Our verdict

The number of heels nike Air Max variations is hard to count these days but it was the heels nike free run 2 shield mens that laid the foundations for the entire AM collection. Wearing this iconic sneaker filled us with confidence and even a little boost of self-esteem, to be honest. It is a sneaker royalty that has an unwavering appeal to every generation and social group. As a lifestyle sneaker, we found the AM1 to be amazingly comfortable and supportive for long hours on our feet - a quality so often neglected by other sneaker icons. Offered at a down-to-earth price point, this heels nike sneaker can easily become a new mainstay in your closet.

burgundy and gold heels nike huarache sneakers clearance Pros

  • Historical silhouette (first-ever visible Air Max)
  • Responsive Air Max cushioning
  • burgundy and gold heels nike huarache sneakers clearance
  • Very supportive construction
  • Extraordinary durable
  • nike tiempo legend 6 players shoes
  • True to size and fit

burgundy and gold heels nike huarache sneakers clearance Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • nike air presto ultra flyknit reddit gold and blue
  • Cheap materials (fake leather and suede)

Who should buy

You can't walk past the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens if:

  • nike air force 1 roses gold ring size nike lunarglide or lunar eclipse (nike free runs women sale in california state)
  • you want an iconic sneaker that doesn't cut corners on comfort and support
  • you love the bouncy experience of Air Max technology
  • retro kicks heels nike mercurial white and gold

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens review

Who should NOT buy

If you really want an Air Max silhouette but the shoe's fake leather-suede upper annoys you, consider getting a slightly more expensive Premium version of the sneaker (£150-160) or consider the Nike Air Max 95.

On the other hand, if you want to experience the Air Max cushioning in a more affordable package, we highly recommend the nike free hyperfeel tr white sneakers sandals.

nike air max 1 lab test 21524666 main

Cushioning

burgundy and gold heels nike huarache sneakers clearance | Heel stack

Loaded with a large Air Max unit under the heel, it is no surprise that the heels nike free run 2 shield mens has a taller-than-average stack height.

Our calliper returned 32.3 mm as we measured its thickness in the heel.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Heel stack

Treated to so much cushioning underfoot, we felt pretty comfortable spending a whole day in the heels nike free run 2 shield mens.

It is not as cosy as the brand's walking-oriented shoes like the Nike Motiva but it is one of the few fashion-statement trainers that are actually foot-friendly.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 32.2 mm
Average 30.2 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
Number of shoes
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

Having cut the shoe in half, we were pleasantly surprised that it comes with an additional Air unit in the forefoot!

nike air max 1 forefoot stack 21524639 main

It is not as large as the heel unit but offered a very welcome touch of comfort and support for the balls of our feet.

It also added a couple of millimetres to the shoe's forefoot stack which showed 20.1 mm on our calliper.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 20.1 mm
Average 19.2 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
Number of shoes
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
29.5 mm

burgundy and gold heels nike huarache sneakers clearance | Drop

WIth a drop of 12.1 mm, the heel of the heels nike free run 2 shield mens is notably elevated above the toes.

nike air max 1 drop 21524642 main

However, once the shoe is loaded with the wearer's weight, the Air Max unit compresses and lowers the drop slightly.

In the end, this heels nike shoe feels like most other trainers, with the heel placed slightly higher on the platform to take the pressure off the Achilles.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 12.1 mm
Average 11.1 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
Number of shoes
3.5 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Midsole softness

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

If you haven't experienced heels nike trainers with Air Max cushioning before, you might be surprised with the Air's somewhat firm nature. That's because it is basically a sealed bag with pressurised gas.

But when it's loaded with your body weight, the Air Max comes into play adding a bit of bounce to your step. And the great thing about it is that it doesn't compress over time like the cushioning foams do!

By the way, we also checked the softness of the midsole foam that carries the Air bubble. With a durometer reading of 21.1 HA, it is 45% softer than average!

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Midsole softness

nike air max 90 jacquard laser crimson dress shoes.

nike air max 1 air bag 21529583 main

P.S. The Air Max unit of this particular iteration is smaller than it was in the original heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens shoe from 1987. heels nike decided to make it smaller in response to numerous complaints of the airbag cracking in low temperatures.

But if you prefer the look and feel of the larger Air Max unit, you might enjoy the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens '86 edition called the "Big Bubble." It was released in 2023 to commemorate the silhouette's 35th anniversary and recreate the authentic design. The retail price of this edition is a bit higher at £150-160.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 21.1 HA
Average 29.1 HA
women jordan shoes size 9 cheap.
Compared to 76 trainers
Number of shoes
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
46.4 HA

Insole thickness

The heels nike free run 2 shield mens features a pretty minimal insole that is only 3.6 mm thick. It makes the shoe feel less cushy but you get to experience the Air Max more closely in action.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Insole thickness
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 3.6 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens is true to size (390 votes).

nike air speed turf women cheap sandals?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 110 trainers
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

all retro jordans 1 23

We found the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens to be a well-fitting sneaker which is true to its D medium width. Gladly, our calliper measurements confirmed it. 

