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Feiyue shoes have continued to grow in popularity in various martial arts, parkour, and lifting communities. The Feiyue shoes FE LO 1920 is arguably the most popular model from Feiyue and for good reason.
As someone who loves finding really strong budget-friendly shoes for daily wear and training, I was super excited to put the Feiyue FE LO 1920 to the test. With a price point of $24.99 USD, I was intrigued by this model.
After multiple tests, the Feiyue FE LO 1920 has held its own both in the gym and with casual wear. This shoe is really solid for its price. However, this does not mean this model is void of cons and I’ll discuss a few I have these shoes below.
Table of Contents+
Who Should Invest In Feiyue FE LO 1920 Shoes?
The Feiyue FE LO 1920 shoes are a great option for anyone that wants a consistent zero-drop shoe for daily wear and training. They’re also a great option for anyone who’s on a budget squeeze or for those that don’t feel like spending a lot on shoes.
The Feiyue FE LO 1920 cost $24.99 USD and compared to other budget-friendly shoes that have similar price points the FE LO 1920 is built surprisingly well. This model features a decently durable rubber sole and a simplistic canvas upper.
For lifting, this shoe does a pretty good job with stability and they’re decently mobile. Plus, if you take out their insole, then the FE LO 1920 can be a viable option for anyone wanting a budget-friendly shoe for things like heavy deadlifts.
Overall, I think it’s tough to fault the Feiyue shoes, especially for their price. Are they the most technical shoe on the market? No. Will they be the best performer in the gym? Not necessarily, however, they can certainly hold their own.
Feiyue FE LO 1920
$-2
Best For
- Recreational Lifting
- Casual Wear
- Cost-Efficiency
- Free Running (for narrow feet)
Falls Short
- For Wide Feet
- For Replacing True Barefoot Shoes
Feiyue FE LO 1920 Pros
After testing and reviewing the Feiyue FE LO 1920 shoes in a variety of settings, I’ve found multiple pros to like about this model.
- Overall Good Construction for the Money
- Decent “Minimalist” Shoe for Lifting and Training
- Sole Is Mobile and Stable
The first thing to like about the Feiyue FE LO 1920 is obviously their price point and what comes along with that. These Feiyue shoes cost $24.99 USD which puts them as one of the lowest costing shoes on the market for this shoe category.
Honestly, for $24.99 USD, the FE LO 1920’s construction is pretty solid and well put together. I’ve reviewed other super budge shoes from places like Amazon and they always had glaring construction issues.
The Feiyue FE LO 1920 is somewhat of an anomaly in this context. They look pretty good, have decently well-made materials that are used in them, and they can hold their own in a variety of performance settings.
The second thing to like about the Feiyue FE LO 1920 shoes is that they’re pretty good minimalist shoes for training, working out, and daily wear. Their soles are stable and you can leave the insole in when working out for more cushion or take them out for more stability.
If you like zero-drop shoes for working out, then I could see the Feiyue FE LO 1920 resonating really well with you. Factor in their extremely budget-friendly price point and their performance gets even better.
It’s important to note that the Feiyue shoes are not barefoot shoes. They’re a variation of minimalist shoes and offer a little more cushion and material to separate the foot from the floor from traditional barefoot shoes. I could see these being good for minimalist shoe beginners.
Another thing to like about the Feiyue FE LO 1920 is their sole mobility and stability. The Feiyue shoe’s sole offers a good amount of flexibility and they articulate well when you’re doing things like walking, jumping, and lifting.
The sole of this model also provides a nice level of stability which is also why this shoe works for lifting. If you want a zero-drop shoe that has a firmer fit and feel, then you’ll enjoy this about the FE LO 1920.
Feiyue FE LO 1920 Cons
Overall, I like the Feiyue FE LO 1920 for training and daily wear, but there are a couple of cons to note about these shoes.
- Toe Box Leave Little to Be Desired
- These Will Not Replace True Barefoot Shoes
- Insole Construction Could Be Better
The first drawback with the Feiyue FE LO 1920 is their toe box construction. This model’s toe box runs fairly narrow and they would be a much stronger zero-drop shoe if they increased their toe box width slightly.
On top of the toe box feeling pretty limiting, this model also runs short. Feiyue recommends sizing up a half size in this model and while that may work for narrow and neutral width feet, I could see this model being an issue for those with wide feet regardless of sizing up.
Another drawback that I could see others having with the Feiyue FE LO 1920 regard expectations of these feeling or being exactly like barefoot shoes. These shoes are minimalist in nature, however, they’re not “true” barefoot shoes.
They have a padded insole and even when you remove it their sole’s stack height sits around 12mm based on my very rough measurement (note, this could be off a bit by a few mm).
