Kailas Fuga EX Pro review

We believe the Kailas Fuga EX Pro is a solid choice for:

• Runners with deep pockets looking for a top-performing trail shoe.
• Those seeking advanced tech like a Vibram outsole and the appeal of a less mainstream brand.
• Heel strikers wanting a carbon-plated trail shoe that delivers a strong rolling-forward sensation.

We think the narrow and tapered toebox of the Fuga EX Pro makes it uncomfortable for many, especially on ultra distances. In our view, runners with wider feet should consider the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon instead, which offers a toe-shaped toebox.

We also believe the high price tag can be a real deal-breaker. We found in the lab that shoes like the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra or the Saucony Endorphin Edge provide comparable energy return and even better overall performance, all at a lower cost.

The Kailas Fuga EX Pro delivers solid shock absorption in the heel at 122 SA, but it’s the forefoot that truly stands out compared to the average shoe with 117 SA. Therefore, we believe this model is better suited for non-heel strikers tackling ultra distances.

Here at RunRepeat, we try to be as fair as possible with every shoe. And while we had a serious letdown with the Kailas Fuga EX 3 and its weak energy return, now we discovered the opposite: the bounce of the Kailas Fuga EX Pro is incredible.

Trail shoes often feature less energy return due to the thick outsole with lugs, yet even with that, the EX Pro achieves an amazing 71.6% in the heel and a power-packed 73.1% in the forefoot. Those are serious numbers that rival the absolute top shoes from leading brands.

Oh, and kudos to Kailas because they state in the spec sheet of the shoe that it has 70-72% energy return, and it was super nice to have tested and verified those figures.

The heel stack measures 37.9 mm, putting it much closer to 40 mm than 30 mm and highlighting the long-distance-ready character of this shoe with its clearly maximalist design.

The forefoot sets this shoe apart, surpassing the 30 mm mark and reaching 30.7 mm in total. That’s significantly more than most trail shoes and helps explain its superior shock absorption.

The Fuga EX Pro is listed with a 5 mm heel-to-toe drop, but as with its sibling EX 3, we measured a higher offset. This time the difference is smaller, reaching 7.2 mm, which makes it suitable for every footstrike.

The ride of the EX Pro feels highly-energetic, but it’s far from plush. With a 24.0 HA measurement, it delivers the opposite of a sinking sensation, which is likely a smart choice for a trail shoe.

By the way, this foam is a Boost-like compound built from supercritical TPU pellets, so kudos to Kailas for maximizing the material’s potential, bringing it to performance levels comparable to PEBA foams.

The rocker design of the Fuga EX Pro is clearly visible in its curved midsole and forefoot geometry. Working together with the carbon-fiber plate, it creates a rolling-forward feel that efficiently guides each stride, even for heel strikers.

One of the main features of the EX Pro is its carbon-fiber plate. After cutting the shoe in half, we uncovered the central section where it widens into an “X” shape that extends toward both the forefoot and heel.

Why this design instead of a traditional full-length carbon plate? It’s a setup often used in competition trail shoes, offering propulsion and stability while preserving the flex and adaptability needed to maintain balance on technical terrain.

When we tested the Fuga EX Pro, they instantly felt tighter than the EX 3, which makes sense for a competition shoe... although it can feel overly snug even for racing.

Our measurement showed 91.6 mm in width, which is not roomy, yet it delivers a secure, locked-in fit that gives a strong sense of stability and a precision-focused hold.

The toebox is quite restrictive at only 70.7 mm, which can be an issue for many runners planning ultra distances. However, it also makes the shoe a solid choice for those with narrow feet.

However, there is actually plenty of vertical space for toe movement. 

To be precise, we measured 29.7 mm in this area. It’s also great that the upper offers a bit of flex.

The Fuga EX Pro features 3.7 mm lugs, a versatile setup that works well on easy trails and those with moderate technical sections, but not highly demanding terrain. It’s clearly better suited for US-based ultras than European ones.

The outsole of the Kailas Fuga EX Pro is built with a performance-driven design. At the heel, the decoupled construction splits the rubber into two sections, helping disperse impact forces more evenly. This design also gives the shoe a highly-adaptive transition that feels more natural when running downhill.

Covering the entire base is the renowned compound Megagrip Litebase from Vibram, a premium rubber known for its grip on both wet rock and dry ground. And thanks to Litebase technology, the rubber layer is thinner than average, which trims unnecessary weight for race day.

