Nike Revolution 7 review

After testing the Revolution 7 in the lab, we're convinced it's a top pick for:

• Budget-conscious runners seeking a reliable and versatile trainer that can easily double as a walking or gym shoe.
• Individuals with wider feet who appreciate a comfortable fit, finding in the Revolution 7 a budget-friendly option without sacrificing quality.
• Those who prefer a firmer ride in their running shoes, as the Revolution 7 meets their needs without breaking the bank.

We were particularly impressed by its versatility and the value it offers, especially for those on a budget.

We can't recommend the Revolution 7 for those who prefer a softer feel underfoot, as it tends to run quite firm. Instead, we think the Nike Winflo 10 is a better choice, offering a more comfortable ride without breaking the bank.

Moreover, we believe the Revolution 7 is not the best option for midfoot and forefoot strikers, as it lacks sufficient cushioning in these areas.

We suggest the Saucony Axon 3 as a viable alternative. It provides a much more cushioned experience, benefiting both midfoot and forefoot strikers, along with other advantages such as enhanced energy return and breathability.

We took again our calipers and measured the heel stack of the Revolution 7 at 31.5 mm, making it an average height by today's standards.

This thickness provides plenty of cushioning for heel strikers, and we think it's a solid choice for a daily trainer.

The forefoot tells a slightly different story, measuring a bit thinner than average at 21.0 mm. Once you account for the insole and outsole, there's likely less foam than what a forefoot striker might want, particularly for medium and long runs.

This leads us to believe that this shoe is definitely designed with heel strikers in mind.

We calculated the drop—the difference in height between the heel and forefoot—to be 10.5 mm.

As mentioned earlier, we're of the opinion that this design subtly leans in favor of heel strikers. It also caters to midfoot or forefoot strikers who favor this specific geometry because it helps offload stress from the posterior chain and provides relief for calf or Achilles tendon pain.

Shifting our focus to the midsole, the Revolution 7 uses Nike's Phylon, an EVA-based midsole that leans towards the firmer side.

We confirmed this through hands-on field tests and by using our Shore A durometer, which gave us a reading of 28.4 HA. This firmness might not be everyone's cup of tea, especially for those seeking a softer, more forgiving ride.

Phylon is a midsole crafted from EVA foam pellets that are compressed, heat-expanded, and then cooled in a mold. This manufacturing technique ensures superior performance in cold temperatures when compared to the traditional EVA.

Because of that, we found that this shoe only became 9.2% firmer after spending 20 minutes in the freezer, showcasing remarkable resilience. Such outstanding cold-weather performance is especially impressive for a $70 shoe.

The insole is unexpectedly thin, measuring just 3.6 mm.

This surprised us, as we're usually accustomed to finding thick insoles in budget-friendly shoes since it's an inexpensive method to enhance comfort and stack height. However, the Revolution takes a different approach.

Before we take any measurements, we like to try the shoes on to get a first feel. The Revolution 7 felt wide right from the start. Then, using the digital caliper again, we measured 102.2 mm, which is impressive not just for a Nike shoe—often on the narrower side—but also for a daily trainer.

However, those with narrow feet might find this shoe a bit wobbly. If that's your foot shape, we suggest checking out the Adidas Ultrabounce instead.

The shoe has an aggressive taper, going from wide to just average in the big toe area, measuring 77.7 mm.

The Revolution 7 really steps up the game in stability, thanks to its firm midsole. It's a fantastic trade-off for those looking for that extra bit of support who don't mind the extra firmness, and it makes the shoe better suited for those with mild stability issues.

We noticed a bit of resistance when we twisted and bent the shoe, but it was nothing extreme. To us, this earns a solid 3 out of 5, striking a nice balance between stability and comfort.

The heel counter takes the same approach and also earns a 3 out of 5 from us. It's designed to suit nearly everyone, featuring a semi-rigid piece that adds structure, especially at the lower part of the heel. Plus, the area is well-padded, offering ample comfort.

For our next two measurements, we brought back the digital caliper.

We measured 114.7 mm in the widest part of the forefoot, which is in line with what we've seen in previous sections—Nike sticks to an average approach without taking any risks.

In the lab, we found the heel to be a bit wider than usual at 93.1 mm, but it's not a huge difference. However, like we mentioned with the stack height and drop, the Revolution 7 is definitely aimed at heel strikers.

Designing a shoe is all about making trade-offs. A major one is between the shoe's dimensions and its weight. Our lab data shows that Nike chose to limit the forefoot width to make room for a wider heel, all while keeping the shoe's weight under 10 ounces.

