Nike V5 RNR review

Don't miss out on the Nike V5 RNR if you are in search of the following:

• a more budget-friendly alternative to the retro Vomero 5 and the V2K Run from Nike
• a well-cushioned and supportive kick for all-day wear

If you are wondering if there are lighter and more breathable alternatives to the V5 RNR, be sure to check out the Nike Initiator and the Nike P-6000.

Also, please note that this is a running-inspired silhouette and not a functional running shoe. Check out our extensive catalog of performance running shoes for athletic use.

Believe it or not, but the shock absorption of this budget-friendly sneaker exceeds that of the £160 Vomero 5!

Measuring the amount of impact that gets absorbed by the V5 RNR's sole in the heel, we recorded some of the highest readings among casual snealers - a whopping 121 SA!

We hardly ever see cushioning like that in a lifestyle kick under £100! If you are considering it as your all-day walking companion on hard concrete, you are in for a real treat!

While the Nike V5 RNR is highly effective at absorbing the impact, it doesn't rebound much of it back.

With a moderate energy return of 53.5%, the shoe's ride is not particularly bouncy or lively. But gladly, it's not a dull one either, and it feels similar to the average sneaker.

Our caliper recorded the V5 RNR's heel stack at an above-average reading of 35.4 mm.

It also turned out to be taller than Nike's similar-looking Y2K silhouettes, such as the Initiator (33.1 mm) and the P-6000 (29.7 mm).

The shoe's forefoot stack also came in at an above-average reading of 23.9 mm. 

It doesn't mute out the ground feel completely, but offers a generous buffer for the ball of the foot and the toe joints.

The difference in stack heights results in a heel-to-toe drop of 11.5 mm in the V5 RNR.

This is a standard offset for a casual sneaker, putting the foot in an ergonomic position for long hours of walking with less stress on the Achilles and calves.

This heel elevation also allows for more cushioning in the rearfoot, which is optimal for heel striking.

The shoe's basic EVA-based Phylon midsole offers a pleasant underfoot give, which is neither too plush nor too firm.

Our caliper reflected that sensation with a middle-ground softness reading of 25.0 HA. It falls into the balanced (moderately soft) range of shoe cushioning.

We couldn't help but notice that the Nike V5 RNR has a curved and slightly rockered profile with a pronounced midfoot arch.

On foot, this shape translated into a smooth and yielding ride.

Unfortunately, the constrictingly snug fit of this Nike sneaker narrows its target audience quite a bit.

Just by looking at the shape of the gel mold we took out of the shoe, we could tell that its dimensions would not be the broadest.

So when our caliper showed only 89.9 mm in the widest part of the mold (the ball of the foot area), we weren't surprised to see this Nike kick fall into the narrow range.

Unfortunately, there is no wide version available for this model.

The narrower part of the V5 RNR's toebox didn't help the situation either.

Measuring its width in the big toe area, we got another medium-to-narrow reading of 67.8 mm. Not the best fit for wide-footed folks, but a pleasant one-to-one experience for medium and narrow footers.

On a positive note, the vertical space of this Nike sneaker proved to be much more generous.

With a toebox height of 29.4 mm, its mesh toebox sits high above the toes, putting no pressure on the toes or toenails whatsoever.

The V5 RNR astonished us with its insanely tacky outsole grip! The brand's product description certainly didn't lie when it promised 'great traction.'

With a mind-blowingly high friction score of 0.73 in the heel, this Nike kick is practically slip-proof even on wet asphalt and subway tiles.

The Nike V5 RNR features a very generous rubber coverage, except for deep flex grooves that keep the shoe pliable enough for comfort.

The tread pattern is the good old waffle design inspired by the silhouettes from the '90s and early '00s.

The shoe's tall stack height and thick rubber outsole surely added some stiffness to the V5 RNR, but not too much to cause discomfort.

Measuring the amount of force it takes to flex this Nike kick by 30 degrees, we got a slightly above-average reading of 15.7N. So, not as bendy as the P-6000, the V2K Run, or the Vomero 5, but not awfully stiff either. It is on par with the New Balance 574 in that regard.

Tipping the scale at 12.5 oz (354g) in a men's US size 9, the Nike V5 RNR is not a heavy sneaker per se.

