Updated 2018-09-18T18:20:00Z When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
- Nike recently launched their new Epic React Flyknit running shoes.
- Inspired by their most common feedback from runners, Nike made shoes that fit like socks but are durable and supportive enough for sports.
- I had a chance to try them out, and they live up to the hype. They're breathable, lightweight, and the Flyknit feels durable and compressive as well as flexible. They've also got some of the best energy return of shoes on the market, in my experience.
Nike recently launched their Epic React Flyknit running shoes.
Inspired by their most common feedback from runners, Nike engineered a fabric that fits like a sock but provides the support and durability needed for sport. That's what you'll find in every shoe in the Flyknit line.
The Flyknit shoes use tough fibers to create lightweight uppers with targeted areas of support, stretch, and breathability. In other words, certain areas of your shoe, depending upon its intended usage (ie. weight training vs. running), have a tighter weave to give the foot more support where needed, while other key areas are made to be more flexible and breathable. The Flyknit Epic Reacts are designed specifically to support you while running.
The company sent over a pair of the Epic React shoes a few weeks ago, and I've been testing them out ever since. My opinion, after many runs in them, is that they're among the best running sneakers you can buy right now — and I found myself consistently reaching for them, even after the trial period was over. Nike says they give you 13% more bounce than traditional sneakers, but I would venture to say they might give you even a little more.
You can find the nitty gritty below, but the Nike Flyknit isn't just a gimmick — it's breathable, flexible, supportive, and the Epic Reacts have a great, springy energy return. I prefer lightweight running sneakers, and I appreciated that the Epic React pair both improved my run and let me forget I was wearing them.
To back up, let me say that I am part of the small, shamed portion of the population that prefers to run indoors rather than outside. And thanks to my natural propensity to overheat and the very mild air temperature control in my building's gym, I normally leave my sessions in a puddle of sweat. Much of my athletic wear specializes in breathability, and as a runner, I tend to prioritize qualities such as flexibility and a lack of weight or bulk. So the Nike Epic Reacts were a great addition.
At first, they were extremely tight to put on — I had to ditch my thicker cotton anklets for close-fitting sport socks in order to get my feet in. But, once on, I was glad I had ordered true to size. In order for the Flyknit to remain close-fitting against your foot once laced, you'll just sort of have to deal with the initial bargain. In the end, it's a small price to pay, and the process was never as cumbersome as the first time.
I found on my 4-7 mile runs that the Epic Reacts not only put a bounce in my step but that the Flyknit facilitated very welcome air movement, helping me cool down and stay that way.
Nike markets their Epic Reacts as being an "attraction of opposites" and somehow, that might actually really be the case rather than just sounding catchy. The foam cushion is soft but still springy and reliable, and the Flyknit is flexible while also being compressive enough to keep your feet in place. Nike has, indeed, made running shoes that have all the stretchy benefits of yarn with the durability and reliability needed for sports. And you can get a pair in five versatile colors: navy, black, grey, dark grey, and white.
If you heard "knit sport shoes" and immediately thought of Adidas' Ultraboost line, you wouldn't be wrong to make the comparison. I've written on my pair of Ultraboost X Parley shoes before, and while there are similarities, the Ultraboost and Flyknit have been very different in my experience. The Epic React's Flyknit feels noticeably denser in comparison and the fit more personalized, while in the Adidas Ultraboost you'll find the knit is a bit softer and less compressive. Nike's structured Flyknit upper does basically all of the work in the Epic React, while in the Adidas Ultraboost, it feels as though the caging is doing more of the heavy lifting as far as structure is concerned. You'll likely prefer one over the other depending on your running style.
As for the fit, the Ultraboosts were slightly more narrow than the Epic Reacts in my experience. The Epic Reacts feature a more traditional shape, whereas the Ultraboosts maintain a "sock" look and feel all the way to the upper tongue (or lack thereof) on the shoe.
In terms of their effect on the run itself, both give pretty fantastic energy return and remain breathable throughout. The Epic Reacts were the easiest to forget about while wearing, but the Ultraboosts and their wider base added more noticeable balance to my gait. Generally speaking, they're both fantastic options, but I personally might turn to my Epic Reacts even more than the Ultraboosts because I love how easy it is to forget they aren't just an extension of my own foot on those long, autopilot runs.
In short, Nike's Epic React Flyknit's made good on their claims, and they exceeded my expectations. If you're looking for a breathable pair of sneakers that will put an extra bounce in your step without adding bulk to your run, I highly suggest checking them out.
Nike Women's Epic React Flyknit Running Shoe, $170
Nike Men's Epic React Flyknit Running Shoe, $170
Shop all Nike Epic React Running
This article was originally published on 2/22/2018.
Mara Leighton Senior Digital Culture Reporter Mara Leighton is a senior digital culture reporter. If you want to get in touch, please send an email to mleighton@businessinsider.com, or send a DM on twitter to @maraleighton. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
Read the original article on Insider Picks. Copyright 2018. Follow Insider Picks on Twitter.ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxno6nGrbGOp6CknV2avaqvjKucmpukYrOtxcqnoK1loqq7r7XNoGSsoJ%2BaerOx1aKcsGViZX55eZE%3D