HIRACER HIWINGS PRO review

The HIRACER HIWINGS PRO is a very interesting option for:

• Fast runners looking for an aggressive super shoe with insane energy return that keeps rolling them forward.
• Those on a limited budget who want high-level super shoe performance without paying the usual premium prices.
• Marathoners eager to try a Chinese brand that's gaining attention with bold designs and impressive foam technology.

If you prefer a more traditional ride from a super shoe, the HIRACER HIWINGS PRO may not be for you, due to its wave-shaped plate and aggressive midsole rocker. Instead, we suggest going with the Nike Vaporfly 4 or the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4.

We also think heel strikers may prefer a racing shoe with a bit more lateral support in the rear. For that, we suggest the Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 or the Nike Alphafly 3.

Marathoners are understandably concerned about shock absorption when choosing a super shoe, and we found that the HIRACER HIWINGS PRO does the job. 

It's not as cushioned as some rivals, but with 148 SA in the heel and 121 SA in the forefoot, we believe it can handle the full marathon distance for runners of all sizes.

The HiFoam Max midsole is a banger.

It's made from supercritical ATPU, which delivers excellent energy return, and the HIWINGS PRO really excelled in our energy return test, with 76.6% in the heel, a very good result, and a whopping 83.1% in the forefoot, which is simply... incredible!

The heel stack height of the HIRACER HIWINGS PRO is exactly 37.1 mm, at least when following the measurement point designated by World Athletics for road running shoes.

HIRACER states that the shoe has a 37 mm heel stack, so our measurement is almost identical to the brand's specification. Therefore, the shoe is remarkably accurate to what the brand declares.

The forefoot stack comes in at 30.3 mm, just over the 30 mm threshold, providing plenty of foam underfoot for runners tackling long distances.

Where we found a small discrepancy with HIRACER was in the drop, as our final reading came in at 6.8 mm instead of the claimed 4 mm. However, this shoe has one of the most aggressive forefoot rockers we've ever seen, which has a major influence on the ride and can significantly alter how the drop feels to each runner.

Also, just look at that crazy plate shape in our photo! We covered it in detail as well, so don't worry, we'll explain everything.

The midsole of the HIWINGS PRO has a noticeably softer feel, so it should please runners who prefer plush midsoles. We used our Asker C durometer to measure its softness and recorded 33.0 AC.

We also wanted to see how it handled cold temperatures, although A-TPU foams have a strong reputation for maintaining their properties in the cold. True to form, the foam became only 9% firmer after spending 20 minutes in our freezer.

The HIRACER HIWINGS PRO has one of the most extreme forefoot curvatures we've ever seen in a running shoe, rising almost 6 cm off the ground. As you can imagine from this aggressive shape, the shoe keeps rolling you forward with every stride.

Another unique feature of the HIRACER HIWINGS PRO is the plate. In fact, it's the feature that truly sets this shoe apart from the crowd.

Instead of the usual curved-forefoot design, HIRACER went with a wave-like plate that looks absolutely crazy. And if that's not enough, this Golden plate is made from 8 different layers: 5 of carbon fibre, 1 of Kevlar, and 2 of golden polyimide.

Even before our usual gel-based test, we found during our runs that this was a tight-fitting shoe. Therefore, runners with wide feet or those who prefer more room, even in racing shoes, may not find it very comfortable. It's a true race-focused fit.

Of course, we still put it through our test. And the first measurement already came in well below the average, at just 91.3 mm.

Unsurprisingly, our toebox measurement confirmed the shoe's snug fit, coming in at just 71.5 mm.

If you needed even more proof that this shoe fits like a glove and leaves little room for toe movement, here it is.

We measured just 23.6 mm in toebox height, confirming its low-volume, race-focused fit.

This is one of our most challenging tests, but the HIRACER HIWINGS PRO cleared it with ease. With a score of 0.76, it delivers excellent grip, giving us confidence that whether your next race is sunny or rainy, you're all set with this super shoe.

