The Best Nike Running Shoes in 2023

Best Nike Running Shoes Buyer’s Guide

Whether you’re prone to injuries or not, getting proper running shoes is the best thing you can do for both your health and achieving your running goals. However, even the best ones may not fit your needs. Here are some of the things you should consider when determining whether a pair of running shoes is a good fit for you.

Specially Crafted for Running

The first misconception all newbie runners have is that you can run in basketball, tennis, leisure shoes or even barefoot. However, those models you already have at home won’t do the trick for several reasons. First of all, you’ll enhance the risk of getting injured. Furthermore, running shoes need to be breathable and make your feet feel locked in. This effect is not easily achievable with other shoe types. Ultimately, your feet movement while running is very specific which means that finding specially crafted running shoes is a must. The list goes on, but whether you’re running long-distance tracks or you’re an occasional runner – the best thing you can do for your feet is buying a pair of shoes specially crafted for running.

Fit

Of course, when you search for Nike running shoes for men, your criteria must be slightly different. Without getting further into details and scientific research, men have wider feet than women, generally speaking. That physiological difference is really important when trying to find the best fit. Getting a pair that doesn’t fit you can raise multiple issues that are painful, annoying, and overall dangerous. That being said, we will now introduce you to several simple tips that will help you find a pair of running shoes that will serve their purpose and be comfortable during the process.

First of all, to get the most comfortable Nike running shoes never buy a pair that fits your foot like a glove. In fact, you should leave some extra space over the big toe since feet tend to swell while running. In addition, lacing is a really important aspect when choosing the fitting running shoes. Always remember to lace the shoe tight so that the heel is locked in and the rest of the foot doesn’t wiggle inside it. Ultimately, make sure you check your size each year since – believe it or not – feet size can change throughout the years.

Cushioning vs. Stability (high-arch vs. low-arch feet)

Pay close attention to this part of the buyer’s guide for choosing the best Nike shoes for running since it’s dealing with how to avoid injuries by choosing the right pair of running shoes. In terms of the arch height, people are divided into the ones having a really low arch (flat-feet), neutral, and people with high arches.

People with flat feet need additional support that is achieved through enhancing the midsole as well as extra cushioning to provide with extra comfort while running the extra mile. Furthermore, stability shoes are always a great option for people with flat-feet, and a good pair of running shoes for them is the Nike Air Zoom Structure model.

On the other hand, high-arch people don’t need that much cushioning so opting for a neutral support shoe should be enough to provide comfort even for running long-distance tracks. A model for people with high arch feet we would recommend is the Air Zoom Pegasus. Finally, neutral runners have little to nothing to worry about since most of the shoes will be a good match for them.

Pronation

Pronation is one of the most important aspects when choosing the right running shoes. In fact, before you choose a good shoe fit for you, you must determine whether you’re an over/under-pronator or a neutral runner. Pronation is a part of the natural human body movement indicating the way your foot rolls inward upon landing. In that sense, you must determine which type of runner you are. You can do that with video gait analysis, through 3D foot mapping or by visiting a running expert or even a doctor to determine your pronation pattern.

Models featured in most Nike running shoes reviews are suitable for neutral runners. However, if you’re an overpronator, opt for stability shoes with highly structured cushioning. On the other hand, under-pronators need lightweight shoes with higher flexibility. Still, both over and under-pronators need a lot of cushioning to prevent injuries such as plantar fasciitis or ankle strains. Most of you will have natural foot motion but make sure you check before opting for one of the neutral running shoe types.

Price

When it comes to world-class manufacturers such as Nike, best running shoes, in terms of value, are usually found somewhere in the above-average pricing range. Furthermore, note that breaking your bank for the most expensive pair of running shoes doesn’t guarantee you a high-class experience. In fact, try to find the best fit for you before you even check out the price. As you could see, there are many items on our list that can be purchased at bargain prices. However, don’t hesitate if you find a good fit for you amongst the higher-priced items. After all, you can always use one of the Nike discounts and special offers.

Where to Buy?

Nikes are so popular that you’ll rarely see a department store or a shopping mall without at least some models of the sort. When trying to find the best Nike running shoes, Reddit users usually have first-hand information when it comes to the best prices as well. On the other hand, posts on Reddit are not that well-organized, and you probably won’t find a sale offer as you’ll find it among our selection of deals and discounts. Strange as it may seem, if you consider purchasing Nike running shoes, Amazon is probably the second go-to place right after Nike’s official website. After all, if you shop at the world’s largest Internet marketplace, you can use one of the Amazon coupon offers and deals and get a bargain price on the best running shoes from a world-class manufacturer.

Minimalism vs. Protection

This everlasting debate won’t end after this paragraph. However, we can discuss the ideas of both minimalists and people seeking additional feet protection. In brief, minimalists think that the level of cushioning should be as low as possible. In fact, people supporting this theory claim that barefoot running is the best way to run and consequently, the shoe should be as close to the surface as possible. This way, your feet should get used to the surface and develop to the level where your running shoes won’t have so much influence on the running process. On the other hand, there are people who believe that running is a high-impact sport that puts your feet at risk when you run for hours. Since there’s no precise answer to this question yet, we suggest you go with the more plausible option. Luckily, there are plenty different Nike running shoes with various degrees of support to choose from.

Running surface

One of the most important questions you’ll have to answer yourselves is – where am I going to use my new running shoes? Of course, manufacturers like Nike make sure to produce enough quality models for all types of surfaces, and it’s up to you to choose the best fit for you. For instance, we considered the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus to be one of the best road running shoes on the market. This is mainly due to the fact that this model has extra cushioning in the forefoot and heel, enabling you to feel locked in when going for a run.

Running Distance and Durability

The best long-distance running shoes are characterized by several features. However, the main aspect you need to put into perspective if you plan on going the extra mile is the shoes’ longevity. Unfortunately, it takes time to ensure that a model is durable enough for long-running spells. You can choose to believe the manufacturer or purchase the latest version of models which have proven their quality in the past. Ultimately, it comes to you to decide whether you plan on doing marathon-long runs or you want to stay an occasional jogger.

If you plan on using a single pair for a long time, try to get the most durable model of running shoes. Timeframes are important when we review different models. For instance, in terms of analyzing the best running shoes, 2018 reviews can be quite different than the ones made a year or two before. With that in mind, to keep yourself away from injuries, it’s really important to pick the most durable pair and ultimately know when to switch shoes. Although there’s a reasonable amount of research material on this topic (500 miles from the first training being the recommended time to switch), the durability mainly depends on the model its main purpose.

Design

Although aesthetics shouldn’t be your main concern when choosing your running shoes, the design and aesthetic value of a product play a huge part in deciding whether to buy it. When it comes to Nike running shoes, black is generally accepted as the most suitable exterior color. Black Nike running shoes, women’s or men’s collection are the most wanted ones probably because of easier maintenance.

Still, people at Nike are masters of design and there are countless options regarding colors, patterns, and small creative touches. However, the main trait of all running shoes made by Nike is that they’re lightweight. When we look back on Nike running shoes – 2017 collection – we cannot help but notice that the largest number of best seller shoes was designed using the Flyknit technology.

Summary

Taking everything into consideration, we can’t unanimously declare any of these 16 models the best Nike running shoes. Besides, another goal of this review was to emphasize the importance of choosing a shoe that fits you. Rest assured, however, that at least one of these 16 models certainly will. On the other hand, the process of choosing the right one isn’t straightforward but if the shoe fits – wear it!