Our verdict
Pros
- Soft and well-cushioned midsole
- Surprisingly stable and supportive
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- Excellent breathability for summer
- Secure lockdown and heel hold
- Notably lighter than average
- Very durable for a casual sneaker
Cons
- Not for wide feet
- Limited men's sizes and colours
Audience verdict
- Top 26% in trainers
- Top 12% in Nike trainers
- Top 22% most popular trainers
Who should buy
We believe that the Nike V2K Run is a must to consider if you are in search of the following parameters:
- a sporty retro sneaker inspired by the early 2000s ("2K" refers to the Y2K abbreviation)
- a more affordable alternative to the Nike Zoom Vomero 5 ("V" stands for Vomero because it was supposed to be the updated version of that shoe)
- a light and breathable sneaker for summer
- a stylish sneaker with a raised chunky heel to add volume to your silhouette
Who should NOT buy
Because the Nike V2K is offered as a women's sneaker and unisex/men's sizes are limited, you might as well check out the following alternatives:
- Nike P-6000 - another great retro shoe from Nike that is even cheaper
- Nike Zoom Vomero 5 - a more premium Nike sneaker with enhanced cushioning (thanks to two Zoom Air units)
If you don't mind options from other brands, the ASICS Gel 1130 has very similar retro aesthetics but it is cheaper and has a more accommodating toebox for wide feet.
Cushioning
Heel stack
The oversized heel of the V2K Run adds bulk to the shoe's silhouette both visually and practically. Looks-wise, it persistently reminds us of the Balenciaga Runner Trainer.
Measuring the shoe's heel stack with a calliper confirmed that it is a thicker-than-average platform indeed. At 33.9 mm, it is over 4 mm taller than average.
On foot, it translates to a great deal of support and impact protection for all-day wear.
V2K Run | 33.9 mm |
Average | 29.7 mm |
Forefoot stack
The shoe's forefoot has a more moderate stack height at 21.2 mm but it is still a few millimetres taller than average.
V2K Run | 21.1 mm |
Average | 18.8 mm |
Drop
Because of the V2K's substantial heel design, its heel-to-toe drop is a bit taller than the average at 12.8 mm.
Wear testing this Nike sneaker, we could feel that our heels sat higher off the ground compared to the toes. Whether that's good or bad depends solely on your personal preference.
We enjoyed the benefit of having more generous cushioning under our heels and less pressure on the Achilles.
V2K Run | 12.8 mm |
Average | 10.9 mm |
Midsole softness
The Nike V2K Run uses Cushlon as the primary foam for its midsole. It is a rather soft compound that we found to be very comfort-oriented.
Our lab durometer measurement revealed that it is a whopping 85% plusher than the average sneaker midsole.
But keep in mind that on foot the V2K Run doesn't feel as plush as the durometer reading suggests. Its heel is wrapped in a firmer (grey) foam which adds some firmness to stabilise the ride. That firmer foam showed a significantly higher reading of 29.0 HA on our HA durometer,
If you prefer a very soft, cushy, and bouncy experience underfoot, you might enjoy the Vomero 5 more. It features two responsive Zoom Air units embedded into the same Cushlon foam.
V2K Run | 15.8 HA |
Average | 29.2 HA |
Insole thickness
This Nike sneaker features a rather basic insole which is 4.2 mm thick in the heel. It adds a touch of cushioning but there is nothing noteworthy about it.
V2K Run | 4.2 mm |
Average | 5.1 mm |
Size and fit
Size
Nike V2K Run is true to size (418 votes).
Toebox width - widest part
Even though the V2K is built on the women's last, its toebox dimensions weren't any narrower than expected.
Measuring the widest part of the shoe's toebox, we got a standard width of 101.1 mm. Exactly right for a men's US size 9 in a D medium width.
V2K Run | 101.1 mm |
Average | 98.9 mm |
Toebox width - big toe
The tapering wasn't very aggressive towards the toes either.
We measured 73.8 mm of toebox width near the big toe which is exactly the same as the average.
However, gentlemen with wider feet will most likely feel cramped in the V2K. As a more accommodating alternative with similar retro vibes, we recommend the ASICS Gel 1130.
V2K Run | 73.8 mm |
Average | 75.0 mm |
Laces
The laces are very basic in this Nike sneaker but they get the job done.
The shoe also has an extra pair of eyelets at the top of the collar in case you need to tighten up the fit with a runner's knot.
Stability
Lateral stability test
We found the Nike V2K Run a moderately stable sneaker that works for neutral pronation and perhaps even mild overpronation.
Its solid stabilising components made us feel surefooted and prevented our feet from spilling over the shoe.
In addition to the wide platform and firm foam around the heel, another obvious stabiliser is the stiff TPU midfoot cage. Connected to the lacing system through webbed eyelets, it allowed us to cinch down the fit while regulating the lockdown.
The black TPU elements under the foot arch and around the heel counter also add some stability to the shoe's construction.
Torsional rigidity
Because it is not a dedicated stability shoe, the Nike V2K Run is only moderately rigid.
On a stiffness scale from 1 to 5, we gave it a middle-of-the-road score of 3 in our torsional rigidity test. That's because we didn't meet a lot of resistance when twisting this Nike sneaker with our hands.
V2K Run | 3 |
Average | 3.5 |
Heel counter stiffness
A major part of the shoe's stability is concentrated in the heel counter. Multilayered and structured, we found it to be rather stiff and supportive.
Based on our push-and-squeeze test, we gave it a high stiffness score of 4.
We have no complaints about the heel hold of the Nike V2K Run whatsoever. Its firm clutch kept our heels and ankles very securely in place at all times.
