The Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra is a very cushioned, bouncy road trainer. In independent testing by RTINGS, it delivered exceptional cushioning and energy return, but its tall, soft platform feels unstable for many runners and its arch is unusually narrow. It is best suited to neutral runners who want a protective long-run ride and occasional faster sessions. It is a poor choice if you need stability, if you have wide feet, or if you are looking for a crisp, fast racing shoe.
Cushioning and energy return: the shoe’s strongest point
RTINGS rated the Red Hare 9 Ultra 9.4 out of 10 for cushioning and 8.5 for energy return. Its reviewer found the cushioning held up in a simulated long-run test and described the ride as very bouncy. These are the publisher’s ratings and test observations from a single sample, not a guarantee of how the shoe will feel to you. The review is dated September 30, 2026, and it is the most detailed independent performance source currently available for this model.
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In practice, this means the shoe absorbs impact well over long distances and returns energy at push-off. The same softness that produces that bounce is the source of the shoe’s main drawback, covered below.
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Stability: the main caveat
Stability is where the Red Hare 9 Ultra falls short. RTINGS rated it 6.3 out of 10 for stability. The reviewer found the tall, soft platform can feel wobbly, particularly when the heel lands first, and specifically cautioned runners with pronation issues. The long-run assessment also noted that the effort the shoe requires to keep you stable can build up as you fatigue.
#1 Best Overall
- SUPER BOOM: The innovative midsole possesses exceptional performance management capabilities, allowing it to exhibit outstanding balanced soft and stiff rebound performance and adapt to the diverse professional requirements under multiple sporting scenarios, and facilitating an enhanced athletic performance
- BOOM FIBER: BOOM FIBER is a new type of thermoplastic elastomer that can be prepared into lightweight "silk" through advanced spinning technology; Its flexibility, elasticity and durability are superior to ordinary fibers, and the feel is very comfortable; By combining "silk" with advanced weaving technology, a lightweight, breathable, and comfortable shoe upper can be obtained, which is not easily deformed and has a longer service life
- BOOM: LI-NING BOOM Technology is a revolutionary midsole material independently developed by LI-NING, prepared through supercritical fluid foaming process; Compared with traditional materials, it significantly reduces the weight of the midsole, significantly improves rebound performance, and has a longer service life, greatly improving product functionality
- GCU LOC: GCU (Ground Control Unit) is a new type of cast polyurethane; This product innovatively applies it to the outsole of shoes; Through a special molecular structure design, the sole has excellent slip resistance and wear resistance, breaking the contradiction between the wear resistance and slip resistance of traditional sports shoe outsoles; Moreover, its wet slip resistance is more prominent, and it can adapt to more environmental climates and sports scenes
- YOUR SATISFACTION MATTERS: We are committed to ensuring you are happy with your purchase; If you have any issues, our customer service team is here to help
That makes the shoe a questionable choice for anyone who relies on a stability or motion-control shoe. It also means the wobble is not limited to hard workouts: it applies to both long runs and easy daily running. If you are unsure whether you need stability support, a gait assessment from a running specialist is a more reliable guide than any shoe review.
Fit: length is reasonable, width is not
RTINGS tested a men’s US 9 and found the length generally true to size. The arch, however, was exceptionally narrow. Measured against the publisher’s internal true-to-size reference, the arch width deviated by -16.7 mm. The reviewer noted that wide-footed runners may find the shoe prohibitively tight, and no wide version was listed for this model.
- Tongue: The semi-gusseted tongue can feel restrictive at first and may stretch with wear, but the reviewer still flagged that wide arches may remain uncomfortable.
- Toe box: The forefoot is relatively low. Runners with taller toes may experience contact or chafing at the front of the shoe.
- Sizing up: The review does not establish whether sizing up would improve lockdown or fix the arch problem. Do not assume a larger size solves the fit issue.
If your foot is narrow through the arch and you run in a standard width, the fit may suit you. If you have a wide forefoot or a high arch-to-width ratio, try the shoe on before committing.
