Li-Ning Feidian 6 Ultra Overview

The Feidian 6 Ultra is designed as a serious long-distance racing shoe, particularly for the marathon.

Compared with the Feidian 6 Elite, the Ultra feels noticeably firmer underfoot. There is less sinking into the foam and more emphasis on the carbon plate, the forefoot geometry and the encapsulated cushioning system.

Initially, that firmness surprised me. The Elite feels soft, bouncy and exciting straight out of the box. The Ultra needs more work from the runner.

But once the pace increases, the shoe transforms.

On one run I looked down at my watch and found myself running around 3:47/km pace without feeling like I was working particularly hard. That is exactly the kind of efficiency I want from a racing shoe.

Key Stats

In my UK size 9.5:

• Weight: approximately 220g

• Heel stack: approximately 40mm

• Forefoot stack: approximately 34mm

• Drop: approximately 6mm

• Fit: True to size, although slightly tapered through the forefoot

• Midsole: Super Boom foam with encapsulated cushioning

• Plate: Very stiff carbon plate

• Outsole: GCU rubber compound

At roughly 220g, it is around 5g lighter than the Feidian 6 Elite and very close in weight to the Nike Alphafly 3.

That isn't particularly light by modern super-shoe standards, especially with shoes such as the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 coming in significantly lighter.

But there is a lot of shoe here: significant cushioning, a large stack, a stiff plate and a substantial outsole.

Upper – 5/5

The upper is one of my favourite parts of the Feidian 6 Ultra.

It uses an all-in-one booty construction that wraps closely around the foot. If you've enjoyed the upper on the Nike Alphafly 3, this has a very similar philosophy.

The material is flexible enough to adapt to wider feet, while still providing a secure fit.

There is plenty of volume around the toes, although the shoe does taper towards the front.

I went half a size up because I potentially want to use this shoe for a marathon and wanted some additional room for foot swelling. However, in normal circumstances I think most runners could stay true to size.

The stretchy laces aren't particularly substantial, but in reality the booty construction holds the foot so well that you almost don't need them.

There is also a useful flap across the top of the shoe that allows you to cinch the laces down without creating excessive pressure.

Lockdown is good, the heel counter provides enough structure and there is minimal but sufficient padding around the collar.

For me, this is right up there with the best racing uppers I've used.

Upper score: 5/5.

Midsole – 5/5

This is where things get really interesting.

The Feidian 6 Ultra uses Li-Ning's Super Boom foam, combined with an encapsulated softer section of cushioning and a very stiff carbon plate.

My understanding is that the main Super Boom material is PEBA-based, while the exact composition of the softer encapsulated section is less clear.

What matters more is how it feels.

Compared with the Elite, the Ultra is:

• Firmer

• Stiffer

• More direct

• Less vertically bouncy

• More focused on forward propulsion

The Elite gives you a big, soft bouncing sensation.

The Ultra gives you a snappier compression and rebound.

The carbon plate sits relatively close to the foot and feels considerably more rigid than the plate in the Elite. When you land towards the forefoot, you load that plate and the cushioning underneath it, producing a quick rebound that drives you forward.

The shoe actually reminds me of a combination of the Nike Alphafly 3 and Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.

The encapsulated cushioning gives a sensation somewhat similar to the Alphafly's Air Zoom units, while the efficiency reminds me of the Puma.

It doesn't always feel ridiculously fast.

Then you look at the watch.

That's the impressive part.

Midsole score: 5/5.

Rocker and Ride

This isn't the softest or most flexible racing shoe.

In fact, it is extremely stiff.

The rocker doesn't start quite as early as something like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, but once you move onto the forefoot there is enough curvature to roll you through quickly.

At jogging pace, the stiffness can make the Ultra feel slightly harsh.

That was particularly noticeable during my first run.

But when you increase the pace, it makes considerably more sense.

The shoe really wants you to:

Get onto the forefoot, load the plate and go.

That means this probably isn't the ideal super shoe for runners who want something soft and forgiving at every pace.

It is a race shoe.

Outsole – 5/5

Li-Ning uses its GCU – Ground Control Unit – rubber across most of the outsole.

There is a lot more rubber coverage here than you see on many modern super shoes.

Only small sections of foam remain exposed.

The rubber feels extremely tacky and has already performed well on wet surfaces.

There is also a small cut-out around the forefoot that appears to help guide the push-off towards the big toe.

Chinese racing shoes have consistently impressed me with their outsole compounds, and this is another excellent example.

The combination of grip and apparent durability is outstanding.

Outsole score: 5/5.

Stability – 3.5/5

The Ultra isn't particularly stable, although it isn't terrible either.

It has a relatively narrow high-stack platform, and compared with the Feidian 6 Elite I think the overall base is slightly narrower.

The firmer foam helps somewhat because you're not sinking and moving laterally as much as you can in softer shoes.

