Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro vs Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite

Key Specs

Xtep 160X 8.0 ProLi-Ning Feidian 6 EliteWeight205g225gSize testedUK 9 / US 10UK 9 / US 10Heel stackApprox. 39mmApprox. 39mmForefoot stackApprox. 35mmApprox. 33mmDrop4mm6mmMidsoleDual-density Xtep ACE+Super Boom / PEBA-based setupPlateGT700 carbon plateCarbon plateCategoryCarbon racing shoeCarbon racing shoeBest for5K–marathon5K–marathon

The first major difference is weight.

At 205g in my UK size 9, the Xtep is around 20g lighter than the Feidian.

Twenty grams might not sound dramatic on paper, but when you run with one shoe on each foot, you can feel it.

The Xtep simply feels like less shoe.

It feels lighter, more nimble and easier to turn over quickly.

Fit and Upper

Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro – 5/5

The Xtep uses a booty-style upper with a relatively structured race mesh.

It isn't ultra-thin or transparent, but it wraps the foot extremely well.

The toe box is relatively narrow and the overall volume is lower than the Feidian, but the material has enough stretch that even with my wider feet I didn't experience any significant pressure.

Lockdown is excellent.

The narrow sawtooth laces work well, the collar has enough padding to hold the ankle securely, and once the shoe is on there is virtually no movement.

No heel lift.

No forward sliding.

No ankle slippage.

The only real negative is getting the shoe on.

The booty construction is quite tight, although the pull tab makes things considerably easier.

Once it is on, though, it almost disappears around the foot.

Upper score: 5/5

Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite – 5/5

The Feidian also uses a booty-style construction, but the overall fit is noticeably roomier.

There is more space in the forefoot and more volume through the midfoot.

For runners with wider or higher-volume feet, I think the Feidian will probably be the better option.

The material also has a nice amount of stretch, so the shoe accommodates the foot extremely well.

Lockdown is good, although I have occasionally had to work a little harder with the laces to get everything completely dialled in.

Once sorted, however, it is very comfortable.

There is enough padding around the heel and collar without making the shoe feel heavy, and I have experienced no Achilles irritation or heel rubbing.

Upper score: 5/5

Upper winner: Tie

This really comes down to foot shape.

If you want a more precise, lower-volume fit, I would lean toward the Xtep.

If you have wider feet or simply want more room, I would choose the Feidian.

Outsole

Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro – 5/5

The Xtep uses a CPU-style outsole with extensive rubber coverage.

Grip has been excellent.

I initially tested it in dry conditions and had no issues at all, but the side-by-side run also gave me the opportunity to use it on wet leaves and damp paths.

Again, it felt secure.

The outsole also leaves a large cutout where you can clearly see the aggressive curvature of the GT700 plate.

There is plenty of rubber coverage for a super shoe, which should also help durability.

Outsole score: 5/5

Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite – 5/5

The Feidian outsole is similarly impressive.

The rubber configuration is extremely grippy and has already performed very well for me in wet racing conditions.

The two shoes actually look surprisingly similar underneath.

Both provide excellent traction.

Both use plenty of rubber.

And neither gives me any meaningful concern around grip.

Outsole score: 5/5

Outsole winner: Tie

There is very little to separate them.

Midsole

This is where the comparison gets really interesting.

These shoes might look relatively similar on paper, but the rides are very different.

Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro – 5/5

The Xtep uses a dual-density ACE+ midsole.

Above the carbon plate is the softer, more compliant foam.

Below the plate is a firmer and more structured layer.

That combination works extremely well.

When you land toward the forefoot, the softer upper foam compresses quickly and gives you plenty of bounce.

But the firmer layer underneath stops the platform becoming excessively unstable.

You therefore get softness and rebound without the wild lateral movement you sometimes experience in very soft super shoes.

The GT700 carbon plate sits between those layers and has a pronounced scooped shape before rising aggressively through the front of the shoe.

Combined with the rocker, it creates a huge amount of toe spring.

The faster you run, the better this shoe gets.

You load the foam.

The foam compresses.

The plate engages.

And the whole platform rolls you aggressively forward.

There is definitely more plate sensation here than in the Feidian.

It feels more controlled.

More purposeful.

More efficient.

Midsole score: 5/5

Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite – 5/5

The Feidian is almost the opposite experience.

This shoe is all about the foam.

The midsole is extremely soft and highly energetic.

When you load it properly, the compression and rebound are enormous.

It is one of the bounciest race shoes I have ever used.

There is considerably more vertical movement than in the Xtep.

You hit the ground hard and the shoe throws you back upward and forward.

It feels almost uncontrolled at times.

And I mean that in a good way.

The Feidian is an incredibly fun shoe.

The downside is that the softness can occasionally work against you.

If you land slightly off-centre, particularly on cambered or uneven surfaces, the foam can collapse laterally and make the platform feel unstable.

But on flat roads, when you are running well, it is phenomenal.

The carbon plate is there, but I don't notice it as strongly as I do in the Xtep.

The foam dominates the experience.

Midsole score: 5/5

Midsole winner: Tie

But for completely different reasons.

Xtep: firmer, more structured, more plate-driven and more efficient.

Feidian: softer, bouncier, more energetic and more fun.

Ride

The easiest way to describe these two shoes is this:

The Feidian bounces you forward.

The Xtep drives you forward.

The Feidian produces a large amount of vertical bounce.

The more force you put through it, the more dramatic the rebound becomes.

It encourages me to lengthen my stride and bound along.

The Xtep behaves differently.

The bounce is more controlled and directed.

Rather than throwing me upward as much, it feels like more of the energy is being channelled forward.

It also encourages slightly faster cadence.

The Xtep therefore feels more efficient.

The Feidian feels more exciting.

One is a little more thoroughbred.

The other is a slightly wild stallion.

Rocker and Geometry

Both shoes have relatively late-stage rockers, meaning you need to get fairly far forward before you really engage the geometry.

But the Xtep is clearly the more aggressive of the two.

Its 4mm drop, pronounced toe spring and sharply curved plate force you onto the front of the shoe.

When you are running quickly, this works brilliantly.

The shoe wants you on your toes.

It wants you attacking the ground.

It wants you moving forward.

The Feidian has a flatter and slightly more forgiving feel.

It still responds best when you run toward the forefoot, but it does not feel quite as mechanically demanding.

That makes the Feidian easier to settle into over longer distances.

Stability

Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro – 4.5/5

We have a clear winner here.

The Xtep is significantly more stable.

That firmer lower midsole does an excellent job of controlling the softer foam above it.

The forefoot platform is reasonably broad and the heel, despite being relatively narrow, feels structured.

Interestingly, the heel actually feels firmer than the forefoot.

That means the Xtep works surprisingly well regardless of where you land.

Forefoot, midfoot or even heel strikers can make it work.

I have run it on bends, uneven ground and cambered roads and found it consistently reliable.

Stability score: 4.5/5

Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite – 3/5

The Feidian is much less predictable.

On flat roads, it is generally fine.

But I have used it for a 20-mile run on uneven and cambered pavement and found myself having to concentrate far more than I normally would.

The soft foam can give way laterally.

My ankles definitely felt the effects.

That doesn't make it unusable.

But if stability is a concern for you, the Xtep is clearly the safer option.

Stability score: 3/5

Stability winner: Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro

And by a meaningful margin.

Speed

Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro – 5/5

The Xtep is an absolute weapon.

I ran 17:35 at Burgess parkrun on my first run in the shoe while tired and dealing with a cold.

What impressed me most wasn't simply the pace.

It was how easy that pace felt.

There were moments when I thought I needed to accelerate, looked at my watch and realised I was already running around 3:26/km.

That is a characteristic I usually associate with the very best racing shoes.

The Xtep does not necessarily feel crazily fast.

It simply produces fast pace efficiently.

Speed score: 5/5

Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite – 5/5

The Feidian is equally rapid, but again, it creates speed differently.

I ran 35:11 for 10K in this shoe, taking nearly 20 seconds off my previous PB.

The Feidian rewards runners who put plenty of force through the ground.

If you naturally lengthen your stride and bound as the pace increases, this shoe gives you enormous energy return.

It is softer than the Xtep and feels more playful.

You feel the bounce much more clearly.

Speed score: 5/5

Speed winner: Tie

If I absolutely had to split them:

Xtep for efficiency and shorter-distance speed.

Feidian for bounce and sustained speed over longer races.

5K

Winner: Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro

This is where the Xtep really shines.

It is lighter.

It has a lower drop.

The rocker is more aggressive.

The plate feels more prominent.

And the shoe rewards quick cadence and hard forefoot loading.

The Feidian is still a brilliant 5K shoe.

But if I had to race an all-out 5K tomorrow, I would probably choose the Xtep.

10K

Winner: Almost a tie

This is probably the point where the two shoes converge.

