Nike Winflo 10 review

In our view, the Nike Winflo 10 is an excellent choice for:

• Beginners starting their running journey who may need a shoe that doubles for walking or gym workouts.
• Anyone searching for an affordable option that offers plush cushioning and a durable outsole.
• Neutral runners looking for a comfortable daily trainer at an affordable price.

For those accustomed to midsoles with impressive energy return, we think this shoe might not meet your expectations.

While it's plush, we found it doesn't provide enough energy return and struggles with faster paces. Within Nike's range, we suggest considering the Pegasus 40 with React foam. On a tighter budget? We think that the Saucony Axon 2 is an excellent alternative.

We also don't recommend the Winflo 10 for runners with stability issues, as it's a pure neutral daily trainer. If you're seeking an affordable and stable shoe, we suggest checking out the ASICS GT 1000 12.

When we examined the midsole in the lab, we measured a stack height of 33.5 mm. By today's standards, this might be seen as average, but just a few years ago, it would have been considered maximum cushioning.

One thing is certain—we believe that even the heaviest runners will find comfort running in the Winflo 10.

In the lab, we measured the forefoot and found it to be somewhat average at 23.8 mm.

We think this shoe is designed more for heel strikers, and this number reflects that.

We measured a 9.7-mm heel-to-toe drop in the lab. This measurement further confirms that the shoe primarily caters to heel strikers.

However, midfoot or forefoot strikers—especially those experiencing issues in their Achilles or calves—might also find it beneficial. The higher drop can assist in relieving stress from these areas.

Foams are becoming increasingly soft—even in budget-friendly running shoes. This trend, which wasn't typical a few years back, is evident now. The Winflo 10's Cushlon foam measures at only 16.1 HA on our durometer!

This results in a soft experience, further enhanced by the full-length Nike Air cushioning in the midsole. The addition of this Air technology is really needed—while Cushlon might not be the springiest foam around, the Air system adds some bounce back.

To test how Cushlon reacts in chilly conditions, we put the shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes before taking our readings.

We noticed it became a bit more firm, registering at 25.6 HA.

This is a 59% hike, falling short when compared to the average. Sadly, this underwhelming performance in cold temperatures is typical for EVA-based midsoles like Cushlon.

If you're looking for a Nike trainer that can stand the cold, you'll need to shell out more money for an Invincible 3.

We measured the insole at 3.9 mm, which is pretty standard. It seems Nike didn't take any risks here.

Stick to what works and... just do it!

While Nike is renowned for crafting narrow toeboxes, this time they've pleasantly surprised us.

We measured the Winflo 10 at a generously spacious 101.9 mm, which is impressively wide, especially for a Nike daily trainer.

We measured the big toe area and found that it's quite typical, coming in at 77.7 mm. It's perhaps slightly larger than some shoes, but most won't notice.

The Nike Winflo 10 is a neutral trainer, and it's not designed for those needing extra stability.

While it can manage mild pronators, we strongly recommend looking for a shoe offering more underfoot support in that case.

In our torsional rigidity test, we gave it a score of 3/5. This result is quite typical for daily trainers.

As a neutral shoe, Nike decided not to include a rigid heel counter to boost stability at the expense of comfort.

We noticed this when we discovered the heel area to be really flexible, giving it a 2/5 rating.

The trend of "average results" continues. We measured the Winflo 10 and found it has a typical midsole width of 112.5 mm.

This design seems to target neutral runners, emphasizing a lightweight and agile shoe.

Nevertheless, we were surprised to find the heel wider than anticipated at 92.5 mm.

As we mentioned earlier, this shoe is designed with beginners in mind, catering specifically to heel strikers.

Many runners regard the Winflo series as a versatile, all-around running shoe that can effortlessly transition into a comfortable walking or effective cross-training shoe.

For such adaptability, it requires flexibility. With a result of 21.7N in our 90-degree test, Nike delivered.

In cold conditions, the shoe isn't as flexible as we hoped. We discovered that after leaving it in the freezer for 20 minutes and then retesting in the lab, it measured 30.5N in the same 90-degree test.

That's a 40.6% increase, which aligns with our expectations for the Cushlon foam. As we mentioned earlier, EVA midsoles tend to underperform to cold temperatures.

For a cushioned daily trainer, we were pleasantly surprised to find the Winflo 10 impressively light, weighing in at just 9.5 oz (269g). That's two ounces lighter than its previous version. 

When we unboxed the Winflo 10 in the lab, we initially thought this shoe might earn a mere 2 or 3 out of 5. This assumption came from its rather thick and dense engineered mesh.

But after putting it through our eye-catching smoke-pumping test in the lab, we were pleasantly surprised to award it a nice 4/5.

What led Nike to this impressive outcome? We discovered that it's largely due to the breathability holes scattered throughout the shoe, excluding the heel area.

When illuminated, these holes become abundantly clear. They stand out as the primary reason this shoe shifted from an average score to a great one.

Curious to inspect these breathability holes up close, we turned to our microscope.

In this magnified view, there's no missing the details. While the mesh disappears at each hole, a structural layer remains intact, likely enhancing the shoe's durability.

Upon examining the interior, we noticed a thin, breathable internal fabric. However, it's so lightweight that it doesn't hinder airflow at all.

As we anticipated, the robust mesh of the Winflo 10 showcased its impressive durability in this test.

While many shoes get a mere 1/5 after facing our dremel, the Winflo 10 stood out, securing a fantastic 3/5!

The heel is soft and cushioned. We often find that such a design can result in less resistance to wear and tear. Yet, with a score of 2/5 in our lab tests, we're not too worried about its durability over time.

Still, those who are prone to wear holes in this area or have issues with heel slippage might want to pay attention to this result.

The outsole of the Winflo 9 ranks among the hardest we've measured in the lab, registering a significant 92.8 HC on our durometer.

With this new version, we discovered that Nike chose a slightly softer compound. It's still on the harder side at 87.4 HC, but it's notably less rigid than its predecessor.

The hardness of the outsole plays a crucial role in its durability, but other factors, such as the quality of the rubber, also come into play. For example, Continental outsoles might record lower scores compared to their competitors, but they typically last longer and offer superior grip.

Regarding the Winflo 10, we found that after our dremel test in the lab, there was a 0.9-mm indentation. This indicates to us that the quality of the rubber aligns with its budget-friendly price.

In a smart move, Nike added 4.3 mm of rubber beneath the foam.

Even though we know it's not the most durable outsole available, this choice ensures that it will last throughout the shoe's entire lifespan.

Finding reflective elements on a Nike model is unusual, especially on a budget-friendly pair. At a $100 price point, we neither expected them.

The tongue of a daily trainer is crucial, and the Winflo 10 doesn't disappoint. We measured its thickness at 9.3 mm, making it exceptionally padded.

Some might even feel that's too much!

Many brands often reserve the feature of a gusseted tongue for their pricier models, using it as a standout attribute.

However, in the 10th edition of the Winflo, Nike generously incorporated a snug, bootie-like gusseted tongue. This fantastic addition ensures a secure fit.

The Winflo 10 doesn't have a heel tab, but we didn't miss it when putting on these shoes. Instead, it features Nike's Move to Zero logo.

Nike claims that 20% of this model is crafted using recycled materials. That's great, but we want more! 

The shoe's insole can be taken out as it's not glued at all, allowing us to comfortably insert orthotics and third-party insoles.