bimai mile 21k second generation carefully see the truth
Preface
I stumbled upon the brand 'Bmai' in Codoon and learned about the Mile21K 2nd generation running shoes. I was deeply attracted by its design and have been following it closely, determined to get a pair once it hit the market. Coincidentally, Codoon's gear team was hosting an event. I, who usually have no luck with such things, participated with a playful attitude and surprisingly got shortlisted. Many thanks to Codoon for this delightful surprise at the beginning of 2017, giving me my first experience in running shoe evaluation. Excitedly, I filled out the required information and sent it off. The next day, I received the Bmai Mile21K 2nd generation running shoes. To ensure we received the shoes before the year-end, they used SF Express. Kudos to them!
Unboxing
The entire box is wrapped in a layer of plastic foam to protect the running shoes from any damage (thumbs up +1).
Removing the outer protective layer, I saw a very striking box with a white base and purple 'Bmai' logo.
Opening the box, inside was a pair of blue and orange running shoes. The first impression was very flashy (thumbs up +2)!
Appearance
The colors are bold, with a blue body, orange laces, and inner lining, complemented by a grass-green sole. The sole and the body are further highlighted with a blue and orange camouflage pattern, making it look very lively and energetic.
The tongue and insole both have a prominent 'Bmai' logo. The tongue strap is different from other brands, not in the middle but towards the sides, possibly for better tongue fixation?
The upper is made of jacquard mesh to enhance breathability and improve comfort at the repeatedly bent toe area. The toe cap also uses a 3D molding process to protect the toes (thumbs up +3).
The toe, body, and heel have multiple reflective designs, but the effect is not very noticeable. For night running safety, this needs improvement.
Removing the insole, I saw very neat stitching, showing great attention to detail (also includes production date and size).
The sole uses horizontal subdivisions for lasting grip and to disperse localized pressure from the ground.
Test Run
Tester Information: Height 170 cm, Weight 65 kg, Shoe Size 41
Tester Performance: 10 km 00:50:35, Half Marathon 01:56:43, Full Marathon 04:17:44
Pace: 5'00"—6'30"
Test Road Conditions:
First Time: 10 km, 4 km asphalt road + 6 km cement brick road, average pace: 5'26"
Second Time: 30 km, 4 km asphalt road + 6 km cement brick road + 20 km cement marble mixed road,
Average pace: 6'01"
Third Time: 10 km, 7 km asphalt road + 3 km cement brick road, average pace: 5'06"
When stepping forward in the shoes, there is a forward-leaning feeling, possibly due to the shoe design (thumbs up +4), making you want to start running immediately. (My feet are slightly narrow with a normal arch.) Wearing the shoes, they felt very snug and well-fitted. Despite each shoe weighing 320g, they didn't feel bulky. The mesh design, although not warm at around 13°C outdoor temperature, indicates good breathability, which was indeed the case. After 30 km, my feet didn't feel stuffy and remained dry (thumbs up +5). However, the summer performance remains to be seen. As a heel striker, I felt some heel tendon soreness in the first 3-4 km, possibly due to cushioning or arch design issues, but it gradually disappeared (maybe due to warming up or getting used to it?). On flat surfaces, the cushioning wasn't very noticeable, but on cement brick roads, the horizontally subdivided sole showed its strength, providing excellent grip like an octopus, firmly gripping the ground and distributing cushioning pressure according to the uneven surface. This sensitivity in feedback was the most significant feeling during my test runs (thumbs up +6). Several times, I looked down, doubting if I was wearing domestic running shoes. The bold use of contrasting colors, eye-catching laces, camouflage patterns, and grass-green soles, although the reflective effect isn't very noticeable, the bright colors are still very striking at dusk.
After three test runs covering 50 km, the sole wear was relatively significant. I'm not sure if this wear can last up to 800 km.
Overall, the design of the shoe body, color matching, and affordable price make it a great value-for-money running shoe. For a domestic running shoe to achieve this is already commendable.
Areas for Improvement:
1. Sole durability;
2. Heel cushioning;
3. Reflective effect on the shoe body;
4. Sole slip resistance.
I hope Bmai continues to improve, supporting domestic brands! Every step is a surpassing one! Truly becoming a rising internet sports brand for high-quality domestic products!
Thanks again to Codoon for this first evaluation opportunity. My skills are limited, so please bear with me!