I currently run in Nike LunarTrainers and love them and am buying every pair of size 12s I can get my hands on (which supply has diminished into lightly used ugly red ones off ebay, yuck!). I’m having a hard time understanding and getting a clear answer on which shoe is supposed to replace the LunarTrainer.
Being a big guy, I can’t go down to the LunarRacer, even the v2 even at Olympic 10k distance. I’ve tried. The Trainers are fine up to 10k for me.
The Free 5.0 I have for lounging around in are not comfortable to run in. Toe box is way too narrow (how Nike’s usually fit me).
Did not like the LunarGlide. Didn’t quite fit right and feel like maybe too much support?
Nike Store in SF (worst trained employees ever, btw) claim that the LunarElite and the LunarSwift are the replacement but couldn’t explain why or how they differentiate from the LunarGlide and didn’t have my size in stock to try. They looked like more of a cross between the Free line and the Glide to me. The descriptions on the Nike website all read pretty much identically to me.
Today I see that the long-rumored LunarFly is coming any day now… which looks like it is a more suitable replacement.
If Free 5.0 was too narrow, try the new 7.0. I run in Free 5.0 and love it for most runs. I have the new 7.0 for walking around in. It has a much wider toe box kinda like the LunarTrainer had but a front profile closer to Free 5.0 than the Everyday had.
They are the best bet to replace your Trainers. The Elite & Swift are both fairly firm. The Fly are VERY soft - even softer than the Racers (which I also have and love).
I have all the same questions and concerns. And you are right about the yuck factor of the red ones. I just got a pair of K-Swiss K-Ona’s. Fit is similar to the Lunar Trainer. Not quite as soft, but I still like em.
The Lunar Elite sucks. Upper is horrible and the shoe is stiff and unresponsive.
Lunar Swift seems to have a simiar feel to the trainer, but not even the Nike rep can tell me why they went away from the trainer. The Swift has a similar midsole and appears to be the most like the trainer. We just got these in 2 weeks ago, let me know if you want to try some on and I will put aside some 12’s for you.
LunarGlide- definitely has some fit issues. Very snug around the midfoot, but loose up around the toes. Feels ok on flat surfaces, but really strange on hills/offroad.
Lunar Elite- Fits somewhat similar to the Lunaracer V2, i.e. very very snug around the toes. Very firm, not very flexible. Has a decent feel at faster training paces, but too hefty for track work and too stiff for long runs IMO.
Lunar Swift- basically the Pegasus with a new dress on. Not quite as firm as the elite, slightly heavier, but has a nicer fit to it. Probably the most normal fit of the group.
My guess is that Nike went away from the trainer because the actual Lunar Foam (not the lunarlite system they used in the trainers) was expensive or harder to source than the materials they use in the Lunarlite system (cushlon/phylon). If they could take the upper from the Original LunarTrainers, and then take the midsole from the Glide and make it with the Lunar foam, I’d be a happy camper. Here’s hoping Nike gets it right with the next goaround. The lunar system is very promising in my eyev, but they need to get one shoe to really hit before it will take off.
Are the LunarSwift Breathes out yet? I’d be curious what people thought about the new “hot weather” upper- I’m always on the lookout for the next great thing.
The Lunar Elite sucks. Upper is horrible and the shoe is stiff and unresponsive.
Lunar Swift seems to have a simiar feel to the trainer, but not even the Nike rep can tell me why they went away from the trainer. The Swift has a similar midsole and appears to be the most like the trainer. We just got these in 2 weeks ago, let me know if you want to try some on and I will put aside some 12’s for you.
Russ
PFFFFFFFTTTTTTTT dude WHAT?!? Bought some Lunar Elites about 2 months ago, fit like a glove and immediately became my marathon shoe. For me they would be a tiny bit too much shoe for any race <13.1, but from there and up running the long distances was smooth as silk.
We have not seen the LSB’s yet, I would imagine we will see them in mid May. I will post my impressions when they come in and I have had a chance to try them out.
