For this year, in Free running shoe range, Nike has announced new products, dumping the Free 3, 4 and 5 models – in order to opt a more universal approach.
Keeping in view new flagship trainer’s concerns for a new sole, this factory-made seems to offer somewhat different features to several runners and athletes – as to what Nike termed as a ‘huge advancement’ over all the shoes, it manufactured over 12 years’ time-span.
The shoe has ability for the sole to stretch it in all directions rather than just one (being as flexible as possible). In this new product, the midsole is designed, enabling an athlete’s natural motion amid developing strength, whether he/she is running or training.
(design incorporates IU foam for additional underfoot comfort as compared to the Nike Free RN Motion Flyknit that ops for a 3D ribbing sole from the forefoot to heel.
Nike terms this technology as ‘progressive geometric auxetic’. Upon query to why Nike adopted such a technology, it justified by citing studies revealing foot expansion and contraction upon impact with a lift off from the ground (Auxetic midsole mimics function as how the body and foot react to force).
“The technology also incorporates a shock absorbing ability while accounting for the dual-plane expansion in foot size (approximately one size in length and two sizes in width) that occurs throughout an athlete’s foot strike.” – Nike
INSIGHT: With reference to the above, the Nike Free RN Flyknit shoes give a very natural feel alongside a good balanced cushioning impact while running on ground.
UPDATE: Nike’s Free RN Flyknit will be available on Nike.com by 7 April 2016 – arriving in a blue colorway for men and a violet colorway for women. Meanwhile, the Free RN Motion Flyknit won’t be available after 5 May 2016.