The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO is a carbon-plated racer for runners who want a firm, highly propulsive shoe for anything from 5K to marathon efforts. Its rigid forefoot and energetic midsole make it very propulsive at faster paces, though its extra bulk becomes more noticeable late in longer efforts. The cushioning holds up impressively over distance, but the firm heel and narrow rear make it better suited to forefoot strikers than heel strikers. It's best reserved for racing and faster workouts rather than daily mileage.
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Our Verdict
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO is a great pick for marathon racing. Its supremely stiff forefoot returns an impressive amount of energy, a virtue that's true of the whole midsole, and its great cushioning holds up very well over the whole marathon distance. However, it's on the heavier side for a pure marathon shoe, which makes it more noticeable on foot as the miles build.
Midsole provides great protection as the miles build.
Ride is very propulsive and keeps legs rolling forward.
Heavy for a marathon racer.
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO is a good option for shorter races. Despite being on the heavier side for a short-distance racer, its stiff forefoot and rocker make for a snappy, propulsive ride that's easy to turn over at pace.
Superbly stiff forefoot makes the ride snappy.
Rigid rocker makes shoe easy to turn over at speed.
Heavy for a short distance racer.
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO is very good for long runs. Its dual-density midsole provides great protection as the miles build, while its excellent rocker stiffness and impressive energy return help the shoe stay propulsive deep into longer efforts. This, combined with its decent overall stability, makes it a very capable option for runners who want a firm, efficient ride over distance.
Midsole provides great protection as the miles build.
Ride is very propulsive and keeps legs rolling forward.
Only adequate stability means runners will need good form when fatigued.
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO is an adequate daily training option, though it's not intended as one. Its deep cushioning provides great impact protection, and the midsole does an excellent job of returning the energy you put into it. However, the stiff, plated ride and only adequate heel protection at lower force levels mean it's more of a race shoe that can handle faster daily training, rather than a dedicated daily trainer.
Impressive cushioning overall.
Very propulsive ride.
Stability isn't decent enough for a daily trainer.
Stiff ride is harsh in the heel at lower force levels.
Changelog
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Updated Jul 30, 2026:
We've added a link to the recently reviewed XTEP 260X 3.0 in the popular comparisons section.
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Updated Jul 23, 2026:
We've added a new table in the intro to help you quickly determine if this shoe matches your needs.
- Updated Jul 09, 2026: Review published.
- Updated Jul 07, 2026: Early access published.
We've bought and tested more than 250 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
Energy Return
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO has great energy return overall. The dual-density midsole efficiently returns the effort you put into it, helping maintain momentum at faster paces.
Forefoot richly rewards runners for the effort they put in.
Heel is also impressively energetic.
Firm heel may feel harsh for some.
Stability
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO has passable stability. Its very firm heel and generous forefoot outsole width help keep the shoe controlled once you’re moving forward. However, the narrow heel, narrow arch, and poor heel width-to-stack ratio mean the rear of the shoe is less planted than the front. This makes the shoe more stable for forefoot strikers than heel strikers overall.
Firm heel provides planted base.
Narrow heel and arch outsole can make landings unsteady for heel strikers.
The heel is firm across all force levels, and much firmer than shoes like the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 and Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite. This helps keep the rear of the shoe controlled when landing, especially compared with the softer forefoot.
Cushioning
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO provides great cushioning overall, though it's important to note that the forefoot provides significantly more protection than the heel. This is due to the heel absorbing an unsatisfactory amount of energy at lower force levels, making it better suited to heavier or faster runners.
Excellent protection in the forefoot.
Heel absorbs impact impressively at moderate and high force levels.
Heel has unsatisfactory impact protection at lower force levels.
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO has good heel cushioning overall, but it depends on how much force you put into the shoe. The platform compresses and snaps back very quickly, so at lower force levels, the heel only absorbs an unsatisfactory amount of energy, and it won't offer as much protection during easier landings or slower efforts. The cushioning improves significantly under moderate and higher forces, however, making the heel better suited to heavier runners or faster paces.
Unlike the heel, the forefoot offers amazing protection across all force levels. This means the XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO provides reliable impact absorption in the forefoot, whether you're running easier, pushing the pace, or loading the shoe harder over longer efforts.
