When Was Nike Founded?
The Nike story started in 1964 when Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman created Blue Ribbon Sports with just $1200 in the bank, selling shoes from the back of a van.
In 1972 Blue Ribbon Sports is reborn as Nike, a last minute decision after Knight's preferred choice of Dimension Six is vetoed.
How Many Nike Stores Are There?
Fast forward to 1990 and Nike opens its first retail store, Niketown, in Portland, Oregon. There are now more than 1000 stores worldwide.
How Much Is Nike Worth?
In 2022, Nike celebrates its 50th anniversary. In October, Nike is valued at a staggering $166 billion (around £141 billion).
Are Nike Running Shoes Good?
In no particular order, we are going to cover what we think our Nikes fastest running shoe and how to get the best out of them:
- Nike Alphafly 2
- Nike Vaporfly 2
- Nike Streakfly
- Nike Zoom Fly 5
- Nike Tempo Next%
- Nike Wildhorse 7
- Nike Dragonfly
NIKE ALPHFLY NEXT% 2BEST FOR RACE DAYPrice - £269 | Buy From Nike
The Alphalfy is Nike's most expensive super shoe designed for the marathon but is equally fast at the shorter distances. These rocket ships propel you to personal bests with a super responsive energy return. PROS
CONS
|
NIKE VAPORFLY NEXT% 2BEST FOR 5K TO 10KPrice - £225 | Buy From Nike  Personally I have always thought this was best suited to 5K and 10K races but the professionals do not seem to think so, as surprising this was the most used shoe in the marathon race for both males and females at the recent World Championships in Oregon, USA. PROS
CONS
|
NIKE STREAKFLYLIGHTEST RACE SHOEPrice - £134 | Buy From Nike  Nike's lightest racing shoe made specifically for 5K and 10K road races to rival the Adidas Adizeo Takumi Sen 8. The price point of £135 means it is a fantastic entry level shoe for those that have not dipped there toes into the water for a super shoe. However, for another £20 or £30 more you can sometimes pick up the better Alphafly or Vaporfly in the sale, which does have a carbon plate. Due to it's responsiveness, most people seem to be using them as a training shoe for tempo and interval efforts and saving there Alphaflys or Vaporflys for race days. PROS
CONS
|
NIKE ZOOM FLY 5BEST FOR BEGINNERSPrice - £144 | Buy From Nike  It offers comfort and reliability but with a propulsive sensation that'll help you feel fast and fresh. A great training shoe option but equally would be a good entry shoe for racing. PROS
CONS
|
NIKE TEMPO NEXT%BEST ALL ROUNDERPrice - £179 | Buy From Nike  Billed as the training shoe to the Nike Alphafly these speedsters can double up as part of your training runs or race day shoe. Supportive and responsive cushioning allow them to easily withstand double digit mileage weeks. PROS
CONS
|
NIKE WILDHORSE 7BEST FOR TRAILPrice - £109 | Buy From Nike  The rugged build allows you to Take on those tough and extreme trail runs. Confidently run rocky terrain with high-abrasion rubber on the outsole that adds durable traction. PROS
CONS
|
NIKE DRAGONFLYBEST FOR TRACKPrice - £134 | Buy From Nike  Strictly not a running shoe, but for those that want to compete in a 5K or 10K on the track the Dragonly is Nike's fastest track spike. Light and breathable with a bounce to your every step on track. PROS
CONS
|
Lastly, we cover some frequently asked questions about Nike running shoes.
What is ZoomX?
ZoomX, made from blown Pebax, is Nike’s most energetic foam and used in shoes like the Vaporfly, Alphafly, and Vomero 16
Are Nike Running Shoes True To Size?
I have always found all my Nike running shoes to be true to size and have not needed to size up or down.
Where Are Nike Shoes Made?
Almost all Nike shoes are made outside of the United States, with most made in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.
Who Does Nike Sponsor?
Nike sponsors a host of endurance athletes, but is best known for sponsoring Eliud Kipchoge, Jacob Kiplimo and Brigid Kosgei.
Which Nike Running Shoes Are Banned Or Illegal?
None of the Nike running shoes are currently banned or illegal for road running races. However IAAF rules ban the use of all super shoes on the track.
Questions
If you have any questions you would like to ask about Nike running shoes, please ask below in the comments.
Share
If you found this blog post useful, please share it using the social media buttons below
Nike Trainer Comparisons
If you found this guide useful, have a look at our other Nike trainer guides: