bimai 42k running shoes looking forward to meeting you at 42.19
Many people might not know about Bmai, but there are certainly fans like me. Before the birth of the Mile42K, all Bmai fans were eagerly anticipating these running shoes. We had waited for so long, and after two years of development, the Mile series has grown through trials. What surprises will the 42K bring?
About Bmai:
Bmai is a group of running enthusiasts who gather in the most suitable park for running to provide a better running experience for runners. This company, composed of runners, aims to enhance the running experience. Simply put, Bmai is such a brand. Over the past two years, Bmai has been fully dedicated to the running industry. Initially, not many people knew about this brand. When the first-generation flagship running shoe Bmai 001 was launched, runners began to gradually try out the brand. Unlike other domestic brands, Bmai strives to create the best and most conscientious products in China, whether it's running shoes or running gear. A brand's development requires time and experience. Although Bmai's current running products are not many, from the most important running shoes to waist packs and socks, Bmai has already produced them. The design and materials are quite impressive, carrying a strong Bmai style. Moreover, Bmai's products are reasonably priced, mostly high cost-performance products, as seen from buyer reviews and runner feedback. This is a brand gradually moving towards success.
The naming of Bmai running shoes is always interesting. The first-generation product was called 001, signifying the first generation of running shoes. The second-generation Bmai 10K running shoes were designed specifically for daily short-distance jogging. In 2016, the Mile 21K was born, marking Bmai's entry into the half-marathon distance of 21.095 kilometers. In March 2017, after two years of research, design, improvement, and countless road tests by runners, the Mile 42K finally appeared on Bmai's official website and was officially launched at the end of March. This Bmai 42K represents a dream for the entire Bmai team. From the beginning, the goal was to create a pair of shoes that could comfortably and smoothly complete a 42-kilometer marathon. Over the past two years, the technology in Bmai running shoes has continuously evolved, from the initial one-piece woven yarn to the later addition of boom midsole technology and dual-density ortholite foam antibacterial insoles. Each small step forward is a significant leap. The 42K is a cushioned marathon jogging shoe, priced at 399 yuan at launch, making it a cost-effective flagship running shoe.
Unboxing
The shoe box of the Bmai 42K is unique, an unprecedented innovative design. Abandoning traditional paper boxes, it uses a vertical airbag arrangement, with each air column filled with air. This design is undoubtedly the best choice for online sales and logistics transportation. The airbag is waterproof, rainproof, and the air columns are thick enough to be highly resistant to pressure. The way the shoe box opens is also creative, resembling a drawer-style shoe box. Even before seeing the shoes, this distinctive shoe box can undoubtedly give consumers a good impression, making runners curious to open the box and explore.
The filling material has also been completely revamped, abandoning traditional paper balls and adopting an airbag design consistent with the shoe box, providing better support.
In this innovation, the shape of Bmai running shoes has undergone a complete transformation. In this purple Mile 42K, I can't see any similarities with previous Bmai running shoes. This time, it was truly remolded, with changes in the midsole, upper, and last. At first glance, it's clearly a cushioned running shoe, neither too light nor too heavy. The large area of fluorescent purple contrasting with ink black makes the shoes look very vibrant. The symmetrical design on the inside and outside looks very harmonious. The back features the meaning of these running shoes—42.195, which is the full marathon distance. The original intention of these running shoes is to allow more runners to comfortably and easily complete a full marathon.
The last of the shoe is always a concern for runners. If you often follow running shoe news, you must have heard that Asian feet tend to be wider. Yes, most Chinese people's feet are wider. As a running shoe designed specifically for Chinese people, the last of Bmai is naturally tailored for Chinese feet. When I put them on, the width of the forefoot felt very standard and well-fitting. Running in the 42K, I no longer have to worry about the last being too narrow and squeezing my feet.
Some running shoes, in order to increase wrapping, reduce the weight of the shoes by continuously cutting down on materials, causing the toe box to press on the toes. Even buying a size larger doesn't help. The toe box of the 42K is very rounded, with an invisible U-shaped support inside, further enhancing comfort. When I deliberately pressed my toes against the toe box, there was no discomfort at all.
The Bmai 42K features a logo resembling the Chinese character '必' on the shoe body, which is very bold and has a 3M reflective effect. The heel has a built-in hard TPU support that securely locks the heel. Initially, I felt that the heel padding was insufficient and didn't fit well, but after wearing it a few times, the built-in TPU securely wrapped around the heel, providing stable support no matter how I moved.
Details
The name of the upper is very long—seamless film technology with jacquard mesh. It looks very high-end. Simply put, it's a one-piece bonded upper. The mesh and support materials are bonded together without traditional stitching, providing an incredibly comfortable foot feel, eliminating concerns about chafing at the seams.
