Puma is the brand Li-Ning most resembles: both run PEBA foam and carbon plates across several price points, and the Feidian 6 range maps neatly onto the Fast-R, Deviate Nitro Elite and Deviate Nitro. Li-Ning is cheaper on the Elite and Challenger and much dearer on the Ultra. Puma is easier to buy, return and fit.
Of the three big brands, Puma lines up most neatly with Li-Ning. Each Feidian 6 racer has a direct Puma counterpart, and the pricing splits the same way at both brands’ top end: a specialist shoe for fast forefoot strikers, and a more forgiving flagship below it.
This page takes each Li-Ning running shoe in turn and names the Puma it most resembles. It is part of a set: the overview of all three brands, plus Li-Ning vs Nike and Li-Ning vs Adidas.
Background first: how Li-Ning and Anta caught up with Nike, Adidas and Puma.
Matches are made on function: category, foam, plate, stack and drop. It is a spec-and-source comparison, not a wear test.
The match table
| Li-Ning | Puma equivalent | Li-Ning price | Puma price | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feidian 6 Ultra | Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 | A$499.95 | A$380 | Good |
| Feidian 6 Elite | Deviate Nitro Elite 4 | A$299.95 | A$340 | Strong |
| Feidian 6 Challenger | Deviate Nitro 4 | A$219.96 | A$260 | Good |
| Red Hare 9 Ultra | MagMax Nitro 2 | A$239.95 | A$280 | Moderate |
| Red Hare 9 Pro | Velocity Nitro 5 | A$159.99 RRP | A$200 | Good |
| Chaoying Pro (Super Shadow) | Velocity Nitro 5 | A$159.99 RRP | A$200 | Good |
| Yueying 6 Pro | MagMax Nitro 2 | Import only | A$280 | Moderate |
| Red Hare 9 / Yueying 6 / Super Light 23 | Velocity Nitro 5 (step up) | A$119.99 / import | A$200 | Weak |
| Dilu 2 / Dilu 2 PRO | Fast-Trac Nitro 4 | Import only | A$220 | Weak |
| Liejun 8 | ForeverRun Nitro 3 | Import only | A$260 | Weak |
| Liejun 8 Pro, Dilu 2 CTRL, Jueying 4 | None | Import only | — | No match |
Prices: Li-Ning from Running Warehouse AU, or RRP at Blue Sky Athletics where marked; Puma from au.puma.com. Checked 11 October 2026.
Racing: Feidian 6 vs Fast-R and Deviate Nitro
Feidian 6 Ultra vs Fast-R Nitro Elite 3. The tightest conceptual match in this set. Both use extreme, cut-away geometry and suit fast runners who land on the forefoot. RTINGS measured the Ultra at 207.0 g in a men’s US 9 with a 40.7 mm heel — and a 9.3 mm drop, over 3 mm more than Li-Ning claims. The Puma is A$120 cheaper and far easier to find in your size: Running Warehouse had one Ultra colourway in US 9 D only.
Feidian 6 Elite vs Deviate Nitro Elite 4. Both are the “forgiving” flagship sitting under the specialist shoe. Runner’s Verdict found the Puma firmer and lighter. RTINGS measured the Elite at 205.1 g, a 39.7 mm heel and a 5.4 mm drop. The Li-Ning is A$40 cheaper.
Feidian 6 Challenger vs Deviate Nitro 4. Both are carbon-plated trainers you can race in. The Challenger uses Super BOOM over BOOM with a split-toe carbon plate and is A$40 cheaper. Reviewers put it around 195–205 g, which would make it the lighter shoe, but no lab has weighed it, and its published stack varies between 37 mm and 39.5 mm.
Training: Red Hare 9 and Chaoying Pro vs MagMax and Velocity
Red Hare 9 Ultra vs MagMax Nitro 2. Both are maximum-stack trainers for long easy miles. The Red Hare 9 Ultra measured a 46.2 mm heel and 237.2 g at RTINGS, using three layers of PEBA-family foam and a fibreglass shank, no carbon. It is A$40 cheaper. The MagMax is the safer choice for heavier or less stable runners: RTINGS scored the Red Hare 6.3 for stability.
Red Hare 9 Pro vs Velocity Nitro 5. Both are durable, unplated daily trainers. RTINGS measured the Red Hare 9 Pro at 231.8 g, 36.0 mm heel and 7.6 mm drop. At RRP it is about A$40 cheaper, but it is only stocked by small Australian shops.
Chaoying Pro vs Velocity Nitro 5. The Chaoying Pro is the lighter, livelier of the two Li-Ning trainers: 222.5 g with a 40.9 mm heel at RTINGS. Its 10.1 mm measured drop is far higher than the 7 mm some sources give. Puma doesn’t split this role across two shoes, so the Velocity covers both.
Yueying 6 Pro vs MagMax Nitro 2. Both are soft, protective daily shoes. Li-Ning publishes no stack or weight for the Yueying, so this is a category match only.
Trail, stability and the rest
These matches are my judgement from category and foam type. Li-Ning publishes almost nothing for these shoes outside China.
- Dilu 2 vs Fast-Trac Nitro 4. Both are everyday trail shoes. The Dilu 2 is reported at 298 g.
- Dilu 2 PRO. A carbon-plated trail racer reported at 243 g. Puma’s Australian range had no carbon trail racer on 11 October 2026; the Fast-Trac Nitro 4 is the nearest.
- Liejun 8 vs ForeverRun Nitro 3. Both are stability trainers.
- No Puma equivalent: the Liejun 8 Pro, Dilu 2 CTRL and the Jueying 4 lifestyle runner.
Which should you buy?
- Fast forefoot strikers: Fast-R Nitro Elite 3. It does the Ultra’s job for A$120 less and you can actually get your size.
- Marathon racing for most runners: Feidian 6 Elite to save A$40 and get more cushioning; Deviate Nitro Elite 4 for a lighter, firmer race shoe and a less narrow fit.
- Long easy runs: Red Hare 9 Ultra if you are light on your feet; MagMax Nitro 2 if you need stability.
- Hybrid racing: neither brand’s carbon racer belongs on the sled. Puma’s own HYROX shoes are covered in Puma’s HYROX shoes priced, and the plate problem in carbon plates in HYROX.