Nike free tr flyknit 2 review năm 2024

There’s always a bit of a buzz when Nike launch a new running shoe, especially when it’s something a bit different to the norm like the Nike Free Flyknit with it’s strange sock-like upper. Well last night we were lucky enough to be some of the first people in the UK to test them out with a 5k run round Clapham Common, check us! Released today (1 August) the super-lightweight Free Flyknit is a combination of a flexible sole (if you’ve run in Nike Frees before it’s the same sole as the Nike Free 5.0) and a seam-free polyester upper that looks like a rather jazzy sock. In fact, the Nike guys told us that, after chatting to runners about what they wanted from a shoe, the idea was to make something so light and comfy to wear it felt like a sock on a sole. If our test run is anything to go by, job pretty much done.

Looks

If anybody would like to buy me a pair, can I have this colour?

First things first, there’s no denying these are a snazzy little number. Yeah they come in black and grey colourways but they also come in much brighter versions, the men’s in particular are a bit ‘WOWZERS DUDE’. But I (Charlotte) am slightly in love with the version they call ‘pink’. Not pink at all but bloody lovely, a bit like a pre-sucked, multi-layered gobstopper (see above). Emma’s all over the blue and orange ones.

The sock bit

Emma putting them on. Nice jacket huh?

We were a bit dubious about the old sock upper. Would it be hard to get on, would your foot slip out at the back and over the edges as you ran? The answer to all of those questions is no. Went on like, well like a sock, super-easy. As for slipping off, no, not even slightly. The upper has varying zones of compression and support just where you need them so it stays snug on the foot and you soon forget you’re wearing them. That said, they hadn’t brought any half sizes with them. I’m a 4 but usually run in a 4.5. As the shoes are so fitted to the foot I thought I’d get away with a 4 but I’d stay stick to your normal running shoe size, on my left foot the shoe felt like a dream on my slightly bigger right it started to feel a little tight towards the end.

Another major bonus of the upper is that it’s seam-free so you don’t get those nasty little rubs on the back of your heel or side of the foot you sometimes get from stitching in new shoes. How durable the sock bit is is hard to say without running in a pair for a couple of months but they certainly seemed to be made of tough stuff.

The sole

Flexy sole

The sole is a Nike Free+ 5.0 midsole. If that means nothing to you, it’s the same sole you get on some of the Nike Free trainers already. It’s nudging towards a minimal shoe. The way Nike explain it is if you take a scale of 1-10 with 1 running in barefoot and 10 being a traditional running shoe, the 5.0 sits in the middle. So it’s got a bit of cushioning but not as much as some of your bulkier trainers and it’s very flexible allowing your foot to move naturally and feel the ground as you run. If you usually run with more cushioning and support it may take a bit of getting used to and it’s probably advisable to build the miles up slowly, in fact if you need cushioning and support this isn’t for you. But personally we’re fans of a lighter shoe and sole so this felt great.

The verdict

Charlotte rocking weird action shot knee wobbalage

Looks good, feels good, lovely and light. Would like to see how it wears but you’re never going to get that in a 5k. There is, however, the question of price. At £130, these babies ain’t cheap but try them on and if you think they’re the shoes for you, go for it. Finding the perfect pair of runners is like looking for jeans, when you find them you just know. And if you want to blast £130 just to look pretty damn cool, well then sod it, who are we to judge?

Nike Free are running shoes that are light weight, with very flexible soles. Even without my modification to create the Modified Nike Free, it's a good minimalist running shoe and a half way house to a zero drop shoe. There is no outer sole (the hard rubber that meets the road), just a robust midsole (the cushioning part). The midsole has deep groves cut into it to allow the shoe to flex more than is possible with a traditional shoe. There are lots of different models of Nike Free, but I would recommend using the Free 3.0 Flyknit. (Most Frees have a number that indicates how flexible they are. The idea is that 10.0 would be a traditional shoe and 1.0 would be barefoot.)

1 Nike 3.0 Flyknit Characteristics

• Midsole. The midsole of the Nike Free is different from other shoes, with deep slices creating a remarkably flexible shoe.
  • Cushioning. The Nike Free is quite firm shoe, more of a minimalist shoe than a softly cushioned one. This is perhaps a little surprising given the thickness of the soul and its flexibility.
  • Drop & Shape. While there is only a 4 mm drop, the firmness of the soul makes it seem a little larger. There is relatively little "arch support" and the sole does not cup the heel. The midsole tapers very gradually from under the ball of the foot to the toe, and the midsole also tapers at the rear to create a slight walk. A little unusually the midsole also tapers at the sides of the ball of the foot, which reduces the lateral stability of the heel a little. While this can be a little old when walking or running with a heel strike it may help to build up the stability muscles.
  • Structure. There two densities of foam used in the midsole, but this does not appear to be for stability or structure, but rather for changing the cushioning characteristics.
  • Flexibility. Because of the deep grooves cut into the midsole, the Nike Free is remarkably flexible in all directions.
• Outsole. There is almost no outsole, just a few small patches of hard rubber under the big toe, and around the outside of the heel. As with most Nike Free shoes most of the underside is exposed midsole.
• Shape. The shoe follows the traditional shape of a running shoe, which has excessively tapered toe box, rather than following the shape of the foot.
• Upper. The name "Flyknit" indicates that this shoe is made of a single woven piece of fabric that has different thicknesses and flexibility in different places. There is no tongue, just laces pull parts of the upper together. The Nike implementation works better than most, but I still tend to prefer a traditional upper, and find that the single piece was put a little too much pressure on my foot.
• Tongue. As noted, there is no tongue, and very little padding above the top of the foot.
• Lacing. The laces have relatively little to do in this shoe, as the tension in the upper keeps it in place.
• Heel counter. This shoe has no real heel counter beyond a slightly thicker piece of reinforcement that extends up about an inch up from the midsole.

2 Gallery

The (unmodified) Nike Free 3.0 Flynit.

A close up of the deep grooves into the midsole that gives the Nike Free its flexibility.

A top level view of the Nike Free alongside the Altra One.

A view from the rear of the shoes, showing the rounded sides of the Nike Free.

3 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories.

• Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity.
• Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game.
• Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g.
• Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk.
• Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well.
• All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close.
• Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

Are Nike Free Flyknit good for running?

The Nike Free RN Flyknit shoes are super lightweight running trainers designed for a barefoot ride, perfect for sprinting and shorter distance runs.

Is Nike React Infinity run Flyknit 2 good for running?

The versatility of the full-length React foam sole provides a responsive, supportive, cushioned ride. You can use the Infinity React 2 for light jogs, short distance tempo runs, and longer distance runs. They're also great to just walk around in and use for the gym.

What are Nike Flyknits good for?

Nike Flyknit technology uses high-strength fibers to create lightweight uppers with targeted areas of support, stretch and breathability.

What is the difference between Flyknit 2 and 3?

The main difference between the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 3 and Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 2 is that the new running shoe has been overhauled for a firmer, more responsive and stable ride while loading up on cushioning for easy-going runs, recovery runs and long runs.