What’s more, considering that this is a budget model, it’s great that they decided to make it more environmentally friendly. One feature missing is a full length carbon plate, with the Streakfly instead having a small Pebax plate at the midfoot to add a little stability to the soft foam and speed your transition onto your forefoot. It all adds up to a springy and speedy ride that only feels better the faster you run in the shoe, but the slightly strange sensation produced by the different foams, the plate and the pods might not suit every runner.

Nike Downshifter 11 Review | Running Shoes Guru

He has summited peaks throughout the Americas, trekked through Africa, and tested his endurance in 24-hour trail races as well as 6 marathons. But if you are planning to take the shoe out in the cold, be prepared that it is going to stiffen up.In contrast, if you’re expecting to use the shoe mostly on the treadmill you don’t need to worry so much about grip. It’s also a great choice simply as a friendly and very comfortable sneaker, to wear for everyday life. The other thing I don’t like about Nike’s lower-budget shoes is they cram the heel with foam for a high-drop experience.

Nike Downshifter 11 Review (2023) | RunRepeat Cut in half: Nike Downshifter 11 Review (2023) | RunRepeat

The previous iteration had an outsole that proved noticeably resistant, and the Downshifter 12’s proved as much as good. The wide forefoot also adds to the stable feel of the shoe, which makes it a great workhorse for serious runners as well as a top option for heavier people just getting into the sport who will value the extra support.

If you need more stability than that provided by the Infinity Run 2, then the Zoom Structure is your best bet in Nike’s line-up.

Nike Downshifter 12 Review (2023) | RunRepeat Cut in half: Nike Downshifter 12 Review (2023) | RunRepeat

The second edition of the shoe improves on the first by adding more padding and support around the heel while also adding more structure to certain areas of the upper.If you’re the kind of person who looks at runners’ feet as they line up for a race, you’d once have seen a broad range of shoes in use – but not any more.

Nike running shoes 2023: Top picks for every kind of Best Nike running shoes 2023: Top picks for every kind of

The white version did pick up lots of dirt and dusk immediately, even on a dry, pavement run, so something to consider if you like your shoes to look box fresh. It’s also a lot lighter than both the Vaporfly and Alphafly, which again points to the Streakfly’s role as a short distance shoe.

The toe box is narrower than other Nike’s and Asics I’ve been running in recently, so may be worth considering a different model, or one size up if you’re feet are wider. These shoes will have sufficient cushioning for short strings on the treadmill while also being better-suited to lifting than normal running shoes. There’s a whole lot of tech packed into the Tempo NEXT%, which features two different foams, Air Zoom pods under the forefoot, and a carbon composite plate that runs from the midfoot forward.