The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro, also known as the "Super Shadow", is a lightweight, high-stack daily trainer built for runners who want deep cushioning and a very stable ride. It marks the debut of a new line from Li-Ning, a brand better known for some of the most inventive super-shoes coming out of the Chinese running market. The Chaoying Pro takes that same appetite for innovation in a different direction, pairing a PEBA-based Super Boom core with a supercritical EVA frame that wraps the midsole to create a protective, secure platform. It's light for a high-stack shoe, too, making it a great pick to soak up most daily miles. However, this isn't a bouncy super trainer or a race shoe in disguise. Its unremarkable energy return and heel-biased geometry mean it works best for heel strikers who roll through their stride, while runners who push hard through the forefoot may find the ride sluggish underfoot.
Our Verdict
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro is a good marathon option for runners who want a stable, protective shoe rather than a snappy PB racer. Its high stack and impressive cushioning provide plenty of impact protection, and it holds up decently over the distance as well. However, its forefoot rocker geometry combined with its unremarkable energy return means it doesn't deliver the propulsive ride most runners expect from a dedicated marathon racer. It's best suited to heel strikers looking to finish the distance comfortably, rather than runners chasing a personal best.
High heel-stack and impressive cushioning provides plenty of impact protection.
Stable platform helps keep the ride controlled deep into races.
Ride lacks the propulsion of more PB-focused racers.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro is a decent option for 5K and 10K racing. It's light enough for uptempo efforts, and the forefoot is firm enough to stay controlled when you pick up the pace. However, the shoe's mediocre energy return and inability to roll aggressively through the forefoot mean toe-off feels more sluggish and stable rather than snappy.
Light enough for uptempo efforts.
Firm forefoot keeps ride controlled when picking up the pace.
Mediocre energy return limits rebound.
Forefoot rocker doesn’t roll aggressively enough for all-out racing.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro is a good option for long runs, especially for runners who want a stable and protective ride. Its high stack and great cushioning provide plenty of impact protection, and the secure platform helps keep the shoe stable as the miles build. Though the midsole holds up decently deep into longer efforts, it isn't a lively shoe in any sense, so it's better suited to cruising rather than progressive or faster long runs.
Impressive stability keeps the shoe controlled as miles build.
Heel rocker helps the shoe roll smoothly through midstance.
Not lively enough for progressive or faster long runs.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro is a great daily trainer. Its high stack and great cushioning provide plenty of protection for regular mileage, while its impressively stable platform and heel-biased rocker make the ride secure and easy to roll through, especially for heel strikers.
Great cushioning provides ample protection for daily miles.
Impressive stability makes the shoe easy to trust.
Not a propulsive or lively shoe.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro has mediocre energy return overall. The forefoot gives back a decent amount of energy when compressed, but the heel returns very little, so the midsole doesn't provide much bounce through a full stride.
Forefoot returns a decent amount of energy when compressed.
Heel returns very little energy.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro has okay responsiveness overall. Its stiff rocker and decent forefoot bending stiffness help the shoe roll efficiently, but its low energy return and unaggressive forefoot geometry stop it from feeling especially snappy or propulsive.
Impressively stiff rocker helps the shoe roll through efficiently.
Good forefoot bending stiffness keeps toe-off controlled.
Ride is not very propulsive overall.
Forefoot rocker doesn’t create much snap through toe-off.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro has great cushioning overall. The heel and forefoot both provide plenty of impact protection, but they behave differently under load. The heel absorbs more energy as force increases, making it especially protective for heel strikers who load the rear of the shoe harder. The forefoot, however, drops significantly under higher force, so harder forefoot landings get less protection than the heel.
Great overall cushioning provides plenty of impact protection.
Impressive heel cushioning improves under higher force levels.
Forefoot protection ebbs under harder landings.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro has some fit issues that are worth keeping in mind. The length is bang on, and the forefoot width works well for most runners, but the arch is extremely narrow, and the forefoot height runs low. This means the shoe can feel restrictive through the midfoot and over the toes, especially if you have wider or higher-volume feet.
Length is true to size.
Forefoot width should work well for most runners.
Arch runs narrow.
Low forefoot height can feel restrictive over taller toes.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro has impressive stability, despite not being a support shoe by design. Its wide outsole, firm platform, and tall supercritical EVA sidewalls in the outsole keep it planted, providing a confidence-inspiring ride.
Wide outsole helps keep the shoe planted.
Tall EVA sidewalls help guide the foot.
Firm platform keeps the ride secure.
Heel softens up under higher force levels.
Performance Usages
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Li-Ning Chaoying Pro in men's U.S. size 9, as indicated on the label of our unit. The specific colorway shown here is Standard White, but this model is available in multiple other colorways. Wide versions aren't currently offered. Most of our review results are valid for all variants, though the design section applies only to the model we tested. We expect other size and gender variants to perform similarly.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro is a high-stack daily trainer from one of China's most influential running brands, and it occupies an unusual space in the wider market. On paper, it sits near shoes like the R.A.D SYNTH and adidas Adizero Evo SL, but its deep cushioning, impressive stability, and heel-biased rocker make it best suited to heel strikers who prioritize comfort over speed. The adidas is faster, livelier, and more propulsive, and is the better option across all strike patterns, while the R.A.D is the firmer and less peppy shoe of the three, unable to match the Li-Ning's comfort, stability, or long-run protection. In short, it helps to think of the Li-Ning like a rocking chair of a shoe: it works best when you sit back into its heel-biased geometry and let it roll for you, rather than forcing the shoe through the forefoot.
Within Li-Ning's lineup, the Chaoying Pro is the first in its family, separate from the brand's race-day shoes. The Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite and Li-Ning Feidian 6 Ultra are much more aggressive carbon-plated racers built for long-distance speed, and the Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra is the softer, bouncier, most protective max-cushion trainer.