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- SUPER BOOM: The innovative midsole possesses exceptional performance management capabilities, allowing it to exhibit outstanding balanced soft and stiff rebound performance and adapt to the diverse professional requirements under multiple sporting scenarios, and facilitating an enhanced athletic performance
- BOOM FIBER: BOOM FIBER is a new type of thermoplastic elastomer that can be prepared into lightweight "silk" through advanced spinning technology; Its flexibility, elasticity and durability are superior to ordinary fibers, and the feel is very comfortable; By combining "silk" with advanced weaving technology, a lightweight, breathable, and comfortable shoe upper can be obtained, which is not easily deformed and has a longer service life
- BOOM: LI-NING BOOM Technology is a revolutionary midsole material independently developed by LI-NING, prepared through supercritical fluid foaming process; Compared with traditional materials, it significantly reduces the weight of the midsole, significantly improves rebound performance, and has a longer service life, greatly improving product functionality
- GCU LOC: GCU (Ground Control Unit) is a new type of cast polyurethane; This product innovatively applies it to the outsole of shoes; Through a special molecular structure design, the sole has excellent slip resistance and wear resistance, breaking the contradiction between the wear resistance and slip resistance of traditional sports shoe outsoles; Moreover, its wet slip resistance is more prominent, and it can adapt to more environmental climates and sports scenes
- YOUR SATISFACTION MATTERS: We are committed to ensuring you are happy with your purchase; If you have any issues, our customer service team is here to help
Measurements from the tested sample
The figures below are RTINGS’ measurements of one men’s US 9 pair. They are not manufacturer specifications, and they may not apply to other sizes. Li-Ning does not publish weight or stack height for the Ultra, according to Pelsports’ report on the shoe.
| Measurement | Value (RTINGS, men’s US 9 sample) | Manufacturer published value |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 237.2 g (8.37 oz) | Not stated |
| Heel stack height | 46.2 mm | Not stated |
| Forefoot stack height | 37.1 mm | Not stated |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 9.1 mm | Not stated |
| Forefoot energy return | 83.9% | Not stated |
| Arch width deviation from true-to-size reference | -16.7 mm | Not stated |
| Time to dry in RTINGS water test | 26.6 hours | Not stated |
In RTINGS’ long-run simulation, the forefoot cushioning energy absorption values were 11.07 J at 10 km and 10.49 J at 40 km. The reading shows the cushioning changed only slightly over that distance, which supports the reviewer’s view that it held up well for long runs.
Where it fits: use-case scores
RTINGS scores trainers across several use cases. Its scores for the Red Hare 9 Ultra are below. These reflect the publisher’s own scoring framework and should be read as relative judgments rather than objective standards.
Rank #3
- SUPER BOOM: The innovative midsole possesses exceptional performance management capabilities, allowing it to exhibit outstanding balanced soft and stiff rebound performance and adapt to the diverse professional requirements under multiple sporting scenarios, and facilitating an enhanced athletic performance
- BOOM FIBER: BOOM FIBER is a new type of thermoplastic elastomer that can be prepared into lightweight "silk" through advanced spinning technology; Its flexibility, elasticity and durability are superior to ordinary fibers, and the feel is very comfortable; By combining "silk" with advanced weaving technology, a lightweight, breathable, and comfortable shoe upper can be obtained, which is not easily deformed and has a longer service life
- BOOM: LI-NING BOOM Technology is a revolutionary midsole material independently developed by LI-NING, prepared through supercritical fluid foaming process; Compared with traditional materials, it significantly reduces the weight of the midsole, significantly improves rebound performance, and has a longer service life, greatly improving product functionality
- GCU LOC: GCU (Ground Control Unit) is a new type of cast polyurethane; This product innovatively applies it to the outsole of shoes; Through a special molecular structure design, the sole has excellent slip resistance and wear resistance, breaking the contradiction between the wear resistance and slip resistance of traditional sports shoe outsoles; Moreover, its wet slip resistance is more prominent, and it can adapt to more environmental climates and sports scenes
- YOUR SATISFACTION MATTERS: We are committed to ensuring you are happy with your purchase; If you have any issues, our customer service team is here to help
| Use case | RTINGS score (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Half and full marathon racing | 8.0 |
| Long runs | 7.8 |
| Daily training | 7.6 |
| 5K and 10K racing | 6.5 |
The pattern is clear. The shoe’s cushioning and bounce make it most useful for distance work and comfortable daily mileage. The soft forefoot can sink under high force at top speed, which limits a crisp toe-off in short, fast efforts. That is why the 5K and 10K score is noticeably lower. The reviewer describes the shoe as versatile and energetic, but the platform is best suited to aerobic running and moderate uptempo work rather than all-out speed.
How it compares with other trainers
RTINGS places the Red Hare 9 Ultra in relation to two other shoes:
- ASICS Superblast 3: RTINGS describes it as more stable and smoother for long runs.
- Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Pro: RTINGS describes it as a lower, more stable everyday trainer.
Compared with both, the Ultra is bouncier and more protective but less stable. These are RTINGS’ comparative judgments for the shoes it tested, not universal rankings. For your own shortlist, compare five things: cushioning feel, stability, arch and toe-box fit, the pace you will mostly run, and whether you can buy from a seller with clear size stock and return terms.
