a ye all terrain running shoes dare to compare with four major jogging
R Moonlight Rain
Written at the beginning: When I was young, I participated in a 5KM training at my workplace. Due to unscientific training methods and a lack of knowledge about professional running shoes, I wore any random pair of sports shoes and just ran hard. As a result, I suffered severe knee injuries twice and was afraid to run for many years, and I still have aftereffects. Later, in middle age, I started running again due to health reasons and paid special attention to protecting my knees and choosing running shoes. From domestic brands to popular international brands sold in malls, the running experience was summed up in two words—stiff feet. Especially after 5 kilometers, it felt like the impact from the ground was directly affecting my knees. Starting with my first pair of Asics Kayano 21 bought online, I have always focused on brands like Asics, Saucony, Brooks, and NB. So, when I participated in this AYE product test, I did it with a try-it-out attitude. Unexpectedly, I was lucky enough to be selected by Xiao Dang. To live up to Xiao Dang's trust, I decided to take this evaluation seriously.
Upon receiving the email, I couldn't wait to open the packaging. The unique pull-out shoe box design gave me a very good first impression of AYE.
Even more considerate was the inclusion of spare shoelaces, which I had never encountered with the numerous pairs of running shoes I had bought before.
I chose the orange-red color, which is similar to the color of my newly acquired Kayano 23, and it has a strong visual identity.
The toe part adopts an upward design, making it very agile. Functionally, it protects the toes from impact during exercise and tightly wraps the toes, making it easier to exert force. It conforms to ergonomic principles, providing better protection for the feet. The heel collar design is revolutionary, with the collar flipped inside out and combined with high-density, high-elastic foam, greatly reducing friction between the collar and the ankle during running, thus better protecting the ankle.
The midsole system design concept is the biggest highlight of the entire AYE all-terrain running shoe and is the key aspect I focused on during the experience. The design idea of the midsole TPU injection piece is based on the protective principle of the human ribcage.
Functionally, the new full-length high-resilience TPU injection piece provides excellent cushioning performance, effectively alleviating the pressure on the feet from the ground during exercise.
In terms of the outsole, lightweight wear-resistant rubber + high-quality Phylon high-elastic EVA + imported TPU material injection pieces are used. The processing technology combines innovative hot-press integrated molding technology with traditional cold-bonding technology. Functionally, it meets the requirements for cushioning and high resilience, and provides high-intensity wear resistance and anti-slip effects in a running state, suitable for a wider range of road environments.
I chose size 41 (for reference: I usually wear size 40 shoes. My first pair of K21s were size 40.5, which were fine for daily wear, but during my first marathon, both big toenails fell off. Since then, I have chosen size 41.5 for Asics, which fits well. For Saucony, Brooks, and NB, I wear size 41, which also fits well). After tightening the shoelaces, the midfoot wrapping feeling is very strong, giving me a sense of security. The narrowing at the arch and the raised inner side design make the shoe and foot integration and support quite good. However, if you have flat feet, the raised arch may feel uncomfortable. My arch is relatively high, so it feels very good when worn.
The first feeling when wearing them is lightness, possibly because I recently got used to wearing the newly acquired K23. Compared to another recently acquired pair of NB Bora, they are slightly heavier, but the effect is still good.
After receiving the shoes, I couldn't wait to start the running experience after a continuous 48-hour shift at work. I chose the Sha Li Scenic Area in my small town of Luohe as the experience location. It is the only AAAA-level scenic area in Henan Province named a sports-themed park, built along the Sha River and Li River that run through the city and intersect in the city center, with a total length of over 33KM. The main trail is mainly colored asphalt road, supplemented by brick roads, which are relatively flat. There are also many narrower auxiliary trails made of gravel, cement, and stone roads, as well as large areas of grass and gentle slopes. This environment is most suitable for evaluating these all-terrain shoes.
1. Stability and cushioning experience at various paces.
During the first experience, I did 5 sets of interval runs, with a slow run at a pace of over 5 minutes per kilometer followed by a fast run at a pace of around 4 minutes per kilometer. I usually land on my heels during slow runs and on my forefoot or full foot during fast runs. The first feeling was hardness, and it was an all-around hardness. But when I really started running, I realized that my first feeling was not just simple hardness but a powerful rebound. Even when running at a pace of over 5 minutes, I already felt a bouncing sensation, and this feeling became more pronounced at a pace of 4 minutes, turning into a strong wind underfoot.
The relatively hard midsole allows each step to get a quick response from the ground. Combined with the well-curved forefoot, the transition from midfoot landing to forefoot is very natural and smooth, with a good sense of acceleration.
In the subsequent two interval runs and two lactate threshold runs at a pace of under 4 minutes and 30 seconds, these shoes quickly provided me with a fast initial pace.
At a pace of over 5 minutes, landing on the heel still felt full of rebound.
To test the support and stability performance of AYE over long distances, I did an 18KM+ continuous lactate threshold run in 3 sets and a 15KM+ aerobic endurance run. The test proved that even after long-distance running, the support of AYE remained comfortable without significant discomfort.
2. Traction performance and cushioning effect on various surfaces.
During the aerobic endurance run, I experienced the shoes on stone roads, gravel roads, grass, and slippery grass slopes. Although the outsole is not a V-shaped sole, the traction performance is still good. On downhill and curved paths, the traction performance is excellent, with no obvious deviation, providing better stability. The geometric shape of the outsole firmly grips the ground, unaffected by these terrains, making running more focused. In terms of cushioning, the effect is noticeable on soft surfaces and asphalt roads, but on hard cement or stone roads, the cushioning range and proactivity are less effective.
3. Durability
A running volume of just a few dozen kilometers is not enough to fully test the durability of these shoes, and more usage is needed to feel it. Even so, I personally believe that the outsole and heel of AYE are very durable. The outsole in the picture was taken after 30 kilometers, and there are no signs of wear. The durability of the mesh and synthetic materials on the upper is directly related to the terrain and running volume. So far, its durability is excellent, with no signs of delamination or thread breakage.
Advantages:
1. The appearance is very attractive, especially outdoors;
2. Excellent wrapping performance, more comfortable foot feel, soft and breathable elastic mesh fabric with better breathability, and the weight of a single shoe is also superior to some brands;
3. The irregular geometric pattern of the outsole provides better traction on slippery surfaces and performs well on gravel and grassy surfaces;
To be improved:
The entire shoe does not use waterproof materials, so the experience will be greatly reduced in wet or muddy conditions.