A lightweight carbon-plated racing shoe built for speed, the Xtep 160×7 Pro offers explosive propulsion, responsive cushioning and superior comfort for marathoners seeking top-tier performances. It is one of three models in Xtep’s brand new 160×7 racing shoe lineup.

The others in the lineup are the 160×7 and the 160×7 Monxter. Both are targeted racing shoes too. The 160×7 Pro is a record-breaker targeted at sub 3:30 marathons while the 160×7 is a speed-smashing racer targeted at sub 4:30 marathoners. The 160×7 Monxter is targeted towards half marathoners and forefoot runners. 

The shoes are true to size based on my experience. They have a sock-like fit and wrap snugly around the feet like a glove.

This is thanks to the one piece sock-style upper that dynamically conforms to the foot, to deliver a smooth and comfortable ride. The fit is also tailored specifically to conform to the foot shape, thus allowing for a more snug feeling. This sock-like fit will definitely appeal to runners with high instep as compared to previous iterations of the Xtep 160. 

The moment I slipped my feet into them, I could immediately tell that these shoes wanted to go fast. This is due to the GT700 golden carbon plate from Xtep which combines lightweight, propulsion and durability. Designed using sports biomechanics to enhance propulsion by 7 per cent, it provides a powerful forward thrust with each stride. 

My first impression was that the shoes feel light and breathable, extremely bouncy, snappy and responsive. 

I tried the shoes out on a variety of workouts ranging from speedy track intervals to mid-length tempo runs. 

Unsurprisingly, the faster I ran, the better the shoes felt. 

The shoes shine the best at around 4:45/km pace or anything faster. Those who are not able to hit these paces probably should look for a different shoe instead. When you pick up the pace, the shoes feel as though they are pushing you along and the carbon plates are propelling you on to go faster and push harder. They feel very responsive and the ride is smooth at aggressive paces.

However at slower paces, I wouldn’t recommend these shoes. I would say for anything slower than 5:30/km, the shoes start to feel stiff and clunky on the feet and you don’t get much benefit by wearing them. The difference in transition from fast to slow paces is quite abrupt. So definitely not a suitable shoe for those slow days or recovery runs, as you’d most definitely end up going faster than you had intended. 

Conclusion

If you are a 3hr 20 marathoner or faster and you are looking for an aggressive racing shoe to give you a boost, then these are definitely what you may be looking for. The faster and stronger you are, the more rewards and benefits you will glean from the shoes. 

The brand new Xtep 160×7 series is available for purchase at all Key Power Sports stores across Singapore. The Pro iteration retails at S$269.