Nike Flyknit Racer

Top view of the Nike Flyknit Racer running shoe

Bottom view of the Nike Flyknit Racer running shoe

Editor rating: 8.8 / 10

User's rating: based on 6 user ratings

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By Brian Price

Editor’s Conclusion

Nike Flyknit Racer Review Facts

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The Nike Flyknit Racer was first introduced in February of 2012. Cleverly designed to slide right onto your feet like a sock, this shoe kicked off in popularity due to its athletic performances. Thanks to Nikes’ research team, they strategically made it feel that way through knitted polyester fabric. With suggestions from what customers wanted in a shoe, the Nike Flyknit Racer was born. A master of all, several copycats wanted their name in the game. Although moderately successful, the original remains king.

It is notable the similarities the Flyknit material has to Adidas Primeknit. With the original being the Flyknit, it seems to have an edge over the competitor through trial and error. This certainly showed when the Flyknit Racer was released and exceeded expectations, especially for marathon runners who want a lightweight minimalistic feel without compromising in any significant way in regards to the comfort and underfoot support. If you're about maximum speed, you will love these. See what we thought about its overall performance, below.

Editor's Pros & Cons

Pros

Built for marathons
Sock-light texture
Lightweight
Great design
Abundance of colors to choose from

Cons

Few report small holes in outsole after months of use
Pricey

Outsole

Part of the traction foundation is the outsole. With carbon rubber being the first thing to hit the floor, you feel the advantages with every step as you glide through the track. The outsole on this shoe is "basically"a road design, or flat, hard surfaces such as track and concrete. The design is effective to say the least, but is more or less standard with no real incorporations to its performance. Just don't expect this mild outsole to perform anywhere near decent on trail or dirt terrain.

Midsole

Perhaps the most important part of any racing shoe is the midsole. This brings the balance and stance needed to surpass nearly any activity that requires precision. This racer hits the mark. There is a cushion insert that runs the length of the midsole. This gives an adequate amount of cushioning so bouncing and hard-stepping won't be as much of an issue for runners who push i to the limit. Not only is the midsole a comfort factor, but its one of the more highly commended shoes for responsiveness. We can be thankful for Nike's choice to use the popular Phylon rubber.

Upper

Thanks to knitted polyester fabric, the upper part of the shoe makes its image. With a numerous amounts of colors to choose from, you will enjoy what the Nike Flyknit Racer has to offer according to your taste. Looks aren't the half of it. The signature flyknit upper is extremely breathable, durable and lightweight making it a favorite for arguably this very reason

Weight

Built for running - the Nike Flyknit Racer weighs 6.2 oz. Easily able to maneuver around the track with ease. You will never worry about your feet tiring thanks to the extreme lightness of this shoe. It's lightweight build wasn't an after affect. It's the result of years of testing performance and materials of different athletic shoes to come up with a perfect alternative to overlays and bulky support. The flyknit models are made to be the exact opposite of bulky. You will have a hard time finding any quality running shoe that weighs less.

Breathability

The Nike Flyknit Racer has certain areas where it's designed to be more flexible. One downside from some reviews is that the toe box of the show is a bit narrow. From suggestions, they mentioned to order one size up your usual size. This will give you a bit more room in the area.

Comfort

Perhaps a goldmine when it comes to being comfortable while active. The Flyknit are designed to care for your feet so they won't feel sore after a long day. Although wearing one size up your normal size is recommended, you will notice the differences immediately.

Style

The style is godsend in the fashion community. You have a wide selection of vibrant colors when in the market looking for something more presentable. If you want to be apart of the trend of stylish shoes, the Flyknit Racers are the way to go.

Durability

Let's face it. This shoe doesn't pride itself on its durability and ability to take a massive beating. Yes, the flyknit is tough for what it is, but it's certainly not leather. Depending on the activity, the durability is remarkable. This means if you are on sidewalk track or similar you'll be okay with a shoe that lasts as long as any other in its class. When you want to focus on a quick mile run, you can bet you’ll be satisfied with the way the shoe works. But the moment you take it off road in even the easiest trail you will learn how narrow its capabilities are. Mud and water will get in, and snagged branches will occur. The mesh is easily severed by sharp rocks and impact protection from the upper is minimal. If you plan to run on trails, see what Salomon has to offer.

Protection

Because of the threading used in the Nike Flyknit, the protection isn't as reliable as other shoes. Racing should be only used for just that, racing. It is not recommended to do other activities, such as rock climbing, or taking a walk through the forest.

Responsiveness

The Flyknit Racers’ responsiveness is everlasting. Thanks to the lightness of the shoe, the energy with every step will be unleveled with every step. You will not find any problems with lost energy when briskly active. As mentioned previously, the midsole material lends a hand in giving optimal responsiveness to this already well performing running shoe.

Support

Although the support from this shoe isn’t that great, it still holds its own when it comes to the basics when it comes to running. The Flyknit Racer is designed for speed and mobility, unfortunately, you’ll have to look elsewhere for a more supportive shoe.

Terrain

The road. The type of terrain best suited for the Nike Flyknit Racer is the road. You will have no problem moving swiftly through any street. Although you can also get away with the beach, an oasis, maybe even a hill - but, the road is the optimal way.

Price

The Nike Flyknit Racer is often listed for $150. Some days you may see it on sale for 20% off. The shoe may be a bit pricey, but when it comes to performance, the long term benefits far outweigh the one time cost of the Flyknit Racer.

Traction

Used on the recommended surface for the terrain, the traction is best suited for the road. This is where the Flyknit Racer excels, any problem you see ahead with these shoes on, the obstacle holds no contest against this beast.

Flexibility

From reviewers’ suggestions, you would get an even further performance in flexibility if you spent 5-10 minutes stretching beforehand. As with any strenuous activity, stretching is ideal. But because of the Nike Flyknit Racer, you’ll far exceed past any expectations you’d get from any racing shoe. The Flyknit Racer can deliver.

Stability

Like Flexibility, the Nike Flyknit Racer stability meter is going up off the charts. With any racing shoe, you want speed, mobility, and the intention to crush your racing goals. In action, you will be surprised at how easy it is to move around.

Drop

The heel to toe drop may be 10mm, with the end result in mind, the 10mm awareness will not be an issue. With the Nike Flyknit Racer, you will not find any faults while striding along your path. If you're used to standard shoes and never delved into the world of running shoe types deeply, you may want to stick to a drop of 10mm to 12mm. If you are a low drop or minimalist, we have a complete guide for those types as well.

Key Features

• Extremely lightweight
• Slides on like a sock
• Great traction when running
• Popular amongst the fashion community

Bottom Line

When it's time to go out onto the track field, prepare for long distance running, or just want to look fashionable, the Nike Flyknit Racer is the way to go. The first thing you notice when trying it on is its comfortability. It slides on effortlessly as it should, like a sock. Take a few steps in these and you’ll wonder if you have shoes on!

One minor downside is the weather. Reviewers of the shoe report that when it rains, their feet get soaked. Because of the material used to weave the shoe, water can easily seep its way through the texture.

In the end, the pros far outweigh the cons. The Nike Flyknit Racer is for people who want to take their craft seriously, or for those who just want to look fashionable. The Nike Flyknit Racer is for those who want to make a difference in their performance.