Rank #4
- SUPER BOOM: The innovative midsole possesses exceptional performance management capabilities, allowing it to exhibit outstanding balanced soft and stiff rebound performance and adapt to the diverse professional requirements under multiple sporting scenarios, and facilitating an enhanced athletic performance
- BOOM FIBER: BOOM FIBER is a new type of thermoplastic elastomer that can be prepared into lightweight "silk" through advanced spinning technology; Its flexibility, elasticity and durability are superior to ordinary fibers, and the feel is very comfortable; By combining "silk" with advanced weaving technology, a lightweight, breathable, and comfortable shoe upper can be obtained, which is not easily deformed and has a longer service life
- BOOM: LI-NING BOOM Technology is a revolutionary midsole material independently developed by LI-NING, prepared through supercritical fluid foaming process; Compared with traditional materials, it significantly reduces the weight of the midsole, significantly improves rebound performance, and has a longer service life, greatly improving product functionality
- GCU LOC: GCU (Ground Control Unit) is a new type of cast polyurethane; This product innovatively applies it to the outsole of shoes; Through a special molecular structure design, the sole has excellent slip resistance and wear resistance, breaking the contradiction between the wear resistance and slip resistance of traditional sports shoe outsoles; Moreover, its wet slip resistance is more prominent, and it can adapt to more environmental climates and sports scenes
- YOUR SATISFACTION MATTERS: We are committed to ensuring you are happy with your purchase; If you have any issues, our customer service team is here to help
Midsole technology and manufacturer claims
Li-Ning’s annual report names the Red Hare 9 ULTRA among its core running shoes that use Super BOOM Capsule technology. RTINGS identifies the midsole as three foams: Super BOOM Capsule as the middle layer, Super BOOM above it, and BOOM below as a carrier layer. The technology names and the claims that go with them are the manufacturer’s description. Independent measurements, such as RTINGS’ energy return and cushioning scores, are the better guide to how the shoe performs.
Price, availability and buying checks
Pelsports reports Li-Ning’s official retail price for the shoe as ¥899. That figure is secondary reporting of the manufacturer’s price, not a current street price, and it applies only in the market and date context Pelsports described. Pelsports’ author did not run in the shoe. Its impressions and measurements were compiled from Chinese-language video reviews, so treat those details as attributed rather than independently confirmed.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11A retailer listing identifies the model as ARPW007. That confirms the product identity but does not establish that a particular seller is authentic, that a given size is in stock, or what return terms apply. Before buying:
Best Value
- SUPER BOOM: The innovative midsole possesses exceptional performance management capabilities, allowing it to exhibit outstanding balanced soft and stiff rebound performance and adapt to the diverse professional requirements under multiple sporting scenarios, and facilitating an enhanced athletic performance
- BOOM FIBER: BOOM FIBER is a new type of thermoplastic elastomer that can be prepared into lightweight "silk" through advanced spinning technology; Its flexibility, elasticity and durability are superior to ordinary fibers, and the feel is very comfortable; By combining "silk" with advanced weaving technology, a lightweight, breathable, and comfortable shoe upper can be obtained, which is not easily deformed and has a longer service life
- BOOM: LI-NING BOOM Technology is a revolutionary midsole material independently developed by LI-NING, prepared through supercritical fluid foaming process; Compared with traditional materials, it significantly reduces the weight of the midsole, significantly improves rebound performance, and has a longer service life, greatly improving product functionality
- GCU LOC: GCU (Ground Control Unit) is a new type of cast polyurethane; This product innovatively applies it to the outsole of shoes; Through a special molecular structure design, the sole has excellent slip resistance and wear resistance, breaking the contradiction between the wear resistance and slip resistance of traditional sports shoe outsoles; Moreover, its wet slip resistance is more prominent, and it can adapt to more environmental climates and sports scenes
- YOUR SATISFACTION MATTERS: We are committed to ensuring you are happy with your purchase; If you have any issues, our customer service team is here to help
- Confirm the model code ARPW007 on the product page.
- Check the seller’s identity and whether it is an authorized retailer in your market.
- Confirm the local price, which may differ from the ¥899 figure.
- Check size availability and the return policy, especially if you need to test the arch fit.
Disclosure
Kofuzi’s July 27, 2026 video description says Li-Ning supplied the shoe, that no payment was made for the video or the brand’s inclusion, and that no one previewed the footage or opinions before publication. Readers should weigh the video’s impressions with that context in mind.
Who should buy the Red Hare 9 Ultra
The Red Hare 9 Ultra suits neutral runners who want a highly cushioned, bouncy trainer for long runs, daily mileage and occasional faster sessions. Its measured cushioning and energy return are its strongest features. It is not a good fit for runners who need stability, runners with wide feet or high arches, and anyone seeking a stiff, fast racing shoe. Because RTINGS tested a single men’s US 9 pair, the fit and performance verdict should be read as a profile of that sample rather than a guarantee for every size or foot shape.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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