Running Shoe Yay or Nay: Four New Releases Worth a Look

Introduction

It is time for another round of yay or nay, where the verdict is not about whether a shoe is brilliant or terrible, but simply whether it earns a place in the rotation. Four shoes are on the table this time: a Chinese marathon racer, a wild Puma prototype, a speculative look at a new trainer, and a big update to a cushioned daily shoe. Some are easy calls, others less so.

Qiaodan Feiying Kung Fu Pro

This one comes from a Chinese brand whose name apparently translates to Jordan, and the basketball player logo on the side of a running shoe suggests that has already caused some friction with the Jordan brand. Setting the naming drama aside, this is a mesh-upper marathon super shoe with a midsole profile that looks very similar to just about every top-tier marathon racer on the market, with clear echoes of other elite foam designs in the upper and midsole shape.

The reported details stack up nicely: roughly a 5mm heel-to-toe drop, an aggressive plate in the midsole, a translucent vapor-weave-style mesh upper, and a TPU and EVA type foam blend. A marathon runner has reportedly been putting long training runs on this shoe with strong results. The claimed price is about $110, which is a very good figure for a shoe of this nature, though it appears the shoes usually need to be imported.

The big caveat: availability. Like many Chinese brands, sizes seem to stop at a certain point, so larger-footed runners may struggle to find a pair. Still, for the price and the profile, this is a yay.

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite

This is a genuinely bonkers-looking shoe. It is the highest-stacked Fast-R Nitro Elite, with an aggressive plate between two midsole segments: Nitro Elite foam in the forefoot and standard EVA in the heel. It is reminiscent of the Tempo Next% setup, and the exposed midfoot section of the midsole appears to feature a strengthened carbon plate, perhaps in an attempt to reduce foam weight while stabilizing the ride through the midfoot.

That midfoot structure could be useful for heel strikers who rely on the rear of the shoe, and it may appeal to runners who worry about the instability common to most super shoes. The look is unconventional enough that it has drawn comparisons to split-soled dance trainers, which is saying something. Puma Grip rubber finishes off the high-vis effort.

Given how well the Nitro Elite foam has performed elsewhere, further tinkering with that foam is very appealing. This one is an enthusiastic yay.

Asics Magic Speed 2

This is the most speculative of the four, based on early images of a shoe that looks nothing like the current Magic Speed. The new version appears to copy the Meta Speed Sky in profile, possibly with even more stack height, and there may be a longer plate than the forefoot-only plate of the original. There is also some sculpting in the midfoot of the midsole, though whether that is structural foam or an optical illusion is unclear at this stage.

The pricing detail is murky: a listed figure of $250 would translate to roughly £185, which seems excessive, so it may well be $250 Australian, closer to £138, which would make far more sense. If Flight Foam Blast is used rather than Turbo, that would also explain a lower price.

On the current evidence this looks like a training version of the Meta Speed Sky, which is a sensible slot in the lineup. It is a small spark of yay until more details land, with the opinion open to change.

Mizuno Wave Sky 5

This is a big update to Mizuno’s cushioned daily trainer, but the headline change is the price: about £155, which is a wallet-busting figure for a daily shoe. It also appears heavier than most current daily offerings, at around 300g in a sample size, which would likely mean 340-350g in larger sizes. That is a lot of shoe for everyday miles.

The upper is called AeroHug, which does sound comforting, like a hot chocolate with marshmallows. Underneath there is a combination of three different foams: XPOP, the classic Wave foam, and Mizuno’s Energy core material, plus X10 carbon rubber on the outsole. That mixture could explain the excess weight.

The problem is not quality, it is value. With competition arriving in cheaper and much lighter packages, £155 for a daily clog is a tough sell. For this runner, that is a nay.

Buying Advice

If you want a super shoe on a budget, the Qiaodan Feiying Kung Fu Pro is the standout value play here, provided you can find it in your size. The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite suits neutral runners and heel strikers who want aggressive elite foam with a bit of midfoot structure. The Magic Speed 2 is worth waiting on until confirmed specs and pricing arrive. The Wave Sky 5 only makes sense if you are loyal to Mizuno’s ride and unconcerned by the price, because lighter and cheaper daily trainers are easy to find elsewhere.

Conclusion

Two yays, one cautious spark of interest, and one nay. The Feiying Kung Fu Pro and Fast-R Nitro Elite both earn a spot on the want list, the Magic Speed 2 stays on the watchlist pending real details, and the Wave Sky 5 is simply too much shoe and too much money for a daily trainer. As always, match the shoe to your own size, gait, and budget before pulling the trigger.