Pillows for Your Feet
Written: Apr 26 '04 (Updated Apr 27 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Incredible, responsive cushioning, great traction, durability of Shox columns
Cons: Not for every runner, radical look (which I love)
The Bottom Line: Buy these shoes if you want incredible cushioning and great looks in one cool package
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| nikefreak's Full Review: Nike Shox TL Running Men's |
Now, you probably are looking at this shoe and saying, "This is seriously bugged out!" by the way it looks. This is the first Nike running shoe to put full-length Shox in the midsole and boy, does it perform.
Let's wander to the upper, which is mesh, supported by TPU (thermo-plastic urethane) injected overlays. This provides a very breathable upper, with lightweight support added to it. The lacing system is a full Gilly system that provides an anatomical fit across the top of the foot. People probably just look at the Shox platform and think that everything there is just for show. Think again. These eleven independent columns are placed in the exact spots where your foot needs them. The four heel columns place a premium on heel cushioning and are shaped perfectly to promote a good heel-to-toe transition. The large Shox column in the middle of the foot eases the transition to the front Shox columns, that are placed and rounded to how your toes fit in the toebox of the forefoot. The entire time you are running, you will probably feel the most responsive ride ever. You can actually feel the Shox columns depress on the ground, then spring back up to cushion your foot. It is an incredible sensation and makes you want to continue running forever. Having a shoe that provides instant reactions to your foot movement is an advantage worth noting.
Nonetheless, if you don't have a good outsole, the rest is pointless, and thankfully Nike put a full-length injected Waffle outsole on the bottom to provide tremendous traction and durability. The Waffle outsole was invented by Bill Bowerman, the architect of a lot of successful Nike running shoes. This outsole is one of Nike's most popular outsoles and is used on a variety of shoes.
Now the only people I see not liking this shoe are people who overpronate a lot, which is excess roll of the foot after the intial footstrike. They will probably want a more motion control shoe, such as the excellent Nike Air Kantara II. This provides more arch support and stability. But if you are looking for a running shoe to provide unsurpassed cushioning and response, look no further than the Shox TL. I promise you will love the ride and response. Also, don't be concerned about durability. The Shox columns have been tested to last at least 10,000 miles. You better be running marathons everyday in order to wear these babies out.
Now, when I put these on and started to run in them, the break-in time was perfect. No waiting for these to start feeling good. From the moment my feet hit the pavement, they felt tremendously responsive and cushy. But not so soft as to have no stability or support. The mesh inner feels great against the foot, with no seams anywhere as to chafe your foot. Having a great mesh upper helped breathability when temps hit the high 80's, with 85% humidity. After a run, I never felt like I had bricks on my feet or that my feet were absolutely soaked with sweat, because the mesh did such a good job of dissipating the moisture. Durability-wise, I run between 3-5 miles a day, 5-10 on the weekends. The outsole is great, no ripping or tearing anywhere. Of course, you are going to see the standard little nubs rub off, but that is inevitable during the first week of running. I have had these shoes for about 6 months and they are still going strong. And add those miles up and that is pretty durable in my mind.
One note-I do have to mention the price, which is steep at $150. But these shoes aren't built for the core or casual runner. These are for serious athletes looking for the best in cushioning and durability. So, if a walk to the fridge is a big deal to you, don't buy these shoes; you'll be wasting your money and the innovative technology in the shoe.
Recommended:
Yes
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