The Xtep still has that aggressive, lightweight feeling that works brilliantly at 10K pace.

But the Feidian has already proven itself for me over this distance with a PB.

If you are a high-cadence runner who likes a direct feeling, take the Xtep.

If you are more of a bounding runner who wants big energy return, take the Feidian.

Half Marathon

Winner: Feidian 6 Elite – narrowly

This is where I start moving toward the Feidian.

The softer ride provides more protection.

It is easier to settle into.

And the big bounce becomes increasingly useful as the distance gets longer.

The Xtep can absolutely handle a half marathon.

But you need to be comfortable with its more aggressive geometry and lower drop.

Marathon

Winner: Feidian 6 Elite

I have already run two marathons in the Feidian 6 Elite.

I know it works.

The cushioning protects the legs extremely well and the shoe lets you settle into a rhythm and bounce along.

The Xtep has enough cushioning to cover the marathon.

But I think you need to be in very good shape to get the best out of it for 26.2 miles.

Its aggressive toe spring, lower drop and firmer ride are likely to put more stress through the calves and lower legs.

For me:

Xtep = faster-feeling short-distance weapon.

Feidian = better long-distance race cruiser.

Heel Strikers

This is an interesting one.

Despite the low drop and aggressive forefoot geometry, I actually think heel strikers may find the Xtep easier to use.

The rear of the shoe is much more structured.

The Feidian feels considerably softer and wobblier at the heel.

So while both shoes are at their best when you move forward through the stride, I would trust the Xtep more for a consistent heel striker.

Value

Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro – 3.5/5

I paid around £170–£180.

That is still reasonable compared with many flagship Western super shoes.

And purely on performance, I think it is worth the money.

But it isn't one of those absurdly cheap Chinese racers.

At around £150, it would become an extremely easy recommendation.

Value score: 3.5/5

Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite – 4.5–5/5

The Feidian remains available for roughly £130–£140 depending on where you buy it.

At that price, it is exceptional.

You are getting genuine elite-level race performance for significantly less money than most equivalent Western shoes.

With the next generation coming, prices may drop even further.

I will almost certainly buy another pair.

Value score: 4.5–5/5

Value winner: Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite

Scorecard

Category: Upper
Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro: 5/5
Feidian 6 Elite: 5/5

Category: Outsole
Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro: 5/5
Feidian 6 Elite: 5/5

Category: Midsole
Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro: 5/5
Feidian 6 Elite: 5/5

Category: Stability
Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro: 4.5/5
Feidian 6 Elite: 3/5

Category: Speed
Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro: 5/5
Feidian 6 Elite: 5/5

Category: Value
Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro: 3.5/5
Feidian 6 Elite: 4.5–5/5

Which Should You Buy?

Buy the Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro if:

You are a higher-cadence runner.

You prefer a slightly firmer, more controlled ride.

You want stronger plate engagement.

You prioritise 5K and 10K performance.

You want better stability.

You like aggressive rocker geometry.

You want a lighter, more nimble race shoe.

You are a heel striker who still wants an aggressive super shoe.

Buy the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite if:

You love soft and bouncy race shoes.

You naturally lengthen your stride and bound.

You want something more forgiving over longer distances.

You regularly race half marathons or marathons.

You want maximum cushioning and protection.

You prefer a wider, higher-volume fit.

You want the better-value option.

And most importantly, you want a shoe that is simply ridiculously fun to run in.

Final Verdict

This is extremely close.

The Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro is one of the best racing shoes I've tested.

It is lighter than the Feidian, significantly more stable and arguably more efficient.

For 5K racing, I think it wins.

For high-cadence runners who want a precise, aggressive and forward-driving ride, it may actually be the better shoe.

But overall, my winner is still the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite.

Why?

Because it is more fun.

It is more forgiving.

It is more versatile across race distances.

And it offers exceptional value.

The Feidian is the shoe I can race hard over 10K but also comfortably trust for the marathon.

The Xtep is an absolute weapon.

But the Feidian is the shoe I would choose if I could only own one.

Overall winner: Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite

By a very small margin.

If you're a high-cadence runner, race mostly 5K and 10K, or simply want a lighter and more controlled super shoe, don't ignore the Xtep.

It is one of the strongest alternatives to the established Western racing shoes currently available.

But if you want maximum bounce, versatility, enjoyment and value, the Feidian 6 Elite still takes it for me.

Feidian 6 Elite: the better all-rounder.

Xtep 160X 8.0 Pro: the sharper weapon.