Key Stats

Feidian 6 Elite

• Weight: around 225g

• Heel stack: 40mm

• Forefoot stack: 34mm

• Drop: 6mm

• Fit: roomy forefoot, good volume

• Ride: soft, bouncy and energetic

• Best price seen: around £147

Feidian 6 Ultra

• Weight: around 220g

• Heel stack: 39.5mm

• Forefoot stack: 32.5mm

• Drop: 7mm

• Fit: narrower and more tapered

• Ride: firmer, snappier and more aggressive

• China price: around £250

• Import price: potentially £450+

Despite the names, the Ultra actually feels more like the pure speed shoe, while the Elite feels more suited to longer racing because of its softer and more protective ride.

Upper

Both shoes use excellent lightweight booty-style uppers.

The Elite has slightly more volume and a little more padding around the heel. For wider feet, it is particularly accommodating and the material wraps nicely around the foot.

The Ultra feels more race-focused. It is slightly narrower, more tapered and has less padding. It also includes a useful fold-over tab that lets you tighten the laces aggressively without creating lace bite.

Both provide excellent lockdown and largely disappear on the foot while running.

Elite: 5/5
Ultra: 5/5

If I had to choose, I would give the Ultra the smallest edge because it feels slightly more streamlined and race-ready.

Outsole

Both use Li-Ning's excellent GCU rubber.

Grip is outstanding in both shoes, including on wet surfaces and downhill sections.

The main difference is in the outsole design.

The Elite has a larger central cavity that could potentially catch stones. The Ultra avoids that larger rock-catching section and has a smaller channel in the forefoot that also helps provide a little flex around toe-off.

Again, both are excellent.

Elite: 5/5
Ultra: 5/5

Small advantage: Ultra.

Midsole

This is where the two shoes separate completely.

Feidian 6 Elite

The Elite uses a very soft Super Boom capsule layer directly underneath the foot.

When you land, you compress that foam, load the plate and get a very quick rebound.

But importantly, the sensation is primarily driven by the foam rather than the plate.

You get a lot of:

softness + compression + bounce + vertical and forward propulsion

It feels energetic and almost slightly uncontrolled.

The closest comparison is something like the Hoka Cielo X1.

The Elite encourages you to open your stride, put force into the ground and bound along.

It is very forgiving and extremely fun.

Elite midsole: 5/5.

Feidian 6 Ultra

The Ultra feels completely different.

The foam underneath your foot is noticeably firmer and the plate feels much more prominent.

You feel the carbon plate almost immediately, particularly when running quickly.

When you increase the pace, you compress the forefoot structure and the encapsulated foam underneath, before getting a much sharper rebound.

Instead of sending you upward and forward, the Ultra seems much more focused on throwing you forward.

It reminds me of elements of:

• Nike Alphafly

• Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3

• Adidas Prime X Strung original

The ride is:

firmer + stiffer + snappier + more aggressive

It isn't as enjoyable at slow pace, but once you start attacking the ground it makes considerably more sense.

Ultra midsole: 5/5.

Midsole Winner: Elite

Not because it is technically superior, but because I prefer the softer, bouncier sensation, particularly if I'm going to be running for a long time.

Stability

The Ultra wins this category.

Neither shoe is a stability shoe, but the soft midsole of the Elite makes it much more susceptible to lateral movement.

That became particularly obvious running downhill.

When landing heavily on the lateral side of the Elite, the soft capsule foam compressed and the shoe felt like it wanted to tilt.

The firmer Ultra stayed noticeably flatter.

The Ultra also feels much better when landing towards the heel, although neither shoe is really designed for heel striking.

Elite: 2.5–3/5
Ultra: 3.5/5

Stability Winner: Ultra.

Speed

This is very close.

The Elite has already proven that it is seriously quick. It is easy to build pace because of that big, energetic bounce.

But for pure efficiency, I think the Ultra just edges it.

The plate feels stiffer and more aggressive, and the Ultra converts more of the force into forward propulsion.

The Elite gives you more vertical movement.

The Ultra feels more direct.

That means over a short race where comfort isn't as important, I'd probably choose the Ultra.

Elite: 5/5
Ultra: 5/5

Speed Winner: Ultra — but only just.

5K and 10K

This is where my initial assumptions were turned upside down.

Given the name “Ultra”, I expected the Ultra to be the obvious longer-distance shoe.