Measuring the widest part of the mould, we got a regular (even slightly above-average) reading of 93.6 mm.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens all retro jordans 1 23
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 93.6 mm
Average 92.3 mm
Compared to 75 trainers
Number of shoes
85.4 mm
all retro jordans 1 23
96.8 mm

yellow and red heels nike sneaker women wide width green

The taper angle is pretty moderate too. The mold gets slightly narrower towards the toes but doesn't get any pointier than the average. At the big toe mark, it showed a standard width of  68.6 mm.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens yellow and red heels nike sneaker women wide width green
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 68.6 mm
Average 68.8 mm
Compared to 75 trainers
Number of shoes
63.9 mm
yellow and red heels nike sneaker women wide width green
74.1 mm

Toebox height

The heels nike free run 2 shield mens's toebox is not a shallow one either. Our calliper recorded a regular toebox height of 26.5 mm here.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Toebox height
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 26.5 mm
Average 27.8 mm
Compared to 75 trainers
Number of shoes
20.7 mm
Toebox height
35.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Despite its air-based cushioning, the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens doesn't feel wobbly one bit!

The shoe's sturdy platform with raised sidewalls offered a very firm containment, never letting our feet or ankles get out of control.

We think that this heels nike sneaker might even suit people with moderate overpronation (excessive inward rolling of the foot).

Torsional rigidity

Our manual test proved that it is nearly impossible to twist the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens sideways.

We gave the shoe a solid 5 out of 5 in a torsional rigidity assessment. It makes the foot feel very well-supported and stable.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 5
Average 3.6
Compared to 93 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

A considerable amount of support also comes from the shoe's heel counter which is structured, well-padded, and reasonably stiff.

Giving it a push-and-squeeze in our manual test, we assessed its level of stiffness at 3 out of 5.

Holding the back of our foot firmly in place, the shoe's heel counter prevented any unwanted slippage or shifting.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 93 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

The platform of the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens is neither too wide nor too narrow. It sits right at the average of most trainers on the market.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Midsole width in the forefoot

Showing 107.9 mm in the widest part of the forefoot, it proved to be sufficiently wide to keep us surefooted.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 107.9 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
Number of shoes
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width - heel

Nike Air Max Moto 10.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Midsole width in the heel

nike air max silver shoes online.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 81.8 mm
Average 83.6 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
Number of shoes
67.7 mm
Midsole width - heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

With its substantial midsole and rigid construction, the heels nike free run 2 shield mens wasn't very eager to bend with our foot. This was especially apparent at the toe-off.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Flexibility / Stiffness

The shoe's stiffness was also confirmed in our flexibility machine test. The latter showed that it takes an above-average amount of force (17.9N) to bend this heels nike sneaker to a 30-degree angle. That's about 30% stiffer than it t akes an average sneaker.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 17.9N
Average 13.8N
Compared to 34 trainers
Number of shoes
4.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
27.6N

Weight

We were amazed at how heels nike managed to keep the weight of the heels nike free run 2 shield mens below average. Our scale shows a moderate reading of 13.3 oz (378g) in a men's US size 9.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Weight oz grams

It is lighter than both the nike free runs with zig zags girls youtube full (14.8 oz/420g) and the nike bo jackson for sale cheap 2017 (16.4 oz/465g).

Considering the shoe's stack height, the Air units, and the somewhat beefy upper design, it feels pretty light on the foot.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens shoe weight

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 13.33 oz (378g)
Average 13.76 oz (390g)
Compared to 94 trainers
Number of shoes
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

It is easy to be misled by the shoe's seemingly breathable mesh upper. But in reality, it hardly lets any air in or out of the interiors.

Our smoke-pumping breathability test makes it very clear that the shoe's ventilation capacity is little to none. Its toebox fabric failed to expel any smoke, unlike the much more breathable nike zoom kobe venomenon lime green on the right.

Our additional search for ventilation holes didn't retrieve any results either.

Even in our microscope test, the shoe's upper fabric proved to be incredibly tightly woven with no pores in between the threads.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Breathability microscope test

Thus, we couldn't rate the heels nike free run 2 shield mens's breathability any higher than 2 out of 5.

jordan cool grey 11 Nike Zoom Vomer 5 among other top picks for summer boys camo heels nike high tops.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Breathability upper material under microscope
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 2
Average 3
Compared to 93 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

Gone are the days when you could cop a genuine leather sneaker for £140. As the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens shows, you can expect nothing more than synthetic materials at this price point.

And if you want a touch of real leather or suede, you have to shell out £160 for the kick's Premium version.

We think that even an untrained eye can see the fakeness of materials on this heels nike sneaker. But we still tested every major panel on its upper with the help of a butane torch.

Both "suede" and "leather" patches quickly caught fire and melted the date we applied the torch, proving our assumptions.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens Fake suede

Toebox durability

The shoe's mesh fabric may lose points for breathability but boy its durability surpasses nearly every mesh sneaker we've tested!

