Li-Ning Mirage II Pro review: pure speed, racing mode only
I have spent half a year sampling light, quick-response shoes that try to cover every dimension. Most of them are good — and somehow not the flavour I chase.
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Overview
I have spent half a year sampling light, quick-response shoes that try to cover every dimension. Most of them are good — and somehow not the flavour I chase. Court feel is an addiction for speed-oriented players. Years ago I tried that near-naked ground connection and could not handle it. With steadier training and better footwork, I wanted the aggressive version again. Mirage II Pro is Li-Ning’s answer. Not Saga III Pro, not Blade II Pro, and definitely not Yonex Aerus — different lines entirely. Any Loh Kean Yew chatter in Chinese threads is wishful colour, not a kit claim.
My pairs
- Size 41.5, internal length 270 mm; last RG 2.5 standard - One shoe 276.7 g including insole (20 g insole); size 42 samples around 273 g; size 43 stays under 300 g - Upper: TPU + synthetic leather + mesh; Boom yarn vents; toe TPU wear patch - Midsole: Li-Ning Cloud PLUS chassis, Bounce+ forefoot, Super Boom heel, TPU + carbon arch - Outsole: Strike Loc / honeycomb rubber - Factory supercritical sockliner bonded in place (~5 mm, flat profile — not a thick aftermarket lift) - Three launch colourways
Fit
Lining fill is modest but wrap and breathability are excellent. High-instep crush from Gale SE is improved. Strong rocker, firm midfoot arch — race-ready from the first lace-up. The last is picky in opposite directions. Thin, narrow feet get full forefoot lockdown; wide or high-volume feet should size up or skip. Once seated, the upper locks without fore–aft slide even in hour-long singles — silk-sock wrap without acid hot spots.
On court
Rocker plus sub-280 g makes response feel organic: accelerate, stop, restart, lateral cuts. Cloud PLUS plus TPU/carbon keep torsion honest for a thin speed last — low centre of gravity, solid plant on cuts. Heel Super Boom and the flat supercritical liner keep knees happier than old EVA-pad speed shoes; ~90 kg hour-long singles without tape still felt workable in one sample note. There is no “comfort mode.” Prefer less horsepower over an extra kilo. After multi-hour sessions the shoe itself never feels heavy; breathability holds in hot halls.
Verdict
If you want balanced cushion-and-speed, look elsewhere (Saga III Pro lives in that lane). If you are thin-footed and want court feel plus launch above everything else, Mirage II Pro is still the purest Li-Ning speed shoe I have worn — now with clearer torsion and liner notes from the latest courts. Wide feet: demo carefully. Want speed, get there.
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