Nike Terra Kiger 9 review

We believe the Terra Kiger 9 is an ideal trail shoe for runners who:

• Frequently tackle dry conditions and need a roomy upper
• Seek a trail shoe that is both cushioned and lightweight
• Desire a versatile and good-looking trail running shoe that also excels at hiking

After putting the Kiger 9 to the test across various conditions, we advise against choosing this model if your usual runs or hikes involve some water or high-humidity surfaces.

Opting for a trail running shoe with superior grip in wet conditions like the Hoka Speedgoat 5 would serve you better. And if you want something really fast for racing purposes, the carbon-plated Endorphin Edge it's faster and seems a better choice from our end.

We precisely measured the Kiger 9's heel stack at 30.1 mm. While this figure sits below that of the average trail shoe, it's worth noting that it's 2.0 mm thicker than its predecessor.

Considering the Kiger's reputation as a speedy and agile shoe, we welcome this measurement. It's precisely what we were hoping for when it arrived!

Switching focus to the forefoot, we find 25.7 mm of React foam. This amount makes the shoe a fantastic option for those who strike midfoot or forefoot. Plus, it provides enough cushioning to protect our feet from rocks and other trail hazards—remember that there's no rock plate in this one.

Subtracting the forefoot measurement from the heel gives us a 4.4-mm drop.

This figure may seem low compared to the average trail shoe, but it's a smart choice for those favoring midfoot-to-forefoot striking or anyone looking for an agile shoe that can tackle technical terrain. After all, super-steep shoes are the last thing we need in such conditions.

On the contrary, heel strikers may want a higher drop, like the one found in the Pegasus Trail 4.

We measured the Kiger's foam 17.3 HA of softness with our durometer, so this shoe provides a comforting and gentle touch on the foot, no surprise given it's a full layer of React foam. 

In a head-to-head comparison with the Kiger 8, our measurements reveal an astounding transformation—34.0 HA (v8) to 17.3 HA (v9)—which translates to a ride that's 97% softer in the latest model.

Even when temperatures drop, the Kiger 9 continues to offer a reliable performance. Although it's not as plush at 22.9 HA, it still outperforms the majority of other shoes.

We've got a noticeable softness change of 32.8% when we compare room temperature with post-freezer conditions (20 mins). This kind of change is definitely something you can really sense underfoot.

For us that love light shoes, we often have to accept that a thinner insole is part of the deal. While it's clear that a thicker insole enhances comfort, it also adds weight, so brands strive for a perfect balance.

Nike opted for a 3.9-mm insole in the Kiger 9, and we're okay with that despite being less than the average. It might be a touch too thin for the longest ultra-races, but for anything else, it gets our RunRepeat seal of approval!

For those of us with wider feet, we've often found Nike shoes to be exceptionally snug. However, we've seen a refreshing change recently. The Kiger 9, with its commendable width of 103.1 mm, exceeds the average trail shoe's dimensions.

This makes it one of the finest choices from Nike for those of us born with medium-to-wide feet.

The big toe area measures a spacious 78.3 mm, which provides more than sufficient room for nearly all feet.

Because of that, there's also ample room for our toes to move freely even in the hottest days.

Once we felt the softness of the foam underfoot, we had no illusions about the Kiger 9 being a stability champ. And that's perfectly fine if it delivers decent stability—which is the case.

The respectable stability of the shoe, in part, is due to its moderate flexibility. We assigned a score of 3 out of 5, which aligns closely with the average.

This tells us that Nike chose not to gamble here, steering clear of making the shoe excessively rigid to boost stability, which could potentially sacrifice comfort. And a proper Kiger needs to be comfortable.

Nike plays it safe once again with the heel counter stiffness test, scoring a middle-of-the-road 3 out of 5. This no-risk strategy is bound to appeal to the vast majority of trail runners.

Nike chose to address the foam softness challenge in the stability department by widening the midsole.

Crafting an impressively wide landing platform of 115.3 mm—exceeding the average trail shoe width by more than 4 mm—they've successfully ensured stability on even the plushest foam. The landings are rock-solid for those of us that are midfoot-to-forefoot strikers.

While the heel of the Kiger 9 is broader than most trail shoes, it doesn't match the generous width of the forefoot. This design choice likely results from two factors:

1. Nike is well-known for crafting particularly narrow heels.
2. The shoe's design clearly caters to midfoot or forefoot strikers, thanks to its low drop and magnificent forefoot landing base.