Funny, the Glide actually fits me better than the trainer and the elite did/do. It is about the only shoe in the Nike running line that fits my foot decently. I am usually relegated to straighter shoes, i.e. Brooks, New Balance, and Mizuno.
The Swift seems firmer to me than the Pegasus. I feel like the Pegasus is really spongy in the forefoot, the Swift did not feel like that at all. Definately softer than the Elite and Glide.
I would agree wtih your assesment of the Elite. Really disliked the shoe, got a free pair and gave them away.
But on another note, if the new version of the LunaRacers are in fact a tiny bit beefier than their predecessors, I could easily see them replacing my Elites for racing long distance.
But on another note, if the new version of the LunaRacers are in fact a tiny bit beefier than their predecessors, I could easily see them replacing my Elites for racing long distance.
Hope you’ve got narrow heels. Nike really pidgeonholed themselves into the narrow foot/ high arch category with this one. That said, if you have a norrower foot and like a nice high arch, you’ll like these quite a bit.
But on another note, if the new version of the LunaRacers are in fact a tiny bit beefier than their predecessors, I could easily see them replacing my Elites for racing long distance.
Hope you’ve got narrow heels. Nike really pidgeonholed themselves into the narrow foot/ high arch category with this one. That said, if you have a norrower foot and like a nice high arch, you’ll like these quite a bit.
Yeah that is actually my foot type - narrow with high arches. I stayed away from Nike shoes for years, and then I tried some and never went back. For some reason they hug my foot just right, especially the 1st Lunaracers and the Elites.
shoe companies are out of their minds, I guess they have to be to keep up with each others bullshit.
I hope Nike doesn’t screw up the Free. I love it so much
So far it is still good!
I have never put on a pair of Free’s, but I will admit they intrigue me. How would they compare to say, the feel of the Luna racers? And I know they have versions (3.0,5,7) but don’t even know the differences. I suppose I could just look it up.
Edit: Found out what the different Free versions mean.
shoe companies are out of their minds, I guess they have to be to keep up with each others bullshit.
I hope Nike doesn’t screw up the Free. I love it so much
So far it is still good!
I have never put on a pair of Free’s, but I will admit they intrigue me. How would they compare to say, the feel of the Luna racers? And I know they have versions (3.0,5,7) but don’t even know the differences. I suppose I could just look it up.
Edit: Found out what the different Free versions mean.
Tried the FREE this year… as long as NIKE does not screw it up I will only wear those. I have a pair of the new Nike Free Runs on preorder through Roadrunner. Can’t wait. Awesome shoe.
Lunar Swift is the closest to the trainer in my opinion, same thickness & firm-to-start cushioning. I’d say its a pretty good shoe for the heavier set, it has mild support built in due to the not quite symmetrical heel. The LunarFly is just as light & squishy as the LunarGlide except with a symmetrical midsole (the LG has some support built in to the inside of the heel like the Glide & Elite.) if you didnt like the Glide, you won’t like the Fly.
Mild support:
Swift
Glide
Elite
true Neutral:
Racer
Fly
Avant (came out last year, exact same midsole as the new LunarFly)
I went from the Free, to the LunaRacer, and back again just recently.
Both are super light, but the free is also super flexible. I really enjoy how you can feel the road surface, and its just comfier for me.
shoe companies are out of their minds, I guess they have to be to keep up with each others bullshit.
I hope Nike doesn’t screw up the Free. I love it so much
So far it is still good!
I have never put on a pair of Free’s, but I will admit they intrigue me. How would they compare to say, the feel of the Luna racers? And I know they have versions (3.0,5,7) but don’t even know the differences. I suppose I could just look it up.
Edit: Found out what the different Free versions mean.
FYI even though they didn’t designate the Avant as a “Lunar” shoe, it is indeed the EXACT same midsole as the new LunarFly. The lunarfly just has a different upper popped onto it.
