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Tag Archives: nike

Nike Streak Lt 4 Shoe Review

January 11, 2019 By in Gear Review, Running Tags: , , , , , ,
Nike Streak Lt 4 Shoe Review

I’ve got a few new shoe reviews coming out soon.  Some of my favorite shoes have been updated, but I’ve also branched out to try a few new ones as well.

Anyway, I rarely do a running flat review, because they are all basically the same. Lightweight, used for racing.  With the release of the Nike Vaporfly 4% last year, the running flat game has changed.

Nike Streak Lt 4 Shoe Review

That being said, I’ve been a Nike LT Streak fan since it the first version came out. Something about putting on a brand new pair has always made me feel fast. It’s a lightweight, racing shoe, that has been great for both workouts and races. I’ve done everything from 400s to a half marathon and never had any issues. That being said, it’s so important to work yourself into a flat. Don’t go from a trainer to a half marathon because you will get injured.

Nike Streak Lt 4 Shoe Review

Fit:

Like any racing flat, the Nike Streak LT fits narrow.  I wear from a women’s 10-11 wide. Since the shoe is unisex, I found the mens 9.5 to fit the best (women’s 11).

New for the Streak LT 4, is a Flymesh upper.  According to Nike, the Flymesh makes the shoe more durable as well as breathable. There are also vents along the forefoot and sides to eliminate hotspots.

I appreciate this year, the overlays that give the shoe more overall structure.  It’s not you’re your foot is just free floating around in a shoe. Of all the versions of the Streak LT, I think the 4th version fits the best. It has the most structure and your feet feel most secure in a flat.

Ride:

The Air Zoom Streak LT 4 is one of the lightest racing flats out there. It’s possibly what drew me to this shoe way back when. Lighter (whether it’s body weight or racing shoe), doesn’t mean faster, especially in distance. The Lt Streak hits a good spot with about the most amount of cushion for the least amount of weight.

So how is it so light? Nike uses a Cushlon LT midsole, aided further by “Zoom Air” in the shoe’s heel. The cushioning is durable for paved roads, track, and trails.  While I personally wouldn’t do a fast workout with them on the treadmill, they should be fine there too.

Nike Streak Lt 4 Shoe Review

The Air Zoom Streak LT 4 is a 4mm drop.  This is a drastic difference between most trainers so if you’re using them for the first time, take a few weeks or workouts to get used to them. The lower drop allows the foot to move more natural and there isn’t additional support there. You feel more of the road or terrain.

Another important feature to look for in a racing flat: traction without weight. This is one of Nike’s best “bad weather” racing shoe (unless you race in a trainer).  I’ve run races like Shamrock in torrential downpours and slicker conditions and still had traction.  Not every racing flat is great in bad weather and both the Nike Zoom Fly and 4% do not perform well in rain.

Conclusion:

I like the Zoom Streak LT 4 and will continue to use them.  Typically I go through 2 pairs of racing flats a year.  They last 100-200 miles (as most racing flats do before your cushioning is gone).

Nike Streak Lt 4 Shoe Review

Current Rotation:

Easy Runs: Hoka Cavu, Brooks Glycerin, Saucony Triumph ISO 5 (shoe review to come)

Workouts: Nike LT Streak 4, Nike Zoom Fly

Races: Nike LT Streak 4, (I think the Vaporfly will just be a marathon shoe for me and I have no plans to do another one for a while)

Questions for you:

Do you use different racing and training shoes?

What is your favorite racing shoe? 

 

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Nike Pegasus Turbo 35 Shoe Review

October 26, 2018 By in Gear Review, Running Tags: , , , , , 10 Comments
Nike Pegasus Turbo 35 Shoe Review

The Nike Pegasus is most people’s first running shoe.  In fact, way back in 2011, it was my first running shoe.  It’s gone through many changes.  This year, it has divided into two, and the current models are both the Nike Pegasus 35 and the Nike Pegasus 25 Turbo. They are two completely different shoes with different fits, feels, rides, and prices.   My foot barely fits into the regular width of the Pegasus 35 so I haven’t bothered running in it.

The Nike Pegasus Turbo is a lightweight weight and “faster” version of the Pegasus.  It uses the same ZoomX foam as the Vaporfly 4%.  That’s why it comes in at $180 and has a very short life.

