**Total distance ran:**

125 miles/200km

**Type of runs:**

Daily hour runs (12ish km) - Long Runs (18-20km).

**Weather ran in:**

Hot, wet and humid conditions (SEA)

**My profile:**

Height: 6'0" / 183cm

Weight: 77kg.

Range of average pace with this shoe: 4:00 min/km - 5:30 min/km

Strike Type: Midfoot

Average runs a week 70km/week

**Positives:**

* Great shoe for both daily running + long runs.
* Dual-layer midsole felt good at a variety of paces.
* Excellent durability and outsole, I feel like I've got another 500km+ of use.

**Negatives:**

* Not a massive fan of the laces and they come undone many times through my first few runs.

**Overview:**

I initially came across these shoes after watching JogonCrago's video. He wasn't a massive fan of them and didn't think there was a place in most people's rotations, but the price was great and they looked good on paper, so I figured I'd give them a crack.  
The Zone 2 85 sits in the middle of Anta's Zone 2 range. The midsole features a bottom layer TPU and a top layer of their N85 performance foam (no idea what compound it is).

I purchased these for around $90AUD in a size EU45, which is half a size up than my usual EU44.5/10.5US. I've found that Anta's shoes fit small, so it's always recommended to size up.

Most of my daily running is hour jogs at 5:00-5:30 min/km pace, with the occasional tempo/session thrown in.

Overall, I've found these to be extremely enjoyable, the ride is soft and fun, but also responsive when it needs to be. The foam felt best when I was picking up the pace into tempo zones at the end of runs. These shoes aren't build for speed, but can handle it without making it feel like you're working against them. The CPU outsole offers good grip on wet/muddy roads, as well as what I expect to be really good durability.

I feel like this shoe would be a perfect starting point for someone getting into Chinese running shoes, or needing a single pair of shoes for a long trip.

Although this isn't Anta's top of the line super trainer, I still feel like it holds its own within their line-up, and offers a very serviceable alternative to the Zone 2 90 which is their EVO SL competitor..

At half the price of the Zone 2 90, I can see the Zone 2 85 doing very well, particularly here in South East Asia where people don't necessarily have $200 to drop on a new pair of shoes.

**Worth buying?:**

Definitely - Second pair already on order.

Anta Zone 2 85 - Initial Thoughts. Don't write off the younger brother.