here is one thing that comes to mind whenever you the see the swoosh sign on any footwear; Nike! As one of the best shoe manufacturers in the world, this American multinational is still giving fashion-forward people, fitness enthusiasts, and professional athletes the premium quality that make them treat their shoe collections as favorite.
Nike constantly improves its men’s collection of footwear, sports equipment, accessories, and apparel, with a team of designers, developers, and innovators which make up the brand.
The merchandising of Nike footwear is a valuable business in the sports industry, thus it’s considered to be one of the largest athletic shoe suppliers globally.
One of the most popular footwear in the market is the Nike running shoe brand. There is always a pair that will meet your specific need, whether you choose to get a pair for performance running, racing or daily training.
For Nike to keep up with the rising standards and demands of both beginners and professional athletes, they continually step up their game by releasing ground-breaking shoe technologies yearly.
A good proof of the brands long decades of presence is its wide selection of men’s footwear especially when it comes to keeping athletes prepared for every sport or activity, particularly running.
For over half a century, the company, Nike has been producing quality footwear that has landed crucial awards, great reviews from top critics, top athletes and the media.
Nike doesn’t disappoint in delivering premium collections, in terms of performance, comfort, and style. Every year its super collections ultimately find their way in more or less 100, 000 shoe reviews from the running community online.
Nike is considered one of the go-to brands for beginners or seasoned athletes when it comes to performance footwear.
Thus, you’ll be finding out how they got to the number one position.
What makes Nike the leading running shoe brand?
Nike has been able to build a brand among successful professional athletes; Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Roger Federa, etc. which is more of an image perception. They make their customers believe that Nike is a brand for winners.
Apparently, this kind of marketing sells into the customer’s subconscious thereby building an Ideology around using the Nike running shoes more than other shoe brands.
Even though Nike doesn’t lay much emphasis on the aesthetics of their running shoes, they surely do a lot to their running shoe designs which in different forms. Nike continually develops a wide range of groundbreaking technologies to provide every runner with an improved experience on the trail or on the road.
Nike has popular technologies that make it the leading running shoe brand; The Nike Max Air is framed to give runners maximum safety during landing. The Nike Flywire offers enhanced food security, which helps you hold the foot in place while running. The Nike Zoom Air gives this close to the ground feel, flexibility, stability, agility.
The Nike Free helps your body performance while making you move freely. The Nike Flyknit s engineered to deliver seamless foot coverage, lightweight, and formfitting. The Nike Shield is a treatment which stops water from entering the shoe when running on wet or rainy conditions. It also offers extra foot protection on windy or cold weather without affecting ventilation.
You can’t talk about Nike’s marketing strategy without talking about the vivid simplicity of two key components: the “Just Do It” slogan and “the swoosh” logo. The swoosh logo was first formed in the early 1970s when its company co-founder Phil Knight was searching for a logo for his new brand.
The first shoes containing the “swoosh” debuted at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, in the summer of 1972. The slogan was first introduced in 1988 as part of a Nike marketing campaign that required distinguishing Nike from competitors, such as Reebok, who were only concentrating on the aerobics craze.
Nike’s tough, hard-hitting campaign was opened to any specific age or gender segment. The motivational nature of the slogan enables Nike as not only an athletic brand but also a fashion and lifestyle statement.
What are the benefits of wearing running shoes when running?
Running is an activity that leads to things like a decrease in body weight and blood pressure. It also causes an increase in lung capacity. Since running is an energy consuming activity, you can as well get good running shoes while at it because they’ll come in handy.
One of the things running shoes do for you is cushioning your midsole foot. In case you don’t know, the midsole foot is the area located between the heel and ball foot. When you’re running, there is stress on your ankles, toes, and heels.
Putting on a running shoe, in this case, helps you reduce the stress on all these areas. The cushioning effect the running shoe provides makes running safer and more comfortable. It goes as far as reducing or preventing hip, back and knee pain which enhance the body mechanics.
If you think that’s not enough, then you should know that running shoes help arch support especially for individuals with flat feet that tend to engage in regular exercise routines. The reason why flat-footed runners benefit a lot from the running shoes is that the high arches that come with it provide them with the right kind of support they need while running.
