10 Best Nike Running Shoes (Buyer's Guide)

4 things to consider for choosing the best Nike running shoes

To choose a perfect Nike runner for you, consider the following factors: terrain, running goals, and shoe feel preferences.

1. Terrain: Road or Trail

Nike road running shoes

Nike trail running shoes

2. Your goal: Daily run or Competition

Nike offers running shoes for competition and everyday runs. To help you get the right pair, here's the quick comparison between the two:

Disclaimer: These are based on how each type of shoe performs in general. This does not apply to a specific model that exists. 

Nike shoes for daily running

Nike shoes for competition (racing flats)

3. Shoe Feel

Nike offers a classification of their running shoes based on shoe feel - barefoot, neutral, and stability.

Shoe feel
Barefoot	Neutral	Stability
made from low-density midsole foam lighter design minimal foot support	enough cushioning for shock absorption and more comfortable experience typically flexible and responsive durable enough for everyday run	most Nike stability shoes are equipped with Dynamic Support technology softer foam is added on the lateral side for cushioning firmer foam on the medial side for support
See Nike Free and Nike Flex collections	See neutral Nike running shoes	See stability Nike running shoes (good for flat feet and overpronation)

4. Benefits

Nike also groups their shoes based on the benefits they offered.

Additional features of Nike running shoes

Another factor to consider in choosing the best Nike running shoes is the extra features the shoe offers. 

• Water-repellent/Waterproof - Some Nike running shoes are equipped with Nike Shield technology, which offers protection from moist and cold weather without compromising breathability. They also have a few shoes equipped with a GTX membrane that gives the feet waterproof protection. See: Nike water-repellent running shoes
• Reflective - Some Nike running shoes also use Nike's reflective element to give additional visibility on low-light running conditions.
• Slip-on - Without the fuss of laces, slip-on running shoes allow you to simply slide your foot in and out of the shoe in an instant. Some of these models employ Nike's proprietary FlyEase design.

Nike Vaporfly Models: Marathon Dominance and Controversy

Nike competition shoes, particularly the Vaporfly models, have shown dominance in major marathons including New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, and Boston Marathon.

In 2018, out of the 12 winners (both men and women categories), 7 were wearing Nike Vaporfly shoes and 10 in 2019.

The Controversy

A study conducted in 2019 found that the new Nike Vaporfly shoes improved an athlete's running economy by 4.2%. This sparked disputes as researchers and runners think that it confers an unfair advantage. 

The overall design of the shoe (a combination of the foam layer and carbon-fiber plate) that helps runners run faster ignited a discussion on whether it should be banned or not in competition. But after the World Athletics reviewed all the guidelines, the controversial Nike shoe was given a go for the Tokyo Olympics.