Nike Run Swift 2
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% 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
- Breathable
- True to size
- Wide toe box
- Cushioned tongue
- Durable outsole
- Price
- Gusseted tongue
Cons
- Stiff ride
- Narrow midfoot
- Heavy
92% say it's true to size.
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Rankings
- Top 7% most popular running shoes
Comparison to similar running shoes
Nike Run Swift 2 review and lab test
For an inexpensive shoe, the Run Swift 2 has a lot of nice features.
Who should not buy it
Do not buy this shoe if:
- You want a fast and lightweight shoe for race day or longer runs. Check out the Nike Zoom Fly 4.
- You want a super soft, cushioned recovery day shoe. View the Nike Invincible Run.
- You want something high-tech with the latest technology. Have a look at the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2.
Nike Run Swift 2 features a wide toe box
The Run Swift 2 is narrow in the midfoot and a challenge to get on for people with wider feet, but one on it does surprisingly have a bit more room up in the toebox hand expected.
Nikes tend to run narrow, and this one is a bit more accommodating to a wider range of foot shapes. The Toebox measures 99.3mm wide whereas average shoes are just 98.4, while the heel stays narrower than average at 74.8mm (75.4mm is average here).
A nice feature is the webbing lacing structure which ensures a tight lockdown and zero foot slip inside the shoe.
Lastly, the fully-gusseted tongue helps the shoe hug your foot, again leading to a tight, snug fit eliminating any movement.
Comfort on a budget
Honestly, for a budget shoe, it’s pretty dang comfortable. When I first tried this shoe on I didn’t thik it was a budget trainer, it feels higher end than it is.
The padded ankle collar and tongue help to hug your foot without any hot spots.
There is plenty of foam underfoot too for impact dampening on runs. With 33.7mm of foam under the heel and just a 7.5mm drop, this shoe feels nice. The foam’s extremely hard, at 26.0HA (average shoes are 22.8HA) it has plenty of give and padding.
Nike Run Swift 2’s ride
This shoe lands right in the middle of the stiffness scale, measuring 39.5N in our tests. Average shoes flex at 38.8N meaning this shoe won’t surprise most runners.
It has a more classic ride that’s dense and consistent, it’s not peppy or bouncy like some newer, lightweight shoes, but for those coming from old shoes, this is a benefit as there will be no adaptation period.
Honestly, for me, it’s a bit dull and I wouldn’t want to run these for anything longer than a recreational jog, but where I so dig them is just as a town sneaker. I actually think they look sweet and feel good enough to wear walking around in.
Another positive is this shoe didn’t seem to stiffen up much in our freezer tests. The flex was affected just 3% compared to the average shoe being 35.3% stiffer at cold temps.
Weight Nike Run Swift 2
The Run Swift 2 isn’t all that swift… At 10.3 ounces (291g) it’s more of a clunker than a light and nimble shoe built for speed.
Again, I see this as more of a performance sneaker than a true running shoe because of the weight here.
Durability and Grip
The shoe seems well built with plenty of welded overlays on the upper to keep debris out and act as an added layer of protection against abrasion.
The full-rubber outsole is generously thick at 4.4mm (average outsoles are just 3.5mm), and the rubber is firm at 88.5HC on the durometer (compared to an average of 80.5HC), meaning the shoe should wear slowly and have plenty of life.
The outsole also features 2.2mm lugs giving it extra grip on varied terrain. This shoe is comfortable on pavement and mild dirt running paths, which is a nice element for a do-it-all style of shoe like this.
Breathability was surprisingly good
The upper is plenty breathable with its wide-mesh construction and even though it has a thick 9.0mm padded tongue, the shoe didn’t feel hot on my feet.
Rus Swift 2 meant for daytime efforts
Once again, like many other Nike budget shoes, there are no reflective elements on the Run Swift 2, meaning you need to be extra careful should you be out running after dark.
Nike Run Swift 2 is a bargain
At $70 I think there’s actually good value in this shoe. It’s more comfortable, and a bit more high-end feeling than say the Quest 4 or the Downshifter 11, and I like the classic, refined style better as well.
I think if you need a simple daily trainer or a value pair of sneakers for around town, the Run Swift 2 is worth a look.
Complete lab-specs overview
| Downshifter 11 | Average | |
| Whole shoe |
||
| Weight (g) | 291 | 266 |
| Drop (mm) | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Flexibility of the shoe (N) | 39.5 | 38.8 |
| Flexibility of the shoe (Freezer 20 min) (N) | 40.7 | 50.0 |
| Flexibility of the shoe (% of change) | 3.0 | 35.5 |
| Lace slip test with the knot (N) | 21.8 | 24.6 |
| Longitudinal flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 4 | 3.2 |
| Torsional flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 4 | 3.4 |
| Upper |
||
| Thickness - Tongue (mm) | 9.0 | 5.5 |
| Width Upper - Forefoot (mm) | 99.3 | 98.4 |
| Width Upper - Heel (mm) | 74.8 | 75.4 |
| Lace Stretch (1-5 scale, 5 being the most stretchy) | 4 | 2.8 |
| Flexibility of the heel counter (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 4 | 3.1 |
| Tongue: gusset type | Both sides (full) | - |
| Heel: pull tab | None | - |
| Midsole |
||
| Width Midsole - Forefoot (mm) | 111.8 | 112.2 |
| Width Midsole - Heel (mm) | 92.1 | 89.2 |
| Stack - Forefoot with insole (mm) | 26.2 | 24.5 |
| Stack - Heel with insole (mm) | 33.7 | 33.0 |
| Durometer Midsole Heel (Room temperature) (HA) | 26.0 | 22.8 |
| Outsole |
||
| Outsole thickness (Heel) (mm) | 4.4 | 3.5 |
| Lugs Depth (mm) | 2.2 | 3.0 |
| Durometer Outsole Heel (Room temperature) (HC) | 88.5 | 80.5 |
| Insole | ||
| Insole Heel Thickness (mm) | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| Insole: removable | No | |
Facts / Specs
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Nike Run Swift 2 video reviews