You should also know that running shoes help to prevent certain types of injury. Running shoes have an outsole protection that assists in reducing the risk for scrapes and cuts to more serious injuries like stress fractures, joint pain, and tendonitis.
When you use good running shoes, it improves your performance as an athlete. This is because running shoes give you an improved running capacity and so much comfort you need to achieve great results on the track as an athlete.
Can I wear running shoes at other times?
Before this question is answered, you need to know that running and walking may seem similar but they are different activities that need their own specialized footwear. If you decide to take a walk to the shopping mall, while you’re at it, what you’re actually doing is impacting the ground with about 1.5 times your weight.
But when you run to the shopping mall, you impact the ground with 3 times your body weight.
A lot of runners land on either their mid-foot, the ball of the foot or their heel while walkers, tend to land on their heel. Once they land on their heel, the weight rolls down to the toe through the ball of the foot.
It’s this action that permits your feet to absorb about 1.5 times your body weight and aid the even distribution of your body weight to the foot. Another thing that occurs is when you’re walking there are points where your feet are on the ground at the same time. This results in the weight division and this doesn’t occur when you run.
Now, it’s safe to say that shoes reflect the differences in these activities because walking shoes assist the foot roll forward naturally. Walking shoes also have undercut heels and more flex that enhance comfort and allow a better range of forefoot motion.
Since you’re walking, you’d need a motion control shoe and walking shoes have the right flexibility at the arch to support you where your force is the heaviest. For running, running shoes are adequately cushioned in the heel and forefoot which is irrelevant in walking shoes.
Running shoes also have a mesh that promotes breathability when you’re running. Thus, wearing your running shoes at other times is a bad idea because it can’t meet your needs for another activity that isn’t running.
Hang on here. You’ll see the top 12 Nike running shoes for men.
1) Nike Revolution 3 Running Shoes
No doubt, if you are a trendy bloke, getting one of these running shoes will obviously revolutionize your look and feel. After all, it’s the “men’s revolution.” It didn’t get the name for nothing. The Men’s revolution 3 has got a revolutionary look and feel.
This footwear comes with a well-designed fluff in the midsole which produces a solid blend of efficiency and comfort. This molded foam is responsible for the very popular bouncy feel in the black Nike running shoes. Thus, the Nike running shoes for men will help your layups when playing basketball with your friends.
When wearing this footwear you get this enhanced flexibility, excellent traction, and maximum durability got from the rubber outsole. Also, the ‘mixed mesh material’ at the upper unit of the Nike running shoes gives your skin this silken and smooth feeling.
The Nike Revolution 3 is sturdily built, reasonably priced, and cleverly designed black Nike running shoe that’s perfect for people who are looking for an excellent energy return and high comfortability. The running shoe has a spacious toe-box, making it fit for wide-footers as well.
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- The Nike Revolution 3 is one of the most comfortable running shoes you will ever run with.
- Your feet stay cool and dry during runs, due to the breathable mesh upper.
- This running shoe is priced reasonably.
- Some customers complain that the sole wears out quickly and a few components fall off after a few uses.
2) Nike Free RN Running Shoes
Beauty is an understatement with this running shoe. This running shoe can be rocked comfortably on a track and field event. Its name says it all. You can only be free using these beautiful Nike running shoes.
The Nike men running shoes have a redesigned sole unit with a pattern that enlarges and moves along with the natural movement of your foot. This makes your underfoot cushioning more synchronized to your needs. With this Men’s Free RN running shoe you can run naturally without any barriers plus it makes increases your confidence as a runner because of its solid construction and durability.
When running in this shoe, you’ll feel a breathable support on your feet. Thus, you’ll able to receive a well-ventilated running experience. The Flywire cables on the footwear will give you a customizable fit which is connected directly to the shoelaces.
This Nike trail running shoes deliver durable protection against wear and tear because of the rubber segments under the toe and the heel sections of the footwear’s outsole unit.
You will get breathable coverage, responsive cushioning, and natural flexibility from the Nike Free RN running shoes. Its high-quality components ensure you enjoy your comfort while running and performing other activities.