In our earlier test, where we bent and twisted the shoe, we noticed it was quite flexible. To get precise numbers, we used our force gauge.

It took just 18.3N to bend it to 90 degrees, placing it among the most flexible shoes out there. This flexibility is fantastic for comfort, making the Revolution 7 an excellent everyday, do-it-all shoe, perfect for a variety of activities beyond running.

When we tested the shoe in cold temperatures, it changed a bit. After spending 20 minutes in our freezer, it required 23.8N to bend, making it 30.2% stiffer.

This difference is definitely noticeable, though not a major concern.

The Nike Revolution 6 was surprisingly light, and we thought the 7th version might be heavier based on our test runs and the shoe's overall size.

After weighing it, we found it's just under 10 oz at 9.9 oz (281g). Not bad for a budget-friendly, well-cushioned training shoe, but heavier than v6.

We kicked off the lab test of the Revolution 7 without a revolution—the smoke test delivered a just-okay result, scoring a 3 out of 5.

The shoe couldn't clear as much smoke as we hoped, leading us to think it might pose minor issues in extreme heat—and this black colorway certainly won't help in such scenario. But it should perform well in every other weather conditions.

Shining a light through the cut-in-half upper helped us assess the breathability of the engineered mesh. Nike seems to have skipped ventilation holes, likely due to the cost of the process, opting instead for a uniform structure throughout the upper.

Our microscope work confirmed this. The mesh is consistent throughout, showing no variation.

While there's room for improvement in breathability, we get that it's a budget-friendly option, and compromises are part of the deal.

Examining the upper closely, we noticed it features two layers and the padding all around the shoe is impressive. Nike has clearly put comfort first—not bad for a $70 shoe!

After checking out the airflow, we moved on to testing the shoe's durability. We started with the toebox.

It was a real wake-up call. The Revolution 7 just didn't stand a chance against the tool, scraping by with a teeth-grinding 1 out of 5 for pretty terrible performance. The hole left behind tells the whole story.

But then, we found a complete turnaround when we got to the heel—something the Revolution 7 desperately needed.

In this area, the Dremel barely made a dent, managing only minor damage. As a result, the shoe scored an impressive 4 out of 5.

This marked a significant improvement, giving us a glimmer of hope that the Revolution 7 has some strong suits after all. The heel's resilience made us curious about what other surprises it might hold.

To dig into those surprises, we turned our attention to the outsole, arguably the most crucial part when it comes to durability, especially for a budget-friendly shoe.

We began by measuring the rubber hardness, which clocked in at 89.5 HC. That's quite hard, signaling to us that Nike is laser-focused on boosting durability, even if it means compromising on other aspects like grip.

Given the hard rubber, we were anticipating a strong performance in our Dremel test.

Sadly, things didn't go as planned. A 1.0-mm indentation isn't terrible, but considering the rubber's hardness, it's a tad disappointing. That said, the rubber does achieve its goal—we're confident it will hold up for as long as you're willing to run with the Revolution.

In our comprehensive final evaluation of the outsole, it became clear that Nike chose a cautious approach by incorporating an ample amount of rubber beneath the midsole. To ensure accuracy, we conducted multiple measurements, each confirming a consistent thickness of 3.7 mm.

We think this strategy by Nike suggests again a deliberate choice to prioritize longevity and wear resistance in the design of this shoe.

For $70, we don't expect anything extraordinary, so it's fine if the Revolution 7 doesn't have reflective elements. It's a fair deal.

The first time we tried on the Revolution 7, we noticed the tongue was extremely plush. Our measurements confirmed it at 10.1 mm thick. 

We believe Nike uses this thick padding because it's an inexpensive way to enhance comfort, making this shoe stand out in the budget-friendly price range. 

It's a clever strategy, but we think a bit less padding, maybe around 7 or 8 mm, would be better since we don't see the advantage of going thicker than that, and it adds heft to the shoe.

An unexpected bonus of the Revolution 7 is its gusseted tongue—a feature often found only in high-end shoes from most brands.

This design keeps the tongue securely in place during all runs, even when picking up the pace. Quite impressive!

Adding a heel tab means spending more money, and we get why Nike might skip it on one of their more affordable running shoes. If it allows for investment in other areas like a better upper or midsole, why not?

The insole is removable, easy to take out if needed. Plus, since the shoe's dimensions are pretty standard, most over-the-counter insoles or even those from other shoes fit nicely without any hassle.