But I actually think the Ultra could be the better 5K and 10K racer.

Over shorter distances, I don't have to worry so much about the firm plate eventually creating foot discomfort.

I can simply:

hit the ground hard → engage the plate → let it fire me forward.

For a fast 5K or 10K, that could make the Ultra an absolute weapon.

Winner: Ultra

Half Marathon and Marathon

For longer racing, I lean towards the Elite.

The Ultra is certainly capable of running a marathon.

But the ride reminds me slightly of my experience with the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3: incredibly efficient, but potentially harsh after 26.2 miles.

The Elite gives up a tiny amount of outright forward efficiency but compensates with:

• More cushioning

• More softness

• More bounce

• Greater comfort

• A more forgiving ride

Over a marathon, I'd rather have something helping protect my legs while still delivering plenty of speed.

Winner: Elite

Running Style

This might be the most useful way to choose between them.

Choose the Elite if you:

• Like soft shoes

• Like big bounce

• Naturally lengthen your stride

• Are more of a bounding runner

• Want more comfort over longer distances

• Enjoy shoes like the Hoka Cielo X1

Choose the Ultra if you:

• Prefer firmer racing shoes

• Want to feel the carbon plate

• Prefer forward propulsion over vertical bounce

• Are a more powerful runner

• Want something more stable

• Like shoes such as the Alphafly, Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 or original Prime X Strung

Heavier runners may particularly benefit from the Ultra because they should be able to compress the firmer platform and engage the plate more effectively.

Value

There is no competition here.

The Elite wins comfortably.

At around £147, the Elite is extraordinary value for a genuine premium racing shoe.

The Ultra costs around £250 in China, which I think is reasonable for the performance.

But at £450 or more through some import channels, it simply doesn't make sense.

At those prices:

Elite: 5/5
Ultra: 1–2/5

Do not pay £450 for the Ultra.

Wait until the price drops.

Value Winner: Elite.

Final Verdict

If both shoes were exactly the same price, this would be a difficult decision.

For pure raw speed, I think the Ultra has a slight advantage.

It is firmer, more stable, more aggressive and converts more of your effort into forward propulsion.

But the Elite is incredibly close in performance while offering a ride I personally enjoy more.

It is softer.

It is bouncier.

It is more forgiving.

And it is considerably cheaper.

For a 5K or 10K where I wanted to go all-out, I would be very tempted by the Ultra.

For a half marathon or marathon, I would currently choose the Elite.

And when you factor in price, there is really only one overall winner.

Overall Winner: Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite

At around £150, the Feidian 6 Elite is the shoe I'd recommend to most runners.

It delivers almost all of the Ultra's speed while being softer, more enjoyable and significantly better value.

The Ultra is potentially the more technically impressive racing machine, particularly for faster, more powerful runners who enjoy aggressive plated shoes.

But until its price comes down substantially, the Elite is the much easier recommendation.

Elite = soft, bouncy, comfortable and fast.
Ultra = firm, snappy, aggressive and potentially slightly faster.

For your hard-earned money, I'd buy the Elite.

Runnabl3 Head-to-Head

• Upper: Feidian 6 Elite — 5/5 | Feidian 6 Ultra — 5/5 | Winner: Ultra, narrowly

• Outsole: Feidian 6 Elite — 5/5 | Feidian 6 Ultra — 5/5 | Winner: Ultra, narrowly

• Midsole: Feidian 6 Elite — 5/5 | Feidian 6 Ultra — 5/5 | Winner: Elite for me

• Stability: Feidian 6 Elite — 2.5–3/5 | Feidian 6 Ultra — 3.5/5 | Winner: Ultra

• Speed: Feidian 6 Elite — 5/5 | Feidian 6 Ultra — 5/5 | Winner: Ultra, narrowly

• Comfort: Feidian 6 Elite — 5/5 | Feidian 6 Ultra — 4/5 | Winner: Elite

• 5K/10K: Feidian 6 Elite — Excellent | Feidian 6 Ultra — Excellent | Winner: Ultra

• Half/Marathon: Feidian 6 Elite — Excellent | Feidian 6 Ultra — Very Good–Excellent | Winner: Elite

• Value: Feidian 6 Elite — 5/5 | Feidian 6 Ultra — 1–2/5 at £450 | Winner: Elite

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