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- It has durable Flywire cables that deliver an adaptive fit that’s modified to your taste.
- There are many color schemes for this particular product, thus it allows you to have more options.
- Some few runners mentioned that the upper unit wore out on them after a few months of usage.
- The minimalist design of this shoe doesn’t allow it to last longer.
3) Nike Air Monarch IV Cross Trainers
If you’ve ever seen the “late Steve Jobs” on his black top and blue denim, in the early 2000s after he had returned back to Apple, you must’ve noticed him wearing the old version of these running shoes. It shouldn’t be surprising considering the fact he was always walking around the Apple HQ ensuring his team was working hard to release the then “iPod.”
How time flies right?
Today, we still have “walkaholics” that love being comfortable all day, walking from one floor to other getting things organized.
Who says you have to be a runner to rock these ones?
The Nike Men’s Air Monarch IV trainer is quite similar to its predecessor. Both the past and present models have a leather higher unit and it uses the Air-Sole Technology for shock absorption and cushioning.
Also,, it has a solid outside rubber outsole which is built to provide protection and traction on polished floors.
The Nike Air Monarch IV enjoyed a lot of patronage from many training enthusiasts who liked how comfortable the footwear felt, especially for their day-day activities. Also, the running shoe comes in different width size to fit different foot types.
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- The Nike Air Monarch IV is a very comfortable trainer.
- The shoe’s durable, reliable and it’s great for everyday walking.
- One of the biggest concerns that people have with the Air Monarch IV is the squeaky noise made by the midsole after some time of use.
- The toe box of the running shoes is quite narrow, thus it causes pinched pinky toes for some users.
4) Nike Revolution 4 Running Shoes
We can call this “the sequel of the Revolution 3.” Like its big brother, it’s quite beautiful. It looks well knitted with a lovely aesthetic. By now, it’s no surprise that the Nike Revolution 4 is an upgrade to the Revolution 3. Thus, when it comes to the design, Revolution 4 bears a big similarity to its predecessor.
However, it has a few updates that are noticeable to the naked eye.
The upper unit of the running shoes features a thin layer of synthetic material that aims to keep the foot in place and cuddle the foot. Also, it has a central silhouette which is made up of a tightly woven mesh.
The laces of the footwear are non-adjustable. Instead, it’s made up of a zipper that goes down from the heel to the collar. Also, the Velcro strap is lined, crosswise the instep saving you the stress of always tying shoelaces.
In the Nike Revolution 4, there is a soft midsole compound which was also in the Revolution 3. The cushion of the heel section of the running shoes is slightly thicker than the forefoot. The cushion prevents heel-strike. It also aids with the driving power of the forefoot lift.
The rubber pods covering the major compartments of the shoes help in providing traction and shielding it from wear and tear.
The lightweight nature and visual design is something you can’t help but notice when you wear the Nike Revolution 4.
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- The Nike Revolution 4 has a beautiful visual design.
- It’s very suitable for people with injured feet, because of its simple zipper system.
- It’s a lightweight.
- The velcro is way too short.
- The laces are not adjustable, thus you can tighten it or loosen it.
5) Nike Air Max Torch 4 Running Shoes
The Men’s Air Max Torch 4 is one of the best Nike running shoes in the market. But then again, does it have what it takes to be the best in the market?
If we were to read your mind now, we will see that one of the main requirements you check out for when you are considering a running shoe is the comfort. Thus, if your running shoes don’t give you the right feelings while running or walking, you might have sore feet, causing you to limp halfway through your journey.
That’s why the Torch 4 is a good option anytime, despite its awkward appearance.
Another good thing about these comfortable running shoes is that it provides the right support, holding your arches at the right height. Thus you can be rest assured that you’ll not be putting yourself at risk of different kinds of injuries that regularly target the ankles.
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- The variation of colors available for these shoes makes it appealingly attractive.
- The fabric at the upper unit is smooth and not irritating to the skin.
- The underfoot cushioning is springy and responsive in performance.
- The shoes look awkward and bulky, thus it doesn’t make it visually endearing.
