The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 (TG) is a lightweight, superbly cushioned, max-stack trainer designed for runners who want one shoe to handle all of their weekly running. It sits below the uptempo-focused Leili 2.0 (GT) and the nylon-plated Leili 2.0 Max, which is designed for longer efforts. This shoe's incredibly soft midsole absorbs an outstanding amount of road impact and continues to protect your legs excellently as the miles add up. The smooth and energetic ride makes it a good option for daily training and long runs, and it can even handle a marathon comfortably if you're not chasing the fastest time. However, despite the plastic shank, its very soft platform can feel unsteady, particularly for runners who need additional support.
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Our Verdict
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 is a very good option for marathon racing if you're not chasing the fastest finishing time. Its superb cushioning protects your legs excellently as the miles add up. Its very energetic forefoot and reasonably lightweight build also make it easier to settle into a race pace rhythm. However, its very soft platform can feel unsteady when fatigued, particularly if your ankles tend to roll inward. Though light for a daily trainer, it's not as light as dedicated racers, and it lacks the snap for a truly propulsive toe-off.
Excellent protection from road impact over long distances.
Very good forefoot energy return helps you maintain race pace efficiently.
Lightweight build means shoe isn't cumbersome to turnover at race pace.
Very soft platform can feel unsteady when fatigued.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 is an okay choice for 5K and 10K racing. Its impressive forefoot curve helps you roll quickly onto your toes, while its good forefoot energy return provides plenty of rebound when picking up the pace. However, though there's a good amount of leverage in the forefoot, it's very soft and doesn't provide a planted base for forceful push-offs. The rocker is also too compliant to provide much assistance through late stance. It's also heavier than dedicated short-distance racers, so though it can handle the occasional race, it isn't the best choice for chasing personal bests.
Impressive forefoot curve helps you roll quickly through toe-off.
Good forefoot energy return helps make faster paces efficient.
Soft forefoot doesn't deliver secure or propulsive toe-off.
Compliant rocker limits assistance through stride.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 is a very good option for long runs. It does an amazing job of protecting your legs as the miles stack up. Its energetic forefoot and pronounced curve make it smooth and versatile enough for everything from relaxed long runs to progressive efforts with sections at marathon pace, too. However, the very soft platform can feel unsteady as fatigue builds, while the compliant rocker flattens easily under load, limiting how much assistance it provides through stride.
Excellent protection from road impact over long distances.
Efficient ride can handle progressive efforts and marathon pace sections.
Smooth toe-off makes it easy to settle into a rhythm.
Light enough that it never feels cumbersome.
Compliant rocker limits assistance through stride.
Soft platform can feel unsteady on tired legs.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 is a good daily trainer. Its superb cushioning provides outstanding protection from road impact during regular weekly miles. It's also relatively light for a daily trainer, while its energetic forefoot and pronounced curve make it efficient when you want to run quicker. That said, it's a soft shoe, so it can feel unsteady if your ankles tend to roll inward, and the heel doesn't guide you particularly smoothly into midstance, making it less comfortable for heel strikers.
Outstanding protection from road impact over weekly miles.
Lightweight for a daily trainer, so never cumbersome to run in.
Energetic ride makes it efficient to turnover.
Soft platform can feel unsteady, especially if your ankles roll inwards.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 11, 2026: Review published.
- Updated Nov 10, 2026: Early access published.
- Updated Nov 03, 2026: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Nov 02, 2026: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Aug 21, 2026: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
We've bought and tested more than 300 running shoes. Every pair purchased with our own money, never supplied or sponsored by brands. Our data-driven tests are designed to go beyond marketing claims, and since every shoe goes through the exact same methodology, you can directly compare results to find the right pair for your needs.
Test Results
Design
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 is lightweight for a daily trainer, weighing about the same as the ASICS SUPERBLAST 3 and significantly less than other max-cushioned options like the Nike Vomero Plus. We didn't test the winterized version of this shoe, so we can't say how the different upper will change its weight.
Energy Return
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has good energy return overall. The forefoot provides very good rebound, helping you maintain pace efficiently. Though the heel is less energetic, it still provides decent assistance overall.