Nike Pegasus Turbo Shoe Review

I bought the Pegasus Turbo 35 because I was looking for a long run/faster shoe.  During previous training cycles, I would have used a less cushioned shoes like a racing flat.

My only goal of this training cycle is to start and finish the marathon healthy.  Among many things, it means adding a lot more cushion into my training shoes. I’m not the type of runner that can get away minimal shoes anyway.  I did recently write about racing flats and if they are right for you.

Nike Pegasus Turbo Shoe Review

The Pegasus Turbo has ZoomX foam, which is lighter and provides more energy return than the regular Pegasus.  The only shoes that have the ZoomX foam are the Vaporfly Elite, Vaporfly 4%, and now the Pegasus Turbo.  You’ll know if your shoe has the foam because they are only available is certain colors and far more expensive than the traditional shoe.

Fit:

The upper of the Turbo is very different than the regular Pegasus and a lot wider. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to try the Turbo versus the normal Pegasus.

Of course, I want to run faster, but the Turbo is just a wider shoe. I usually wear a women’s size 10-11 wide and I cannot fit my foot into the regular Pegasus.

I can, however, wear a women’s 10 in the turbo with no problem.  The Turbo is one of the few shoes that a standard size 10 feels comfortable to me.

The upper of the Pegasus Turbo generally is a similar to the regular Pegasus but a little more sturdy.  One thing worth mentioning is the Racing Stripe on the shoe. It looks cool, sure, but it takes a lot of breathability out of the shoe. To me personally, it seems cheap.  It could have been screen printed onto the shoe with no issues with the material.

Nike Pegasus Turbo Shoe Review

Ride:

Both the Pegasus and Pegasus Turbo look like aggressive shoes.  They have a curved heel almost resembling a fin.  Nike mentions the fin is aerodynamic.  Every second matter right?  I like shoes that you can see the technology.  In any of the Turbo shoes, you can see where the two layers of foam meet.  You can see the material crush down in both the Vaporfly and Nike Pegasus Turbo.

During long runs, it’s much softer than the regular Pegasus and resembles the squishy of the Vomero but fast…very fast.  All of my long runs have been productive in the shoe.  Is it the shoe? Is it my training? I’m able to get good leg turnover in the shoe.

Nike Pegasus Turbo Shoe Review

Conclusion:

I think the Nike Pegasus Turbo is a good shoe, however, there are a few things that I think need to be mentioned.  I’ll continue to run in it and get faster long runs, but do I think it’s worth all of the hype? That I’m not sure.

  • The shoe is not durable. Similar to the VaporFly, you aren’t going to get “a lot” of mileage in them. The foam tends to break down in the Turbo around 150 miles.  Why don’t people talk about this? The Vaporfly is only designed to last 2 or so marathons?
  • The price. $180 is a lot for a neutral, low cushioned, shoe.

I don’t think it’s a bad shoe, but for me, it serves its purpose as a long, fast, run shoe. I’m not going to take it out for a leisurely jog or add additional mileage in it.

If your foot is a more narrow width, I would probably suggest getting the regular Pegasus, as it’s significantly cheaper and you get more mileage out it.  I know I’m in the minority, but I think it’s more of a social media shoe than anything.  Obviously, most people love it, since it sells out so quickly!

Current Shoe Rotation:

Long Runs: Nike Pegasus Turbo, Hoka Cavu

Easy Run/Daily Runs: Brooks Glycerin, New Balance 1080, On Cloudace 

Workouts: Nike Pegasus Turbo, Nike Zoom Streak or Saucony Type A

Questions for you:

What was your first running shoe?

What shoe do you race most often in? 

Nike Zoom Fly Review

November 29, 2017 By in Gear Review, Running, Running Reads Tags: , , , , , , ,

When Nike created the “breaking 2 project”, they created two shoes: the Nike Zoom Fly and the Nike Zoom Vapor Fly 4%.  The Nike Zoom Fly retails at $150, while the Zoom Fly 4% comes in at $250.  That is, if you can find a pair of Zoom Vapor fly 4% in your size.

The Zoom fly is a bit heavier and made for the everyday runner (or any runner not trying to break 2 hours in the marathon).

