Week Seven

For my review I chose my shoes, the Nike Free Everyday 2+. I purchased these shoes in August of 2009, and as such they are no longer available for purchase. However, I felt a review of them was in order, as I can now comfortable and assuredly give a well-informed and knowledgeable review of them. I am evaluating this product as my personal response to the media buzz and social popularity and impact they had upon the running world.

When the first pair of Nike Frees came out, there was more talk about them than actual sales. Though not an original idea, Nike was the first major running shoe company to produce a “barefoot” running shoe. The concept comes from scientific studies which show that advancements in shoe technology has allowed our form as a species to degrade to a point where we are hurting ourselves more than helping. Runners are landing primarily on the heel, and then pushing off hard with the toes. This adds extra stress to the knees in the shock of body weight being slammed down onto cement or concrete. Barefoot running draws its roots from the primitive form of running, which is the natural way our bodies have been designed to run, landing upon the ball of the foot and barely pushing off. It is a much lighter and more efficient way to run, employing even the use of gravity by the lean forward, shifting the center of balance forward of the feet. The Nike Free helps promote this action by strengthening the arch of the foot and being incredibly flexible.

            Due to the large amount of press and hype the Nike Free produced, Nike went on to redesign the shoe again and again, creating the Free2, Free v. 3.0, Free v. 4.0, Free 5.0, Free 6.0, and Free 7.0. They also produced a Free Everyday and a Free Everyday 2+, which are designed for strengthening the arch while walking, without sacrificing any of the flexibility of the original Free.

            I purchased a pair of Everyday 2+ mainly because most of my friends had them, and had nothing but good things to say about them. I was also in sore need of a new pair of shoes, as my old ones had worn out faster than expected. I chose the Everyday 2+ over the Free 5.0 because I have a tendency to over pronate when I run, which means I run slightly on the outside sides of my feet, rather than flat on the bottom. This condition requires minor weights in my running shoes, which doesn’t fix the problem, but creates a desire for my feet to run correctly. The weight is added through the use of a denser foam on the inside of my running shoes, which the Free 5.0 did not offer. So I went with the Everyday 2+.

            Initially, I was quite satisfied with my purchase. Nike’s website was well organized, with many different fields for easy quick navigation, and a multitude of search refining options. The delivery occurred within a week, and I was eager to try them out as an everyday shoe. The first week of wearing them was a bit uncomfortable, and my feet where usually sore after a full day. I believe this to be a problem of my arch being pitifully weak before wear these shoes, as the problem receded and vanished within two weeks. The exterior was quite ascetically pleasing, with a few suggestive curves of fabric in a simple dark grey, light grey, blue color scheme. The mesh used as a cover for your foot is very breathable, almost translucent fabric that somehow manages to hold enough heat in to keep feet warm for decently long periods of time in the winter, but cool and dry during the summer. The flat laces that come with the shoe allow for quick and easy knots that stay tied through extended use. The sole is ridiculously flexible, allowing me to touch the toe backwards to the heel. The comfort of the shoe after two weeks is also notable. For the first ten miles, the sole has a very soft and pliable upper foam. Assuming only one person wears the shoes for this period of time, the foam with mold itself to the person’s foot, similar to how a wet sponge will yield to any applied pressure. After the first ten miles, the foam will harden like a dry sponge to form a rigid structure perfectly molded to the owners own feet. Dr Scholls be jealous.

            As far as lifetime of the shoe, I have worn this shoe almost exclusively for every day since August of 2009. That’s around 550 days, give or take. The shoes are still entirely wearable, with no serious structural defects. There are minor tears on the inside, where the fabric is pulling the upper foam off of the lower foam, but these are less than ¼ inch long, and pose no immediate threat to the overall shoe. The sole shows obvious signs of extensive wear, and there is slight discoloration on the fabric, but that comes from excessive use. I could not be happier with the shoes overall durability and strength. I have been through blizzards, mud bogs, sand dunes, grassy fields, the streets of New York City, and everything in between in them.

            One last thing I have to mention is the cost. These shoes were not cheap, costing me about $140, including $30 shipping & handling. However, they were well worth the cost, as I will foreseeably get two full years of use out of them without needing a replacement. While a large initial investment, I fully recommend these shoes to anyone interested in extreme comfort without slacking in the classy department.