Question:I have noticed a lot of people complaining about the NIKE Running shoes.
Most seem to be from the Air Max Triax.. This is NIKE's most popular
model at this time...but is the world telling us something?...
But is it for cushion or ???? HOT AIR ???? let me know what your
thoughts are.
Answer:
Never found a pair of Nikes that did me any good. I need some very serious
motion control that none of their shoes has ever seemed to delivered. I
once read a post from a ortho. doc who said he felt like sending Nike a
thank-you note for all the business they generated for him over the years
by marketing oh so soft shoes to the masses (many of whom have far less
than perfect or neutral foot motion). Seems like they could do a better
job of diversifing their line to accomidate more foot shapes and degrees
of pronation.
As usual, everyone is different. I have always worn NIKE running shoes,
and usually don't have a problem with them. I haven't found anything that
provides the cushioned feel they have. I don't have a problem with motion
control either; but I'm not very big either. I tried ASICS, but did not
like them.
I have had a small problem with the current AIR MAX with my toes jamming.
The shoes fit fine, I'm not sure what the problem is. Anybody with the
same problem?
This was my experience until my new pair of Air Max's this season. I don't
like 'em. I've run about 25-30 miles in them and I'm about to give up on them.
They feel great just for walking around, but initially I couldn't run 5 miles
in them without severe pain and now I can get up to about 10 miles but then
have to stop or switch shoes. Mostly, the pain is in the ball of my foot. It
feels like it is being pounded with no cushioning at all.
I had this problem after running hills in mine. My big toe on one foot now
has a rather large black splotch under it where I can tell it is bruised.
Might have happened in any shoe, but it never happened on the same course in
my old air max pair.
I had that same toe-nail fall off 2 years ago after skiing in some boot that
weren't fitted properly. The trick to the ski boots I later learned was to
fasten the middle buckle first and tightly after shoving the foot towards the
back of the boot. Then doing the lowest buckle, then the upper. The low two
buckles keep the foot from moving forward and hitting the front of the boot
by pushing on the top of the foot where it widens away from the toes towards
the ankle.
My guess is that the new lacing system on the Nikes makes it harder to get
this effect in the running shoes. I think the new lacing system is supposed
to distribute the load better over the laces, but this means that you can't
get the important parts tight without getting it all tight. I've already cut
off the circulation in my feet a few times in these shoes by lacing them too
tight. It seems to be easier to do than in my previous pair. Thus, lacing
tighter all-around doesn't seem to be an option.
Result: I'm guessing that this makes the new Nike lacing system less good for
running down hills. Note that this is just a guess. I'm no expert.
Or it could be that we are both running in shoes that are too big.
I have found the Air Skylon Triax to be a breath of fresh air from Nike.
If you like the feel of Adidas or Asics with the air if Nike, these are
the ones. Light, flexible & cushiony, but retain a feel for the road. A
well know podiatrist once told me Nikes had become to stiff in the
forefoot. I switched to Asics & Adidas with good results. But these seem
to fill the bill.
I'd have to agree with this theory about the lacing system. It seems
that I have the right-size shoes. But my foot seems to slide up and
stub my toes. I have played with the laces to get the "right" tightness
to prevent my foot from sliding, but it is hard to do. These are still
the best shoes I've ever had when I get the laces just right.
Unfortunately, the correct adjustment is sometimes illusive.
I have just bought my fourth pair of running shoes. They are the Nike Air
Structure Triax. I am something of a Consumer's Report dupe and I just went
with their last year's survey results.
My initial observation as it was with my last pair (Air Max) is that the shoes
run narrow in the toe box and somewhat small to boot. I tried on some NB 999s
in
a EE width and the 10 and 1/2 was about right. With the Nike I had to go with
the 12. I know that Nike makes a wide, but for some reason no one seems to
carry
it around here (Dallas area).
I just had a short run with the shoes yesterday and have two main impressions:
1. Cushioning is good.
I am heavy and land real hard on the outside of the heel. These shoes kept
me
from feeling much shock when running on the pavement.
2. Stability is weak.
I often try to run in the grass to soften the shock even more and to make
myself work a little harder on foot placement and lift. I noticed that when-
ever I got on a slight side-to-side incline, my feet would roll badly in the
downhill shoe. I did put in the extra arch supports and they make the shoe
feel better on the right foot (maybe a little less confortable on the left),
but this may have pushed my feet a little too far to the outside of the
sole.
Overall, with Nike I would say that I would like to see more availability of
the
wide offering. Sadly, there may not be that much business case for it. On the
so-called hot air side of the issue, I think that Nike has a reputation that
causes many of us to look first at the Nike. They established this reputation
for me with the Air Max which was the salvation of my aching knees since I run
mostly on pavement as a matter of convenience. Another note is that the new
Air Max are really cool looking and I have seen lots of people wearing them
as a casual shoe (I wish I had that much money). Anyhow, there is my opinion
which many of you never asked for.
