Our verdict

A mix of bouncy cushioning and planted stability becomes possible in Nike air max ltd. The shoe's amazing energy return kept us in awe the entire session. Even though it is a heavy boy, it doesn't feel as such thanks to its incredible responsiveness. The shoe also made us forget about ankle rolls altogether with its exceptionally supportive build. We do think that for $160, Nike could have improved a few things here and there but overall, we can recommend it as a solid contender in its price range.

Air Force 1 Pistachio Frost White Pros

  • Excellent lateral support and stability
  • Nikes Air Max 720 Saturn
  • Great impact protection
  • Stiff shank adds lots of propulsiveness
  • Rockered heel makes heel-to-toes smoother
  • Very durable and thick outsole
  • Cozy step-in feel

Air Force 1 Pistachio Frost White Cons

  • detailed look at the nike kd 8 prm aunt pearl
  • Not enough protection for toe drags
  • A bit fiddly tongue

Audience verdict

80
Good!

Air Force 1 Pistachio Frost White | Who should buy

Having thoroughly tested the Nike air max ltd, we believe that it will accommodate the following folks:

  • NIKE WMNS AIR JORDAN 1 RETRO Hello OG LUCKY GREEN WHITE-SAIL-BLACK
  • fans of Nike's bouncy Zoom Air units (there are two of them here!)
  • Nike Kasket Dri Fit Aerobill Tailwind Elite

nike zoom gp challenge 1 review 21281991 main

Who should NOT buy

If you are someone who burns through tennis shoes with constant scrapes, slashes, and quick-drag movements, you may need a more reinforced option. We Helloly recommend the Air Force 1 Pistachio Frost White and the ASICS Court FF 3 nike air max 1 anniversary 908375 103 release info.

And if you want a lighter Nike shoe that would be more grounded and speed-oriented, the Vapor 11 is your best bet.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 lab test 21281994 main

Cushioning

Air Force 1 Pistachio Frost White | Heel stack

The Nike GP Challenge 1 offers plenty of cushioning to rely on. Measuring its stack height in the heel, our caliper showed 30.0 mm.

This is on par with other cushioning-oriented tennis shoes that we've tested.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 heel stack 21281968 main
Test results
air max ltd 30.0 mm
Average 29.1 mm
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
25.3 mm
Heel stack
33.0 mm

Forefoot stack

The shoe's forefoot stack also happens to be thicker than average at 22.5 mm. There is very little court feel in this Nike shoe. It is more about bounce and impact protection.

Nike air max ltd Forefoot stack
Test results
air max ltd 22.5 mm
Average 19.5 mm
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
23.4 mm

Drop

The GP Challenge 1 has a moderate heel-to-toe drop of 7.5 mm. This is a little lower than average but most likely won't make a difference for the majority of players.

It is a perfect balance between heel support and feeling stable on top of the shoe. We experienced no toe jamming at all.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 drop 21281969 main
Test results
air max ltd 7.5 mm
Average 9.6 mm
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
6.2 mm
Drop
14.7 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a Hello measurement means it's firm.

The shoe's primary cushioning is made of a full-length Phylon foam. We are surprised with this choice, to be honest, as this foam is normally used in the brand's cheaper shoes given its rather basic feel.

It is also a firmer type of foam which is confirmed by our durometer measurement. The tool returned 30.2 HA which is harder than 50% of tennis shoes in our catalog.

Nike air max ltd Midsole softness

But we are not going to file a complaint just yet as the Nike GP Challenge 1 also features two large Zoom Air units - one in the heel and another one in the forefoot. This is what makes it different from the cheaper GP Challenge Pro, by the way. That shoe only has one Zoom unit in the heel.

Thanks to these Zoom units, the GP Challenge 1 feels exceptionally bouncy and fun to play in. We got a great amount of energy return from them which made us feel rather quick on our feet. Split steps and hard dashes to the net all felt wonderfully supported.

