kailas flywing 2.0 takes you mountain running takes you flying
KAILAS, a world-class global outdoor brand, offers a wide range of sports apparel products that cover most of the needs in mountaineering and outdoor adventures, including jackets, tents, backpacks, hiking boots, and more. KAILAS's corporate culture: 'Work hard, play hard, live life to the fullest!' resonates with every sports enthusiast. 'The world is different because of me!' Yes, I may not be able to change the world, but I hope to make it more exciting because of me!
I believe the success of KAILAS is not only due to its advanced cultural philosophy but also its emphasis on product quality, professionalism, functionality, and fashion. The integration of the 'lightweight' concept has given it wings to soar, like a tiger with wings!
As a photography enthusiast who loves hiking, mountaineering, long-distance running, and trail running, a good pair of shoes is as important as a good lens! Moreover, these are versatile trail running shoes that combine hiking, mountaineering, long-distance running, and trail running. They are simply amazing! Previously, when traversing the wilderness and forests, the various hiking boots I wore provided enough protection but were heavy on the feet. The first impression of the Flywing 2.0 trail running shoes was—really light! My size 41 shoes weigh only about 308 grams each!
When I removed the outer packaging, to be honest, if it weren't for the prominent 'sun' logo, the bold slogan 'Only for Climbing,' and the product concept of 'Pioneer of Lightweight Revolution,' who would think that this cardboard box contained a pair of high-end trail running shoes? Opening the lid, the inner packaging was still simple, with a thin piece of kraft paper wrapping two flame-red shoes that even a curious cat would stare at in amazement!
'Good steel is used on the blade,' I think this is an extension of KAILAS's 'lightweight' concept!
The dazzling flame red attracts not only my eyes but also the sworn enemies, the cat and the mouse, who come together to admire it! They are so fascinated that they forget their grudges. Could it be that they share a common dream?!
The flamboyant flame red paired with a black heel immediately makes the entire shoe look stable. The black and red gradient on the side of the shoe further highlights its high-end and grand appearance. The most eye-catching feature is the 'quick lace' design, with an innovative diagonal opening. It is said to be precisely set according to ergonomic principles, with a 15° offset from the center of the foot, providing maximum coverage to the toe and suitable for any foot shape and wearing environment. Is it really so? You’ll know once you wear it.
I have wide feet and high arches, and often experience pinching or discomfort. Facing these seemingly slender shoes, I wasn't confident I could wear them smoothly! After unhooking the laces, the thin bulletproof quick laces have a single tensile strength of up to 102 kilograms! Pulling the thin tongue reveals a larger opening, making it easy to slip the entire foot into the shoe. After flattening the tongue, hooking the laces, and tightening the lock, the foot and shoe achieve the best fit, wrapping around the ankle! Repeated tests proved that wearing and taking off the shoes is extremely convenient. The key is, I no longer have to worry about the laces coming undone and tripping me while running!
After putting on the shoes, I didn't rush out to run but just walked around daily to let my feet and the shoes fully adapt to each other.
On October 22, 2017, the third day after receiving the running shoes, it happened to be a Sunday, so I decided to try a half marathon. At first, the shoes felt a bit tiring, as the soles are harder than pure running shoes, making a loud sound when the feet hit the ground. It took some getting used to, but after running for a while, the shock absorption felt good. The cushioning, fit, stability, and comfort were all excellent! It seems that the latest Italian formula ECCEVAI midsole really lives up to its name! The 'Y' shaped shock-absorbing groove at the heel further reduces the impact on the knees when the foot lands! Running felt great, so I naturally ran a bit longer.
Trail running? I still need to wait a bit longer. Only with full adaptation can I perform exceptionally!
Recently, work and trivial matters have increased, and with the transition from autumn to winter in the northeast, smog often occurs, delaying my planned trail run. Finally, a moderate rain and snow mix fell, and I thought the air would be purified, but the smog worsened! The scheduled date is approaching, so it seems I can only act as a smog vacuum cleaner! Promise must be kept!