Responsiveness
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO has excellent responsiveness. The remarkably stiff forefoot gives back the energy you put into it very efficiently, and the rigid rocker helps turn that rebound into a propulsive ride.
Stiff forefoot is superbly snappy.
Midsole is impressively energetic.
Rigid forefoot could be too harsh for some.
The forefoot returns a great amount of energy when bent. This helps reduce energy loss through toe-off, giving the shoe a more efficient and propulsive ride.
The forefoot is remarkably stiff in this shoe, even compared to stiff carbon-plated racers like the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite. This helps create a snappy, direct platform at toe-off, and plays a big role in why the XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO is so propulsive at faster paces.
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO's forefoot is relatively aggressive, starting early and assisting in a smooth and efficient push-off.
The rocker in this shoe is one of the stiffest we've ever tested, and is much stiffer than that of the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite. This helps make the rollover in the shoe guided and direct.
True To Size
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO fits true to size. Its length, width, arch volume, and forefoot height all closely match our reference fit, so most runners should find it easy to get a natural fit in their usual size.
Length is bang on.
Roomy toebox.
Although the shoe's weight is decent overall, it's much heavier than other dedicated racers like the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite and Brooks Hyperion Elite 5.
The heel bevel of this shoe is pronounced and steep enough to aid an efficient rollover, but it's much less effective than in shoes like the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite.
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO holds up excellently over extended efforts, with only a small drop-off in forefoot protection as the miles build.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO is the flagship carbon-plated road racer from one of China's most eminent running brands, and marks the seventh iteration of the shoe. In the wider market, it sits near Western shoes like the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 and Chinese racers like the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite. The XTEP is the heaviest of the three, but it also has the stiffest rocker and most propulsive forefoot, making it the most aggressive ride of the group. The Li-Ning is the more complete marathon shoe, with deeper cushioning and more energy returned through the midsole, though it's also the least stable. The Brooks is lighter than the XTEP and has a much higher drop, making it better suited for runners who want a heel-biased racer, but it doesn't offer the same protection as either Chinese shoe.
XTEP's running shoe lineup can be confusing if you're not familiar with how the brand categorizes its shoes, but the naming system is fairly straightforward in practice. Shoes with "160X" in the name, like this one, are built for racing. Shoes with 260X in the name, like the XTEP 260X 3.0, sit closer to super trainers that can handle both racing and training, while shoes with 360X in the name, like the XTEP 360X 2.0, are more focused on daily training.
For more race-day options, check out our recommendations for the best marathon racing shoes. If you're looking for something to handle longer training efforts, see our picks for the best long-distance running shoes.
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO and Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite are both Chinese carbon-plated marathon racers, but they take different approaches. The XTEP is the heavier, firmer shoe, with a stiffer rocker and a more rigid forefoot that gives it a very direct, propulsive ride. The Li-Ning is more cushioned and energetic, with deeper protection underfoot and more energy returned through the midsole, though it's also much less stable, meaning it's not as forgiving deep into races when form starts to break down.
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO and XTEP 260X 3.0 are both carbon-plated XTEP shoes that excel at different distances. The 260X 3.0 is a short-distance workout and racing shoe that works best for lighter runners who want a responsive shoe for faster efforts. The 160X 7.0 PRO is more suited to endurance races, thanks to its deeper cushioning and better energy return. If you're racing a 5k or 10k, and you're doing shorter speed workouts, get the 260X 3.0. If you're doing a half or full marathon, get the 160X 7.0 PRO.
The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO and Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 are both carbon-plated marathon racers, but they suit different runners. The XTEP is the heavier shoe, with a stiffer rocker and more protective forefoot, delivering a more propulsive ride through toe-off. The Brooks is the lighter option, with a much higher heel-to-toe drop and firmer forefoot, making it a better racer for heel strikers.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We bought and tested the XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO in US men's size 9, as indicated on the label for our pair. The colorway shown here is called Blue White, but the shoe is available in a variety of other colorways, depending on your region. The XTEP 160X 7.0 PRO is only available in one standard width. The design section applies only to the specific model we tested, but we expect other sizes to perform similarly.
