original Carbon Cruise Aerus, with raised wings at the forefoot and midfoot and deeper wave-shaped ribs. The wings help stop your foot rolling side to side on landing, and the ribs add stiffness for stability and push-off. We've gone into this in detail in our 3D Power Carbon plate guide.
Feather Light X
The lower layer of the midsole uses Feather Light X, which Yonex describes as its lightest material to date, around 30% lighter than standard EVA foam. It's a big reason the shoe comes in at roughly 215g per shoe (at 26.0cm). See our lightness breakdown for what that means on the run.
Endurance Rubber outsole
Underneath is Endurance Rubber, a hard-wearing compound Yonex also uses on shoes for top professional tennis players. On a running shoe its jobs are grip and reducing wasted energy at toe-off.
Durable Skin Light upper
The upper is Durable Skin Light: a thin, strong, seamless synthetic designed to stay light and flexible while holding the foot securely. Fewer seams means fewer places to rub on longer runs.
The tech at a glance
| Technology | Where | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Power Cushion REV | Upper midsole | Shock absorption and rebound |
| 3D Power Carbon | Midsole plate | Stability and propulsion |
| Feather Light X | Lower midsole | Saves weight |
| Endurance Rubber | Outsole | Grip and durability |
| Durable Skin Light | Upper | Light, seamless fit |
Shop the Carbon Cruise Aerus GT
Available in three unisex colourways: Lemon Yellow, Sky Blue and Cool White.