More than an ounce lighter than the category average, we also found it to be light in relation to how chunky its silhouette is.

However, it is the heaviest alternative from Nike's current retro sneakers (the Initiator, the P-6000, etc.).

With all that open mesh on its upper, we expected the Nike V5 RNR to be an immensely breathable sneaker!

But while it didn't seem like anything could obstruct the airflow, the smoke had a hard time seeping through the toebox material in our breathability test.

We took a closer look at the fabric through our microscope to understand why.

The latter revealed multiple layers of overlapping mesh, which didn't allow the air to move so freely.

So, as transparent as its upper seems, the V5 RNR failed to provide that summer-ready ventilation, earning a low breathability score of 2 out of 5.

That plastic shank wrapping around the shoe's midfoot immediately gave us a stability-shoe vibe. But is the Nike V5 RNR supportive enough for flat feet and overpronation?

Our lab tests confirmed that it does offer decent stability even for people with mild-to-moderate overpronation (excessive rolling of the foot and ankle inwards). In fact, it is comparable to the ASICS Gel Kayano 14 in this respect.

We found that the shank generates a lot of torsional rigidity in the shoe's midfoot area, making it very hard to twist even slightly.

Assessing its stiffness level on a 1-5 scale, we didn't hesitate to rate it as high as 4/5! The shoe provides a solid footing and doesn't let the foot buckle, even with its above-average platform height.

The V5 RNR's stiff heel counter also plays its part in locking the foot and ankle inside the shoe.

With an equally stiff nature (4/5 on our scale) and generous padding, it minimizes all the unwanted shifting and wobbling in the rearfoot.

You may not notice it as much on short walks, but if you're choosing this Nike shoe for all-day wear, your feet and legs will thank you for the added support as they get tired and don't function as effectively by the end of the day.

A nice and broad landing area is another essential component of the shoe's stability. And it supports the chunky vibes too!

The widest area of the shoe's forefoot clocks in at 114.0 mm which is notably wider than the category average.

The heel of this Nike kick also proved to be on the broad side, with a caliper reading of 89.4 mm in its widest part.

It's nowhere near as substantial as the V2K Run's blocky heel (98.2 mm), but still above the average.

The exposed mesh on this Nike shoe's toebox looks way too fragile to last or survive an encounter with some abrasive surface like concrete.

And yet, it didn't give up so quickly in our Dremel test! Although the fabric ended up scuffed, it didn't get completely blown, earning the shoe a moderate toebox durability score of 3 out of 5.

Applying our Dremel to the shoe's inner lining proved it to be moderately durable as well. Assessing the minor scuffing it sustained, we rated the shoe's heel padding durability as 3/5.

The outsole rubber on the V5 RNR wasn't a disappointment either, considering the shoe's price point. Drilling the blend for 18 seconds resulted in just a minor dent of 1.0 mm.

And with the shoe's outsole thickness reaching an impressive 5.0 mm, we can confirm that the Nike V5 RNR should last a good while for a shoe at this price point.

Measuring the insole thickness of this Nike sneaker in the heel, we found it to be on par with the average at 4.4 mm.

And if you need more padding or arch support, you can easily swap the shoe's stock insert.

None of the V5 RNR's metallic upper elements proved to be reflective in the dark.

Nike filled the V5 RNR's collar and tongue padding to the maximum!

With an extreme tongue thickness of 22.4 mm, this kick has some of the puffiest tongues in our lab! We found it to be equally chunky as the one on the Adidas Campus 00s.

No gussets attach the shoe's tongue to the sides of the upper, but it's not a problem, as its bulky nature doesn't let it shift or slide anyways.

Along with the Nike Initiator (£90), the Nike V5 RNR is one of the brand's cheapest sneaker offerings at £100. But its value for money is utterly mind-blowing!

We were impressed with how much comfort, cushioning, and style are packed in this affordable Y2K sneaker.

The stiff and padded collar of the V5 RNR allows for easy on-and-off, even with the absence of finger loops and pull tabs.

The Nike V5 RNR's various overlays and textures add depth to its unapologetically retro silhouette. The plastic 3D Swoosh on the side adds an interesting touch as well.