6) Nike Flex Experience 7 Running Shoes
If you are like one of those b-boys or dancers in the popular Hollywood Box Office film “Step Up,” then this footwear will be the best bet for you. Or if you are a high jumper, probably preparing for the next Olympic, you won’t have made the wrong choice to buy this beautiful footwear.
The name “Flex” says it all already right?
This running shoe is well optimized for maximum flexibility when walking or running. The majority of the upper part is beautifully knitted and the heel part has a loose mesh to improve the breathability of your feet.
The midsole also serves as the outsole in the footwear. Also, there is a soft cushioning for your foot because of the injected foam that runs through the entire length of the product. It also provides traction.
The footwear has a solid grip because of its diamond patterns and hexagonal grooves. Also, there are rubber nodes available in the high-wear parts of the forefoot and heel that help reduce wear and tear.
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- The quality of the parts looks durable.
- The Price is quite affordable.
- The midsole is unresponsive and a little bit tough.
- The foam isn’t palpable or efficient enough.
7) Nike Tanjun Sneakers
This fashionable sneaker doesn’t just have wonderful looks, but it’s made with an impressive breathable textile upper and comfortable lightweight cushioning to help support your heels while running. The sneaker has a dimension of 5 x 5 x 0.7 inches and weighs 0.75 Lbs.
The word Tanjun in the name of this sneaker is a Japanese word for simplicity which is what this footwear is. It usually comes in different colors. This sneaker has a rubber sole and shaft that measures about 3.2 inches from the arch.
Also, the foam midsole of this footwear offers a lightweight cushioning and the midsoles are strong enough to serve as outsoles. The midsole of this Tanjun sneaker possesses a soft fluff. Also, the outsole comes with an ability to give a daylong comfort to your feet.
The Nike Tanjun has injected unit soles that provide lightweight cushioning.
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- The shoes are really comfortable.
- The upper mesh of the shoe enhances breathability.
- The shoes are very light.
- They don’t get dirty easily.
- The width of the shoe is quite narrow.
- It doesn’t have removable insoles.
- The toe area wears off quickly.
- The traction at the bottom of the shoe wears out quickly.
- It doesn’t run true to size.
8) Nike Lunarglide 8 Running Shoes
The Nike Lunarglide 8 is a sneaker that has a single-layer engineered mesh throughout the upper part of the shoe. The idea behind this is to provide support and ventilation where it’s needed the most. This footwear weighs 3 Lbs and has a dimension of 12 x 8 x 0.7 inches.
This footwear has a partial bootie construction that helps to wrap the foot in order to provide a sock-like fit and enhance breathability. The Nike Lunarglide has molded pods that offer multi-surface traction.
The design of the pod helps to deflect in at impact and spring back thereby creating a piston effect that provides responsive cushioning. It also has a laser cut forefoot that improves transition through foot strike.
This sneaker has a Lunarlon foam midsole that uses softer injected phylon core foam that’s directly underfoot. This is a dynamic support platform that gives comfortable stability without the toughness of a traditional medial post or added weight.
The interior of this footwear has a sock liner that’s molded to look like your foot to give a more natural feel.
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- It works for Achilles and ankle pain.
- It’s really comfortable.
- It enhances breathability.
- They’re very light.
- It runs true to size.
- The thread picks up pebble and debris easily.
- The bottom has no grip.
- The shoe laces are quite short.
9) Nike Presto Fly Running Shoes
The Nike Men’s Presto fly running shoes is another amazing collection that is made of synthetic material. This lightweight shoe weighs 2 Lbs with a dimension of 11 x 7 x 0.5 inches. The sole of this shoe is made up of a synthetic material as well. The Presto fly running shoes have rubber pods at the heel and toe for a long-lasting traction. Also, it has a heel pull tab that makes the shoe easy to wear and putt off.
For lightweight cushioning, Nike did an IU midsole that doubles as an outsole. This shoe also has an upper stretch mesh with TPU in the toe and heel to enhance breathable support. When it comes to the laces, you’d observe that a flywire cable integrates with it. The reason why this was done is to ensure a dynamic lockdown.
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- It’s a lightweight shoe.
- It’s extremely breathable.
- It’s quite comfortable.