Very good forefoot rebound helps you maintain pace efficiently through toe-off.
Decent heel energy return provides enough assistance after rearfoot landings.
Stability
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 is reasonably stable overall. Its broad outsole provides a generous base for landing, while its decent heel width relative to its stack helps keep the shoe steady when cornering. The gusseted tongue also keeps your foot securely in place. However, the very soft platform can feel a bit wobbly during heel landings and forefoot push-offs, particularly if your ankles tend to roll inward when running.
Broad outsole provides a generous base for landing.
Reliable enough when cornering.
Very soft heel can feel a bit wobbly when landing.
Very soft forefoot can be unsteady when pushing off.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0's forefoot is also very soft. As of November 2026, it's one of the softest shoes we've tested, and is more plush than the ASICS MEGABLAST. This makes push-offs feel less planted and limits how forcefully you can push through.
Cushioning
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 delivers superb cushioning. Regardless of your weight, pace, or where you land on the shoe, you get incredible protection from road impact. That protection also holds up excellently as the miles build, keeping your legs well shielded over longer runs.
Superb heel cushioning protects rearfoot landings.
Outstanding forefoot protection from road impact.
Cushioning remains excellent as the miles build.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has fantastic forefoot cushioning, providing superb impact protection regardless of your weight or pace.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has superb heel cushioning, providing exceptional protection from road impact regardless of your weight or pace. It significantly outperforms the Nike Vomero Plus.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 does an excellent job of protecting your legs over long runs. Though it doesn't quite match the ASICS SUPERBLAST 3, it significantly outperforms the Nike Vomero Plus, keeping your legs very well protected as the miles build.
Traction
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has unremarkable traction overall, performing best on paved surfaces. It provides decent grip on dry concrete and adequate grip on wet concrete, giving you reasonable footing on roads and sidewalks, even in the rain. However, its grip on wet aluminum is poor, so you'll need to be careful on wet metals. It also struggles on gravel and mud, making it a poor choice for unpaved paths or muddy trails.
Grip is decent on dry concrete.
Shoe grips reasonably well on wet pavements.
Poor performance on wet aluminum.
Performs badly on mud and gravel.
Outsole Durability
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has decent outsole durability overall. Most of the forefoot foam is protected by rubber, which resists abrasion well and holds up against repeated push-offs. However, there's more exposed foam at the heel, so heel strikers will notice the outsole deteriorating more quickly.
Forefoot rubber holds up well against repeated push-offs.
Less rubber coverage at the heel means faster wear for heel strikers.
Wet & Warm Weather
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has passable performance in wet and warm weather. Its good breathability allows enough airflow to keep your feet comfortable on hot days and longer runs. However, it absorbs a considerable amount of water relative to its dry weight, making it noticeably heavier to run in when soaked. It also takes well over a day to dry completely, so it will still be damp when you want to run again the following day.
Good airflow keeps your feet comfortable on long runs and hot days.
Absorbs lots of water, so heavy to run in in the rain.
Takes over a day to dry once full soaked.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has good breathability, comparable to the ASICS SUPERBLAST 3. There's enough airflow to keep your feet comfortable on hot days and during longer runs.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 takes well over a day to dry completely. Though it dries faster than the Nike Vomero Plus, it takes much longer than the ASICS SUPERBLAST 3 and Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra. If you get caught in the rain, it won't be dry enough to run in the following day.
Bounciness
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has a good amount of bounce overall. Both the heel and forefoot compress deeply enough to generate a springy sensation underfoot, which, combined with its good energy return, gives the shoe a lively, trampoline-like feel. However, the forefoot is bouncier than the heel, so you'll experience more spring when pushing off than when landing farther back.
Deep forefoot compression gives toe-off plenty of spring.
Deep heel compression helps add bounce to rearfoot landings.
Good energy return helps ride feel lively.
Heel feels less springy than the forefoot.
Snappiness
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has an okay amount of snappiness overall. The forefoot does a reasonable job of returning the energy stored as it bends when it springs back, helping make toe-off more efficient. It takes a good amount of force to bend, providing some leverage when pushing off, and its curve does a decent job of getting you onto your toes quickly. However, the forefoot isn't particularly stiff, limiting how forcefully it springs back, while the very soft base makes push-offs feel less planted.
