Unless you are a professional runner if someone asked you what your perfect running trainer would be comprised of you probably wouldn’t have too many answers to hand. I would be quick to say any trainer that helped avoid blisters or a pair of trainers that didn’t stink after a vigorous 5K run would be a fantastic addition to my repertoire. But to be honest I’m not a designer or a sports engineer so I really wouldn’t have a clue about what it takes to create the perfect running shoe but I can tell you who do.
It might have taken Nike 40 years in the making but really their new Free Flyknit trainers are a natural progression for a company that is world renowned for their unrivalled approach to footwear.
When Nike first introduced their Flyknit technology it was met with critical acclaim with runners and fashion savvy non-runners alike, suddenly the shoes were everywhere. They’re comfortable and lightweight which in general are just great qualities when it comes to shoes but the guys at Nike weren’t the types to just rest on their laurels.
The Free Flyknit combines the ‘free’ and ‘flyknit’ technology to create a super-trainer. The shoe is comprised of a number of different aspects including a tightly woven opening, like a sock, to slip your foot into and then a single thread woven throughout the body of the shoe. The weaving is tight in the areas that need support and thin where it’s not needed to maximise comfort and minimise weight.
The Free 5.0 mid sole provides a naturalistic cushioning that softens the blows of running on concrete, Nike’s Vice President and Creative Director of Running, Sean McDowell explains: “We were made to run on pretty soft natural surfaces like grass and dirt and we’ve created a concrete and asphalt environment and so the majority of our running is done on pretty hard surfaces, so while it would be nice to run barefoot we still need some cushioning and some protection.”
The Nike Free Hyperfeel is even more streamlined than the Free Flyknit, it features an impressively thin 0.7mm outer sole which replicates the sensation of running barefoot without running the risk of getting gravel stuck in your foot. the size 10 Free Hyperfeel is a mere 180g.
McDowell goes on to explain that the shoes ‘create a symbiotic relationship between your body and footwear, it’s really moving naturally with your body.’ From the looks of them these shoes really are the next evolution in running trainers and we predict that because of their bold bright colours they will be as popular with the fashionista’s as their predecessors have been!
Nike Free Flyknits will be available to buy from the beginning of next month and will start at around $160 USD.
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