That being said, this shoe does have a good amount of mobility and I think it can be a good beginner-friendly minimalist shoe. I just want to make sure it’s known that these are not exactly like barefoot shoes.
The final drawback that I have with the Feiyue FE LO 1920 is the insole construction of this shoe. It’s interesting and I think it could be better built and put together.
This shoe’s insole has a piece of foam that extends from the heel to the midfoot and this foam compresses pretty quickly with avid use. In addition, the stitching around the insole is pretty sub-par in regard to its long-term durability.
Performance
To discuss the Feiyue FE LO 1920 shoe performance, I’m going to break this section into a few key parts. I’ll talk about how the Feiyue shoes perform for lifting, versatile training, and running along with daily wear.
This way, if you’re on the fence with the Feiyue FE LO 1920, you can better contextualize if these shoes will fit your training and shoe needs well.
Testing Feiyue FE LO 1920 for Lifting and Working Out
The Feiyue FE LO 1920 performs pretty well for lifting. They can be a good option for anyone that loves zero-drop shoes for training and doesn’t want to spend over $75 USD for a pair of shoes to lift in.
Personally, I like taking out the insole when training in the FE LO 1920, and more specifically, when I train legs with this model. By taking out the insole, you can get closer to the ground and get even more articulation out of the FE LO 1920 shoe’s sole.
Plus, you’ll get closer to the ground by taking out this model’s insole which can be useful for increasing your ground feel in this shoe. Note, if you’re newer to minimalist shoes, then you may want to leave the insole in to acclimate to a lower-to-the-ground shoe when training.
The sole of this model didn’t have compression issues when tackling barbell work like squats and deadlifts, using machines, or doing heavier accessory movements like walking lunges and dumbbell snatches.
Testing Feiyue FE LO 1920 for Versatile Training
Feiyue shoes were initially popularized due to their usefulness for martial arts. Since their growth to popularity in this community, they’ve become increasingly more popular for parkour and free running as these activities share some carryover to martial arts.
While I’m not a martial artist or a parkour specialist, I still want to test the Feiyue FE LO 1920’s performance for versatile training. I perform plyometrics in these shoes and some power-focused dumbbell and kettlebell work to assess their performance.
Overall, I thought the Feiyue FE LO 1920 did a pretty good job for versatile training. Now, when I say “pretty good job” this is keeping in mind that they’re not the most forgiving regarding their sole’s firmness and not exactly my favorite type of shoe for this style of training.
The outsole provided a fair amount of tread and the sole’s mobility made it easy to get up on the toes and articulate the foot in this model. I think if you like more minimalist shoes for versatile training, then this model will resonate pretty well with you.
Testing Feiyue FE LO 1920 for Daily Wear and Running
For running, I’m not a huge fan of the Feiyue FE LO 1920. If you want them for all of your training, then can technically run in them but they’re not the most comfortable shoe. Their durability could also decrease faster with avid running.
In the context of daily wear, the Feiyue FE LO 1920 does a pretty good job. I could see them being good for those that want a zero-drop shoe that they can beat up on a daily basis without feeling financially guilty for doing so.
Their insole gives you a nice little buffer of cushion and you can also remove it if you want a “firmer” fit and feel. The outsole also does a pretty good job with traction on different outdoor and indoor surfaces.
My only gripe with the FE LO 1920 for daily wear is their width and how you can get blisters in this model if you experience rub in the toe box. I noticed them happen on my big toe and pinky toe when wearing this shoe all-day with thin no-show socks.
Feiyue FE LO 1920 Vs Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
The Feiyue FE LO 1920 and Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star are pretty similar in many ways. For example, they both feature zero-drop constructions and are built with soles with similar stack heights.
In addition, they’re both built on rubber soles, have rubber toe caps, and have canvas uppers. With all of the similarities, this now begs the question, which shoe is better when considering Feiyue versus Converse.
In my opinion, there are three key differences worth noting between the Feiyue and Converse shoes, especially when it comes to lifting. The first difference is each shoe’s sizing. Both models are built fairly narrow but the Feiyue shoes are slightly narrow through the toe box.
The upper volume in the Feiyue shoe’s toe box is also lower which gives them a snugger and more low-profile fit compared to Converse. The second difference is the insole used in each shoe.
The Feiyue shoe’s insole comes out easier and this model feels more seamless when lifting in them without insoles. Converse has thicker insoles that are tougher to remove which can give them a thicker feel and higher stack height compared to the Feiyue shoes.
The third and final difference is the price point of each shoe. The Feiyue FE LO 1920 cost $24.99 whereas the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Low-Top and High-Top cost around $55 USD and $65 USD, respectively.
