Nike Legend Essential 2 review
Lab test
80
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all training shoes.
This shoe has a 7% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn moreVerdict
Pros
- Insanely cheap
- Doubles as a casual sneaker
- Lightweight
- Breathes well
- Snug fit
- Very flexible
- Reliable grip
- Looks great
Cons
- Not for wide feet
- Not the most durable
Any color
Men
Women
55% say it's true to size.
Amazon
$60$42
Nike
$60$52
Finish Line
$60
Zappos
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Rankings
- Our 1st pick in best Nike workout shoes
- Our 1st pick in best cheap gym shoes
- Top 3% most popular training shoes
Comparison to similar training shoes
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Table of contents Best PricesCoreScoreVerdictProsConsComparisonWho should buy the Nike Legend Essential 2Who should NOT buy the trainerPrice is the Legend Essential 2’s best assetEfficient all aroundThe trainer breathesNo foot dragging with the Nike Legend Essential 2Holds the foot well but not good for wide feetNo slipping in the gymThe shoe flexes along with the footLegend Essential 2 is not the best bet for weightliftingNike knows how to make stylish shoesComplete lab-specs overviewFacts / SpecsPopularityVideo reviews
Overview
Who should buy the Nike Legend Essential 2
Consider the Legend Essential 2 from Nike if you:
- want a very basic Nike trainer
- prefer to stay light on the budget
- are happy with having just one shoe for both gym and casual use
Who should NOT buy the trainer
If you are looking for better quality and durability in your pair of trainers, you may want to consider Nike SpeedRep if you want to stay within the cheaper price tier.
You might as well check out plenty of options under $100 from other brands. For example, Reebok Flexagon Energy.
People with wider feet may find a better option among the cheaper shoes that are also available in Wide width.
Price is the Legend Essential 2’s best asset
With the average price of Nike training shoes hovering around $100 and the premium Nike Metcons reaching $130, the Nike Legend Essential 2 comes with a dirty cheap $60 price tag.
However, despite its lower price point, the reviewers are still happy with the material quality. Some of them mention that it “turned out to be a hidden gem.”
Efficient all around
Reviewers are happy that this Nike shoe can handle multiple activities, be it a gym session, a long day at work, or athleisure.
It won’t get you through a tough WOD or heavy weightlifting. But you can surely do some jumps, squats, light treadmill runs, and other moderate exercises in it.
The trainer breathes
With its mesh upper, the trainer keeps the foot nicely ventilated. So, there is no worry about smelly feet when you grab the Nike Legend Essential 2 for some intensive activity.
You can see which parts of the upper are the most transparent, and hence breathable, in the video below.
No foot dragging with the Nike Legend Essential 2
Quite a few testers enjoy how light the Nike Legend Essential 2 feels on the foot. And in fact, it weighs 9 oz (255 grams) given that Nike training shoes on average come at 11.5 oz (325 grams).
Holds the foot well but not good for wide feet
Those with average-to-narrow foot size will enjoy a nice foothold from the box. However, with the Essential 2’s narrower toebox design, it won’t be very accommodating for wider feet.
Fact check
Indeed, the toebox of the Legend Essential 2 is narrower than most training shoes. In its widest part, the forefoot is 97.8 mm, whereas the average is 100.1 mm. For reference, an advanced CrossFit shoe like Nike Metcon is 106.8 mm wide in the toebos.
No slipping in the gym
The rubber and treading on the outsole have been appreciated for giving adequate grip.
The shoe flexes along with the foot
Similar to the Nike Flex Control 4, the Legend Essential is a very flexible Nike trainer. It moves together with the foot, bending in all the right places.
Fact check
Based on our measurements, the shoe is 31% more flexible than the average for training shoes.
Fact check
Bending and twisting the shoe in our hands, we assessed it as 2 out of 5 in both longitudinal and torsional flexibility.
Legend Essential 2 is not the best bet for weightlifting
Where the shoe's flexibility comes in handy for jumps, lunges, and agility, it falls short in the lifting department. The problem is that the sole bends too easily to keep you steady and rooted on the floor. Your feet are going to experience too much shifting as you grab onto heavier weight.
Nike knows how to make stylish shoes
“Sharp and attractive,” “simple and clean” - these are some of the words used to describe the visual appeal of the Legend Essential 2.
You will have no problem transitioning from the gym to the street with this Nike trainer.
Complete lab-specs overview
| Nike Legend Essential 2 | Average | |
| Whole shoe |
||
| Weight (g) | 235 | 294 |
| Drop (mm) | 5.1 | 4.6 |
| Overall Internal Length | 260.4 (men's US 8) | - |
| Flexibility of the shoe (N) | 21.8 | 31.5 |
| Flexibility of the shoe (Freezer 20 min) (N) | 32.6 | 42.7 |
| Flexibility of the shoe (% of change) | 49.3 | 45.1 |
| Longitudinal flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 2 | 2.0 |
| Torsional flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 2 | 2.5 |
| Upper |
||
| Thickness - Tongue (mm) | 7.2 | 5.7 |
| Width Upper - Forefoot (mm) | 97.8 | 100.1 |
| Width Upper - Heel (mm) | 73.8 | 75.5 |
| Flexibility of the heel counter (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 2 | 2.2 |
| Tongue: gusset type | none | - |
| Heel: pull tab | none | - |
| Midsole |
||
| Width Midsole - Forefoot (mm) | 110.5 | 109.7 |
| Width Midsole - Heel (mm) | 84.5 | 89.9 |
| Stack - Forefoot with insole (mm) | 20.3 | 18.0 |
| Stack - Heel with insole (mm) | 25.4 | 22.2 |
| Durometer Midsole Heel (Room temperature) (HA) | 32.5 | 25.6 |
| Durometer Midsole - Heel (Freezer 20 minutes) | 42.0 | 36.9 |
| Durometer Midsole - Heel (% of change) (TEST) | 29.2 | 47.1 |
| Outsole |
||
| Outsole thickness (Heel) (mm) | 3.9 | 4.2 |
| Durometer Outsole Heel (Room temperature) (HC) | 81.0 | 83.3 |
| Insole | ||
| Insole Heel Thickness (mm) | 4.8 | 4.0 |
| Insole: removable | yes | - |
Facts / Specs
Compare popularity Interactive
Compare the popularity of another shoe to Nike Legend Essential 2:
Nike Legend Essential 2 video reviews