It’s made more for training.  When we first brought them into work, I wanted to try them because “everyone was”, however, I had plenty of shoes in my rotation.  Waiting enough time also gave me the option to buy a flashy red colorway too.

Nike Voom fly red

Fit:

The Zoom Fly is more narrow than many of Nikes training shoes including the Pegasus and Vomero.  The upper is seamless so it’s able to fit wider feet.  They don’t make either in a “wide”.  I bought a women’s size 10 which is fine, but I do believe a 10 wide would be a slightly better fit.

Nike Voom fly red

Ride:

The shoe weighs about 8.75 ounces for men and 6.5 for ladies.  While it’s not the lightest, it’s definitely a lighter shoe.

The Zoom Fly has  10 mm heel-toe drop so it isn’t minimal either.  The focus of the shoe is for “everyday” training.  It’s not the shoe meant to run sub 2 hours in a marathon but the shoe to keep you healthy during training.  Nike is in the process of changing many of their running shoes to the new technology you see in the Zoom Fly and Zoom Vapor Fly.

I’ve run just over 100 miles on it and I like the fit and feel a lot.  It’s soft and cushioned but not too squishy.  It’s responsive enough that I like to do workouts in it without my feet feeling too beat up.  I was doing workouts in either the Saucony Type A or the Altra Escalante but have found the extra cushion to be nice and better to recover faster.

One thing I will say is, similar to the Nike Lunarglide, there isn’t a whole lot of traction at the bottom.  On a rainy day or mud, be prepared to not feel as much contact with the ground.

Nike Voom fly red

Finally, something I shouldn’t comment on but I will is these are a good looking pair of shoes.  It’s always fun to run in a shoe that you’re like…wow these are sharp.

Personally, I see the Nike Zoom Fly as a tempo, speed, or racing shoe.  While I know many people who do the bulk of their mileage in the Zoom Fly, I personally need more cushion.

Current Rotation:
Saucony Freedom (daily runs, easy runs)
Brooks Glycerin (daily runs, easy runs)
Brooks Levitate (easy runs)
Hoka Clifton 4 (daily runs, easy runs)
Nike Zoom fly (workouts)
Altra Escalante (workouts)
Saucony type A/Endorphin (racing)

Questions for you:
Did you watch the Nike Sub 2 hours documentary?
What is your current favorite running shoe?

LunarGlide 8 Review

October 12, 2016 By in Gear Review, Running Tags: , , , , , 6 Comments

The Nike Lunarglide is a special kind of shoe.  It’s mildly supportive when you need it, and not when you don’t.  It can fit a broad range of foot types, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect for everyone. In fact, if you need an extremely supportive or high cushioned shoe, this probably isn’t a shoe for you.  If you need a mildly supportive or neutral shoe, it could be a great option.

While I never ran in the LunarGlide 7s or any previous model of the LunarGlude, I had put them on before.  They felt too supportive, and it was a shoe I didn’t need.  The update from the LunargGlide 7 to 8 made it less supportive and a shoe I wanted to try.

Nike LunarGlide 8 Shoe Review

Fit:

The LunarGlide 8 now uses the flyknit upper that many other Nike shoes use.  The fit is similar to other Nike Flyknit shoes, but it’s different than previous LunarGlide models.  It’s not a good or bad thing, and the flyknit upper accommodates wider feet (like mine) as well as those with a higher instep.  A lot of brands are going towards a seamless upper, and it’s a good thing. I usually wear a size 10, and the size 10 was the best fit for my foot.

It’s not a shoe I would just order online because you’ve worn that size the previous year.

Ride:

As I mentioned, I’ve never run in LunarGlide before and in fact, on paper, it’s not exactly a shoe that would make sense for me.  Since it is a special design that works for runners who need mild stability and those who need nothing, it can work for a few different people.  (Sorry friends, not going to try a shoe that would injure me “for the sake of the blog).

The ride itself is light and soft.  It doesn’t have a lot of cushion but definitely more than a racing flat.  It’s not a shoe I’m comfortable running more than 10 miles in but some people might get away with it.  Based on the design, I’m curious to see how much mileage,, it will be before the shoe breaks down.

Something interesting about the design pattern of the bottom is how many rocks it collects.  I’ve only run into this problem with a couple of different shoes (including the Newtons).  It’s not a make or break for the shoe, but you will hear a little clicking noise when (not if but when) a rock gets stuck in between the layers.

