Nike Free Run+ 3 Womens Shoes

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The Free Run+ seems to be moving even further Nike Nike Dunk SB Mens sale online away from what Nike did so well in their more minimalist Free 3.0 line (one of my favorite shoes, which appears to have disappeared ¨C Update: they¡¯re back for now), and I can only assume that they are tying to appeal to a more mainstream market. That¡¯s not saying that this shoe isn¡¯t a vast improvement on most more typical running shoes in terms of it¡¯s flexibility and weight (it likely is), but I like to whine when a personal favorite (the 3.0) goes away. If they could make this same shoe with a smaller heel-toe drop, I¡¯d be first in line to buy it, and I would still like to give these a test drive and write a more formal review (Update 4/17/10 ¨C all I can do is speculate right now, but I just wrote a post that fleshes out my preliminary disappointment with this shoe ¨C On Minimalist Running Shoes: Vibram has Balls, Nike Dropped Them).

1. Comfort. Perhaps the main reason why I like both versions of the Free 3.0 so much is that they are ridiculously comfortable ¨C they feel akin to wearing slippers on your feet when you run. The upper has very little structure to it ¨C in the original Free 3.0 it¡¯s basically a thin layer of fabric, whereas in the second generation Free 3.0 some cushioning has been added to the ankle cuff (see comparison picture below). As I mentioned above, one of the main reasons I bought a second pair of black Free 3.0 Nike Nike Dunk SB Mens uk sale v2¡¯s is so that I could use them as a work shoe ¨C it¡¯s awesome to be able to spend a day with these on your feet as opposed to a pair of heavy, stiff leather work shoes.Nike Free 3.0 ¨C 1st generation (top) and 2nd generation (bottom). Note the greater cushioning around the heel cuff in the lower shoe.

For me, the Nike Free 3.0 v5 is a fantastic shoe for easy runs and distances up to about 10 miles. They¡¯re also great as a casual, low-drop shoe (which is what the vast majority of people buying them will be using them for). In my opinion, they¡¯re too soft and lack responsiveness for speed work. Be aware that despite the stretchy upper, it is a fairly narrow shoe (I went up a half size), so those with wide feet should look elsewhere. All in all, I¡¯m quite impressed with the Free 3.0 v5. It¡¯s one of the best shoes I¡¯ve worn so far this year, and a pleasant surprise given my experience with the previous iteration. Big thumbs up!

I¡¯m happy to announce that Nike has redeemed themselves with the Free 3.0 v5. It¡¯s a shoe worthy of the lineage to which it belongs, and is probably the best Nike Free of any flavor that I¡¯ve worn since the original Free 3.0 (Disclosure: the shoes reviewed here were provided free-of-charge for review purposes by Running Warehouse).

The sole of the Nike Free 3.0 v5 is unchanged from v4. It has the typical grooves/siping found in all Nike Free shoes, which allow for excellent flexibility. Rubber outsole pods are only placed under the lateral heel and the big toe, though wear of the exposed midsole does not appear excessive ¨C I have about 45 miles of running on mine, and wear them casually frequently (often all day). The soles are a bit discolored, but are holding up well so far: Nike Free 3.0 v5 Sole After 45+ Miles of Running and Extensive Casual Wear The lack of extensive outsole makes for a lightweight shoe, and my size 10¡¯s come in right around 8oz. Sole dimensions reported by Running Warehouse are 21mm heel, 17mm forefoot, making it a 4mm drop shoe.

Given the above features, I view the Nike Free 3.0 as a great choice as a transitional shoe if you¡¯re thinking about working your way down to running barefoot or in an extremely minimalist shoe like the Vibram Fivefingers. Some disagree with this approach, saying that going barefoot from the start is the best approach so tha Nike Free 3.0 V2 Mens Shoes sale t immediate sensory feedback from your feet can prevent you from doing too much, too soon, but the transitional approach worked well for me, and I have managed to avoid any serious injuries so far while running in Vibrams over the past 8-10 months (I should point out that although I¡¯ve tried barefoot running, I¡¯m not a barefoot runner). The important thing to remember with any new shoe, and with minimalist shoes in particular, is to not overdo it ¨C give your feet and legs time to adjust to these shoes Nike Free 3.0 V3 Mens Shoes sale , and resist the urge to do too much, too soon.