This video details the first impressions of the Taoan PB5.0 running shoe, a Chinese brand, experienced during a "shoe trial" event after a preceding 16km run. The reviewer notes that while the heel cushioning is pleasantly soft, the forefoot ride is unexpectedly hard and feels undersized in terms of stack height (27mm), exacerbated by a steep rocker. Despite the foam feeling soft to the touch, the shoe lacks responsiveness and a noticeable "pop" compared to other carbon-plated shoes, and the front of the shoe is surprisingly slippery. The reviewer concludes that they would not purchase the PB5.0, even if inexpensive, but expresses curiosity about Taoan's other model, the Plate 1.5.
First Impressions: The Taoan PB5.0 Running Shoe
0:00:02 Shoe Trial Introduction: The video documents a "shoe trial" event at Keep Power Sports, offering the first opportunity to try a shoe from a Chinese brand, Taoan. This video provides first impressions, not a full review.
0:01:00 Event Workout Details: The trial involved a warm-up and a track workout consisting of four sets of two 888m laps around the Singapore Sports Hub. The reviewer joined a 4:30 pace group, which ended up running closer to a 3:45 pace.
0:01:20 Pre-Existing Fatigue: The reviewer's legs were already fatigued from a 16km run completed earlier at a 4:06 pace, leading them to skip some laps during the trial workout.
0:01:27 Heel Comfort: The heel cushioning of the Taoan PB5.0 was found to be pleasantly soft with a good "sink-in" feeling.
0:01:41 Forefoot Hardness & Low Stack: In contrast to the heel, the forefoot felt unexpectedly hard and lacked significant cushioning. The reviewer noted that despite the foam feeling soft to the touch, it did not translate to a soft ride during the run.
0:02:08 Steep Rocker & Reduced Feel: The shoe features an extremely steep rocker design at the front, and the toe-off area had minimal foam, making the 27mm forefoot stack height feel even lower. The reviewer suggests the forefoot needs more foam.
0:02:52 Lack of Responsiveness ("Pop"): The shoe did not provide the characteristic "pop" or responsive feel typically associated with carbon-plated running shoes, even when running at 3:40-3:45 pace.
0:03:07 Comparison to Saucony Endorphin Elite: Comparing it to the Saucony Endorphin Elite (a shoe the reviewer already owns), the Elite felt more stable and offered a clearer, more noticeable "pop."
0:03:17 Slippery Forefoot: A surprising and concerning observation was that the front of the shoe felt "surprisingly slippery."
0:03:21 Overall Recommendation: The reviewer would not spend money on the Taoan PB5.0, even if it were inexpensive, due to the availability of higher stack height shoes that offer better comfort and performance.
0:03:31 Future Interest in Taoan Plate 1.5: Despite disappointment with the PB5.0, the reviewer expresses curiosity about Taoan's other model, the Plate 1.5, which is rumored to be an "Alphafly killer," but is not currently in need of another racing shoe.
0:04:18 Subjective Impressions: The reviewer emphasizes that these are initial, subjective impressions, directly following a run in a highly responsive shoe (Saucony Endorphin Elite), and encourages viewers to seek out other reviews for a more comprehensive perspective.