Our verdict
Pros
- Historical silhouette (first-ever visible Air Max)
- Responsive Air Max cushioning
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- Very supportive construction
- Extraordinary durable
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- True to size and fit
Cons
- Lacks breathability
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- Cheap materials (fake leather and suede)
Comparison
The most similar trainers compared
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Audience score | 93 Great! | 87 Good! | 95 Superb! | 88 Good! | |
Price | £145 | £170 | £115 | £110 | |
Style | ClassicSporty | ClassicRetroSportyChunky | DadRetroSporty | SportyWedgeChunky | |
Breathability | Warm | Breathable | Warm | Warm | |
Weight lab | 13.3 vintage celtic heels nike dunk high women | 14 oz / 397g | 12.9 navy blue and pink heels nike shoes for breast cancer | 13.4 oz / 381g | |
Size | True to size | True to size | True to size | Slightly small | |
Midsole softness | Balanced | Balanced | Soft | Balanced | |
Material | Mesh | LeatherMeshSuede | LeatherMesh | SuedeTextile | |
Season | SpringFall | Summer | SpringFall | Winter | |
Inspired from | Running | Running | Running | Running | |
burgundy and gold heels nike huarache sneakers clearance | Medium | Narrow | Medium | Wide | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Leather/suede quality | Fake suede | Real leather | Real leather | Real suede | |
Toebox durability | Decent | Decent | Decent | Good | |
nike fashion shoes 2016 kids boys boots store | Decent | Decent | Decent | Bad | |
Outsole durability | Good | Good | Good | Bad | |
Heel stack lab | 32.2 mm | 34.8 mm | 32.3 mm | 35.8 mm | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Stiff | Stiff | Moderate | |
Tongue padding | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Drop lab | 12.1 mm | 10.3 mm | 10.0 mm | 11.1 mm | |
Forefoot | 20.1 mm | 24.5 mm | 22.3 mm | 24.7 mm | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Heel tab | None | None | None | Finger loop | |
Torsional rigidity | Stiff | Stiff | Moderate | Stiff | |
Heel counter stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Reflective elements | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | |
Closure | Laces | Laces | Laces | Laces | |
Top | Low top | Low top | Low top | Low top | |
Ranking | #24 Top 22% | #96 Bottom 15% | #4 Top 4% | #93 Bottom 17% | |
Popularity | #27 Top 24% | #71 Bottom 37% | #5 Top 5% | #87 Bottom 23% |
Who should buy
You can't walk past the heels nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens if:
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- you want an iconic sneaker that doesn't cut corners on comfort and support
- you love the bouncy experience of Air Max technology
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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.
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.
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.
nike free run 2 shield mens | 32.2 mm |
Average | 30.2 mm |
Forefoot stack
Having cut the shoe in half, we were pleasantly surprised that it comes with an additional Air unit in the forefoot!
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.
nike free run 2 shield mens | 20.1 mm |
Average | 19.2 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.
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.
nike free run 2 shield mens | 12.1 mm |
Average | 11.1 mm |
Midsole softness
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!
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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.
nike free run 2 shield mens | 21.1 HA |
Average | 29.1 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 free run 2 shield mens | 3.6 mm |
Average | 5.1 mm |
Size and fit
Size
Nike heels nike free run 2 shield mens is true to size (390 votes).
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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 free run 2 shield mens | 93.6 mm |
Average | 92.3 mm |
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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 free run 2 shield mens | 68.6 mm |
Average | 68.8 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 free run 2 shield mens | 26.5 mm |
Average | 27.8 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.
nike free run 2 shield mens | 5 |
Average | 3.6 |
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.
nike free run 2 shield mens | 3 |
Average | 3.2 |
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.
Showing 107.9 mm in the widest part of the forefoot, it proved to be sufficiently wide to keep us surefooted.
nike free run 2 shield mens | 107.9 mm |
Average | 108.5 mm |
Midsole width - heel
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nike free run 2 shield mens | 81.8 mm |
Average | 83.6 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.
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.
nike free run 2 shield mens | 17.9N |
Average | 13.8N |
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.
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 free run 2 shield mens | 13.33 oz (378g) |
Average | 13.76 oz (390g) |
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.
Thus, we couldn't rate the heels nike free run 2 shield mens's breathability any higher than 2 out of 5.
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nike free run 2 shield mens | 2 |
Average | 3 |
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.
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.
On a 1-5 scale, we eagerly rated the heels nike free run 2 shield mens's toebox durability as 4.
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.
nike free run 2 shield mens | 4 |
Average | 3.7 |
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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.
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!
nike free run 2 shield mens | 4 |
Average | 3.2 |
Outsole hardness
Last but not least, the rubber outsole of this iconic sneaker stood up to the challenge just as brilliantly.
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.
nike free run 2 shield mens | 90.0 HC |
Average | 85.7 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 free run 2 shield mens | 0.8 mm |
Average | 1.1 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 free run 2 shield mens | 5.7 mm |
Average | 5.3 mm |
Misc
Grip / Traction
We rarely find ourselves in dire need of a strong grip in day-to-day life.
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 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 free run 2 shield mens | 9.0 mm |
Average | 9.3 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 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 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 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.
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.
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!
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.