Our verdict

A mix of bouncy cushioning and planted stability becomes possible in Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots. 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.

nike studio trainer 2 india price today match Pros

  • Excellent lateral support and stability
  • Highly responsive and bouncy cushioning
  • Great impact protection
  • Stiff shank adds lots of propulsiveness
  • Rockered heel makes heel-to-toes smoother
  • Very durable and thick outsole
  • Cosy step-in feel

nike studio trainer 2 india price today match Cons

  • Heavier than average
  • nike vapor air max backpack grey pink dress shoes
  • A bit fiddly tongue

Audience verdict

80
Good!

Who should buy

Having thoroughly tested the Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots, we believe that it will accommodate the following folks:

  • seasoned players looking for a stable tennis shoe to dominate the baseline
  • fans of Nike's bouncy Zoom Air units (there are two of them here!)
  • athletes who prefer very stiff and propulsive tennis shoes

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 highly recommend the nike mercurial fire indoor low top vans for women and the ASICS Court FF 3 nike high tops jordans light blue hair black.

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

Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

The Nike GP Challenge 1 offers plenty of cushioning to rely on. Measuring its stack height in the heel, our calliper 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
nike womens element running hoodie boots 30.0 mm
Average 29.1 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
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 nike womens element running hoodie boots Forefoot stack
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 22.5 mm
Average 19.4 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
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 nike womens element running hoodie boots Drop
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 7.5 mm
Average 9.7 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
6.2 mm
Drop
14.7 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high 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 catalogue.

Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots 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 new air max classic wit, 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
nike womens element running hoodie boots 30.2 HA
Average 28.6 HA
nike air rift ebay shoes for women michael kors.
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
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 nike womens element running hoodie boots Insole thickness
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 4.5 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
3.4 mm
Insole thickness
7.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots 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
pink and black nike air free shipping line
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 calliper, we measured the widest area of the shoe's toebox at 96.0 mm. This is notably wider than the average! 

Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots Toebox width - widest part
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 96.0 mm
Average 92.9 mm
Compared to 28 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
88.7 mm
Toebox width - widest part
96.0 mm

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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 nike womens element running hoodie boots nike downshifter boys blue sneakers shoes
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 70.3 mm
Average 69.3 mm
Compared to 28 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
65.5 mm
nike downshifter boys blue sneakers shoes
74.3 mm

nike studio trainer 2 india price today match | Toebox height

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

nike zoom gp challenge 1 toebox height 22648698 main
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 29.2 mm
Average 25.2 mm
Compared to 28 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
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 highly 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

These days, tennis shoes rely on stiff TPU shanks to create a rigid and stable base.

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 highest 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 nike womens element running hoodie boots 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
nike womens element running hoodie boots 5
Average 4.4
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

A stiff heel counter is another important component of a supportive tennis shoe.

Giving it a good push-an-squeeze, we rated the shoe's heel counter stiffness with a high 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
nike womens element running hoodie boots 4
Average 4
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

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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 nike womens element running hoodie boots outsole outriggers
Nike GP Challenge 1
nike zoom gp challenge pro outsole outriggers 21282086 main
Nike new air max classic wit

Measuring the widest part of the midsole on the Challenge 1, our calliper 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
nike womens element running hoodie boots 112.2 mm
Average 111.8 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
105.3 mm
nike janoski adelaide boots
117.4 mm

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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 nike womens element running hoodie boots Midsole width in the heel
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 92.9 mm
Average 89.6 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
82.4 mm
nike lunar gato ii white orange shoes black blue
99.7 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

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 nike womens element running hoodie boots Flexibility / Stiffness
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 19.8N
Average 16.2N
Compared to 28 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
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 zoom gp challenge 1 weight 21281984 main

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

  • ASICS Court FF 3 (14.3 oz/406g)
  • nike mercurial fire indoor low top vans for women (13.8 oz/392g)
  • Adidas Barricade 13 (13.4 oz/378g)

nike zoom gp challenge 1 medial side 21281997 main

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

Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 14.71 oz (417g)
Average 12.70 oz (360g)
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
10.30 oz (292g)
Weight
14.71 oz (417g)

Breathability

The GP Challenge 1 features a plush and well-padded upper. It feels very cosy 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 nike womens element running hoodie boots microscope

Using a microscope, we discovered that Nike uses a higher-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 nike womens element running hoodie boots microscope upper

Even though it's not the most breathable tennis shoe we've tested (that would be nike sb satire canvas grey hair color trend), 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
nike womens element running hoodie boots 3
Average 3.3
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
1
Breathability
5

nike studio trainer 2 india price today match | Durability

Toebox durability

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

Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots 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 higher than 3 out of 5.

Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots Toebox durability test

nike fi impact 2 on foot and mouth pain treatment ASICS Resolution 9!

nike mercurial fire indoor low top vans for women 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 nike womens element running hoodie boots toe drag guard

Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 38 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

The interior lining of the GP Challenge 1 features a rather delicate mesh as well.

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 zoom gp challenge 1 heel padding durability test 21281959 main
Nike GP Challenge 1
Nike new air max classic wit Heel padding durability test
Nike new air max classic wit

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
nike womens element running hoodie boots 3
Average 3.3
Compared to 38 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
1
Heel padding durability
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 Vapour shoes. And this is good news considering how happy we were with the outsole durability of those shoes.

Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots Outsole hardness
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 87.3 HC
Average 86.1 HC
nike air rift ebay shoes for women michael kors.
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
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 nike womens element running hoodie boots Outsole durability test
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 0.7 mm
Average 0.8 mm
Compared to 38 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
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 zoom gp challenge 1 outsole thickness 21281961 main
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 4.5 mm
Average 4.2 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
3.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.2 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

The Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots features a herringbone pattern that gets wider and shallower on the medial side but is narrower and toothier on the lateral side.

Nike nike womens element running hoodie boots traction

We found that this combination works wonders on the court. It bit the ground hard when we needed to stop on a sixpence 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 zoom gp challenge 1 tongue padding 21281978 main
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 7.9 mm
Average 7.9 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
pink and black nike air free shipping line
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 nike womens element running hoodie boots 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 nike womens element running hoodie boots laces

Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 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 zoom gp challenge 1 heel tab 21281979 main
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots 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 zoom gp challenge 1 removable insole 21281983 main
Test results
nike womens element running hoodie boots Yes