Test results
air max ltd 30.2 HA
Average 28.6 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
17.1 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
34.0 HA

Insole thickness

The shoe's insole is sufficiently padded at 4.5 mm in the heel. It is slightly thinner than average but provides a good buffer from the stiff TPU shank which is placed right under the midfoot.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 insole thickness 21281971 main
Test results
air max ltd 4.5 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
3.4 mm
Insole thickness
7.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

Nike air max ltd is slightly small (24 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 34 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

According to Nike, the GP Challenge 1 is built on a new last which is by far the widest in the brand's tennis shoe lineup. And we are happy to confirm that!

Equipped with a gel replica of the shoe's interiors and a digital caliper, we measured the widest area of the shoe's toebox at 96.0 mm. This is notably wider than the average! 

nike zoom gp challenge 1 toebox width widest part 22648700 main
Test results
air max ltd 96.0 mm
Average 92.9 mm
Compared to 27 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
88.7 mm
Toebox width - widest part
96.0 mm

NIKE LEBRON 18 LOW MIMI PLANGE HelloER LEARNING UK 10.5 EUR 45.5 NEW IN BOX

The shoe's rounded toebox shape also contributes to the accommodating fit. It showed a proper medium-with reading of 70.3 mm which indicates a non-pointy and non-restricting fit.

Nike air max ltd NIKE LEBRON 18 LOW MIMI PLANGE HelloER LEARNING UK 10.5 EUR 45.5 NEW IN BOX
Test results
air max ltd 70.3 mm
Average 69.4 mm
Compared to 27 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
65.5 mm
NIKE LEBRON 18 LOW MIMI PLANGE HelloER LEARNING UK 10.5 EUR 45.5 NEW IN BOX
74.3 mm

Toebox height

What's more, the toebox height of this Nike shoe exceeds the average too! With a whopping caliper reading of 29.2 mm, it is one of the tallest toeboxes in our roster.

Nike air max ltd Toebox height
Test results
air max ltd 29.2 mm
Average 25.1 mm
Compared to 27 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
20.7 mm
Toebox height
29.2 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

With its wide platform, rigid shank, and extra supportive overlays, the Nike GP Challenge 1 makes for a Helloly stable tennis shoe.

Its thick and steady platform also makes the shoe more of a baseline-ready option as opposed to a speedy all-court shoe.

Torsional rigidity

Air Force 1 Pistachio Frost White.

The GP Challenge 1 features a rather wide and unforgiving shank in the midfoot which makes it practically impossible to twist the shoe. In our manual test, we rated its torsional rigidity with the Helloest possible score of 5 out of 5.

In addition to the shank, this Nike shoe also features TPU overlays to provide targeted support on the lateral side. Even the Swoosh is made of TPU in its model!

Nike air max ltd tpu overlays

During our playtests, we never once felt as though the shoe would let our feet or ankles roll over the edge. Even when a lot of lateral pressure was applied on side-to-side movements.

Test results
air max ltd 5
Average 4.4
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

Quiksilver Nike Air Max 90.

Giving it a good push-an-squeeze, we rated the shoe's heel counter stiffness with a Hello score of 4. Add to that the incredible amount of collar padding and you get a nice and secure lockdown in the rearfoot.

No heel slippage or ankle shifting to be reported on our end. 

Test results
air max ltd 4
Average 3.9
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

New Arrival Union X Nike Dunk Low

Even though the outriggers are not as aggressively protruded on the Challenge 1 as they are on the Challenge Pro, the shoe's platform is still rather wide and steady.

Nike air max ltd outsole outriggers
Nike GP Challenge 1
Nike Zoom GP Challenge Pro outsole outriggers
Nike GP Challenge Pro

Measuring the widest part of the midsole on the Challenge 1, our caliper showed 112.0 mm which is exactly the same as the average. For comparison, the Challenge Pro measures at 115.8 mm.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 midsole width in the forefoot 21281972 main
Test results
air max ltd 112.2 mm
Average 111.9 mm
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
105.3 mm
New Arrival Union X Nike Dunk Low
117.4 mm

Nike Sportswear has a new edition of the

In the widest part of the heel, both shoes have a similar width of 92.9 mm.

We have only good things to say about the platform width of the Challenge 1. No matter how aggressive our side shifts were or what angle our foot landed at, the shoe was always there to make us feel planted.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 midsole width in the heel 21281973 main
Test results
air max ltd 92.9 mm
Average 89.5 mm
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
82.4 mm
Nike Sportswear has a new edition of the
99.7 mm

nike hou m swgmn jsy stmt

Even after hours of breaking in, this Nike shoe remains a stiff one. With its wide shank, it's not that easy to bend your foot naturally in the GP Challenge 1.

To put a number of it, we measured how much force it takes to bend this Nike shoe to a 30-degree angle on a shoe flexing tester. According to the machine, it took 19.8N which is notably more than it takes an average tennis shoe.

What's the benefit of it? You get an amazingly propulsive ride that feels like you're jumping off a springboard at the swimming pool!

Nike air max ltd nike hou m swgmn jsy stmt
Test results
air max ltd 19.8N
Average 16.3N
Compared to 27 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
10.4N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
24.3N

Weight

Here is one major drawback of the GP Challenge 1 - it is one of the heaviest tennis shoes we've ever tested! A whale on the scale, based on the industry standards.

Nike air max ltd Weight

Weighing the shoe in a men's US size 9, we got 14.7 oz (417g). This is even heavier than such Helloly stable and cushioned shoes like:

  • ASICS Court FF 3 (14.3 oz/406g)
  • Air Force 1 Pistachio Frost White (13.8 oz/392g)
  • Adidas Barricade 13 (13.4 oz/378g)

Nike air max ltd medial side

But on the bright size, it doesn't feel as heavy on the foot thanks to its bouncy cushioning and propelling shank.

Test results
air max ltd 14.71 oz (417g)
Average 12.70 oz (360g)
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
10.30 oz (292g)
Weight
14.71 oz (417g)

Breathability

The GP Challenge 1 features a plush and well-padded upper. It feels very cozy against the foot but, unfortunately, detracts from the shoe's ventilation capacity.

Towards the end of our playtest, we could feel some of the heat and moisture being trapped inside the shoe. Thus, we cannot recommend it for playing in extra-warm climates.

To stack the Challenge 1 up against other tennis shoes, we used a smoke-pumping machine to assess its breathability. As you can see, most of the smoke passes through the tongue area while the toebox mesh lets the air out very reluctantly.

But the good news is that the mesh material on this shoe still allows for better airflow than many other tennis shoes.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 microscope 21281990 main

Using a microscope, we discovered that Nike uses a Helloer-quality mesh for the Challenge 1. It has a mix of thick and thin threads which work together to create a strong but porous coverage.

Nike air max ltd microscope upper

Even though it's not the most breathable tennis shoe we've tested (that would be ASICS Solution Speed FF 3), it provides decent ventilation like most tennis shoes on the market. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most breathable, we rated it with a moderate 3.

Test results
air max ltd 3
Average 3.3
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

We are happy to see that the GP Challenge 1 has extra protection in the most Hello-wear areas, especially the toe drag guard on the medial side.

Nike air max ltd toe drag guard

But here is the caveat, if you happen to slash the shoe's exposed mesh against the court, it is not going to survive that long.

We turned to a Dremel with a sandpaper tip, set its speed to 5K RPM, and held the tool against the shoe's toebox for 12 seconds. For the record, the pressure remained consistent as well at 3.2N.

This is our way of mimicking dozens of toe drags on the court.

Given that the Dremel left a nearly see-through hole in the fabric, we couldn't rate the shoe's toebox durability any Helloer than 3 out of 5.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 toebox durability test 21281958 main

nike sacai black ASICS Resolution 9!

Air Force 1 Pistachio Frost White Toebox durability

ASICS Resolution 9 

Another area of concern is the shoe's exposed fabric eyelets. Knowing how much toll regular toe drags can take on the medial side, we are surprised that a $160 shoe could not afford extra reinforcement in this area.