The midsole of the 42K features a multi-density design. The black layer is very soft, providing direct feedback to the feet. The white part is more elastic. Running shoes that are too soft can cause foot fatigue over time. The midsole of the 42K felt like I was about to take off the first time I wore it. It was really comfortable, completely shedding the heaviness of the 21K. When deliberately landing on the heel, I could feel the heel sinking. Of course, the specific feel still needs to be tested in actual running. On the inside of the midsole, you can clearly see a part of the cracked design, which feels hard when pressed. This is mainly to correct running posture and provide support.
The tongue of the 42K is neither a separate tongue nor an integrated tongue, as it was later stitched on. Simply put, it's a fixed tongue. The design of the inner boot mesh connects the tongue to the shoe body. This design enhances wrapping but is not very friendly to runners with high arches. Especially with the 42K's inner boot mesh having no elasticity, the middle of the tongue cannot be pulled up, no matter how hard you pull. I don't understand why it wasn't designed to be elastic. Runners with high arches or high foot arches might have to go through the process of exchanging the shoes, as Bmai's physical stores are still relatively few, making it difficult to try them on in person. However, the internal stitching is dense and the craftsmanship is solid.
The insole is the part of the running shoe we come into direct contact with. The comfort of a running shoe largely comes from the feedback of the insole. The first feel is the insole. The insole with the highest praise rate in current running shoes is the ortholite foam insole used in the 42K. Ortholite insoles have always been highly praised for being soft, breathable, cushioned, and resilient. Bmai thoughtfully added different density materials to the forefoot, allowing for better propulsion. The surface of the insole is made of HEMP hemp material, which is environmentally friendly and healthy.
The laces of previous generations of Mile running shoes were mostly canvas laces, which were flat and easily came undone. This time, the 42K has finally been improved. The laces are thinner, lighter, and less likely to come undone. Additionally, 3M reflective material has been added to the laces, making night running safer.
The most important aspects of the outsole are durability and lightness. It can be said that the Mile 42K possesses both, but it's not perfect. The lightweight rubber on the forefoot is relatively soft, with a texture similar to silicone. After only a few wears, I noticed wear on the forefoot, especially in the areas where force is applied. This raises concerns about the lifespan of the 42K running shoes. The black wear-resistant rubber on the heel is harder, with almost no wear and a very sincere thickness. However, I believe that while the 42K's durability may not be exceptional, it is definitely sufficient. Even if the lightweight rubber wears out, it would be about time to retire these running shoes.
The weight of the running shoes has finally returned to what cushioned running shoes should weigh. The 21K's weight of over 300g was indeed a bit disappointing. The 301g weight of the 42K, while not light, is acceptable for a cushioned running shoe. However, if you're running a full marathon at a pace of around 4 minutes per kilometer, it's not recommended, as the shoes would feel too present and heavy. They are more suitable for daily jogging or for runners with a marathon pace of 5-6 minutes per kilometer.
Running Experience
I've been running in the 42K for a while now. The initial running experience was fantastic. After multiple 5K, 10K, and 20K runs, the shoes became increasingly comfortable. During runs, I could feel the excellent grip around corners. Even in actions we don't usually perform while running, such as in comprehensive physical training like shuttle runs and acceleration runs, the shoes performed well. Out of curiosity about the midsole TPU support, I gave it a try. It didn't disappoint me at all. The inner boot of the upper is not just for show, and the X-shaped TPU at the arch is not just for decoration. The overall protection of the running shoes is very strong. I found the anti-torsion performance to be more than sufficient for shuttle runs and corner acceleration runs.
The most recent long-distance run in the 42K was extremely comfortable. My feet felt securely wrapped by the shoes, and the midsole felt like it was part of my feet, allowing me to exert force from any position. I found the midsole's performance to be excellent, whether for short-distance jogging or long-distance training. The soft and resilient feel of the midsole was very durable, and even towards the end of a 20-kilometer run, there was no sense of fatigue. (I even set a personal best in the latter half of the run, haha, thanks to the 42K)
Summary
After all this discussion, the most important thing is to find a pair of running shoes that fit you well. If they are too long, they won't fit well; if they are too short, they will squeeze your feet. Only by choosing the right size can you fully utilize the performance of the running shoes. Bmai's sizing is relatively standard. My foot length is about 245mm, and size 40 fits best, with no toe pinching and enough space for my feet to stretch inside the shoes.
As a new force in domestic brands, producing such running shoes is no easy feat. Many people have been quietly contributing to this. The Mile series is successful and worthwhile. In the future, runners who like to buy domestic running gear can say, 'I want to buy Li-Ning, Anta, and Bmai.' This is a trustworthy brand. These are running shoes you can wear for marathons and for daily wear. Of course, the 42K has some minor issues, and I sincerely hope that Bmai can make their running shoes even more perfect in the future. Keep going, Bmai! Run! We will eventually meet at 42.195 kilometers!