V2K Run | 4 |
Average | 3.2 |
Midsole width - forefoot
The shoe's bulk becomes especially apparent in our calliper measurements.
Applying the tool to the widest part of the shoe's sole, we got a reading of 115.1 mm which is more than 6 mm wider than average.
V2K Run | 115.1 mm |
Average | 108.5 mm |
Midsole width - heel
But the heel of the V2K turned out to be some of the widest we've recorded in our lab! At 98.2 mm it is over 15 mm wider than average!
Even though the Nike V2K Run is often compared to the Nike Vomero 5, the two have vastly different platform dimensions. For reference, we measured the Vomero 5's forefoot at 111.6 mm and its heel at 87.0 mm.
V2K Run | 98.2 mm |
Average | 83.2 mm |
Flexibility
Stiffness
Featuring deep horizontal and vertical flex grooves, the Nike V2K Run bends quite effortlessly with the foot.
Our in-house stiffness test showed that it takes as little as 13.1N to bend this Nike kick to a 90-degree angle. That makes it a whole 80% more flexible than the average lifestyle sneaker.
Additionally, the curved shape of the heel creates very smooth heel-to-toe transitions and works in tune with the shoe's flexible forefoot.
V2K Run | 13.1N |
Average | 22.9N |
Weight
Despite its chunky-looking heel, the Nike V2K Run is actually lighter than average by a few ounces!
Weighing the kick in a men's US size 9, our scale showed 11.1 oz (315g). This is exactly the same as the Nike Zoom Vomero 5.
V2K Run | 11.11 oz (315g) |
Average | 13.86 oz (393g) |
Breathability
The shoe's open cell mesh fabric creates an impression of a highly breathable material. And it indeed is! A series of our lab tests proved it to be true.
In the most vivid test, we pumped smoke into the shoe's upper and saw how effortlessly it passed through the toebox fabric.
We were also happy to see that the large cells were not only limited to the shoe's toebox but also covered the tongue and quarters.
In a close-up view through our microscope, we also found that the lining beneath the mesh is quite thin and porous and doesn't block the airflow of the exterior mesh.
All things considered, we rated the V2K Run's breathability with the maximum score - 5 out of 5! Choosing this Nike sneaker for summer, you can be sure it won't trap the heat and sweat.
V2K Run | 5 |
Average | 3 |
Durability
The tapering wasn't very aggressive towards the toes either.
We measured 73.8 mm of toebox width near the big toe which is exactly the same as the average.
However, gentlemen with wider feet will most likely feel cramped in the V2K. As a more accommodating alternative with similar retro vibes, we recommend the ASICS Gel 1130.
Toebox durability
If you are worried about tearing such a loosely woven fabric, don't be! It turned out to be significantly more wear-resistant than it looks.
The Nike V2K Run really surprised us because mesh uppers usually end up ruthlessly torn after a 12-second exposure to sandpaper. But the toebox fabric of this sneaker kept its integrity even though the Dremel speed was set to 5K RPM!
The Vomero 5's mesh, on the other hand, got torn pretty badly!
Considering how minor the damage was, we rated the toebox durability of this Nike sneaker with a maximum score of 5!
In addition, synthetic overlays made us more reassured of the shoe's ability to withstand accidental toe bumps and slashes.
V2K Run | 5 |
Average | 3.8 |
Heel padding durability
Nike also used a rather hard-wearing material for this kick's inner lining.
Exposing it to sandpaper for 4 seconds resulted in a very minor scuff which did not affect the shoe's integrity or wearability at all.
Thus, we rated the heel padding of the V2K Run with another high durability score of 4 out of 5.
V2K Run | 4 |
Average | 3.2 |
Outsole hardness
A sturdy rubber outsole completes the durable construction of this Nike sneaker.
Made of a really hard rubber compound (88.1 HC is harder than average), it shows very promising signs of longevity.
You can confidently rock this sneaker on concrete and asphalt all day long for many months before it even starts to show first signs of wear.
V2K Run | 88.1 HC |
Average | 85.4 HC |
Outsole durability
Drilling the rubber for 22 seconds with the speed set to 10K RPM resulted in just a small tread loss.
Our tread gauge measured the depth of the newly created dent at only 1.1 mm. A solid result for a casual sneaker outsole.
V2K Run | 1.1 mm |
Average | 1.1 mm |
Outsole thickness
We also found that there is a sufficient amount of rubber in this Nike sneaker as our calliper returned a reading of 5.0 mm.
Paired with its hardness and wear resistance, this rubber compound promises a long a happy life.
V2K Run | 5.0 mm |
Average | 5.4 mm |
Misc
Reflective elements
Even though it may seem like the shoe's translucent midfoot cage could glow in the dark, it does not. None of the shoe's many panels do.
But given the shoe's multi-layered design, there is some space for a reflective element perhaps in one of the future colorways or special editions.
V2K Run | No |
Tongue padding
The tongue of this Nike sneaker is generously padded. It showed 8.5 mm of thickness in our calliper measurement.
V2K Run | 8.5 mm |
Average | 9.1 mm |
Heel tab
The Nike V2K Run incorporates a fabric finger loop very organically into its rearfoot design. And it is easy to use!
V2K Run | Finger loop |
Removable insole
Because this Nike shoe's insole is so uninspiring, many people may want to replace it with a more padded insert or a custom orthotic. Luckily, the stock insole is very easy to remove.
V2K Run | Yes |
Sustainable materials
According to Nike, the Nike V2K Run is made with at least 20% recycled content by weight. It is part of the brand's Move to Zero strategy which aims to reduce negative impact on the environment.