Facts
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who need arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who does not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who needs arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overproanation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.
There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
Summary
We spent 6.3 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what runners think:
11 reasons to buy
- The 4th version of the FS Lite Run is considered by many as very comfortable.
- A lot of those who have bought this shoe stated that it had an affordable price.
- More than a handful of runners do their gym workouts in this shoe as well.
- Its lightweight nature received positive remarks.
- Some runners took the shoe for a ride right out of the box and were very satisfied with its performance.
- Purchasers generally appreciated its design and the color schemes.
- More than a few mentioned that it runs true to size.
- It is surprisingly durable, based on the reports of some runners.
- There are many color options.
- The Breathe Tech upper is as breathable as advertised.
- Several runners use it as an everyday shoe for work or for just running errands.
3 reasons not to buy
- A handful of reviewers had issues with the flat tongue as it caused rubbing or irritation.
- It was ½ size smaller than what some testers were used to.
- The midfoot section of the platform was apparently too high for a user that it caused some discomfort to the underfoot.
Bottom line
Nike scores a home run in the FS Lite Run 4. The shoe is based on the principle that back to basics works like a dream if it is done right. While it does not bring extra accessories, it works as a functional, lightweight trainer with moderate arch support and has the kind of looks that will easily generate compliments from people. It is extremely comfortable, breathable, and has an unbelievable price tag.
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Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
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Updates to Nike FS Lite Run 4
- The changes in the Nike FS Lite Run 4 is concentrated on the upper. Right away, runners will notice that the most obvious change is the removal of the midfoot and forefoot overlays. It gives the shoe a more sophisticated and clean look while support is now provided by an overlay near the ankle that stretches all the way to the back.
- The overlay on the toe box gave way to an internal toe bumper. Besides giving the shoe a neat look, the toe box also gets more volume and height with this update. There should be a slight uptick in comfort with this update.
Nike FS Lite Run 4 size and fit
A more accommodating upper with generous toe box room are the biggest updates where fit goes in the 4th iteration of the Nike FS Lite Run. The heel grip and the midfoot hold are both decent. There is enough space in the forefoot to make runners with various foot types comfortable. Fans of the previous version should generally be familiar with what the latest model brings. It runs true to size.
Outsole
The outsole of the FS Lite Run 4 stands out because of the unique hexagonal lugs that basically cover the entire underfoot surface. It brings excellent traction on different surfaces, while flexibility is also very good. Nike adds rubber pods in distinct areas that need it the most for durability.
Midsole
A dual-layer construction of the midsole mixes cushioning, responsiveness, and impact absorption. Nike utilizes a soft foam on top of a firmer foam to get the right blend in this shoe. As both layers of foam covered the entire midsole, these also help the shoe when making the transition from landing to take-off.
Upper
The upper of the Nike FS Lite Run 4 is very simple and minimalist in nature. A very breathable mesh delivers breathable coverage and just the right amount of support. An internal heel counter locks down the rear for security. Nike also offers a removable insole for more cushioning. A traditional lace-up closure keeps the fit secured all throughout the run.