under your feet ive got the path you just run

Kailas is probably not unfamiliar to everyone, especially in recent years. With the popularity of various trail running events, more and more domestic and foreign outdoor brands have begun to expand into race-related products, and Kailas is at the forefront. In the past two years, Kailas has successively launched series such as the Flywing, which has caused a strong response among trail running enthusiasts. After continuous improvement and testing, Kailas has once again launched its latest masterpiece—the FUGA PRO, which won the 2019 ISPO Winner Global Design Award and is known as the king of hybrid tracks.

The logo on the FUGA PRO shoebox is very eye-catching and highly recognizable.

The pair I received is in sunset orange, which is bright and eye-catching. The combination with other colors makes it harmonious without being ostentatious, especially with the extensive use of blue on the heel and sole.

The toe space of the FUGA PRO is very spacious. The ANTI-IMPACT anti-collision toe cap covers the entire forefoot area, effectively preventing pain caused by kicking protruding rocks while running. This spacious design also helps reduce the risk of 'black toenails' for runners.

The product continues the previous design and still uses the advanced full-foot adjustment system. Based on ergonomic principles, it scientifically considers the stress conditions of different toes. The innovative diagonal opening design at the laces extends to the toe while deviating towards the big toe. This is mainly to enhance the shoe's wrapping performance on the foot during high-intensity mountain running and to reinforce the protected area to the easily injured toes.

The product uses the AWS2.0 full-foot adjustment system with an anti-forward buckle, which can flexibly lock the forefoot activity space according to the runner's foot shape. This prevents the foot from rushing forward under the weight, especially when running downhill, causing blisters, bruises, or even black toenails.

To facilitate storage and carrying, an invisible storage pocket is designed on the tongue. After fixing the laces, the excess part can be tucked into the pocket to prevent external objects like branches from hooking.

The tongue part of the product uses faux suede material, which is very light and soft. It also adopts an integrated design with the inner and outer shoe body, effectively preventing sand and stones from entering the shoe.

The fabric uses high-wear-resistant lightweight PU synthetic leather film, combined with a highly breathable and wear-resistant mesh surface, making the shoe upper lighter and more breathable. This has been well verified in practice.

The heel part is specially designed with a patented GAITER HOLDER sand-proof cover fixing point.

The midsole uses ECCEVAI, a type of EVA that has been re-foamed and calibrated. It feels very light and bouncy, somewhat like popcorn.

The outsole still uses the Vibram rubber anti-slip outsole, commonly seen in top trail running shoes, with the addition of arrow-shaped particle arrangement in the Tire Tech tire-like arc design, making it look more dynamic.

The Litebase ultra-light mountain running outsole reduces weight by 30%, enhancing speed and grip.

The product also comes with a shoe storage bag, but I'm not sure if it's a universal size. The size 45 shoes I ordered have a storage bag that is slightly smaller.

To prevent foot swelling and toe jamming during trail running, I specifically ordered one size larger. However, the size 45 shoes weigh only 295 grams, which makes me very satisfied, especially considering these are trail running shoes.

I previously wore the Kailas Flywing 2.0, which felt average at the time. The sole was too soft, especially when stepping on sharp stones during trail running, causing noticeable discomfort. Coincidentally, the day after receiving the shoes, I had planned a 45+ kilometer loop trail run with friends at Dayukou, with a cumulative ascent of 2500+ meters. The distance and ascent were not the main concerns; the main worry was the temperature, as recent highs were around 35°C. The mountains here are not shaded by large trees but are covered with short pine and cypress trees. Before departure, we planned three supply points, roughly every 10-13 kilometers, and required everyone to carry at least 2 liters of water. We also agreed to stick together and not act alone.

At around 5 am, eight of us set off (Dudu took the photos). The dew in the morning grass was still quite heavy, and within two kilometers, the shoes were soaked. I thought to myself, this is going to be uncomfortable. Fortunately, the shoes are indeed light, even lighter than some road running shoes I've worn before, which reduced the weight of the waterlogged shoes. The biggest surprise was the change in the sole. Firstly, the anti-slip performance: despite the many stones and wet grass, I didn't feel any slipperiness when stepping on them. Instead, it felt solid and stable. Secondly, the sole's change compared to the Flywing 2.0 was significant. Even when stepping on sharp stones downhill, there was no discomfort. The sole's hardness was well-calibrated, neither too soft nor too hard, with the ECCEVAI midsole playing a significant role.

As the temperature rose, the dew gradually disappeared, and the soaked shoes dried without me noticing. Seeing some friends' wet shoes, I felt fortunate, thanks to the excellent breathability of the mesh upper.

There was no wind on the mountain, and the temperature kept rising. Despite having run over 20 kilometers, my feet still felt good, with no numbness or fatigue, and I could still clearly feel the ground feedback. At the second supply point, the watch showed 24.24 kilometers. During the supply break, we decided to change the original plan, cancel one point, and adjust the route to complete a total distance of about 35 kilometers.

Then we checked the distance to the finish line. If we ran along the road, there were still 20.5 kilometers left, which could make for a half-marathon with some ups and downs but all on asphalt. About ten kilometers from the finish line, I felt a blister forming on the arch of my foot, which was uncomfortable but not a major issue. I ignored it and continued running. I initially thought the large lugs on the outsole would cause discomfort on the asphalt, but there was no problem at all. I didn't feel any discomfort along the way. At the finish line, I took off my shoes to relax my feet and checked the blister area. It wasn't a blister as I thought but discomfort caused by the socks getting wet, increasing friction, and tightening. Combined with long-term exercise and foot swelling, it caused the arch to feel compressed, but there was no actual problem.

After returning, I summarized the performance of the shoes that day:

Firstly, the wrapping performance of the shoes has significantly improved compared to the Flywing 2.0 I wore before.

Secondly, the cushioning has greatly improved. During fast running, especially downhill, the cushioning enhancement is noticeable.

Thirdly, the newly added storage pocket on the tongue is very convenient to use after tying the laces.

Fourthly, the addition of the Vibram outsole maintains excellent grip.

Fifthly, the weight of the size 45 shoes being less than 300 grams makes the shoes very agile.