I have the PB4 and I am a 2E.
I usually go half a size up than my usual shoe size and they fit perfectly. I’d probably say Do-win fits me better than western brands.
Not sure if this shoe would work with your pain. But I ran a 6.5hr marathon in the Li Ning Feidian Challenger 5C.
The race got cancelled last minute due to bad weather so I decided to run it with my girlfriend instead. Surprisingly comfortable for that duration, I didn't really feel any pain for being on my feet for that long in carbon plated shoes
Anecdotal but for my case, they do help. The majority of the arguments for speed are made by elite and fast runners that are skinny and light. Theoretically, the amount of force a heavier runner would need to push into the ground to get into the sub 5 min/km is greater than what a much lighter runner would need. I'm 82kg I ran 30km 2 months ago with non-carbon plated shoes (neo vista) in 4hrs with 170 avg HR. Last week I did the same pace using Li Ning Feidian Challenger 5 with 155 avg HR. Both shoes felt fine cushion wise after. Only difference lang is the DOMS the ff day.
Second the LiNing Challenger. They’re also pretty damn resilient. The outsole and foam on mine still looks nearly perfect with ~300 miles on them. And a lot of those miles have been hard packed dirt and crushed gravel that tends to chew through shoes.
If you want something completely different I'd try the Dynafish Danian. A bit narrow and only up to US11 though which is bloody annoying.
Otherwise a super light, snappy racing shoe that has similar stack height to the ES5.
If you're worried about stack height or stability the Li-ning Feidian challenger 5 is insane value for about $50 on TaoBao. Similar to the Endorphin speed as a slightly toned down race shoe but a bit lighter and higher stack.
If you can be bothered to use TaoBao then the Li Ning Feidian Challenger 5 is an absolutely insane pick for about $50 shipped. Slightly less aggressive carbon plate with 2 layers of PEBA foam that makes it a bit softer and bouncier compared to the superblasts. They're quite a bit more on AliExpress but still way cheaper than the superblasts and nicer depending on what you're looking for.
If you want something unplated the Dynafish Xiaonian is an absolutely stunning shoe for about $90. Super light and versatile for pretty much any pace and it's just a great all rounder. As my first Chinese shoes I was blown away
If you're an Australian and you're conscious of budget and durability PLEASE consider Chinese options. I used to be an Asics guy but I've gradually replaced every shoe in my rotation with something Chinese because they're usually as good or better at 1/2-1/3 the price.
For a novablast type shoe I'd go for a Qiaodian TG1.0. Should also be more durable as it doesn't have the foam issues the Novablast has. ~70aud on AliExpress.
For a magic speed type shoe the Feidian 5 Challenger is the best value shoe in the world. Check out jogoncrago or RUN ARE's videos on it but it's now ~$60aud shipped on the TaoBao app for a carbon plated, lightweight speed shoe with a full PEBA midsole
For a superblast shoe the Li Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra and Dynafish Xiaonian are really hyped for good reason. I don't own the Li Ning but it's meant to be super protective, bouncy and fun. I have the Xiaonian and it's the best shoe I've ever worn. Unbelievably versatile, protective, light and responsive with a super aggressive geometry. The RH9U is $100 and the Xiaonian $125 shipped, both from Taobao
The Chinese shoe rabbit hole is definitely worth going down if you're in Australia
Also all these shoes have CPU outsoles which are very durable. Plus I know my Xiaonians are still great after 350km which I can't say about my novablast 5s
The Xiaonian. The widest shoe of the three with the widest range. The zone 2 90 is close but the outsole sucks (which is weird as most Chinese outsoles are super durable) which Anta will hopefully address when they replace it. I love the F5C but the plate limits versatility and it's relatively unstable. Great shoe but not as a do it all
I've had the Xiaonian for 360km now and it's been flawless. I recently got to try the EVO SL and it's not even close really. The Xiaonian is a smooth, responsive, super cushioned shoe that is surprisingly good at going fast. The weight helps too even if the Zone 2 90 is slightly lighter again
6to8design
