I’ve seen quite a few discouraging words about Nike products (especially running shoes) on this forum. Well, I’ve seen a lot of discouraging words about most things on this forum But Nike in particular. Why is that? Is it because they aren’t owned by Cervelo?
I train in Nike free’s almost exclusively, and now that I’m more comfortable in them, I’m probably going to race sprint/olympic distances in them. I also have a pair of 2:45’s that I walk around in and they’re great. And their new 2:40’s are touted as long-distance/marathon shoes. My long distance shoes are Mizuno, but I’m considering trading them out for a pair of the 2:40’s. Anyone run in those?
wow impressive, there’s no way I could ever run in the frees, but I do wear them around town! I used to hear that Nike’s were built up to high which lead to a lack of stability, which meant knee problems for many. Not sure if that’s still the case these days, but I’m happy with my adidas, so I’ve never thought to switch! Honestly not sure I’d even try Nikes if I were to switch, they’re not a shoe I think of as I guess I was always told how bad they were/are to run in.
I’ve had problems with their shoes and plantar fasciitis. Obviously, that’s a personal thing, and I know people who have run in Nikes for years and swear by them.
Personally, I have nothing against the quality of their product, rather it is their corporate egotism that I find offensive. I loved them in the 70s and early-mid eighties when Phil was an innovative rebel in the business world. But since the early 90s, they went from being the rebel in the marketplace to being The Man. Not as attractive an image.
My anecdotal evidence: Having lived and ran in Portland for a number of years, I have many friends working for Nike. One time running with a Nike friend, we were caught out in a strong rain. She was unprepared and had nothing but a light, short sleeve shirt. I offered her an extra running jacket I had with me - it was adidas brand. She said she could not wear it; on the off-chance she was seen by someone from Nike, she would be reprimanded for wearing a competitor’s merchandise. I couldn’t believe that, especially given the conditions (cold, wet downpour). Naturally, I assumed she was exaggerating. However, in relating the event to several Nike friends, they each agreed that to be caught wearing a competitor’s gear - even in the severe and adverse conditions we found ourselves in - would have been risking some type of unofficial recrimination. Sounds weird, but it is what it is.
A few years ago (maybe around 95), Nike revamped their last, which is now quite narrow. This causes problems for a lot of people. I was a sworn nike nut until this treachery, now I’m all about the adidas shoe. much like finding the right fit for the bike, you’ve got to find a shoe that works for you. nike makes pretty shoes, but not ones that fit most people properly.
But, I think nike makes clothing that is superior to the others. They get all the little things right - location and size of key pocket, length of zippers, cut, fit, etc.
I agree about the clothing, but my NB 10.5 4E’s are great for me. Running in my 208 pound body can get pretty taxing on my knees and feet, but with these shoes I have had no problems. I bet that Nike does not have a shoe that will give me that. I would have to have a foot of a middle schooler or teenager.
I would however love one day to fit into a pair…they have the coolest looking shoes around.
I live, train and race in my Nike Zoom Elites. I have flat, narrow feet, and Nike’s are the only shoes that seem to give a good fit. Granted I seem to burn through them a lot faster than other brands, but it helps to have a brother who is a rep for an athletic equipment distributor so I get all my goods for cost if not better. When I found that the Zoom Elites were my shoe, I got 6 pair…
yeah that’s pretty normal! I used to work for a retail distributor and I would never wear a competitors item!! Even if it was understood why, you’d be harrassed forever!! Just not worth it!
Unfortunately that happens a lot in corporate america. Some guy up the road in Greeley, CO got fired as brewmaster from Bud because someone saw him drinking a Coors in a bar. (or the other way around) He sued and won, but still pretty lame.
I could have sworn my nike free’s would hurt my feet, knees, and everything in between… they have nooo support what-so-ever. But since my first run in them, I have yet to have sore knees, ankles, whatever. And my feet are finally so used to them that I can go sockless and not get blisters.
I totally believe it. I worked up at nike a few years back as a contractor. They are quite serious about what employees and contractors wear. You do not show up on campus wearing competitors products. Although that is a nice way to get a new pair of shoes. Just show up wearing Adidas, if you don’t get sent home, you may end up with a replacement pair.
The kool-aid they drink is pretty strong though. A woman I worked with up there was pretty upset with me when I wouldn’t concede that Nike’s snowboarding and winter gear was superior to gear from companies like Marmot and The North Face for winter expedition apparel.
I’ve got no issue with Nike products even though their shoes don’t fit me. I view them as more a marketing and design company, and I like many of their designs.
I used to love the Nike air pegasus in the late 80’s but in recent years whenever I’ve tried on Nike shoes, they haven’t felt right so I haven’t bought them.
This year I got a good deal on some Nike Free’s so I bought them to lounge around in. Turns out I liked them so much that they are now my “racing flat” for shorter tris. I did two sprints in them this year and I really like them.
Like a previous poster said…if you’ve got a wide foot, Nike’s aren’t for you. You’ve got to go NB which I do. I was always jealous of the guys who could wear Nike’s in high school.
Which is pretty much what you have to do if you find a pair of Nikes you like because they change everything about their shoes too often. I’ve got a pair of Air Zoom Vapors that I picked up in a crunch (week before a marathon and I was having problems with a new pair of my usual Sauconys) that are my favorite, most comfortable running shoes ever. I like squishy and non-supportive because if a shoe has any support, it will push me into underpronating even more than I already do.
But apparently, the entire production run of the Air Zoom Vapor involved half a shift in one factory in Thailand because darned if I can find another pair of them anywhere. You’d be hard pressed to get Nike to admit they ever made the shoes at all.
They’ve also redesigned their sports bras recently- I like the ones from 2-3 years ago much better than the ones they’re selling now.
I am a long time Nike wearer. Back in the late 70’s/early 80’s while I was in college I refused to wear them because all of the “joggers” would wear them. But then post college I got sponsored by Nike and have been running in them ever since. Right before the Atlanta Olympics I finally got dropped from the program when Salazar took over control of that stuff, but was lucky to get placed on the product testing program and am still on that. Over the year I have tried a couple of other brands, but in the end I always gravitate back to Nike.
Everyone always talks about how great it is that we have industry insiders from the bike industry posting on here, but it is also nice that we have two (that I know of) shoe industry people posting here as well, Shawn from Asics and Dennis McMinn from Nike.
But Nike in particular. Why is that? Is it because they aren’t owned by Cervelo?