However, cambered surfaces and tight turns can still expose the instability.

If you've found the Nike Alphafly unstable, I suspect you'll have similar concerns here.

There is enough structure in the upper to hold the foot reasonably well, but this remains a neutral, aggressive super shoe rather than anything approaching a stability racer.

Stability score: 3.5/5.

Speed – 5/5

This is where the Feidian 6 Ultra makes its strongest argument.

It feels extremely efficient.

Like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, it can almost trick you into running faster than intended.

You aren't necessarily getting this enormous trampoline sensation from underneath your foot.

Instead, the shoe keeps driving you forward.

I was running around 3:40/km pace during testing and it felt considerably slower than that.

That is exactly the sensation I've experienced in some of my fastest racing shoes.

Compared with the Feidian 6 Elite, I think the Ultra may ultimately be the faster shoe.

The Elite provides more bounce and arguably more fun.

The Ultra feels more focused.

More aggressive.

More race-day specific.

Speed score: 5/5.

Durability

The extensive GCU rubber coverage should make the Ultra relatively durable for a super shoe.

I wouldn't buy this expecting 700 miles of everyday training.

It is fundamentally a race-day shoe.

However, I think it should comfortably handle racing plus selected faster long runs.

The outsole looks particularly hard wearing, and Li-Ning's GCU compound has performed well for me on other shoes.

The bigger question will be how long the midsole and plate maintain their original characteristics.

Feidian 6 Ultra vs Feidian 6 Elite

These are very different shoes despite belonging to the same range.

Feidian 6 Elite

The Elite is:

• Softer

• Bouncier

• More forgiving

• More fun

• Better suited to runners who bound and lengthen their stride

It reminds me much more of something like the Hoka Cielo X1.

Feidian 6 Ultra

The Ultra is:

• Firmer

• Stiffer

• Snappier

• More aggressive

• More efficient

• Better suited to runners looking for forward propulsion

It feels more like a mixture of the Alphafly and Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.

If I wanted the shoe that felt nicest underfoot, I might choose the Elite.

If I had to hit a specific marathon time, I suspect I'd choose the Ultra.

Who Is It Good For?

The real sweet spot is longer-distance racing.

Marathon – Excellent

This is what the shoe has been designed for.

You get plenty of cushioning but, crucially, you also get excellent forward propulsion.

It feels like a shoe designed to keep ticking over efficiently when you're running at sustained marathon pace.

Half Marathon – Excellent

Probably equally strong here.

You can fully exploit the aggressive plate and forefoot propulsion without worrying quite as much about the stiffness becoming uncomfortable late in the race.

10K – Very Good

It is certainly fast enough.

I'd happily race a 10K in it.

But there are lighter and more nimble shoes available.

5K – Good

Again, you can absolutely run fast in it.

But the weight, stack and stability make it less obvious as a 5K choice.

For short races involving lots of corners, I'd probably choose something lighter and more agile.

Value – 2/5 at Current Import Prices

Here's the biggest problem.

I paid around £250 in China.

At that price, I think the shoe makes sense alongside other premium super shoes.

But importing it can push the price towards £400 or even more.

Do not pay £400 for it.

However good the shoe is, there are simply too many excellent alternatives available for considerably less money.

If you can find it around the £250 level, the conversation changes completely.

Then you're getting a genuine top-tier racing shoe at approximately the same price as other premium marathon racers.

So the verdict on value is very price dependent:

£400+: Poor value.

Around £250: Much easier to recommend.

Final Thoughts

The Li-Ning Feidian 6 Ultra is an incredible racing shoe.

I actually think it is slightly more impressive than the Feidian 6 Elite.

The Elite is probably the more enjoyable shoe.

It gives you that big, soft, energetic bounce and immediately feels impressive underneath the foot.

But the Ultra feels like the more serious racer.

The stiff carbon plate, forefoot geometry and encapsulated cushioning system combine to produce something that feels extremely efficient.

It doesn't necessarily scream speed at you.

You simply look at your watch and realise:

I'm going much faster than I thought.

And for me, that's one of the biggest compliments I can give a super shoe.

It needs some breaking in. It isn't particularly stable. It isn't particularly light. And at £400 imported, it makes absolutely no sense financially.

But get it at a sensible price, break it in and start pushing the pace, and you have a genuine tier-one marathon super shoe.

Runnabl3 Scores

CategoryScore

Upper5/5

Midsole5/5

Outsole5/5

Stability3.5/5

Speed5/5

Value at £400+ 2/5

Value around £250 4/5

Best for: Half marathon and marathon racing
Ride: Firm, stiff, aggressive and highly efficient
Similar shoes: Nike Alphafly 3, Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, Adidas Prime X Strung OG
Overall verdict:A serious top-tier marathon racer that could be even more effective than the Feidian 6 Elite — provided you can buy it at a sensible price.

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