Platinum Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design · 2025
160X 6.0 Pro Shoes
- A' Design Award 2025 Platinum Winner in Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Xtep (China) Co., Ltd.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 1,062,873
- Verification code 076E20EBA5 · Verify this award
About 160X 6.0 Pro Shoes
The 160X 6.0 Pro is a running shoe developed for marathon races. The shoe weighs 171 grams, which reduces the load carried by runners over long distances. A lightweight carbon plate combines polyimide fibers with eight layers of carbon fiber. A split toe design and a raised arch contour add forefoot flexibility and propulsion, while an inwardly curved sidewall improves stability upon landing. The midsole is made with Xtep Ace technology and foam injection molding, and the outsole uses CPU material. The jacquard upper is breathable and wraps the foot.
Within the contemporary landscape of performance footwear design, Long Zhang's 160X 6.0 Pro Shoes emerge as a distinguished exemplar of the synthesis between biomechanical engineering and expressive visual communication that characterizes advanced athletic equipment. The design demonstrates remarkable facility in translating technical performance requirements into a coherent aesthetic vocabulary, where each formal element serves both functional and communicative purposes. The dynamic diagonal striping in vibrant orange hues may be understood as a visual metaphor for forward propulsion and competitive spirit, while the cool cerulean midsole grounds the composition with associations of stability and technological precision. The translucent mesh upper reveals the sophisticated layering techniques employed in contemporary footwear construction, inviting appreciation of the engineering complexity typically concealed within athletic shoes. One observes particular accomplishment in the chromatic orchestration, where the warm-cool opposition creates visual energy without sacrificing the cohesive identity essential to performance footwear recognition. The sculptural midsole profile, with its pronounced rocker geometry and stacked heel architecture, suggests consideration of biomechanical research regarding optimal energy return and gait efficiency. The design participates in broader conversations within athletic footwear development regarding the integration of lightweight materials, responsive cushioning systems, and aerodynamic form factors that collectively enhance competitive performance. The restrained yet expressive color application demonstrates awareness of how visual elements communicate brand identity and performance capability to informed audiences. How might we consider the ways in which such objects mediate our understanding of human athletic potential through their formal vocabulary?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The 160X6.0 Pro redefines marathon shoes with its maximum efficiency and minimal weight. It pioneers the use of an aerospace grade carbon plate, crafted from globally unprecedented materials. It is further enhanced with an innovative structure and groundbreaking Xtep ace midsole technology to deliver stronger propulsion. Weighing just 171g, it significantly reduces the burden on runners, allowing them to achieve peak performance.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 250*120*110
- Tags
- Marathon shoes, Strong propulsion, Lightweight design, Safe cushioning, Durable
- Production Technology
- 1.A lightweight, cushioned, and durable midsole: crafted using Xtep Ace technology and foam injection molding.
2.A lightweight carbon plate of high strength: combining polyimide fibers with eight layers of carbon fiber.
3.A lightweight and durable outsole: made from Cpu material.
4.A breathable and lightweight upper that comfortably wraps around the foot: featuring a custom Jacquard design. - Design Challenge
- The main challenge in this design was to strike a balance between comfort and high performance during prolonged running. To this end, the design team worked closely with numerous professional marathoners, meticulously refining the shoe design based on detailed analyses of their morphology and running patterns. Additionally, they optimized the midsole, carbon plate, and manufacturing techniques, all aimed at optimal comfort and race performance.
- Project Duration
- The design and development of the 160X6.0 Pro started in May, 2023, in Xiamen, with an anticipated market launch set for August 2024.
- Operation Flow
- The carbon plate incorporates a split toe design and a raised arch contour, enhancing forefoot flexibility while also offering stronger propulsion. This synergy empowers marathoner to achieve their peak performance. Moreover, the carbon plate utilizes an inwardly up curved sidewall design to improve stability upon landing, and the heel to toe drop at the midsole is increased from 3mm to 5mm to boost rebound and shock absorption, assuring secure strides as marathoners as they push their limits.
- Research
- As global marathon events gain popularity and competitive levels rise, professional marathoners are demanding more from their gear, seeking to minimize equipment weight without compromising their race performance, all in pursuit of enhanced athletic efficiency. In response, the 160X6.0 Pro has been innovated in materials, craftsmanship, and structure, ultimately reducing the shoe weigh to merely 171g while delivering strong propulsion to help runners improve their performance.
- Inspiration
- In the realm of marathons, where physical strength, stamina, and willpower are put to the test, a right pair of running shoes can make all the difference. The 160X6.0 Pro rises to this challenge. Meticulously enhancing every aspect through material and structural innovations, it is lighter, propels with greater efficiency, provides steadfast stability, and envelops feet in unparalleled comfort, pushing marathoners beyond their limits and reaching a new height of achievement.
Colors of 160X 6.0 Pro Shoes
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Professional Marathon and Running Footwear Collection
We engineer high-performance running shoes with cutting-edge technology and materials. Our footwear combines aerospace-grade materials, innovative cushioning systems, and lightweight construction to help athletes achieve their personal best.
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