FASTEST RUNNER IN THE WORLD UPDATE

To select them, I reviewed the Nike shoe lineup and talked with a brand representative to learn about its latest shoes. The models below represent the best Nike running shoes you can buy today. How We Selected The Best Nike Running Shoes For the ultimate racing shoe experience, the carbon fiber-equipped Nike models are the way to go. That yields a bouncy, snappy feel that encourages fast paces. The stiff plate stabilizes the shoe and guides your foot forward through toe-off, which helps you get maximum energy return from the thick foam midsole. Nike’s top running shoes, including the Vaporfly and Alphafly, feature carbon fiber plates embedded within their midsoles. Carbon Fiber Platesīy combining carbon fiber plates with ZoomX foam, Nike essentially created the ultralight racing “super shoe”. The Zoom Air units work in tandem with midsole foam to provide cushioning and energy return, and they’re used across the running shoe lineup, from the Alphafly racer to the Pegasus training shoe. The original concept debuted in the late ‘70s, and Nike has refined it in the decades since. They compress on landing, absorbing impact forces, then spring back to their original shape, providing a propulsive feel. Shoes with Zoom Air feature air-filled bags placed within the midsole of a shoe. In addition to its knit uppers, Nike makes a wide array of conventional running shoes with more traditional mesh uppers, such as the Pegasus and Zoom Fly, which offer good durability for day-to-day training.įlyknit was only the beginning Nike’s new AtomKnit material is even lighter. It’s only used in Nike’s most speed-focused running shoes. The loose weave allows the shoe to flex with your foot for greater comfort, while the tight weave provides support in key areas where you need it.ĪtomKnit, found in the Alphafly and Nike track spikes, is made by stretching and steaming Flyknit fabric to reduce its weight, resulting in a thin, breezy upper that’s ideal for racing.

Flyknit, found on shoes like the Vaporfly and Invincible 3, as well as Nike soccer cleats and some basketball shoes, is a woven upper design where yarn is woven tightly in some areas and more loosely in others. Nike has developed two standout upper designs for its shoes: Flyknit and AtomKnit. If you like a versatile, cushioned shoe that doesn’t weigh you down and feels peppy enough for faster paces, you should be looking at Nike. That feeling comes from Nike’s flagship cushioning foams, React and ZoomX (more on those below). The core of that lineup, represented in the picks below, serve up a cushioned-yet-responsive ride that feels comfortable and lively underfoot. Nike has a broad running shoe lineup that ranges from track spikes and racing shoes to everyday trainers and trail shoes.

Best Mizuno Running Shoes What to Consider When Shopping for Nike Running Shoes.

FASTEST RUNNER IN THE WORLD UPDATE

I first wrote this guide in 2018, and update it regularly as Nike releases new shoes and running shoe tech.īattle of The Brands: Best Brooks Running Shoes I’ve written more about running shoes than any other kind of gear, and I have firsthand experience running in models from a range of brands, including Nike. Show more The Expert: I became a runner in middle school and have covered running and outdoor gear for years, both on-staff at Runner’s World and as a freelance journalist. To get you acquainted with Nike’s shoes, we’ll walk you through the most important tech found in the brand’s lineup and explain what those features do. The company adopted the Nike moniker in 1978 and, since then, the brand has grown into a global sporting goods powerhouse with a knack for creating high-performance running shoes.įrom introducing runners to EVA cushioning to placing air-filled cells in its shoes, Nike has created some landmark innovations over the years, and it continues to push the boundaries of running shoe design today. His former coach Bill Bowerman joined him, and eventually they began designing their own, including the iconic Cortez model released in 1972. Though it’s now a dominant presence in the world of sports, Nike comes from humble beginnings rooted in running: It all started with University of Oregon runner Phil Knight selling imported shoes from the back of his car. If you go to any major race in 2023 and look at everyone’s running shoes, you will spot the Nike swoosh marking the feet of elite runners all around the world.

Fastest runner in the world