Dynafish
Xiaonian
A very light, high-stack, plateless trainer from China with a bouncy TPEE midsole and an early forefoot rocker. Testers rate it a match for big-brand super trainers like the Evo SL for far less, if you can get hold of a pair.
About the Xiaonian
Chinese brand Dynafish pairs its carbon-plated Dynafish 1.0 racer with the Xiaonian, a high-stack, plateless trainer intended for daily training, long runs and racing from 5K to the marathon.
Its midsole is a single slab of TPEE foam, with no secondary layer and no plate. Instead the shoe relies on its geometry: a forefoot rocker that starts early in the shoe, plus a smaller heel rocker. A thin, hard rubber outsole leaves part of the midfoot exposed. The upper is a perforated nylon mesh with a padded tongue, a semi-rigid internal toe guard and an extra set of eyelets for heel-lock lacing. It weighs 193 g in a men's UK 8.5 with an advertised 7 mm drop, and comes in a single standard width without half sizes.
Specs and features from rtings.com, roadtrailrun.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Video reviews
What the critics say
88/100 review score
- Road Trail Run 9.1/10
The reviews in briefRTINGS' testers rated the Dynafish Xiaonian a light, deeply cushioned daily trainer that fits true to size, though it felt unsteady when cornering. Road Trail Run's Derek Li praised its easy forefoot rocker but found the foam firmer than Dynafish's racer, while Tom's Guide's Nick Harris-Fry called it one of the best shoes available.
- Positive: Very light for so much cushioning
- Positive: Strong forefoot energy return with a smooth rocker
- Positive: Durable, with little wear after many miles
- Mixed: The pronounced rocker won't suit everyone
- Mixed: Firmer than the PEBA in Dynafish's racer
- Negative: Hard to buy outside China, with no half sizes
Paraphrased from published reviews. Read them in full:
The numbers
- Lightweight / tempo
- Type
- 193 g
- Weight
- 41 mm
- Heel stack
- 7 mm
- Drop
- No plate
- Plate
- Neutral
- Support
Weight for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5.
What it feels like
Fit
True to size
True to size or slightly roomy, with a wide toe box, but there are no half sizes and some sellers' size charts differ, so check the chart before ordering.
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Where to buy the Xiaonian
Dynafish shoes are hard to find in UK, US and European shops. Most runners buy them from AliExpress or other online marketplaces, so check the seller's ratings, delivery time and returns before you order.
RRP around £120. Tap through for today's price.
Dynafish Xiaonian
In short
A brilliant budget alternative to the Evo SL if you want one light, bouncy shoe for tempo runs, long runs and even a marathon. You'll mostly have to buy it from AliExpress, so check the seller first.
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