There are obviously some strong, strong opinions on both sides of the Nike % shoes. I say %, because we have the previous 4% and the current next% shoe, with rumblings of another shoe still to be released. I have no idea what they will come up with next...mini jets, anti-grav pods, integrated alien tech?
My question for the board is how many have actually plunked down the $250, or borrowed a friends pair and at least run a 3, 5, or 10 miler in them, preferably a tempo or steady state pace so that their opinion is valid on if the shoes actually aid in any way. Or better yet, raced in them over any distance with a noticeable result.
Otherwise, it just seems like we have a lot of spouting off without any basis except maybe the inherent Nike bias on the board. By the way, I am fine with that bias, just as long as it isn't what is being used to condemn the shoe. If the shoe is gonna be banned, or ridiculed, it sure would be nice to have it based on science, or at least a collective, real user experience.
I don't really have a dog in the fight. I am just a broken down hobby jogger at this point, and can't justify $250 for a pair of running shoes, even a specialty pair like that might give me a crazy result at the upcoming Turkey Trot so that I could do the requisite Gobble, Gobble MFer's as I won my age group. My threshold tops out at about $125, and even that is ridiculous for my, at max 30mpw training level. I am not far off from going back to the second tier $45-$60 type shoes from a Big 5 or a Kohls that the runners at my son's middle school wear.
So let's hear it, who has actually bought/worn those things and are they beneficial in any way.
P.s. My personal bias is that they look like something the Green Goblin would wear, and that is not something I can be seen in.