Like many Chinese running shoes, the HIRACER HIWINGS PRO uses a cast polyurethane outsole instead of traditional rubber, and we're all for it.

They name it AGCS (All Ground Control System). It provides excellent grip as we proved before, plus allows for full-length coverage, unlike what most super shoes offer as of today.

The 8-layer carbon plate adds noticeable stiffness to the overall package, resulting in a final reading of 19.4N in our 30-degree bend test.

The HIRACER HIWINGS PRO comes in at only 6.5 oz (184g). 

While it doesn't fall into the top-tier class of ultra-lightweight super shoes, it doesn't seem designed to compete in that category either. Nonetheless, we think this is still a very positive result.

We can't say that the HIRACER HIWINGS PRO is a stable running shoe, as it's closer to the opposite.

However, when compared with other super shoe rivals, the picture changes, as it feels slightly more supportive than some of its rivals like the PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 or the On LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2.

What makes lab testing so important is that it often reveals unexpected results, and here's one of them.

We expected a higher reading for torsional rigidity, but it seems that the HIWINGS PRO's double-arched carbon plate allows for slightly more flex than what's usual in super shoes, scoring 10.5 Nm in our test.

The heel comes without a rigid insert, so it folds easily and offers virtually no resistance. Therefore, it's a clear 1/5.

We found a moderate 111.9 mm width in the forefoot, confirming our impressions that this model is built to excel in races while delivering a lively, agile feel underfoot.

However, it's worth mentioning that the HIWINGS PRO has an aggressive taper toward the midfoot that's very noticeable while running, and can hinder lateral stability for midfoot strikers.

It was no surprise to find that, like most racing shoes, the heel is very narrow. We measured just 82.1 mm, so runners who land on their heels may prefer a slightly broader platform in this area.

It seems to us that HIRACER focused all its efforts with the HI-FIBRE upper on keeping weight to a minimum, which is obvious from its extremely thin, almost-transparent construction. The downside, however, is durability, as it scored just 1/5 in our test.

The heel comes with plenty of comfortable padding across three different pieces, but once again, this comes at the expense of durability. It scored just 1/5 in our test here as well.

The AGCS outsole delivered a very solid result in our durability test. A wear rating of just 0.8 mm is impressive for most shoes, let alone a lightweight super shoe.

And we really needed at least one positive result for durability...

The CPU outsole is just 1.6 mm thick, which is around half the lab average but very much in line with most rival super shoes.

The insole is thinner than what we usually find in the lab, measuring just 3.1 mm. It's made from supercritical foam, which contributes to a lower weight than a regular insole.

That said, we have to admit that the name of this insole really made us laugh. HIRACER calls it the Magic Carpet!

You can remove the Magic Carpet insole, but in our opinion, that's a poor idea. It adds extra bounce and comes perforated for improved breathability, so why would you want to lose it?

It's not very common to find reflective details on a super shoe, so we appreciate this small touch from HIRACER. It may not be useful during races, but if you plan to use the shoe for tempo workouts on the road, that extra visibility can certainly come in handy.

Like most premium super shoes, the HIRACER HIWINGS PRO ticks the sawtooth laces box. We found these pink laces ideal for this shoe, as they look amazing and provide a precise lockdown.

We also appreciated the thin, 2.9-mm layer of padding placed exactly where the laces are tied. It adds just a few grammes while providing some extra comfort and protection, which seems to us like a smart design choice, especially for marathon racing.

The Flywire tongue has a sock-like design that's very familiar to Alphafly fans. It may feel a bit oppressive for some runners, but most will likely appreciate it because it eliminates any tongue shifting and provides a secure, lockdown fit.

We found a finger-loop heel tab that's seamlessly integrated into the heel collar of the HIWINGS PRO.

The HIRACER HIWINGS PRO offers a combination of specs and performance that's impossible to find for under £180 from any brand from Europe, United States or Japan. However, HIRACER's limited availability in third-party online stores remains a significant issue.