- It has a heel pull tab feature that makes it easy to wear and put off.
- The shoe looks great.
- It has a T-shirt feel on the feet.
- The shoe isn’t durable.
- There’s no customization option.
10) Nike Air Max Tavas Running Shoes
The Nike Air Max Tavas running shoes are attractive and perfect for anyone that desires footwear that can easily transition from play, work, and fitness. This shoe weighs 3 Lbs with a dimension of 10 x 4 x 6 inches. The aesthetics of this shoe is nice and it’s durable with a lightweight.
This shoe has a seamless and streamlined look with uppers that have different patches of different textured fabrics covering the mesh. It’s obvious that a lot of work was put into this shoe with its completely stitch-free upper. This feature enhances the aesthetic appeal of the Tavas. If you love an effortless bounce while running then this shoe is for you because it has responsive soles that offer a bit of bounce and high speed when you’re running.
This footwear comes in so many colors hence, you can be sure that you’d find the right color that suits your preference. The construction of the sole and upper is strong and this gives you a hard wearing silhouette that works for movements. Talking about grip, the Tavas has a smart tread pattern underneath it that helps plant your feet firmly on any terrain. It also has a widely spaced embossed rectangular area that combines with the widely spaced lines located along the mid-foot region work. This helps to give a good grip while you’re running.
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- It’s a lightweight build shoe.
- The aesthetics are top-notch.
- The shoe has durability.
- It’s comfortable.
- The shoe has Max Air cushions inside that help reduce fatigue.
- The soles help your feet to be stable.
- It has no-sew overlays that tend to peel off after some time.
- Compared to the other interiors, the mid-foot region isn’t so comfortable.
11) Nike Flex RN 2018 Running Shoes
The Nike Flex 2018 is another shoe that has a dynamic heel design. This shoe weighs 1 Lbs and has a dimension of 12 x 1 x 10 inches. This shoe has a tri-star outsole pattern that has helped runners adapt to the terrain. This flexible shoe has grooves that give exceptional grip and traction. It also has hard carbon components at the heel and toe to give it durability irrespective of the type of workout.
This shoe has impressive Phylon foam that helps the midsole to have a consistent layer of cushioning. One of the interesting things about this shoe is it has a double level cushioning system that helps runners have a smooth movement. The upper is extremely light with a mesh that’s quite breathable. It has a sock-like fit with so much comfort.
Due to how light this shoe is, athletes will feel light even after rigorous exercises. The Nike Flex 218 has a unique design and beautiful color options that appeal to most fashion experts. As long as you don’t plan on plying difficult trail runs, this shoe will hold up fine and serve its purpose. It’ll also protect your feet from overheating and unwanted blisters thanks to the extra padding. The shoe is quite responsive when it comes to running performances
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- It’s versatile.
- It’s quite breathable.
- It’s durable.
- It’s comfortable.
- It’s affordable.
- It has a wide range of great color options.
- It’s not true to size.
- The front is tight as a result of the narrow design.
12) Nike Retaliation Cross Trainers
The Nike Retaliation Cross Training shoe is a fantastic shoe that has a mesh construction for breathability. It weighs 3 Lbs with a dimension of 10 x 4 x 6 inches. The material used to make this shoe is synthetic and it has an upper mesh that was carefully designed to allow breathability. It has flywire cables that help the lace to have a dynamic lock-down fit and a lace-up closure for a secure fit.
The Nike Retaliation has a rubber toe tip that ensures durability and a good grip during training. It has dual density foam that is responsible for its lightweight cushioning. The outsole of this footwear has a rubber that is strategically placed on it to offer multi-surface grip. This shoe is a comfortable fit because of the sandwich mesh tongue and collar.
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- It’s very comfortable.
- It’s suitable for indoor and outdoor training.
- It has a nice style.
- The shoe has a toe box that’s narrow.
- It feels hard on the foot.
Final Thoughts
No doubt, all of the 12 Nike running shoes for men, showed in this post have been an eye-opener. They all have different designs, prices, and design comfortably level.
However, the post has helped you narrow your guess. All it takes it getting the perfect running shoes and you are good to go.