The lug geometry is also quite interesting. The arrow-shaped lugs of the center are oriented to maximize propulsion on climbs and deliver confident braking on descents. At the same time, extended side lugs improve security on those dangerous off-camber sections.

With a carbon plate and a max-stack midsole, this test was bound to score high. True to expectations, we measured 19.1N at 30 degrees—significantly more than the average shoe.

One of the main advantages of using supercritical foam is its ability to cut weight compared to a traditional compound. We tested the Fuga EX Pro and discovered how much lighter it feels, dropping significantly compared to other Kailas models to settle at 9.6 oz or 272g.

That’s a competitive weight for a sturdy, high-stack trail running shoe.

A high price in a trail shoe calls for superb materials, and while Kailas didn’t use MATRYX for the upper, they introduced their own advanced engineered mesh called XDiMESH, designed to balance ventilation, durability, and support.

When we tested it with our smoke-pumping machine through a custom 3D piece, the result was a 4/5 score. That’s a strong outcome, especially for runners tackling summer trail races.

The XDiMESH upper is impressively thin, letting light pass through easily in any non-reinforced section.

Under our digital microscope, we found the material remarkable.

There’s plenty of space for air to escape, yet reinforced fabrics are strategically placed to help resist early wear and tear.

Notably, there’s no secondary layer beneath the toebox, which highlights the racing-focused build and the effort to save weight. Still, we were surprised to see Kailas add generous padding in both the tongue and heel.

The ride of the Fuga EX Pro feels stable on easy, flat terrain, as the midsole sidewalls work with the carbon plate to create a highly supportive platform. On technical terrain, the tall stack height and compact width naturally changes the experience.

One of the key benefits of an X-shaped plate over a standard design is its added flex. This was confirmed in our test, where it scored 4/5 instead of the usual 5/5 seen in carbon-plated shoes.

The heel counter turned out to be quite flexible, resembling the design of road daily trainers. It scored 3 out of 5, making it a notably comfortable option.

The forefoot isn’t narrow, measuring close to the average at 113.9 mm.

However, this number only tells part of the story, since the high stack height clearly adds to the potential instability.

The heel shows clear racing DNA, with its width of 86.8 mm confirming it. Kailas added stability elements to balance this, but the landing zone remains narrow and the midfoot is extremely tapered, following the brand’s usual wasp-like design.

It’s obvious that Kailas went all-in on a lightweight mesh, and after testing it with our Dremel, we were glad to see those "Anti-Impact" white TPU overlays for protection, since the XDiMESH alone proved weak and scored only 2/5.

This outcome is more concerning, as a 2/5 shows the heel area is weaker than we’d prefer. It’s something worth noting for runners who often wear holes in this part of their shoes.

Vibram knows how to create outsoles that are both grippy and durable. After examining the wear, we found only 0.8 mm of damage.

One of the standout features of the Litebase version of Vibram Megagrip is its reduced thickness to cut weight. We confirmed this in our test, measuring just 1.2 mm... that's about half the thickness of a regular outsole.

The plush insole of the EX Pro contributes an additional 5.3 mm of cushioning to the overall system.

The Fuga EX Pro insole stands out with its perforated design that boosts ventilation. We think it’s worth keeping, though if you prefer to swap it, the option is always there.

The main advantage of supercritical TPU foam over EVA-based foam is energy return, but it also brings better resilience in cold weather. In our freezer test, it dipped below average, becoming only 17% firmer after 20 minutes.

It’s nice to see some reflective elements, adding small but useful details that help justify the premium price of this shoe and helping those that race at night.

The tongue of this shoe really caught us off guard. For a performance-focused trail model, it feels unusual to see a 10.4 mm tongue with such heavy padding and huge size, especially when other parts emphasize weight savings, and the EX 3 uses a tongue nearly three times thinner.

From our perspective, a smaller and lighter tongue would pair much better with this shoe’s target audience. Maybe that’s something to expect in the next update.

We discovered that the tongue is semi-gusseted, designed to offer a better lockdown while still trimming some weight.

The Kailas Fuga EX Pro is expensive, that's a fact. However, if you value performance, premium build quality, top-tier materials like the Vibram Megagrip outsole, and enjoy wearing a shoe rarely seen at races, the super-high investment may be justified. For many runners though, it might feel like too much.

The heel is nicely padded, but it lacks a finger-loop tab that many other trail shoes include.

The shoe comes with the Adjust Whole Sole 3.0 system, which offers a two-section lace tightening setup. We also discovered how easy it is to tuck the elastic laces into the lace pocket. We really loved this small detail that keeps everything neat and prevent the laces from bothering you.