Nike Rival Waffle 6 review

We've thoroughly tested the Rival Waffle 6 in its favorite environments and we think it's a solid choice for:

• Budget-conscious runners looking for an affordable shoe for the cross country season. It offers superb value, providing quality without breaking the bank.
• Beginners who prefer a single shoe that can handle both track workouts and cross country races, delivering versatility and convenience.
• Runners who appreciate a bit of cushioning paired with good stability in a XC shoe.

Instead of getting the Rival Waffle 6, we suggest the Nike Zoom Victory Waffle 5 for those who enjoy a close-to-barefoot running experience—the Vaporweave upper is feather-light and exceptionally breathable, making it almost feel like you're wearing nothing at all. In our lab tests, this shoe outperformed others in providing a barefoot-like sensation.

On the other hand, if your focus is primarily on track rather than cross-country, we highly recommend investing in the Nike Dragonfly 2. From our evaluation, it’s a world-class spike that provides substantial benefits for track workouts, justifying the extra expense with its superior performance.

Cross-country shoes should not have too much cushioning as it can lead to instability, but a moderate amount is beneficial for many runners, especially on courses where the surface is quite hard.

The 17.6 mm of cushioning we found in the heel strikes a good balance, providing some protection for the legs without being excessive. However, runners who prefer the barefoot feel may find this to be too much, as it reduces the sensory connection with the ground.

The forefoot is slightly thinner at 14.8 mm, yet the feel is largely similar to what we described for the rearfoot area.

The difference in thickness results in a real 2.8-mm drop, yet it feels a bit higher sometimes, as the shoe's curved shape really propels you forward, as you can see from our picture. In fact, it closely mirrors that of the carbon plate from elite supershoes like the Nike Vaporfly 3.

Given its low price, we couldn't expect more than a run-of-the-mill EVA foam in this shoe, which is exactly what Nike used. EVA is a durable, reliable compound that doesn't offer exceptional energy return, sure, but does the job well and is inexpensive to produce.

We also discovered that it provides a firm feel underfoot at 26.5 HA, which is appropriate for running cross country or track workouts. These surfaces are noticeably softer than roads, so a softer foam isn't necessary.

The insole is exceptionally narrow at 2.3 mm, suggesting that despite its affordability, this shoe is designed for racing!

The widest part of the upper measured 92.6 mm in our tests, delivering performance comparable to that of shoes designed for track or cross country—similar to road racing shoes too. In essence, it's built for speed.

With broader dimensions than usual, we anticipated a looser fit that would allow for some extra room. However, the fit resembles that of a typical track shoe—focused on performance with just 74.0 mm at the big toe area, which is not toe-splay-friendly by any means.

Finally, we must say that the volume of the forefoot, while on the lower end of the spectrum, is just what you want for the intended use case of this shoe.

The absence of a stiffening agent is evident in the shoe's torsional rigidity, which scores a 2/5, even slightly higher than expected. Nonetheless, it remains a highly flexible shoe!

The heel counter of the Rival Waffle 6 includes some structure, which is a wise choice for beginners.

While most track shoes feature a very soft, 1/5 counter, we rated this one at 2 out of 5, aligning it more with many road shoes. Well, perhaps it's more accurate to say that it falls somewhere in between both.

We found the ride surprisingly stable, despite the shoe not being exceptionally low to the ground, largely due to its very wide design.

Our measurements showed a forefoot width of 100.5 mm—clearly wider than expected, but effective in providing a secure feel during cross-country runs, where the terrain is often uneven.

We discovered that Nike adopted the same approach with the heel, making it wider than typical track shoes. We measured 72.1 mm in this area, which is still quite narrow for any shoe, but not many runners will land on their heels during cross-country races anyway.

With no stiffening plate and featuring some strategic cutouts in the outsole, we anticipated that the shoe would flex easily.

To verify this, we conducted our 90-degree bend test, which produced a low force of 16.3N. This flexibility is ideal for cross country, offering a natural ride that keeps the shoe from feeling cumbersome at all.

Although it's not the lightest XC shoe on the market, we believe that 6.0 oz or 170g is a decent weight for a cost-effective, comfort-oriented model like this.

Nonetheless, we wouldn't mind it being lighter—though not at the expense of its rock-solid durability.

While most cross country races occur in cold weather, some events unfold under hotter conditions—making good ventilation crucial.

This isn't an issue for the Rival Waffle 6, as its engineered mesh upper is exceptionally ventilated, a real standout in our lab tests for its impressive airflow!

When we examined this mesh upper under a light, the ventilation across the forefoot and midfoot was remarkable. It's clear that Nike designed this to expel heat effectively, which is excellent for those who prefer sockless racing.

However, under the microscope, the situation appeared less straightforward, emphasizing the importance of conducting multiple tests on breathability.

Nonetheless, despite initial doubts from the microscopic images, the ventilation proved to be quite effective.

And while it's a great upper for a $70 shoe, remember, some trade-offs come with a lower price tag, especially in terms of comfort. But those are small compromises in an otherwise solid upper that features impressive plush padding too!

After confirming its exceptional ventilation, we shifted our focus to durability—a crucial test for a cross country shoe given the tough terrain they often encounter.

Using our Dremel tool as we do with road and trail shoes, we rated the shoe a solid 3 out of 5 on our durability scale.

Moving to the heel padding area, we were eager to see if the Rival Waffle 6 could maintain its strong performance from our initial tests.

Here, however, we observed a slightly less impressive performance. Although it scored the same 3/5, this shoe tends to fall a bit short compared to its competitors in this particular area.

Finally, we replicated the test on the Bowerman-style waffle outsole, which features multiple lugs for exceptional traction, particularly on dry surfaces.

Here, we measured a tread depth of 1.4 mm, which indicates robust durability for this shoe when running on average surfaces for cross-country races.

The outsole is 1.7 mm thick, sufficient to withstand expected wear. Adding more would have been excessive, particularly regarding weight—which is already quite high.

We also discovered that the rubber leans toward a harder formulation at 83.5 HC, similar to those found in road daily trainers. This also makes the shoe suitable for track workouts if needed!

It's also worth mentioning the small X-shaped dents that Nike has strategically placed in the forefoot and heel lugs to enhance traction. Although a minor detail, these can sometimes make a significant difference.

In a time when most running shoes cost over $100—and often much more—it's a breath of fresh air to find budget-friendly options like the Rival Waffle 6.

While it lacks cutting-edge technology, we think the Rival Waffle 6 is a dependable shoe for cross country. Given its low price, maybe it's one you won't mind wearing out!

The tongue features the minimal design typical of a racer, with just 1.4 mm of padding in the instep area. We also noticed that Nike added a bit more padding at the beginning of the tongue, aiming to enhance comfort in that area.

We also discovered a handy tongue loop that effectively keeps it in place—crucial since the tongue isn't gusseted.

We noticed the absence of a heel tab and the traditional hole found in the Dragonfly. Instead, Nike opted for an unusual design, incorporating two band-aid-like strips. We still can't decide if it looks cool or weird.