FREE 5.0: Nike's attempt to redefine running!
Written: Jun 10 '05 (Updated Aug 05 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: lightweight, dedicated running shoe, excellent ventilation, purpose driven but elegant design, great fit
Cons: limited use, potential health risk if used wrong, relatively plain design
The Bottom Line: Before buying this shoe, make sure you know the limitations and take it easy at first! (v5.0.2 is slightly better)
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| theuerkorn's Full Review: Nike Free 5.0 |
I just recently became aware of Nike's new running shoe that apparently was inspired by athletes who prefer bare foot running to strengthen muscles that otherwise are supported by typical shoes and may not get as much training as desired. So here goes my adventure into the world of "professional athletes" at least by claim of the advertisement ...
WHO NEEDS IT AND WHO DOESN'T?
Nike's Free 5.0 is a pure running shoe and due to the intentional lack of side support rather dangerous for other sports that require good ankle support. (Check out the "Trainer" version for those purposes.) Further, it's also not a good idea to take these shoes out on a rough running track in the woods or other bumpy surfaces unless you're fully prepared for it. (My forest trail has lots of debris on it that the Free 5.0 are very sensitive to.)
I have to say they make very comfortable "loafers", since they're very lightweight and practically mold to your feet. However, that lofty feeling may be sharply interrupted when stubbing your toe, since the tip has virtually no protection for your toe. However, I don't wear sports shoes around town anyway.
Most casual runners (like myself, 2 to 3 times per week) should be very careful when switching to the Nike Free 5.0 shoes as the lack of virtually any side support may put you at risk of a torn ligament or other ankle injury. If just picking up running, it might be better to start off with traditional design shoes rather than being too ambitious and jumping right into the Nike Free 5.0 (or 4.5).
FEATURES
Tread: The sole design is relatively flat and only divided by different size grooves that cut the "rubber" into defined rectangular segments. The thin sections between the segments provide the special flexibility that allows for the sole to deflect with your foot. In essence the sole becomes a mere buffer between your foot and the ground but does not provide much stability -- on purpose. This becomes especially clear when running on uneven ground, and the foot tends to "kink" due to the "lack" of support. Further, fine gravel has the tendency to get "stuck" in the deep grooves, especially in the presence of mud acting as "glue".
Impact: The sole design does not hold any trickery from "more advanced" running shoes that address the shock impact when running on hard surfaces. While the cushioning is great at first, it feels a little spongy rather than damped. (unlike the Brooks Hydroflow technology or similar)
Upper: The upper part of the shoe is made of flexible fabric that stretches and basically fits like a glove or sock). In fact, the perforation in the upper material probably even provides similar ventilation as running in socks only. With the material being soft and flexible, the support is minimal for side to side motion and ultimately less suitable for sports like tennis. In fact, the heel is a very thin mesh with practically no support whatsoever. The tongue is seamless integrated in the upper part.
Insole: The included 5.0 insoles provide excellent arch support for normal feet. There is a second set included. They're labeled 4.5 and the main difference appears to be limited to less arch support and slightly less cushioning in the heel area. Nothing in the included flyer even remotely discusses the use of these insoles and their rating. I assume it's for feet with a lower arch? (see end of this review for updates)
Fit: I typically wear size 10.5 and the Free 5.0 fits comfortably snug in size 11. That's expected from running shoes to be slightly "undersized". The soft material makes it still very comfortable. Overall fit is best described by the overused term: "like a glove". ;-)
Gender: There is apparently a difference between the Free 5.0 for women and for men, though neither box, nor shoe or even the included flyer indicate the version you're holding in your hand. As a clue, colors are gender specific and of course you can always make sure that you pick from the right shelf in the store. ;-)
Durability: With a highly flexible sole and very thin mesh in the heel area, concerns about a fast wear for these shoes are well founded. To reduce chances of breaking the heel mesh, always use the loop rather than the upper seam to pull on the shoe. Further, heavy terrain with lots of little rocks and sticks have a good chance of splitting the sole or ripping the upper with abusive use.
MY EXPERIENCE
Falling for Nike's (excellent) advertisement, I got these shoes against the strong objection of my wife (a doctor of physical therapy). In the end it turns out that some of her concerns were actually nicely addressed in the design which is not obvious at first glance. The cushioning of the sole is excellent and the arch support feels perfect (with the 5.0 insole). The shoes are very light weight, and the absence of any hard seam is a welcome change for my feet that usually get roughed up by some stiff joining point causing a sore spot the first time using almost any shoe (especially for running). With all the claims about running like bare foot, it feels very supportive at first.
Beyond the pleasant surprise, I am still puzzled what the "mysterious" 5.0 is supposed to mean and especially what the included 4.5 insoles are for. No such information was included nor was it available on the www.nike.com/nikefree website. I guess you have to be "in the know". Further, the shoe has relatively limited use and cannot be recommended beyond running on flat tracks if you don't want to risk serious injuries to your ankles (at least in the beginning). Even if using it for running, be aware that there is an "adjustment period" to get to know these sneakers. Make sure to follow the recommendations on how to get started!
Within its scope, the Nike Free 5.0 is a strikingly simple idea with great impact, but mostly should be considered by serious runners only. Occasional or improper use might potentially hurt more than the supposed benefit is worth.
© 2005, theuerkorn
UPDATE [11-JUN-2005]: Thanks to nikefreak for clarifying the insole mystery: "The numbers correspond to a range where the bare foot is a zero and Nike's most technological running shoe is a ten. The Free 5.0 would be right in the middle ..."
UPDATE [27-AUG-2005]: I guess my wife is going to do the victory dance as I recently switched back to more supportive running shoes. The reason for this change was that my ankles started to hurt after running (more than usual) and sure enough it got better after changing shoes. This may be due to the forest trail I am using for my running, but it became clear that the support of advanced running shoes was developed for a reason.
UPDATE [5-AUG-2006]: I just found the new Free 5.0.2 in the store and itappears that everything remained pretty much the same with one exception. The "fragile" mesh in the heel area has been replaced with a more sturdy seeming (i.e. thicker elastic) material. That should cover one major problem area, but other concerns still remain. (I decided in favor of the Nike Free 7.0 which not only provide a reworked heel area but also some lateral (side) stability. For cross training and casual runner like myself that's a great improvement over the Free 5.0.)
Recommended:
Yes
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