Winner: Both can be good. Personally, I like to rotate them. It’s hard to fault the Feiyue FE LO 1920’s price and it’s also tough to beat the classic look of the Converse. For example, I rock my Converse when I want a better-looking shoe for daily wear.
That all being said, I don’t think you can go wrong with either of these shoes for lifting and daily wear. They both work well for recreationally lifting and have price points that are fairly comparable.
Feiyue FE LO 1920
Chuck Taylor All Star
Feiyue FE LO 1920 Sizing
For the Feiyue FE LO 1920 shoes, you’ll want to size up at least a half size with this model. On Feiyue’s site, they recommend going up a half size and I’d agree this will work for those with narrow and neutral feet.
That being said, if you generally run pretty long in your other true-to-size shoes or have a wider foot, then you may want to go up a full size. This model runs short and the toe box is what I would describe as being neutral while airing more on the side of running narrow.
For example, I have a neutral/narrow foot and I feel limited in this model. Honestly, if you have wide feet and size up I’m still not convinced you’ll have enough room in the toe box. This shoe has so much potential especially for its price if it just had a slightly wider toe box.
Another thing to note about the Feiyue shoe sizing is that you’ll likely want to go barefoot or wear thin no-show socks with them. With their thin canvas and already slimmer fit, I could see thick socks being problematic for many.
- Feiyue FE LO 1920 Sizing Thoughts: Go up a half to full size.
If you have additional sizing and fit questions on the Feiyue FE LO 1920 shoes, drop a comment below, and I can help you accordingly.
Price Breakdown
For the Feiyue FE LO 1920, you can expect to pay $24.99 USD. There’s no beating around the bust here. This is one of the better (if not one of the best in class) budget-friendly shoes on the market for both lifting and casual wear.
For example, compared to other training shoes that I’ve tested that cost anywhere from $50-75 USD, the Feiyue shoes can hold their own. I’d even go as far to say that they can hold their own against Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star low-top shoes that cost around $50 USD.
That being said, it’s important to note that you do get what you pay for with the Feiyue FE LO 1920 shoes. In my opinion, you should get at least 4-6 months out of these shoes if you’re wearing them often.
If you run into durability issues, then they’ll likely be centered on this shoe’s insole and heel construction. Their insoles don’t last the longest and their thin canvas upper can run into durability issues around the heel after a few months. Still, for $24.99 USD, I think these are worth it.
Feiyue FE LO 1920
$-2
Best For
- Recreational Lifting
- Casual Wear
- Cost-Efficiency
- Free Running (for narrow feet)
Falls Short
- For Wide Feet
- For Replacing True Barefoot Shoes
Construction Details
Despite being relatively simplistic in nature, there are a couple of key construction details to note about the Feiyue FE LO 1920 shoes. Below are some of the most important construction aspects to note about this model.
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
- Weight: 11.05 oz (for my size 10 model)
- Removable Insole: No (but can easily be removed due to it being held by a light adhesive)
- Canvas Upper
- Rubber Outsole
- Rubber Toe Cap and Sidewalls
- Plimsoll Design
- 5 Core Eyelets
- Padded Insoles
If you have additional construction questions on the Feiyue FE LO 1920 shoes, drop a comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:Are Feiyue barefoot shoes?
Q:Are Feiyue shoes good for lifting?
Q:Why are Feiyue shoes so popular?
Q:Can you run in Feiyue?
Takeaway Thoughts
The Feiyue FE LO 1920 shoes are really interesting. They’re not by any means the best shoe on the market for lifting and training, but they could arguably be one of the best in the context of super cost-efficient shoes.
You get a decent amount of stability with these Feiyue shoes and for $24.99 USD it’s really hard to beat their performance and construction.
I do wish the FE LO 1920 had better sizing and the narrow toe box is definitely going to be a limiter for a lot of athletes and lifters. The insole is also pretty sub-par and it doesn’t make a lot of sense.
If you have additional questions on the Feiyue FE LO 1920, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).
That Fit Friend is supported by its readers. I [Jake Boly] run this site myself and buy the gear I review. If you purchase through my site, I may earn commissions on sales, read more here!
Gary
Great Review. Will Custom or OTC low-profile orthotics work in the FE LO 1920? Thanks.
Potentially. My only concern is the upper volume and if you’d have enough. It’s really tough to say, though, without knowing your foot anatomy! If you have higher arches/thicker feet, it may be a little too snug for you.
freakface
hey man, great article. just wondering on the size myself. i wear a 9 in chuck taylor but with moderate sock thickness. so you are suggesting that i get a 43/10? for weight lifting i usually wear wrestling shoes but i choose the high tops over the low tops due to having thin ankles.
any tips on sizing is appreciated. thanks
Hey, thank you! Yeah, I’d suggest sizing up to play it safe. A 10 would be the call here, IMO.