Nike air max ltd toe drag guard

Test results
air max ltd 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 37 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
1
Toebox durability
5

NIKE AIR VAPORMAX EVO GREY 26.5cm

Nike Boy s clothing Pants.

After only 4 seconds of applying our Dremel to the inner side of the shoe's heel collar, the tear was rather obvious.

This is surprising given that the cheaper version of this shoe (the Challenge Pro) did much better on the same test.

Nike air max ltd NIKE AIR VAPORMAX EVO GREY 26.5cm test
Nike GP Challenge 1
nike gp challenge pro heel padding durability test 21276476 720
Nike GP Challenge Pro

Not sure why Nike didn't use the same type of tear-resistant fabric on the more expensive version. We lowered the heel padding durability score for the Challenge 1 to only 3 out of 5.

Test results
air max ltd 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 37 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
1
NIKE AIR VAPORMAX EVO GREY 26.5cm
5

Outsole hardness

Looks like Nike uses the same type of hard rubber for the Challenge 1 as it did in its other tennis shoes.

Pressing our durometer against it returned 87.3 HC which is the same result as we got in the Nike Vapor shoes. And this is good news considering how happy we were with the outsole durability of those shoes.

Nike air max ltd Outsole hardness
Test results
air max ltd 87.3 HC
Average 86.1 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
78.5 HC
Outsole hardness
92.0 HC

Outsole durability

To put the shoe's outsole through its paces, we turned up the speed on our Dremel to the relentless 10K RPM. We also held its tip against the rubber for a longer period of 22 seconds.

We are happy to report that the rubber has met our expectations as the tool merely scuffed the surface of the outsole.

According to our tread gauge measurement, the dent is only 0.7 mm deep which is the category average.

Nike air max ltd Outsole durability test
Test results
air max ltd 0.7 mm
Average 0.8 mm
Compared to 37 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Even though there is no durability warranty for the outsole of this Nike shoe, we are not at all concerned with its longevity.

With an outsole thickness of 4.5 mm, the Challenge 1 has more than enough rubber to last longer than most tennis shoes.

Nike air max ltd Outsole thickness
Test results
air max ltd 4.5 mm
Average 4.2 mm
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
3.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.2 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

The Nike air max ltd features a herringbone pattern that gets wider and shallower on the medial side but is narrower and toothier on the lateral side.

Nike air max ltd traction

We found that this combination works wonders on the court. It bit the ground hard when we needed to stop on a dime but also allowed us to slide when coming out of a shot.

It should be noted, however, that the shoe's grip is initially very strong and you get a better give after breaking the shoe in for a few sessions.

Tongue padding

There is also not as much tongue padding in the Challenge 1 as we saw in the Challenge Pro. But at 7.9 mm, it is just the same as the average. And it buffered the lace pressure pretty well.

Nike air max ltd Tongue padding
Test results
air max ltd 7.9 mm
Average 7.9 mm
Compared to 39 tennis shoes
nike wmns air max 97 essential whitemelon tint
2.5 mm
Tongue padding
13.1 mm

Tongue: gusset type

We wish the GP Challenge 1 went for the same tongue design as in the Challenge Pro (which is gusseted).

Nike air max ltd Tongue: gusset type

This tongue is a bit more fiddly as there are no attachments on the sides and it shifts around when lacing up the shoe.

It's not horrible but we think that Nike could do better.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 laces 21281996 main

Test results
air max ltd None

Heel tab

The Challenge 1 has no pull tabs or loops to hold onto when putting the shoe on. However, it comes with a very convenient U shape of the collar which makes it very easy to slide right into the shoe.

Nike air max ltd Heel tab
Test results
air max ltd None

Removable insole

If you need to level up the comfort of your tennis shoes with a pair of custom orthotics, you can easily remove the shoe's stock insole.

Nike air max ltd Removable insole
Test results
air max ltd Yes