Kailas Fuga DU review

Who should buy the Kailas Fuga Du

Consider this high-performance Kailas offering if:

• you want one of the of most generously cushioned trail shoes on the market
• you need a shoe that's capable of an ultra marathon
• you are tackling lots of rocky, forested, muddy trails, gravel, and bumpy dirt roads
• you love running on extra-wide platforms to keep you steady
• you prefer quick-lacing systems

Who should NOT buy the shoe

With the asking price of $200, the Fuga DU can easily put a lot of buyers off. Especially given that the average price of trail shoes is $132 and those with similar stack height hover around $150.

So, if you are skeptical about shelling out that much money, we advise checking out the Hoka Speedoat 5 or the Saucony Endorphin Trail instead.

Another potential problem is the shoe's tapering toebox. It makes the shoe unsuitable for wide-footers. In this case, we suggest considering the Altra Olympus 5.

Keeps debris out without losing breathability

The Fuga DU's ability to breathe through its jacquard mesh upper is great. Inside the shoe, a sandproof lining is effective in preventing the annoying buildup of sand and tiny pebbles.

Kailas Fuga DU (left), Adidas Runfalcon (right)

Kailas Fuga DU has plenty of cushion for any distance 

The Fuga DU belongs to Kailas' max-cushioned lineup along with the Fuga EX 2 and the Fuga EX BOA. According to the brand, the shoe's stack height is 36mm in the heel and 28mm in the forefoot, making the heel-to-toe drop 8 mm.

Disclaimer: We include insole thickness in the stack measurement.

The insole in the Kailas Fuga DU is 5.2 mm thick in the heel section. This is more padded than the average 4.6 mm among running shoes.

Fuga DU's cushioning hits a sweet spot

We found the shoe's cushioning to be blissfully comfortable. It has a well-judged balance of softness and firmness to keep the ride fun yet stable.

The Fuga DU felt at home on hard-packed and tarmac trail sections just as well as on the technical terrain.

Stay surefooted in every situation

The intricate sole design of this Kailas shoe left runners impressed for sure. Specifically, its stability aspect. It takes a lot of effort to actually roll your ankle over the side of the shoe.

There is a lot going on underfoot to keep the wearer's foot and ankle stable. But the most striking characteristic is the width of the sole itself. As stated by Kailas, there is an ultra-wide 125-mm forefoot area.

In addition to the wide base, the shoe's stability is enhanced by the divided cushioning areas and the unique trapezoidal heel shape. When running downhill, it felt like the shoe was allowing our feet to bite onto the ground more securely.

Contributing to the steady in-shoe feel are the highly stiff heel counter and the external 3D TPU Frame.

A 3D TPU Frame is placed around the heel to help stabilize the ankle. One runner was concerned about it being too hard and digging into the foot but it turned out to be forgiving and bother-free.

The rocker keeps you going

It is easy to notice the exaggerated rocker shape of the shoe. We find this design very efficient especially when going uphill or when tackling long distances.

It's not a very flexible shoe though

We do not consider lack of flexibility as an issue as the curved sole already provides an efficient heel-to-toe transition. But we still have to put this out there in case you are used to shoes that easily bend along with your foot.

Kailas Fuga DU latches onto everything

The toothy Vibram outsole of this shoe gets all the praise from us. We had no problems whatsoever when navigating super slick slippery roots, lots of leaves, wet rocks, and a lot of mud.

The multi-directional lugs helped us a lot when constantly zigzagging our way down the hill.

What's interesting about the outsole is that the brand claims to reduce the sole thickness by 50% "while maintaining Vibram quality in grip, traction, and durability."

Your toes are safe and sound in the Fuga DU

With its anti-impact toe box, this Kailas shoe offers a high level of protection. Bumping into roots and rocks has never been a problem.

Unbelievably light for how much it packs

The shoe is surprisingly light. As stated by the brand, it weighs 10.3 oz (293 g) in a men's US 8.5.

Snug fit (wide footers, beware)

It almost feels like a Salomon. Because of the toebox tapering towards the front, this shoe is not recommended for runners with wide feet or whose feet tend to swell a lot during longer efforts.

Sizing can be tricky!

Keep in mind that Kailas makes their shoes in the EU sizing scheme, so some of the US sizes might be missing in this model (like men's US 8 and 9).

Here is the best way to find out your size in Kailas Fuga DU:

1. Check the MM measurement on the inner side of your current shoe (there should be a three-digit number like 260 or 26.0); or, if you have time, measure your foot.

2. Check what US size your MM measurement corresponds to in Kailas' official shoe size chart.

Based on our measurements, the Fuga DU runs true to size (based on Kailas' chart).

Bungee lacing: easy, quick, efficient

Those who can't live without Salomon's Quicklace or similar closures are very happy with the AWS 3.0 system on the Fuga DU.

The presence of two buckles allows for regulating the fit not only at the top of the shoe but also closer to the toes. It is effective in preventing the toes from bumping into the front of the shoe even when going downhill.

This lacing system maintains a secure lockdown throughout the run and makes us feel stable on the technical trail sections. The open lace hook makes it very easy to take the shoe off, while the lace pocket on top of the tongue is very handy for tucking in the excess lace cords.

Gaiter holder is a very welcome touch

The gaiter attachment on the Kailas Fuga DU managed to convince the opponents of gaiters that these can be effective.