Good amount of leverage through toe-off.
Forefoot rocker does a decent job of getting you onto your toes quickly.
Flexible forefoot limits how propulsive push-offs feel.
Very soft base makes it harder to push off forcefully.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0's forefoot takes a good amount of force to bend, providing leverage through toe-off. However, it isn't particularly stiff, limiting how snappy push-off feels.
Roll
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has good rolling performance overall. Its pronounced forefoot curve does an impressive job of moving you through the final part of your stride and provides a good amount of leverage despite not being particularly stiff. However, the compliant rocker flattens relatively easily under load, limiting how much assistance you get. The heel curve is also much less effective, so heel strikers won't find the ride particularly smooth.
Forefoot rocker helps you roll smoothly through toe-off.
Good forefoot leverage helps move you forward through the stride.
Shoe will feel clunkier for heel strikers.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has a compliant rocker that flattens relatively easily under load, limiting the assistance you get as you move through your stride.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 has a very tall heel stack with a traditional heel-to-toe drop that accommodates different foot strikes. Its heel stack is comparable to the Nike Vomero Plus, but there's more foam under the forefoot, making for a lower drop.
True To Size
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 fits true to size overall. The length is bang-on, and there's ample width through the forefoot to keep your feet comfortable. Though the arch is a touch narrow and the toe box is a bit shallow, it's unlikely to cause issues for most runners, and we suggest going with your regular Chinese running shoe size.
Length is bang-on.
Roomy width in the forefoot.
You can confidently get your usual Chinese size.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 aims to compete with Western super trainers like the ASICS SUPERBLAST 3, offering a similarly lightweight build and comparable cushioning. The ASICS is marginally more cushioned overall and is a slightly better option for marathons, but the Qiaodan is available for a fraction of the price. It also shares a remarkably similar silhouette with the Nike Vomero Plus, though the Qiaodan is significantly lighter and more cushioned. The Nike offers slightly better energy return and far greater stability, but typically costs considerably more. Elsewhere in the Chinese market, the Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra takes cushioning to even greater extremes, while the Leili 2.0 offers a more conventional max-cushion running experience.
For more options, check out our picks for the best cushioned running shoes, the most comfortable running shoes, and the best cheap and budget running shoes.
The ASICS SUPERBLAST 3 is a slightly better running shoe than the Qiaodan Leili 2.0. Despite them weighing virtually the same, the ASICS is slightly more cushioned overall, providing better protection over long runs, and has a small edge for marathon racing. It also grips significantly better across different surfaces and rolls slightly more smoothly through the stride. However, the Leili is more stable and still delivers outstanding cushioning at a significantly lower price.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 is a better running shoe for most runners than the Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra. It's more stable, with a significantly more accommodating fit, and rolls much more smoothly through the stride, making it easier to settle into a rhythm. However, the Li-Ning is slightly more cushioned overall, provides better protection over extended distances, and returns significantly more energy. It's also considerably more durable. That said, its less stable, more chaotic ride makes it harder to recommend.
The Qiaodan Leili 2.0 is a better running shoe than the Nike Vomero Plus. It's much lighter, significantly better cushioned, and absorbs much more road impact, especially on longer runs. It's also much more breathable, bouncier, and rolls more smoothly through stride, making it easier to settle into a comfortable rhythm. However, the Nike is significantly more stable and durable, though its much higher price is difficult to justify.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Qiaodan Leili 2.0 in men's U.S. size 9 (Chinese size 270), as indicated on the label of our unit. When buying Chinese running shoes, we recommend checking the size label on a pair you already own and using the Chinese sizing rather than relying on U.S. or EU conversions. The colorway shown here is Ivory. At the time of writing, several other colorways are available depending on the region, along with summer and winter versions that use different mesh uppers. This shoe isn't available in wide sizing for either gender. The design section applies specifically to the version we tested, so while we expect other sizes and genders to perform similarly, we can't say how the winter version of this shoe will perform. Though not available at traditional retailers, the shoe can be found on AliExpress in most regions.
