Nike Flex Experience Run 12 review

We think the Nike Flex Experience Run 12 is an awesome option for budget-minded runners seeking a versatile, comfortable shoe. Here's why:

• Those seeking a flexible shoe for occasional runs and everyday wear will love how easily it doubles as a sneaker and its roomy upper.
• If you're not prone to rapid outsole wear, this shoe offers a comfrotable ride at a very low price.
• Runners searching for a minimalist feel without committing to a zero-drop will appreciate the Flex Experience Run 12's 6-mm offset.

We loved how flexible and versatile the Flex Experience Run 12 is for everyday use, but there's no denying its outsole feels pretty fragile.

If durability is a major concern for you, we think the Adidas Ultraboost 1.0 is a great alternative. It offers a similar height and comfort level, but with world-class outsole made by Continental. And if you seek an authentic zero-drop experience, the Merrell Trail Glove 7 is the one for you.

Also, we believe the Flex Experience Run 12 won't be the best choice for anyone seeking a highly cushioned ride. If you're after a budget-friendly shoe that gives you both decent cushioning and flexibility, we think the Nike Winflo 10 offers a better, softer ride.

The forefoot also grows 2 mm from the latest version, now measuring a full 19.9 mm.

This ensures a bit more cushioning for midfoot and forefoot strikers—a welcome change since that stack height remains comfortably low by today's standards, dipping even below the 20 mm mark.

These measurements reveal a balanced 6.0-mm heel-to-toe drop. We think it's the sweet spot for this shoe! It keeps that moderately-natural running feel without going full zero-drop, but isn't so steep that the shoe feels awkward even when you're just out walking.

In our opinion, this medium drop hits the mark for comfort and versatility in the Flex series.

Now, let's dive into the midsole. The Flex Experience Run 12 sticks with a basic EVA foam—no bells or whistles here. But hey, for $75, you can't really expect fancy tech like ZoomX.

Still, we wish the midsole felt a bit softer. We got a 30.6 HA firmness rating on our Shore A durometer, meaning this shoe leans toward that firmer ride some runners love. That said, even with its low-profile design, it'll be tough to bottom out this shoe due to that firmness, and that's a plus.

While its less-than-airy upper might not be ideal for summer, this shoe is a surprisingly solid pick for winter walks and runs! Even better, our lab tests revealed that the EVA foam gets just 13.1% firmer in chilly temperatures—an awesome result considering EVA usually stiffens up significantly in the cold.

The insole is right around average thickness at 4.4 mm, so it should feel similar to what you're used to in most running shoes. Plus, the soft material adds a touch of extra comfort both walking and running.

Given those big midsole measurements and our comfy experience running in them, we were expecting a roomy toebox.

With a generous 102.5 mm width at its widest point, this shoe clearly prioritizes comfort. If you have medium-width feet, expect fantastic spaciousness, and even wide-footed runners should find a great fit.

However, the Flex Experience Run 12 might feel too loose and unstable for those with very narrow feet. A snugger, yet flexible option like the Brooks Hyperion Tempo would be a better pick.

One major bonus of that firm, rock-solid ride? Incredible stability—this Nike absolutely delivers in that department!

Even better, we discovered some cleverly designed midsole sidewalls that hug the sides of your foot, helping to guide your stride forward rather than letting it roll laterally. Extra features like this one are a delightful surprise you usually only find in much pricier running shoes...

Every Nike Flex shoe lives up to its name, being designed to be super flexible. Multiple cutouts in the outsole allow for plenty of bend and twist, which is exactly why this shoe earned a perfect 1/5 score.

That ultra-flexible feeling is exactly what we were looking for!

Of course, the upper follows the same flexible, comfy philosophy. The heel counter practically folds on itself with even light pressure—another clear-cut 1/5 score for us.

Now let's shift our focus to the midsole—and wow, this forefoot boasts some surprising width!

Our digital caliper clocked it at a whopping 117.6 mm. This generous width adds to the stable feel we loved on the run, and opens up the possibility for a delightfully roomy toebox as well.

We measured the heel at 88.6 mm. This falls right around average, with maybe a slight lean toward narrow, nothing worrisome though.

With that 6-mm drop and the wider forefoot/slightly narrower heel design, the Flex Experience Run 12 definitely favors those with a midfoot or more natural running strike.

Using a force gauge, we measure how much pressure it takes to bend the shoe to a clean 90-degree angle. We only needed 6.8N!

This is one of the most remarkably bendy shoes we've ever tested. Seems clear to us that the Flex Experience Run 12 is the Simone Biles of running shoes.

We tossed this shoe in the freezer for a 20-minute cooldown, just to see how it holds up in chilly weather.

It does get noticeably stiffer (48.9% to be exact, at 10.1N of force), but it still bends and twists easily, so you likely won't even feel the difference while running or walking.

The trade-off with a less-ventilated upper? Well, you often get a boost in durability! Fewer ventilation holes in the mesh means fewer potential breaking points.

We believe that's the main reason this shoe earned a better-than-average 3/5 in our durability test.

Well... this didn't go well, but honestly, we weren't surprised. The material underfoot just isn't that tough. The Dremel tore through it effortlessly, leaving a pile of white midsole debris in its wake. The damage was brutal, a teeth-grinding 5.0-mm indentation.

Of course, the Dremel test is geared toward those tough rubber outsoles that +99% of running shoes have, so the results are a bit biased here. Regardless, one thing's for sure—this shoe won't last long if you go off-roading, and even pavement might wear it down pretty quickly.

Sadly, there's not a single reflective element to be found on the Flex Experience Run 12. However, considering its affordable price tag, we can't really fault it for skipping on premium features.

It measures a respectable 4.0 mm, offering some cushioning without adding unnecessary bulk to the shoe.

This is a budget-friendly shoe, so it features a simple, non-gusseted tongue.

That definitely opens the door for discomfort during those speedier runs, even though we didn't personally experience that firsthand.

While that finger-loop heel tab adds a dose of practicality we love, design-wise, it kind of looks like an afterthought!

Good news, the insole is removable, so if you prefer a different one, it's easy to swap thanks to the shoe's standard dimensions.