What other shoes are like these Nikes?

October 15, 2019 9:00 AM

I have a pair of these 2018 Nike Free RN Flyknit shoes and love them. But they aren't very durable. What other shoes should I look at that might be similar?

Used for: Extensive urban and suburban walking; sometimes 10 miles/day in areas without great sidewalks, but usually just a 1 or 2 miles/day
Size: Men's size 13, not particularly wide feet

Love about the Nikes:

• Fit
• breathability (and very cool in the summer)
• extremely comfortable
• lightweight
• pretty low profile; even with the white sole, they don't look like a hovercraft
• kind of fashionable I guess

Don't like about the Nikes:

• expensive (especially since getting another pair now is almost double what I paid a year ago; I don't want to spend over $100)
• not very durable (one of the lace holes has broken through after about 8 months of non-daily use); the sole is showing definite signs of wear
• pebbles get stuck in the soles
• Sweatshop made? (not sure if I can escape that with any mass-market sneakers)

One other note: I have tried all the different AllBirds models and don't like their fit.

posted by msbrauer to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (6 answers total)

I've become a huge fan of the Adidas NMD shoes, which sound like they would meet your needs if you don't mind the look. I'm not sure what the MSRP is; for my last couple pairs I've gotten new shoes off of eBay, where I had little trouble finding them for ~$70.
posted by lhputtgrass at 10:54 AM on October 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

Ugh, I love those shoes too (although I think they are hideous looking) and they are my daily gym shoes but they are falling apart. I can't find anything else that's as wide and comfortable. Running shoes seem to be getting narrower and more ridiculously cushioned every year.

I'll be following this thread.
posted by fshgrl at 12:32 PM on October 15, 2019

Vivobarefoot has similar types of shoes (very flexible sole, essentially no padding, and no arch support), and I love them. I wear US size 13 EEE and their size 47 fits my big, wide feet perfectly.

They're fairly durable, but I have worn holes through the soles in the past after many years of use.
posted by bshort at 1:32 PM on October 15, 2019

If you have a local shoe store that stocks Altra, give their Vanish a try. $80 retail, and as similar to the Nike Free line as I’ve found.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 1:36 PM on October 15, 2019

I’ve been running in the Hoka Hupana lately and really love it. It’s comfortable, the ride is a good mix of plush and responsive, and it looks good. The fit is, I think, going to be similar to the Nike, though probably not quite as comfortable; Nike’s uppers are unmatched. It’s not any cheaper (though I see last year’s models on sale a lot), but it does seem to be a lot more durable. I get well over 500 miles on a pair (vs 250-300 on most other road shoes, including the Nike’s I’ve tried).
posted by jacobian at 4:33 AM on October 16, 2019

Just in case any of these are a better deal - Nordstrom Rack is having a Nike sale today.
posted by 41swans at 10:52 AM on October 16, 2019 [1 favorite]