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Trialer: I am a female and run approximately 25-30 miles per week, mostly on the roads.
What three features are most important for you in a running shoe?
1) Comfort- fit around my toes, lack of blisters, etc
2) Stability- I pronate inward so I need something to control that.
3) Weight- I don’t want something too heavy that feels like it is dragging me down.
What were your initial thoughts after trying it on?
Forefoot fit – I thought this was just right. I like a lot of space in the forefoot because I tend to get black toenails, and this gave me exactly that. I have fairly narrow feet, so it was perfect for me and I wasn’t swimming in them. Also, there was some cushioning underneath the forefoot that I am not used to, but definitely enjoyed!
Length fit – This was just right. I was about 1 size bigger than my dress shoe size.
Heel fit – Perfect. I have had some problems with rubbing and blisters in the heel and these did not give me any problems.
Overall fit – Just right! Very cushion-y and light, hopefully giving me enough stability so that I don’t have any knee pain (I don’t have any yet!).
What did you think of the fit and feel after your first run? After several runs?
When I first put them on, I felt they had much more cushion than my regular sneakers, almost like I was running on a cloud! They felt great after my run, and I had no problems. After several runs, I still have yet to develop any blisters or any pain, and they still feel like great on. They also continue to feel very light, much more so than my regular sneakers.
Is the cushioning adequate?
Absolutely.
What about stability? Did the shoe provide enough? Too much?
This is the one point I am not sure on. I believe it is a “mild stability shoe”, and I think I am more of a “moderate” pronator. I have not had any problems yet, so I hope that continues!
What is your favorite feature of the shoe?
The cushioning! I have never had that much cushion in a “stability” shoe.
Is there something you would change about it?
Add a tad bit more stability- just in case.
How does it compare to the shoe you normally run in?
It is much more comfortable than my current sneakers. I recently switched sneakers because my old model was discontinued. Since doing that, I have had black toenails and blisters because of where the sneaker rubbed. This shoe alleviated all of that and was much more comfortable!
Would you recommend this shoe to a fellow runner or friend?
Yes!
CONSTRUCTION
The Air Span looks after feet through every phase of the gait cycle. At contact, a bevelled
lateral crash pad slows the rate of pronation. During midstance, a frm density foam on the
medial side of the shoe resists deformation during longer runs. An Archbridge Midfoot
shank adds stability. At toe-off through propulsion, the forefoot is looked after by
a fex groove pattern allowing for a more natural foot motion with increased forefoot
fexion. The outsole in the forefoot also helps engage the windlass mechanism during late
midstance to re-supinate the rearfoot. To fnish, the overlays are made to give a
better all-round ft.
FIT-SOLE SOCK LINER
While the mid-sole of the Air Span protects the foot from adverse movement, inside
it caters for comfort. The Fit-sole sock liner moulds to the shape of the foot within the
frst few hours of running. This reduces internal foot motion, improving support, whilst
dispersing plantar pressure over a greater surface. Our Fit-sole technology is designed to
be anatomically correct in providing support to the medial, lateral and transverse foot arches.
NIKE AIR UNITS
Heel and forefoot NIKE Air units provide excellent durability with
the great ride of all-encompassing NIKE Air cushioning.
TOE BOX CONSTRUCTION
The toes are not neglected either. Our toe box construction has increased the width of the toe box
while retaining a ftted feel. An open mesh upper has been designed to keep everything
fresh and cool, because you won’t always be able to take a breather on a long training run.
WoMEN:
Women are just as unbalanced as men, just in different ways. Which is why the NIKE
Women’s Air Span+ 5 has been specially built from the ground up for women. First we made
room around the toes because a woman’s forefoot is wider than a man’s. We also created
a midfoot that is much more slender as well as a narrower heel for a more tailored, female ft.
To reduce pronation we even added a rounded lateral edge on the rear of the shoe too. This
works to slow the rate of pronation and create a smoother touchdown.
Nike Air Span
Linear Mode
