NIKE Women's Vista Lite Walking Shoe

Product Information

If “Just Do It” is your mantra, too, I can also point you to the best Nike running shoes for a variety of running needs and disciplines, including racing shoes and trail shoes. The Peg doesn’t come with Nike’s ultra-bouncy and lightweight ZoomX foam, so you might want a different shoe for speedwork days. The core of that lineup, represented in the picks below, serve up a cushioned-yet-responsive ride that feels comfortable and lively underfoot.

In our testing, we found the shoe created smoother transitions, felt more responsive, and also moved more quietly. To select them, I reviewed the Nike shoe lineup and talked with a brand representative to learn about its latest shoes. These include cookies that allow you to be remembered as you explore the site within a single session or, if you request, from session to session. Like the Vaporfly, the midsole features a thick layer of lightweight, propulsive ZoomX foam, and an embedded carbon fiber plate for snappy responsiveness. Rather than putting firm medial posts or plates in the midsole to counter overpronation, modern support shoes opt for less-intrusive ways to build in support, like adding a wider sole or raised footbed edges on the medial side of the shoe.Although it’s arguably been eclipsed by the newer, more feature-rich Alphafly line, the Vaporfly remains the most popular choice for marathoners, including elite runners. The Pegasus 40 features a redesigned midfoot band that better accommodates varying arch heights, and Nike redesigned the way the layers of the mesh upper fit together and added padding to the ankle collar for a more comfortable fit. The React foam absorbs impact forces and also provides a springy sensation that feels good at any pace. Long runs, short jogs, walking—with its roomy fit and comfy feel, it’s designed to perform well in a variety of situations. Nike makes two cushioning foams that provide support across most of its running lineup – React and ZoomX.

The latest version, Winflo 10, sports a few notable tweaks, including a wider toe box, with added padding on the tongue and around the collar for a more accommodating and comfortable fit. Nike also scooped out some foam on the sidewall and a channel at the bottom of the shoe to shave off weight. In an independent 2023 study, athletes running in Vaporflys at a 9:40 mile pace saw a running economy boost of less than 1 percent, and some runners actually had worse running economy while wearing the shoes. Before its introduction, racing shoes featured minimalist designs with thin midsoles for maximum weight savings.Show more The Expert: I became a runner in middle school and have covered running and outdoor gear for years, both on-staff at Runner’s World and as a freelance journalist. While it won’t have the same bouncy ride as Nike shoes with React or ZoomX cushioning foams, the Winflo is an approachable, highly versatile shoe. The company adopted the Nike moniker in 1978 and, since then, the brand has grown into a global sporting goods powerhouse with a knack for creating high-performance running shoes. In addition to its knit uppers, Nike makes a wide array of conventional running shoes with more traditional mesh uppers, such as the Pegasus and Zoom Fly, which offer good durability for day-to-day training. In some cases these cookies can improve the speed with which we can process your request as they allow us to remember site preferences that you’ve selected.

The midsole features a three-quarter-length Zoom Air unit for responsiveness, and Cushlon foam for shock absorption—the same material was used in older versions of the Pegasus. In recent years, running shoe brands have moved toward a more “hands-off” approach to support shoes. The outsole utilizes a sticky rubber compound in the forefoot for strong traction off the pavement, but the lugs are small and flexible enough for road running as well. The Alphafly is the pinnacle of the Nike running shoe lineup, and occupies a vaunted place in the running world.

The loose weave allows the shoe to flex with your foot for greater comfort, while the tight weave provides support in key areas where you need it. Social media and advertising cookies of third parties are used to offer you social media functionalities and personalised ads. The upper incorporates a Gore-Tex membrane to ward off light rain and splashes, and a soft, stretchy fabric at the ankle blocks dirt and debris.

One 2022 study compared super shoes from Nike, Saucony, Brooks, Asics, and others, and it found the Alphafly and Vaporfly (along with the Asics Metaspeed Sky) offer the largest boosts to running economy.In my testing, the Peg Trail 4 provided lockdown grip on the dirt, didn’t create lug feedback on pavement, and kept my feet dry and warm, too. It doesn’t matter if a shoe design can improve your running economy if you can’t stand to wear them. While premium racing models like the Vaporfly grace the feet of elite marathoners, the trusty Pegasus is the running shoe for the rest of us—and it might be Nike’s most beloved running model. The forefoot outsole rubber is 2mm thinner, allowing a 2mm increase in forefoot foam for increased cushioning. It offers great impact absorption and a soft feel when landing, but also delivers a springy sensation at toe-off.