Nike is one of the most innovative running shoe brand out there. While they do stick to some popular models for years (ie the 30 years history of the Nike Pegasus), they constantly introduce new technologies and with them, new names and classification.
This article will help you make sense of all those names and finally understand which shoe is for who.
A look at the tech names
Understanding the names of technologies will help you navigate the catalog faster.
Flyknit
First of all, let’s talk about Nike’s new upper construction which is called Flyknit. Flyknit is a special woven fabric that makes the upper of a shoe feel like a sock, by placing yarns and knits strategically around the structure in order to support the foot of the runner when needed and leave it free everywhere else.
Flyknit running shoes are lightweight, flexible and breathable. The technology is new and exclusive to Nike, so expect to pay a premium for Flyknit shoes.
Most notable examples of Flyknit shoes are the Flyknit Racer (as the name implies, a fast and light shoe for racing distances all the way to the marathon) and the Flyknit Lunar1+ (a great everyday training shoe with lots of cushioning and comfortable upper).
Lunar Foam
Soles of running shoes are made of foam. Each company has their own trademark foam mix that tries to achieve the following: be as light weight as possible, be soft in order to absorb the impact with the ground, be elastic (in order to compress on impact and release propelling you forward), be durable (foam does deteriorate with use, so all foam materials need to be engineered to maintain its characteristics for a decent amount of time).
Nike’s traditional foam material is called CUSHLON, and it is the foam material you find on their “Air” running shoe models.
In 2009, Nike introduced Lunarfoam, later renamed Lunarlon. Lunarlon is Nike’s softest, most cushioned and lightest foam compound.
Lunarlon is usually encapsuled in a container of harder Phylon foam in order to give structure and support to the foot where needed.
IN SHORT: Look for Nike Lunar shoes if you want a soft, plush, cushioned run. Here’s a look at the 2013 Lunar models.
Nike LunarGlide
The most popular of the Lunar family, the LunarGlide has moderate support for overpronation, great cushioning and a comfortable upper. Recommended for runners training high mileage and beginners who are not sure about how much support they need. Read our review here.
Nike LunarEclipse
The LunarEclipse is the Lunar shoe with the highest degree of support. Similar in construction to the LunarGlide, the Eclipse has a much more structure upper that makes it a good everyday training shoe for runners with low arch and moderate pronation control needs. Read our review here.
Nike LunaRacer
As the name implies, the LunaRacer is a fast, very lightweight (less than 7oz) running racing shoe with good cushioning. Good choice for marathon race day!
Nike Flyknit Lunar1+
One of my favorite shoes for the year, the Flyknit Lunar1+ combines Lunarlon foam sole design with the Flyknit upper. A highly cushioned shoe that weights very little, with an upper that is hyper-comfortable. Not a very stable shoe, but if you are a neutral runner, the Flyknit Lunar1 is an excellent choice. Pricey though. Read our review here.
Nike Free
Nike Free is a concept. Started around 2005, the idea is to create a shoe that is so flexible that leaves the foot completely free to move in the most natural way.
Some people object that the Frees are still very cushioned shoes, therefore preventing the runner to have a true feeling for the ground below them.
While this might be true, the extreme flexibility of the Free sole unit, combined with very open-mesh and unconstrained upper make for a treat.
What do the numbers next to a Free shoe mean?.
Nike Frees come in different versions, depending on how flexible they are. Their flexibility is ranked on a scale that goes from 1.0 to 10.0, where 1.0 means “bare feet” and 10 is a traditional running shoe.
In reality, Nike Frees come in 3 versions: 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 -> where the 5.0 is the middle ground, the 3.0 the most flexible and the 7.0 most similar to a normal running shoe.
This as a general rule, but with the years, some of the names have been changed. The Free shoes available in 2013 are:
Nike Free 5.0: the most popular, a good first step for people who want to try the Free experience. Read our review here.
Nike Free 4.0: with 6mm heel-toe drop, a way in between the 5.0 and 3.0
Nike Free 3.0: the most minimal of the bunch, with little cushioning and only 4mm heel-to-toe drop. Read our review here.
Nike Free Flyknit: the newest of the bunch, features the sole of the Nike Free 5.0 and a magnificent Flyknit upper for a true sock-like running experience. Stay tuned for the review, coming soon!
Nike Air
Everybody knows Nike Air. That’s how Nike got big in the 80s in the first place. But do you exactly know what Nike Air is ?
Nike running shoes in the “Air” category use Cushlon foam in their soles. Soft and resilient, this foam has 2 limitations: it is quite heavy and it is not as “bouncy” as many runners expect their shoes to be.
The solution? Cutting off areas of the Cushlon-foam-made midsole and filling them up with plastic bags filled with “Air” (Nike’s secret gas compound). What this achieves is to reduce weight (by replacing the heavy foam with a very lightweight “airbag”) and to increase cushioning (being these airbags softer and springier than the Cushlon foam).
Depending on the shoe, you can have Airbags in the heel, the toe, or both.
Air Bags come in 3 formats: Air, Air Max and Zoom Air.
Nike Air -> the most common, medium sized air bags that fit well especially under the heel.
Air Max -> very thick and highly cushioned bags of air. In our opinion too unstable for proper running, mostly used on lifestyle shoes.
Zoom Air -> the thinnest units, ideal to fit in low-profile shoes. They were initially developed for soccer shoes, where normal Air bags would not fit inside the ultra-thin sole
Here is a list of Nike running shoes with Air technology:
Nike Pegasus 30
A best-seller for 30 years straight, the Pegasus is a great running shoe which I personally recommend to friends every year. Offering a great soft cushioning and a quite universal fit it’s a strong choice for every beginner runner. Read our review here.
Nike Zoom Vomero 8
The Vomero started its career 8 years ago as a more plush, more premium version of the Pegasus. The 2013 version lost some of its cushioning, becoming a firmer ride than the Pegasus, but the plush, luxury feeling continues. We recommend the Vomero for runners who want the most comfort out of their shoes, but we still believe the Pegasus is a better shoe this year. Read our review here.
Nike Zoom Elite
The Zoom Elite was a fast training/racing shoe that was very popular a few years ago. Nike briefly discontinued it but re-engineered it and relaunched it last year. Developed in collaboration with and used by Mo Farah, it is a very solid running shoe that can take you from training to racing. Use it when you feel fast! Read our review here.
Nike Structure 16
The Structure was Nike’s true and reliable stability shoe for 15 years. This years’ model disappointed many loyal fans because it became substantially less stable. While still a valid shoe, we recommend it only to runners with moderate over-pronation issues. Read our review here.
We left out Nike’s trail running shoes and some of their racers, but we are confident you are now better equipped to navigate through Nike’s running shoes lineup.
We hope this guide was useful and easy to understand. Please let us know in the comments if you have any question, and if you want us to do similar guides for other brands!
Also, if you found this interesting, please share it with your friends (sharing icons here on the left!!!) – it costs you nothing, but helps us immensely.