Nike LunarGlide 8 Shoe Review

Rock City

The major difference in the ride is the stability factor.  The LunarGlide 8 is far less stable than the LunarGlide 7.  If this is something you needed from the shoe, I would be more hesitant.  For me, this is a good thing and why a neutral runner like myself likes and can use the shoe.

Final thoughts:

While I never ran in the LunarGlide 7, I do know it’s a drastic and significant change.  That change is why I can run in the 8, but it’s a change that many running in the 7 might not appreciate.  I would go to your local store before purchasing.  Due to the changes, it’s not a shoe I would recommend ordering online, just because you’ve worn several models.

I do like the shoe and will continue to run in it until it wears out. 

Pros:

  • Less stable and can fit a broad range of foot types
  • No seem upper allows accommodating bunions and wide feet

Cons:

  • Drastic changes from the LunarGlide 7 to LunarGlide 8
  • Collects a lot of small rocks underneath

Not too many “similar” models of shoes to compare too.

My Running Shoe Rotation: Hoka Clifton 3, Saucony Zealot 2, Brooks Launch 3

Questions for you:

What shoe are you currently running in?

Do you have any shoes that collect rocks underneath? 

Nike Pegasus

November 20, 2015 By in Gear Review, Running Tags: , , , , 8 Comments

Often times my shoe choices surprise me. When I first started running the Nike Pegasus was my first running shoe. After running through my first pair of “real running” shoes, I felt as if I needed more cushion.  I left Nike and went to other brands.  I tried the Pegasus on in the store occasionally, but they never felt “good” to me.

Fast forward four years and I found myself truly enjoying the fit and feel of the Nike Pegasus 32.  After I had fallen last month while running in the Nike Vomero, I decided to retire them.  They were just reaching 400 miles and the fall caused them to be stained with blood too.  I retired the Vomero and inserted the Pegasus into my rotation instead. Plus I know one of my dearest (and fastest) friends Kris L loves the Pegasus and realistically who doesn’t want to be like her?

Nike Pegasus Review

Cost: $110
Neutral Cushion

The Colors:
The Nike Pegasus gets it’s own separate color review because of any running shoe in the industry it’s available in the widest range of colors.  My pair is actually a custom “photosynthesis” design.  (On the tongue of the shoe you can see I put LOLZ on it…because why not?) I knew this shoe was an appropriate shoe for me, and I was able to choose the colors later.  I did not just say “oh pretty colors” and buy the shoe.  So a major plus is the wide range of colors this shoe comes in. 

The Fit: 
Repeat after me: Most Nike running shoes don’t run narrow.  The last few models run true to size.  Nike uses “flywire” around the arch, so the shoe hugs the arch but gives plenty of toe box space. Personally I like it. I normally wear a size 9.5 wide or 10, and I comfortably fit into a size 10.  The Pegasus 32 fits true to size.

The Ride: 
Before the new models of Pegasus and Vomero, they used to be very similar. Too similar in fact. Why pay more for the Vomero when the Pegasus feels the same?

Nike has firmed up the cushion in the Pegasus and added more to the Vomero.  I like how firm and peppy Pegasus is.  It reminds me a lot of a firmer zealot.  It’s light weight, but I have run as much as 11 miles and my feet have felt great. The shoe itself is firm and responsive. I was surprised with how much I like the ride of the shoe.

Pros: 
Inexpensive for running shoes ($110)
Light and responsive
Widest selection of colors

Cons: 
Light weight and less cushion
Nike is known to drastically change shoes.  While you might like the Pegasus 32, the 33 could be entirely different.

Who I would recommend it for: 
A neutral runner who enjoys a light weight, firm shoe.  It could be a great shoe for someone already running in the Nike Vomero but wants a lighter shoe for speed or tempo workouts.

Similar options I’ve reviewed:
Saucony Zealot
Hoka Clifton 
Nike Vomero (most similar in fit and feel but has more cushion)

My personal current rotation of shoes:
Saucony Triumph ISO 2 and Saucony Zealot
Nike Pegasus and Altra Paradigm

With this last review, I don’t have anymore shoes to review for a while since I’m working through these.

Questions for you:
What was your first running shoe?
Which shoes are in your current rotation?

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