Alternatives to Nike Free 3.0's

I use the Nike Free 3.0s, but they always rip on me right at 500 miles. Check out the Saucony Kinvara. Pretty much the same heel/toe drop-off, with the Kinvara being a good bit softer without a lot of weight.

Try the Lunaracers. Your mind will be blown.

young one wrote:

Try the Lunaracers. Your mind will be blown.

absolutely agree. ive run every step in lunars for the last 6-8 months. In the winter on roads i can get easily 500-1000 miles on them. roadrunnersports has the new color of the lunar 1.

the kinvara's seem a little too much built up for me.. I'll look into the lunaracers but they seem like they have a big heel...

New Balance Minimus Road- almost identical heel-toe drop to the Nike Free 3.0, but more durable.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Just wondering though, does anyone think wearing the Free's have anything to do with it hurting under the balls of my big toes...? I tried looking into it online and maybe it has something to do with my sesamoids....

Lunaracer is still a relatively minimal shoe and will keep you low to the ground with soft cushioning. Zoom Streak is a firm/responsive alternative to Lunaracer if you don't want anything soft.

If you want to stay in the Free zone but with a bit more forefoot cushioning you could consider Free Run. Free Run is in stores now with Free Run 2 available starting April 1st.

Inov-8 f-lite 195

http://www.inov-8.com/Products-Detail.asp?PG=PG1&L=27&P=5050973125

(Forthcoming) Inov-8 Road-X 155

3 mm drop on each, light, VERY flexible.

Glue your 3.0s with this:

http://www.mcnett.com/Freesole-Urethane-Formula-Shoe-Repair-P186.aspx

Mine always rip btw 350 & 450 miles but I get 900-1200 miles out of them cause I glue them with that.

I have the streak xc's and those aren't enough for me I think. My feet always ache in them. Also, the problem I mentioned would still be there. Any other suggestions?

How is the fitting for the new Lunaracers? Same as the original where you go half a size lower? Probably a redundant question but I just want to be sure.

Given a choice between original Lunaracer 1 and Lunaracer 2, you're better off with the original. The Lunaracer 2 has a very shallow forefoot area in which the upper feels low and tight across the top of the toes compared to the original.

It works for some folks but they are in the minority. This is what prompted Nike to bring back the original Lunaracer 1 due to a better forefoot fit.

Head to your local Running specialty shop to try on both to be sure; if the opportunity exists.

Brooks Beast if you want to go in an entirely different direction.

smagpole wrote:

Brooks Beast if you want to go in an entirely different direction.

I don't.

Also, do I really want a small forefoot area if my sesamoids have been bothering me? I'm not sure. I just want this problem to go away while being able to continue running

The lunaracers feel cool and are nice for very high mileage runs due to the extreme cushiness of them, but are not comparable to the other alternatives mentioned in this thread like the NB Minimus, Inov8s, and Kinvaras. They are MUCH bulkier and clunkier, and are kind of in a genre of their own. I have a pair of the Lunaracer 1s and recently discovered that wearing them sockless reveals Nike's product designers and textile sourcers to be among the worst in the business. My arches and heels were slashed to ribbons in them.

http://hphotos-ash1.fbcdn.net/176782_889530252377_29611930_46492942_3546443_o.jpg

Oh wow.. that sucks. But I always wear socks with my running shoes (not sure if the socklessness was the reason for them bothering you.

And I don't think I want to go as minimal as the minimus or anything. I've had a stress fracture before (from Vibrams, stupid and never plan on going back)

For some reason my feet have always been aching in the free's, even though I've been wearing them for over a year. I'm not sure what's up with them.

Zoom Streak 3.

Another shoe to look into is the Saucony Grid A4. Really minimal with next to no heel-toe drop (4 mm I think).

Kakapoian wrote:

The lunaracers feel cool and are nice for very high mileage runs due to the extreme cushiness of them, but are not comparable to the other alternatives mentioned in this thread like the NB Minimus, Inov8s, and Kinvaras. They are MUCH bulkier and clunkier, and are kind of in a genre of their own. I have a pair of the Lunaracer 1s and recently discovered that wearing them sockless reveals Nike's product designers and textile sourcers to be among the worst in the business. My arches and heels were slashed to ribbons in them.

http://hphotos-ash1.fbcdn.net/176782_889530252377_29611930_46492942_3546443_o.jpg

unfortunately, i experienced the exact same thing. Ran in the new LR1 twice. Did a 13 miler and a 7.5 miler. Both times my Achilles got cut up exactly like those pics. Sucks...what a waste of money. Oh well, sunk cost. Gonna switch back to the LR2. I didn't have any problem with them.