The city I live in is a basin surrounded by mountains, with many slopes throughout the city. Even road running involves many ups and downs. Previously, due to not paying attention to running shoes, my feet would directly push against the front of the shoes during road and trail running. After each long run, my toes would be painfully squeezed, and over time, the nails on my big toes fell off one after another, and at least six of my other toes turned black! This time, the main purpose of trail running is to test the anti-forward thrust function of its high-performance PC lock—'durable' and 'non-slip'!
The mountain I am running today is undulating and is a famous 'new donkey training base' in my city, with a depth of 5 kilometers, suitable for trail running training. I plan to run not only this section but also extend 7 kilometers into the mountains to the highest peak, totaling over 24 kilometers round trip! I am very familiar with this mountain road.
On Saturday, November 4, 2017, the temperature was -4°C, and the air quality was heavily polluted. I jogged 7 kilometers from home to the mountain gate as a warm-up, then started timing from the mountain gate. The first slope was a steep 45° incline, about one kilometer long. Although there were cement roads and steps to choose from, for trail running, I always choose the narrow dirt path! As I started running and the altitude increased, my heart rate quickly accelerated, my lungs felt strongly compressed, and I had to constantly adjust my breathing frequency while keeping my trail running steps firm and powerful! The better the forefoot grip, the more leverage you get, making running easier!
The new Vibram Megagrip non-slip and wear-resistant outsole is truly impressive! Even on wet and rocky mountain paths, it handles with ease, offering strong grip and never letting you slip. This formula design breaks the traditional rule that the more non-slip the rubber, the less wear-resistant it is. It improves slip resistance by 30% while maintaining excellent wear resistance!
After climbing this steep slope, there is a relatively gentle ridge where I can finally ease my almost bursting heart. Turning past a small hill, the road becomes rugged and uneven. In this season in the northeast, fallen leaves cover the mountain path, making ordinary shoes slippery, but our Flywing 2.0 still maintains excellent adhesion, allowing you to move freely! On another gravel road section, it also lands steadily without hurting the feet or slipping sideways!
It is well known that downhill running is a concern for all runners. Due to the combined effects of body weight and gravity, a slight mistake can injure both feet and knees! In trail running, downhill is unavoidable, and most injuries occur during downhill running! Since the '7 kilometers into the mountains' part is all uphill, the return route is all downhill!
The durable and non-slip KAILAS Flywing 2.0 is truly powerful! At critical moments, the carefully designed anti-forward thrust high-performance PC lock played an important role, keeping the foot and shoe tightly, securely, and comfortably fitted. There was no pain from the toes pushing against the front of the shoe! It maximally protected the toes, so I no longer worry about bruised and falling toenails! The V outsole once again proved its excellent non-slip and automatic performance!
The Flywing 2.0 uses world-class Gore-Tex waterproof and breathable technology and fully sealed Goretex Vision 3ly waterproof socks, providing double protection against the wet mountain environment. Since it is currently the dry and cold season in the northeast, there was no chance to test its waterproof and moisture-proof capabilities, but its excellent heat dissipation and cold resistance were evident! The heat inside the shoe quickly dissipates through the mesh, without any stuffy feeling, and the cold air outside does not seep in through the mesh, keeping the feet warm! It seems that the high-strength wear-resistant three-dimensional mesh is truly breathable and cold-resistant. This winter, I finally have a pair of truly functional running shoes!
Through daily wear, road running, and trail running tests, the comprehensive performance of these shoes is fully demonstrated! As hiking boots, they are much lighter, making climbing easier; as road running shoes, although slightly heavier than pure running shoes, they are still a good choice if not racing; as trail running shoes, I highly recommend the KAILAS Flywing 2.0 low-top GTX waterproof trail running shoes. They are durable, non-slip, and stylish, making them your best choice!
After completing this review, the first snow of the 2017-2018 season unexpectedly arrived. It was light, so I didn't feel like taking photos. Fortunately, I took some snow scene photos in 2016, which I present here for your appreciation and as the conclusion of this review.
