361 Degrees, Xtep, and Feiyue Launch Carbon-Plated Marathon Shoes for 2026 Season
· fashion-sports
The spring 2026 marathon season has been a breakout moment for Chinese running brands. 361 Degrees, Xtep, and Feiyue have all released new carbon-plated racing shoes in time for the major spring marathons, with weights under 200 grams and price points that undercut Nike’s Vaporfly and Adidas’s Adios Pro by 40-60%.
Why it matters
The super-shoe category has been dominated by Nike (Vaporfly, Alphafly) and Adidas (Adios Pro) since 2017, with the major Chinese brands largely absent from the high-performance end. The 2026 launches mark the first time Chinese brands have competed credibly at the elite level, with several Chinese athletes wearing domestic brand super-shoes in international competition for the first time.
What is new
- 361 Degrees launched the Flame 3.0, a 188g carbon-plated racing shoe at $159.
- Xtep released the 160X 4.0, a 175g racing shoe with a new PEBA midsole at $179.
- Feiyue brought out the Kantian 2, a 165g carbon-plated shoe at $129, the lightest of the three and the cheapest.
The collective effect is that the carbon-plated super-shoe category, which cost $250-280 for a Nike or Adidas equivalent just three years ago, now has credible Chinese alternatives at $129-179. For amateur marathoners, the value proposition is now strong enough that the established players are beginning to feel the pressure.