Qiaodan LEILI 1.0

• Soft but not mushy: a plush, forgiving max-cushion ride with enough bounce that it never feels sluggish, even on longer easy runs.
• More versatile than it looks: the rocker helps your turnover and gives a lively toe-off, so it handles moderate up-tempo efforts as well as easy days.
• Light for its stack: around 273 g in my US 10.5 with a midsole stack of over 40 mm, and it disappears on foot.
• Outstanding value: usually on sale below ₱2,000, with comfort and ride quality you would expect from shoes costing two to three times more, earning a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED verdict.

• Not a true speed shoe: it can pick up the pace, but the Red Hare 9 ULTRA feels much faster for tempo work.
• Not light by today’s standards: 273 g is light for a max-cushion trainer, not light overall.
• A successor is out: the Qiaodan LEILI 2.0 has replaced it, but the 1.0 is still a solid buy when it is discounted.
• Initial impressions only: this verdict is based on 30 km; my full review comes after 70+ km.
• Prices move: the video and review quote historical prices, not a current offer.

After 30 km in the LEILI 1.0, also sold as the Qiaodan TG 1.0, it has quickly become my favourite budget max-cushion trainer for everything from easy runs to daily mileage. High-stack budget trainers are usually a compromise: they prioritise cushioning but end up feeling overly soft, unstable or heavy. The LEILI 1.0 avoids those typical drawbacks, combining a lightweight build and a responsive midsole with a plush, forgiving ride you would not expect at this price.

The ride is its biggest surprise. It is incredibly soft underfoot, but unlike most budget max-cushion trainers it does not feel mushy or sluggish. There is a nice amount of responsiveness that gives you a bit of bounce with every stride, and whether you are cruising through an easy run or lightly picking up the pace, the ride stays smooth, comfortable and surprisingly energetic. I mixed in a couple of faster efforts during testing and the transition felt smooth, with the rocker helping your turnover and giving a lively toe-off. That versatility makes it more than just an easy-day shoe.

It also feels light for what it is. My US 10.5 weighs around 273 g, which is not light by today’s standards, but with a midsole stack of over 40 mm it feels nimble enough for daily training, and it is easy to forget you are wearing such a highly cushioned shoe, especially on longer easy runs. As someone who is not a fan of bulky running shoes, I really love it.

The closest rides I can think of are Qiaodan’s own WIND 4TR, which feels like a lower-stack version of this shoe, and the Li-Ning Red Hare 9 ULTRA, which is faster and more versatile but pricier and less stable. Of the three, the LEILI 1.0 is the max-cushion pick for runners on a budget.

Stack and weight figures are as quoted in the review for my own pair and are approximate. The shoe finder uses maximum cushioning, soft ride, neutral support and standard-trainer categories; these are editorial matching categories, not laboratory measurements. The price field uses the ₱2,000 figure discussed in the review, not a live price.

Based on the fabRunning Qiaodan TG 1.0 (LEILI 1.0) Initial Impressions after 30 km of testing. The seller link is the Qiaodan TG 1.0 listing on the Qiaodan Official Store on Shopee. Availability and pricing may change.