Nike Zoom Rival D 10 review

Who should buy Nike Zoom Rival D 10

Get this track running shoe from Nike if you want a bit more underfoot support for longer races. It's great for 800 to 1000m races but intended for anything up to 5k. That's considered "distance" in track.

It shines when the paces are at maximum - so this is a perfect shoe if you're looking for a race shoe or something to do sprints in.

Given its price point, it brings a lot of value for money and is perfect for beginners.

Who should not buy these running spikes

Don't get these if you're more into sprints. In that case, we suggest looking at Adidas Sprintstar. Adidas Prime SP2 is definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a spike ideal for hurdles!

Breathability at its best

We found the Rival D 10 to be highly breathable! Just as expected for a long-distance spike.

Based on the amount of smoke passing through the upper as well as its speed, we rated the spike's breathability with nearly the highest score: 4 out of 5.

See how easily light shines through the shoe's mesh material.

Spikes: technical overview

The shoe's outsole uses five ¼ pyramid spikes. These removable spikes offer custom traction for a better grip on the ground.

Same as the well-known Nike Zoom 400, the shoe’s outsole is fitted with the Pebax spike plate. It is computer-designed with geometrical cutouts that help in reducing the shoe’s weight.

The Pebax plate also provides a balance of stiffness and flexibility where they are most needed while also adding stability to the Zoom Rival D 10 with minimal bulk.

This Nike spike is indeed incredibly flexible in the forefoot. If we compare it to the average of regular running shoes, the Rival D 10 is 54% more flexible.

The shoe appears to be very pliable in hand as well. We gave it 1 out of 5 (the most flexible measurement) on both longitudinal and torsional flexibility.

This is one of the springiest spikes you can get from Nike.

Awesome price, especially for beginners

This is one of the best things about the Nike Zoom Rival D 10. It is a steal for the money!

Just enough padding in the Nike Zoom Rival D 10

This Nike spike packs a minimal amount of padding without overdoing it because it is a race shoe after all.

We measured the shoe's tongue thickness with a calliper and it returned 3.4 mm. It's actually not the thinnest one out there. Some running shoes have tongues that are only 1.1-1.3 mm.

It's not like the spike has no padding at all either. There is an ample amount around the heel collar that prevents blisters.

Make sure you get the right size

Be alerted upfront: runners with wide feet will likely need to break these spikes in before getting to the comfortable state.

In its widest part, we measured the toebox at 96.4 mm. While that's not considered narrow for a track spike, it is rather close-fitting.

The Nike Zoom Rival D 10 is a unisex track and field shoe. It is available in medium B sizing for men and medium D sizing for women.

Rival D 10 has great arch support

The Zoom Rival D 10 is sculpted to give support under the arch. Its shape is also straighter than most track shoes, thus providing more material under the midfoot.

The shoe’s arch band secures the midfoot area which keeps the midsole in place and the same time reduces in-shoe slippage. 

Superb comfort 

Given that it is a distance-oriented spike, the Nike Zoom Rival D 10 comes with a little more comfort than its sprint counterparts. for offering plenty of comfort. Here are some of the elements that make it that way:

• The anatomical toe shape allows space for a comfortable toe splay.

• The ankle collar and tongue are made of plush material, which is the padding typically found in a training shoe.

• No-sew overlays wrap the heel.
• A thin rubber layer then covers the heel and midfoot area of the shoe, providing durability and accommodating any footstrike.