If you're looking for more options, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes and the best cheap running shoes.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro and adidas Adizero Evo SL are both lightweight trainers, but they suit very different runners. The adidas is the speedier, livelier shoe, with much better rebound and more life underfoot. It's the better pick if you want a shoe that can handle everything from easy runs to workouts and progressive efforts, no matter your strike pattern. The Li-Ning is the more protective and stable option, with deeper cushioning overall, an impressively secure platform, and a much more effective heel rocker. This makes it the better choice for heel strikers who want a shoe that rolls smoothly through easy miles and longer runs, with enough underfoot to just about handle uptempo efforts as well.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro and Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra are both high-stack trainers from Li-Ning, but they have different use cases. The Chaoying Pro is the least chaotic shoe, pairing a Super Boom PEBA midsole core with a firmer EVA frame to create a stable, heel-biased daily trainer that works best when you sit back and let it roll. The Red Hare 9 Ultra is the more ambitious and versatile option, using the same Super BOOM core, but inside an outrageous, triple-density midsole that gives it more rebound, deeper cushioning, and better range across paces. It's heavier and less stable than the Chaoying Pro, but it's a lot more exciting underfoot. If you want a lighter, more predictable shoe for daily miles, the Chaoying Pro is the pick; if you want a bouncier, more protective, more capable shoe for everything from long runs to faster efforts, and don't mind a healthy dose of chaos underfoot, go with the Red Hare 9 Ultra.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro and R.A.D SYNTH are both daily trainers, but the Li-Ning is the more protective and comfortable shoe overall. It has deeper cushioning, better long-run protection, and a more effective heel rocker, making it better suited to runners who land back and roll through their stride. The R.A.D SYNTH is harsher and less energetic underfoot, though its fit is much more accommodating than the Li-Ning's narrow arch and lower forefoot, and if you prefer a firmer, more grounded feel for daily miles, it's the shoe for you; if you want a more cushioned and stable daily trainer, and you land on the rear of the shoe and roll through your stride, the Li-Ning is the better choice.
We buy and test running shoes with a very data-oriented approach. While we're just getting started, our methodology already has dozens of tests to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs. Not only do we use high-end equipment to gather objective data, but we also order multiple sizes of the same shoes so team members can log in miles. This real-world testing is conducted at various paces and conditions, across different types of workouts, to cover all the bases. This allows us to verify our results and ensure they align with what you might feel with a specific pair.
Test Results
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro is light for a high-stack daily trainer. While it's heavier than the adidas Adizero Evo SL, it's lighter than the R.A.D SYNTH and more cushioned than both, helping it feel less cumbersome than many shoes with this much protection underfoot.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro has a very high stack, with most of its cushioning concentrated in the heel. Its measured drop is much higher than advertised, positioning it in the sweet spot for heel strikers.
The low toe box of this shoe may feel restrictive over the toes, especially if you have higher-volume feet.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro has an extremely narrow arch fit. It's not as tight through the midfoot as the Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra, but it's still much narrower than most shoes, so runners with wider feet may find this area restrictive.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro's high heel spring, early apex, and steeper heel rocker angle make the rear of the shoe more assistive than the adidas Adizero Evo SL and R.A.D SYNTH. This is the rocking-chair part of the ride, with the shoe asking you to let the heel geometry take over as it rolls you smoothly into midstance.
This shoe's toe spring is lower than both the adidas Adizero Evo SL and R.A.D SYNTH, and although the rocker angle is similar, the front of the shoe doesn't provide as much assistance through push-off.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro uses a dual-density midsole, with a PEBA-based Super Boom core encased in a supercritical EVA frame. The Super Boom core helps keep the shoe from feeling completely flat, while the firmer EVA frame's tall sidewalls help stabilize the platform.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro returns very little energy through the heel when compressed. It's much less efficient than the adidas Adizero Evo SL, though slightly better than the R.A.D SYNTH. Instead of rebounding hard after landing, the shoe relies on its heel rocker to guide you forward.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro returns a decent amount of energy through the forefoot when compressed, matching the R.A.D SYNTH but sitting well behind the adidas Adizero Evo SL. There's enough rebound to keep the ride from feeling dull, but not enough to make toe-off feel especially lively when you pick up the pace.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro has impressive heel cushioning overall, performing better at higher force levels. This works well with the shoe's heel-biased geometry and means heel strikers get plenty of protection on landing.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro has great forefoot cushioning overall, but the protection drops as more force is applied. Lighter forefoot landings get excellent protection, while harder forefoot strikes get less cushioning than the heel.
The heel of this shoe is fairly firm overall, but softens up significantly as more force is applied. This means the rear of the shoe is very stable at lighter loads, but becomes less planted under harder heel landings.
The forefoot is relatively firm and stays fairly consistent as more force is applied. This gives the front of the shoe enough support to stay controlled under load, contributing to its impressive overall stability.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro has good long-run cushioning. It drops slightly as the miles build, but that's to be expected, and it holds up decently overall.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro's rocker is very stiff. It takes much more force to flatten than the adidas Adizero Evo SL or R.A.D SYNTH, so the shoe does a better job preserving its shape under load. This helps maintain a guided, stable rollover when the heel rocks you through.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro gives back less energy when bending than the adidas Adizero Evo SL and only slightly more than the R.A.D SYNTH, so the front of the shoe doesn't add much rebound through toe-off.
The Li-Ning Chaoying Pro’s forefoot resists flexing well and gives the front of the shoe a controlled platform when loaded. However, this stiffness doesn’t create a particularly snappy toe-off, as the shoe returns an unsatisfactory amount of energy when bent.