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Geek Review: Nike Joyride Run Flyknit

After years in establishing Flyknits as a pair of comfortable and ultra-soft pair of shoes, Nike has returned with an upgrade in the sole of the shoes, looking at pushing Flyknits as performance running shoes as well.

The key selling point is the new sole, which provides the best impact absorption that Nike has to offer. The sole is made up of small beads, which in turn are made of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), a combination of plastic and rubber. The standard US 8 Women’s shoe contains roughly 8,000 beads. The combination of beads and the soft foam casing surrounding them is what gives the Nike Joyride Run Flyknits their incredible bounce and softness.

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The midsole is where the magic happens. The midsole contains four pods filled with TPE beads that conform to the shape of your foot while you run. These Nerds candy beads essentially help absorb the shock while running and provide each step with a little bounce.

As a casual everyday shoe, the shoe is comfortable and the heel-to-toe motion is greatly supported by the volume of beads in the pods, with most residing in the heel portion and the least at the toes. After walking around the whole day, the shoe eventually moulds to the shape of your foot. The trick here is an insole which is a thin piece of cloth over the pods, one can really feel the beads while walking. It isn’t exactly like walking on sand but it is sort of like finding a comfortable angle when sitting on a bean bag. 

Slipping on the shoe for the first time was definitely a strange experience. The shoe fits like a bootie and the tongue is built into the upper of the shoe. Due to the snug fit and the softness of the materials used for the shoe, it may be tricky business sliding your foot in but the stretchy tongue and heel loop greatly make up for that. 

Nike Joyride

The Joyride Run Flyknit runs really narrow, so we would suggest getting half a size bigger than your usual shoe size but even then, it is a really snug fit. There is zero wiggle room in the front which might feel constricting at first but that quickly disappears once you walk around in it for a while. It feels ridiculously comfortable and the springiness is immediately apparent once you slip it on. The shoe makes you want to bounce around and begs for you to take a spin in it. 

As a beginner runner, the apprehension is all too real. There was no way a shoe could magically change people’s minds about running, but this shoe did exactly that.

The springiness mentioned earlier really propel runners forward and it didn’t feel too heavy with each step. It was comfortable throughout the first 15-minute run and there was great arch-support. Although the shoe is greatly cushioned with the TPE beads, you’ll still feel close to the ground and stabilised throughout your run.

Those with little experience with running shoes might feel a little unsteady when first trying on the shoes as it provides a level of springiness that you’ll never get from any regular sneakers. For those with wider feet, it might feel a bit imbalanced because your whole foot is not supported on the beads. 

Surprisingly, despite the bounce of the beads and the softness of the cushioning, the shoe felt secure. The outer heel cage greatly supports that portion of your foot and makes you feel locked in place. 

Interestingly, while the beads adjust to the shape of your foot after wearing it for a while, they somehow manage to spring back to their original shape, forcing you to break the shoe in all over again.  

As enjoyable as the Nike Joyride Run Flyknits are, we wouldn’t recommend them for experienced runners unless you use these for your easier runs and at a price point of S$249, it might be a tough sell to beginners either.

The classic colourway may not be the fan favourite but there are others on the website and you can even customise it like many of the other shoes available on the Nike website. The only issue with the look of the shoe is that those with wider feet may find their toes (and bunions) poking the Flyknit upper, ruining the streamlined silhouette of the shoe.

If someone (especially a beginner) was trying to lose weight and get into shape, generally, they would require a more versatile shoe as their priorities would be on becoming holistically fit. These are very clearly running shoes, you definitely would not wear these to lift weights at your gym.

Overall, the Nike Joyride Run Flyknits are a comfortable shoe. They’re soft and springy which is great to help you forget how much further you have to run in order to burn off that McSpicy. At the same time, they hold your foot in place giving you the comfort and peace of mind that there’s no extra strain on your feet and ankles. However, for the price point and the fact comfort might be subjective, these shoes might not be the first choice for many runners.

We would definitely recommend Joyride technology in their lifestyle collection and may we suggest some slides with these pretty beads?

GEEK REVIEW SCORE

Summary

The Nike Joyride Run Flyknits are truly comfortable and the beads in the midsole are incredibly bouncy. But the shoe just isn’t for everyone.

Overall
7.6/10
7.6/10
  • Aesthetics - 7.5/10
    7.5/10
  • Build Quality - 8.5/10
    8.5/10
  • Value - 6/10
    6/10
  • Geek Satisfaction - 8.5/10
    8.5/10
User Review
0 (0 votes)