Alright, this convinced me to try out the Zone 2. Really didn’t want to jump through any hoops just to order a pair of shoes. Was about to pull the trigger on the Red Hare 9 off amazon until I said the Brooks Launch comparison. That’s the last shoe i wore back in the day before a rough injury.
Ordered it Tuesday afternoon, received it almost too late for my run last night. Pretty quick because I live about 30 minutes from the shipping point (SoCal). I don't think I'm well versed in modern shoes to provide a detailed review + I just returned to running. I currently run in the Hylo Impact (comparable to your typical neutral daily trainer) and have the Adios 9 for speedwork and racing. When I put on the Hylo and other modern trainers at the store I was blown away from what we had 10-15 years ago. The Adios 9 reminded me of a better racing flat from back in the day.
The Zone 2 blew me away on my easy run last night. I wasn't going quick by any means, I had a ton of soreness in my moobs from chest day the day before, so running wasn't pleasant. But once I got home it clicked. It didn't feel like I ran at all. No idea how it compares to other supertrainers, but I'm guessing it may not be as quick (responsive might be the right word?) as my Hylos but I'll test it out. The rubber seems okay-ish, I'm curious how long it'll hold up. They run true to size, maybe a half size up would be okay too.
The Zone 2 is a beautifully smooth ride at easy paces for me - doesn't force you to pick it up and lets you just tick off whatever effort you like. Very similar foam to the Xiaonian but probably not as fast top end, more daily oriented which makes perfect sense.
A bit of a snug fit imo but not bad, only criticism I have is that the outsole has terrible grip on wet ground.
This post was edited 47 seconds after it was posted.
I’m thinking of getting the lining feidian challenge 6 for intervals and red hare 9 pro for daily easy runs (~6-6.30min/km pace). Would the red hare be suitable for someone who has flat feet and overpronates, or are there more suitable Chinese shoes out there for easy runs?
Fast R-3 vs Feidian 6 Elite? Both about the same price where I live (Feidian slightly cheaper on sale). Any rich b@st@rds tried out both and can compare?
Fast R-3 vs Feidian 6 Elite? Both about the same price where I live (Feidian slightly cheaper on sale). Any rich b@st@rds tried out both and can compare?
Not a rich b@stard, but I've tried and used both for workouts extensively. My take is this:
Fast R-3: Aggressive, takes a bit to get used to, great if you're a forefoot striker with a competitive background in XC / track and likes how super spikes feel. Not particularly forgiving if you start to fatigue and get sloppy with your form. My choice for 5k-10k
Feidian 6 Elite: Very smooth bouncy cruiser, lets you just lock in to a pace, turn your brain off and click away endlessly. I think I would take this for a marathon but at half the Do-Win PB Pro is more tempting
Neither are particularly good at turns or uneven terrain, though the Fast R-3 is noticeably lighter and more nimble.
Li-ning Feidian Elite 5 passed the test on their first workout. Nice and bouncy. I'll give them another spin or two, but they'll probably be the shoes I wear for my goal half marathon in June. I've been looking for a replacement for my VF3's since last year. VF Next% 2's were perfect, but the VF3 took too much out of the soles for long races, at least for me.
But I retired the Red Hare 9 Pros after 4 runs. I tried them as a workout shoe and as an easy day shoe, and they just weren't working. First time I've ever given up on a shoe after so little running in them. They get great reviews, but they didn't work for me. Too firm and slappy footstrike.
I'm still looking for an easy/long-run shoe. Red Hare 9 Ultra? Anta Zone 2?
Li-ning Feidian Elite 5 passed the test on their first workout. Nice and bouncy. I'll give them another spin or two, but they'll probably be the shoes I wear for my goal half marathon in June. I've been looking for a replacement for my VF3's since last year. VF Next% 2's were perfect, but the VF3 took too much out of the soles for long races, at least for me.
But I retired the Red Hare 9 Pros after 4 runs. I tried them as a workout shoe and as an easy day shoe, and they just weren't working. First time I've ever given up on a shoe after so little running in them. They get great reviews, but they didn't work for me. Too firm and slappy footstrike.
I'm still looking for an easy/long-run shoe. Red Hare 9 Ultra? Anta Zone 2?
That is exactly my experience with the Red Hare 8 Pro, I retired them after a few runs for the same reason (slappy and firm). On the bright side, they are decent for walking and barely cost me anything.
I agree about the Feidian Elite 5. Also I'm on my 2nd pair of Feidian Challenger 5 and still think they're amazing for workouts. They work exceptionally well in the rain too.
I've been curious about easy/long run shoes as well, but to be honest there are so many deals that pop up on non-Chinese models that I'm not sure it's as worthwhile. For example, I recently purchased a pair of Mizuno Neo Zen 1 for $60 and have found pairs of Evo SL in the $80 range.
So for now it seems to me like the Chinese shoe "sweetspot" is in the high performance category.
The Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite is a carbon-plated road racer built for marathon racing and long-distance speed. Its PEBA-based Super Boom Capsule midsole feels high...
Rtings tested the energy return on the feidian 6 elite and it was tied for the second highest energy return with like 5 other shoes. First place was the prime x 3 strung, which is not race legal. They have the results for the dynafish xioanian and the red hare 9 ultra here too, but I don't have access to them.
They are super firm and snappy for like 5-10 runs but then they feel pretty good, and not particularly firm. For me it feels slightly firmer than evo sls. It's annoying at first, but probably has a positive impact on their durability and value.
Going to China at the end of the summer - is anyone familiar with the pricing ranges when shopping in the country rather than online from abroad? Presumably cheaper?
For those of you who have run in the Li-Ning Feidian Challenger 6, how much worse are they than the 5?
Are the Chinese shoes already suffering from the same pitfalls of the mainstream brands' annual ensh*tification model?
Funny isn't it? The 5s are nearly perfect but it seems like most of the reviews I've seen of the 6 mention a wider platform and added stability which is exactly the same pitfall of the mainstream brands.
Are the Chinese shoes already suffering from the same pitfalls of the mainstream brands' annual ensh*tification model?
Funny isn't it? The 5s are nearly perfect but it seems like most of the reviews I've seen of the 6 mention a wider platform and added stability which is exactly the same pitfall of the mainstream brands.
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