Qiaodan Lieli 2.0 TG Review

Upper – 4.5/5

The upper is one of the strongest parts of the shoe.

I went for the standard jacquard mesh rather than the lighter, racier SE-style upper, and for a daily trainer I think that makes sense.

It feels comfortable, slightly padded and very secure without becoming excessively plush or heavy.

The fit reminds me a lot of the Novablast 4 and Novablast 5. It wraps around the foot nicely and gives you a good lockdown without feeling restrictive.

There is enough room in the forefoot to splay your toes reasonably well, although runners with particularly high-volume or very wide feet may want a little more space.

The tongue has enough padding to allow you to cinch the laces down firmly, while the structured heel counter keeps the rear of the foot nicely locked in.

I haven't needed to use a runner's knot, and I've experienced very little movement inside the shoe.

Overall, it's an excellent daily-training upper.

Score: 4.5/5

Outsole – 4.5/5

The outsole was another pleasant surprise.

There is a good amount of rubber coverage, although you do still have some exposed foam.

I ran in wet conditions and also took the shoe onto some light trail surfaces, and the grip was absolutely fine.

It's not what I'd call a tier-one outsole.

Adidas Lighttraxion, PumaGrip and some of Li-Ning's best compounds still offer more confidence.

But this is comfortably better than the grip I've experienced on shoes such as the Novablast 5 and the original Superblast.

For normal road running, even in typical wet UK conditions, I'd have very few concerns.

Score: 4.5/5

Midsole – 4.5/5

The midsole is where this shoe really starts to impress.

You've got a substantial 44mm of foam in the heel, dropping to 37mm in the forefoot.

The result is a shoe with plenty of cushioning without feeling excessively bulky.

The heel feels noticeably softer and bouncier than the forefoot.

Heel strikers are probably going to enjoy this shoe even more because there is a lot of compliant foam sitting underneath them.

Further forward, the ride becomes slightly firmer and more controlled.

It's still not a firm shoe by any means, but as a midfoot-to-forefoot striker, I found the cushioning a little more compact under that part of the foot.

The Q-Kungfu Pro foam gives you a nice amount of energy return.

It doesn't feel wild or excessively springy, but there's enough bounce to keep the shoe feeling lively.

Again, the Novablast comparison is difficult to ignore.

The Lieli 2.0 TG has that same comfortable, smooth daily-training character, but I actually feel like I'm getting slightly more energy return from this shoe.

Score: 4.5/5

Ride

This isn't a shoe that forces you onto your toes or throws you aggressively forward.

Instead, you get a relatively natural and smooth rolling sensation.

There is some rocker geometry, but it's not extreme.

The shoe simply encourages you to keep turning the legs over without making you feel as though you're fighting against the geometry.

For me, its sweet spot sits right in the middle of the pace range.

At very easy recovery pace, I'd rather have something with even more cushioning and softness.

At faster interval or race pace, I'd rather have something lighter, more aggressive and preferably plated.

But between those two extremes, the Lieli 2.0 TG works brilliantly.

For steady runs, everyday mileage and marathon-effort running, it feels effortless and predictable.

I could happily see myself using it for runs from around 10km through to approximately 15–16 miles.

For really long 20-mile-plus sessions, I'd personally reach for something with more forefoot protection and assistance, such as the Superblast, Megablast or Prime X Strung.

Stability – 4.5/5

Considering how soft the shoe is, stability is surprisingly good.

A lot of that comes from the wide platform.

There's a decent amount of width through both the heel and forefoot, while the heel flare gives rearfoot strikers a reassuring landing area.

The upper also contributes significantly.

The heel counter is rigid, the rear of the shoe is well structured and the lockdown is secure.

If you're landing further forward, the shoe feels particularly stable.

Heel strikers may notice slightly more movement simply because the foam is softer at the back, but overall this is still a very predictable shoe.

Score: 4.5/5

Best Uses

For me, the Qiaodan Lieli 2.0 TG works best as a genuine everyday trainer.

Its strongest uses are:

• Daily mileage

• Steady runs

• Medium-long runs

• Marathon-effort sessions

• Runs of roughly 10km to 15–16 miles

You could certainly use it for recovery running, particularly if you're a heel striker and benefit from the softer rear cushioning.

You could also race in it.

But personally, I wouldn't.

Once I start moving significantly faster than marathon effort, I'd prefer something lighter and more aggressive such as an Evo SL, Megablast or a plated racing shoe.

Qiaodan Lieli 2.0 TG vs ASICS Novablast 5

This is probably the most obvious comparison.

The two shoes share a lot of characteristics.

They're both lightweight, high-stack daily trainers with soft, bouncy midsoles and smooth transitions.

The Qiaodan is slightly lighter in my size, has very good cushioning and, importantly, provides noticeably better grip.

If you loved the Novablast 5, I think there's a very good chance you're going to enjoy the Lieli 2.0 TG.

Considering the price difference, I might actually take the Qiaodan.

Value – 5/5

This is where the shoe becomes extremely difficult to criticise.

I paid around £60 after discounts.

At that price, you're essentially getting a Novablast-class daily trainer for substantially less money.

Even if you paid £70, I would still consider it outstanding value.

The upper is good, the foam is good, the ride is smooth, the shoe is lightweight and the grip is more than capable.

If the durability proves to be somewhere around 400 miles, the value proposition becomes even stronger.

You could almost buy two pairs for the price of one premium daily trainer from some of the established brands.

Score: 5/5

Verdict

The Qiaodan Lieli 2.0 TG is a very easy shoe to recommend.

It's comfortable, light, cushioned, stable and smooth.

It doesn't try to do anything particularly extreme, and that's actually part of its appeal.

There isn't an aggressive plate or unusual geometry forcing your stride in a particular direction.

Instead, you get a natural-feeling daily trainer with enough bounce to keep things enjoyable.

For me, the sweet spot is those moderate-effort daily and medium-long runs where you want cushioning and comfort but still want the shoe to disappear underneath you.

It's probably not the shoe I'd choose for my slowest recovery runs, fastest sessions or longest marathon-training runs.

But for everything in between, it's excellent.

And when you factor in the roughly £60 price, it becomes one of the easiest daily trainers to recommend from the current crop of Chinese running shoes.

If you're looking for a Novablast-style daily trainer without paying Novablast money, the Qiaodan Lieli 2.0 TG is an absolute bargain.

Runnable Scores

Upper: 4.5/5
Midsole: 4.5/5
Outsole: 4.5/5
Stability: 4.5/5
Value: 5/5

Overall: 4.6/5

Key identity: A smooth, lightweight and cushioned Novablast-style daily trainer with outstanding value for money.