For heel strikers who favor low-drop shoes, the Kiger 9 could be a good match. However, if a higher drop and a wide heel are more your thing, we'd recommend the Hoka Challenger 7.

We're genuinely impressed with the agility of the Kiger 9 during our trail runs, a feature largely attributable to its minimal stiffness.

This flexibility is precisely what we seek in a versatile trail shoe.

Following a 20-minute stint in our freezer, the shoe exhibited a noticeable increase in stiffness. Even so, it remains more flexible than the majority of trail shoes.

The contrasting measurements demonstrate a 46.4% hike, resulting from the Kiger's React foam—a blend of TPE and EVA. This mix leads to less-than-optimal performance in cold weather because of the EVA. Our advanced guide offers a more in-depth look at this aspect.

The Kiger 9 is a lightweight champion. We tip our hats to Nike for the impressive weight-loss journey they've put this shoe through with each new release. What-a-diet!

It's crystal clear that the v9 is a remarkable update in the weight department.

Trail running shoes often come with double or even triple-layer uppers, which can limit their breathability. 

Upon our initial lab inspection of the Kiger 9, we anticipated that its breathability wouldn't be top-notch. However, it proved to be adequate. We conducted our state-of-the-art smoke test and rated its breathability a run-of-the-mill 3 out of 5.

The Saucony Peregrine 13, for instance, outperformed the Kiger 9, scoring a 4 out of 5 in our test.

This level of ventilation works for 95% of runs, but on a particularly hot day out there in the trails, we might favor something cooler.

A thin fabric layer in the Kiger 9 increases comfort but restricts airflow, as shown in the video above.

In our light test, the Kiger 9 showed to us how thin is the engineered mesh created for this shoe by Nike.

But nothing like our microscope to expose the finer details of the shoe's upper construction.

Nike chose a thin, engineered mesh without any large ventilation holes, an option that inevitably affects breathability.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The Kiger 9 has one of the sturdiest uppers we've ever put to the test. It's so good that, after testing it with our Dremel, we just have to give it the highest score: a solid 5 out of 5!

Comparing it to the Nike Wildhorse 8 only left us even more dazzled by the Kiger 9's performance.

At 3/5, our Dremel test result make us confident that heel padding durability isn't something to worry about with the Terra Kiger 9.

We measured the outsole at 84.1 HC in the lab, we find ourselves dealing with an average trail outsole, one that should last the entire lifespan of the shoe.

It offers lovely grip in dry conditions. But—like many Nike trail running shoes—it could really be better on wet surfaces.

We clocked the outsole thickness at 2 mm—a notch below average but still suitable for this shoe.

We agree to Nike's well-judged decision; a thicker outsole would burden the shoe with additional weight, damaging its agility, which is a key aspect for any performance-driven trail shoe.

The Kiger 9, marketed as an all-rounder trail shoe ready to handle nearly any terrain, features 4.4-mm lugs. These are sufficient for most technical trails and work well on gravel or easy paths. 

Yet, if our plan would be to spend a lot of time navigating mud, snow, or other particularly soft surfaces, we would favor a shoe with taller lugs. A great example would be those on the New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail v3.

Boasting a cushy 7.2 mm thick tongue, the Terra Kiger 9 is pretty much a lace-bite-free zone.

The Terra Kiger 9 features a semi-gusseted tongue—a design choice that we can appreciate, even though our preference generally leans towards fully-gusseted tongues for trail shoes. Nike has clearly chosen this route in their quest for agility and weight reduction. 

A semi-gusseted tongue may slightly compromise lockdown and could potentially allow some debris into the shoe, but it's far from a deal-breaker to us. These are simply trade-offs in the design that allow for a nimble, lightweight trail shoe, and that's fine.

We're always thrilled to see handy finger-loop heel tabs—they're fantastic to slip the feet right into the shoe. Plus, they add some eye-catching style, right?

To wrap up our Kiger 9 tale, we're pleased to note that the insole is fully removable. This allowed us the flexibility to pop in insoles from other shoes or even our own custom orthotics.

Thanks to the shoe's spacious design, we don't predict any trouble fitting in practically any third-party insole.