After being exposed to sandpaper for 12 seconds at a 5K RPM speed, the fabric showed nothing more than a chafe!

Meanwhile, most kicks ended up with see-through holes like the one on the right.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Toebox durability comparison

On a 1-5 scale, we eagerly rated the heels nike free run 2 shield mens's toebox durability as 4.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens mudguard

In addition, the shoe's upper is protected by a large fake suede overlay around the perimeter. Proudly called the "mudguard" by heels nike, it made us chuckle because it is actually a magnet for dirt and stains.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 4
Average 3.7
Compared to 93 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

nike fashion shoes 2016 kids boys boots store

Granted, the durability of the heels nike free run 2 shield mens surpassed our expectations.

Even such an easily damaged part of the shoe as the heel lining proved to be immune to our abrasive Dremel.

The textile remained nearly unscathed after a 4-second encounter with sandpaper.

nike air max 1 heel padding durability comparison 21524632 main

This is impressive considering that most trainers in our lab end up with considerable damage (as the shoe on the right illustrates).

Such resistance to abrasion earns the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens a high score for heel lining durability - 4 out of 5!

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 93 trainers
Number of shoes
1
nike fashion shoes 2016 kids boys boots store
5

Outsole hardness

Last but not least, the rubber outsole of this iconic sneaker stood up to the challenge just as brilliantly.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Outsole hardness

It proved to be made of a rather hard compound which returned 90.0 HC on our Shore C durometer. As one of the hardest outsole measurements in our lab, it promises a great deal of longevity as well.

Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 90.0 HC
Average 85.7 HC
women jordan shoes size 9 cheap.
Compared to 93 trainers
Number of shoes
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
94.0 HC

Outsole durability

To check if that's true, we raised the speed of our Dremel to the relentless 10K RPM and extended the drilling time to 22 seconds.

The heels nike free run 2 shield mens did not disappoint taking all of that abuse with minimal damage!

Measuring the depth of the dent created by the Dremel, our tread gauge showed only 0.8 mm. A bit shallower than average, it proves that this heels nike sneaker has the potential to outlast most lifestyle trainers in your closet.

nike air max 1 outsole durability test 21524633 main
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 0.8 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 93 trainers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

We must also note that the thickness of rubber on the heels nike free run 2 shield mens comes in high at 5.7 mm. It further proves our point that it will take a while to blow through this kick.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Outsole thickness
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 5.7 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
Number of shoes
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

We rarely find ourselves in dire need of a strong grip in day-to-day life.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens outsole

But the waffle outsole of the heels nike Air Max 2 made us feel quite secure in common lifestyle situations like walking on wet stairs after the rain or stepping on tile floors of the coffee shop.

Reflective elements

There are no reflective elements on the upper of the heels nike free run 2 shield mens.

nike air max 1 reflective elements 21524647 main
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens No

Tongue padding

The in-shoe padding of the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens is not overly abundant but it's not minimal either. We found it to be just right for keeping us comfortable.

Two foam pillows inside the tongue protected our feet from lace bites and pressure rather well.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Tongue padding
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens 9.0 mm
Average 9.3 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
Number of shoes
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue of the heels nike free run 2 shield mens does not have any gussets or other attachments to the rest of the upper.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Tongue: gusset type
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens None

Heel tab

The heels nike free run 2 shield mens doesn't provide any loops or pull tabs to assist the on-and-off. You will need to fiddle with the laces a bit.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens Heel tab
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens None

Removable insole

The shoe's stock insole can be removed in a matter of seconds in case you plan to use a pair of custom orthotics with this sneaker.

nike air max 1 removable insole 21524656 main
Test results
nike free run 2 shield mens Yes

The origins of the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens

The heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens was not the first shoe to feature the revolutionary Air cushioning unit. It was the heels nike Tailwing back in 1979. But the heels nike free run 2 shield mens did become the very first sneaker to put this technology on public display.

nike air max 1 stye 21524667 main

In the '80s, heels nike thought of conceiving a footwear design that would keep up with the stiff competition in the shoe industry. While vibrant hues and bold patterns ruled the market, heels nike planned on offering a design that is still remarkable without the usually bright and audacious elements.

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens story

Tinker Hatfield, the brand's architect at the time, came up with the idea of making the Air unit visible during his trip to Paris. He was inspired by the unconventional design of the Centre Georges Pompidou which looked like the building was turned inside out with its girders and pipes all exposed.

The idea was originally met with resistance from heels nike's marketing team and nearly cost Hatfield his job!

Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens heels

And yet, the brand yielded and the very first heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens came to prominence in March 1987. Did you know that in 2014 heels nike declared March 26 the official Air Max day? Since then, the company has celebrated the OG annually releasing new editions and colorways of the shoe.

The AM1's visible Air technology turned the sneaker into an instant classic. Today it is available in countless collaborations and colorways appealing to all genders, ages, and social groups.

nike air max 1 she pieces 21529586 main