NIKE Women's Downshifter 11 Gymnastics Shoe

Product Information

Nike has developed two standout upper designs for its shoes: Flyknit and AtomKnit. Flyknit, found on shoes like the Vaporfly and Invincible 3, as well as Nike soccer cleats and some basketball shoes, is a woven upper design where yarn is woven tightly in some areas and more loosely in others. The loose weave allows the shoe to flex with your foot for greater comfort, while the tight weave provides support in key areas where you need it. Kipchoge used his Alphaflys to set the current official marathon record—2:01:09—in 2022, and he also wore them while winning his second Olympic marathon gold medal.

The sole is not equipped with the most sophisticated cushioning technology, but rather with a conventional EVA midsole. Provided you don't have any particular foot-skeletal problems, this is sufficient. The outsole is made of rubber and has grooves that guide the stride and make it easier to roll. The moderately pronounced waffle tread is more suitable for urban surfaces. Nike Running Shoes: Best Price U.K. If you’re hitting the trails, you’ll need a dedicated shoe with extra grip and some protective elements on the upper to protect your feet from rogue roots and stones. In contrast, if you’re expecting to use the shoe mostly on the treadmill you don’t need to worry so much about grip. There are no reflective elements on the Downshifter 11 so be sure to be careful after dark in these if you are out running on busy roads. Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best Used for: Racing; Weight: 232g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 4mm Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Stability; Best used for: Training; Weight: 312g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 8mm

Nike Downshifter 11 First Impressions

Think of the Nike Streakfly as a shrunk down, streamlined version of the Vaporfly. While it isn’t quite as minimalist as an old-school racing flat, it’s Nike’s lightest racing shoe, and it’s designed to propel you through shorter races up to a 10K. The Zoom Air units work in tandem with midsole foam to provide cushioning and energy return, and they’re used across the running shoe lineup, from the Alphafly racer to the Pegasus training shoe. Carbon Fiber Plates The shoe is low cost, so I can’t really determine if it will last a long time, but the outsole is super hard at 88.5HC (average outsoles are just 80.5HC) so it should wear slowly, but where this may break down is in the upper if it’s manufactured poorly. All that adds up to quite a bulky and odd-feeling shoe, but it’s also an undeniably fast one, despite the weight. React foam is used at the heel to provide a cushioned landing while also increasing the durability of the shoe, then the bouncy ZoomX foam used in the Alphafly and Vaporfly is used in the midfoot before you hit the plate and the responsive Air Zoom pods in the forefoot. It all adds up to a springy and speedy ride that only feels better the faster you run in the shoe, but the slightly strange sensation produced by the different foams, the plate and the pods might not suit every runner. When I first tried on the Downshifter 11, the fit is quite snug for a Nike, coming in a little shorter and narrower than other Nike running shoes, so you may want to consider going half a size up, or if they’re your first pair of running shoes, at least a whole size up from your regular shoe. If the shoe feels even slightly tight on first wear, size up here.

Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Mild stability/neutral; Best Used for: Training; Weight: 303g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 9mmKey specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best Used for: Training; Weight: 310g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 10mm In our testing, we found its stable, smooth ride made it great for longer efforts, and one of our wear testers loved using it for everyday training. “I have a whole host of daily trainers to choose from,” he said, “and with the exception of speed days, I would choose this shoe over and over.” On the foot, they feel lightweight, super flexible, and comfortable. On walking around the foam feels adequate, nothing too exciting about it depending on your expectations but all in all, a good first impression.

Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best Used for: Racing; Weight: 206g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 8mm

Nike Running Shoes: Best Price U.K.

The other thing I don’t like about Nike’s lower-budget shoes is they cram the heel with foam for a high-drop experience. The Downshifter 11 has a 11.6mm drop which is just too much. Their other budget shoe, the Quest 4 has an amazing 13.7mm drop in our tests… Nike, even beginners don’t need this much heel! Surprisingly nice weight on the Downshifter 11 From introducing runners to EVA cushioning to placing air-filled cells in its shoes, Nike has created some landmark innovations over the years, and it continues to push the boundaries of running shoe design today. To get you acquainted with Nike’s shoes, we’ll walk you through the most important tech found in the brand’s lineup and explain what those features do. Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best Used for: Fast training; Weight: 277g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 10mm

Overall, there’s not much exciting to say about the upper, its low on features to keep costs and weight down. Nike Downshifter 11 ConclusionCompared to the Downshifter 10 I’ve recently been running in, there’s slightly more visible support around the midfoot, however, I really couldn’t feel this when trying it on. If running is not your main thing and is something that you do on the side with other gym activities, the Downshifter 11 Women are still great due to their flexible support. The outsole features a divided pattern, which allows for the bottom of the shoe to feel rather balanced head-to-toe when walking or jogging, though it's a bit too firm at times. Although the foam of the midsole is not of any particular brand, there is enough midfoot support here with its cushioning. One downside of these is the breathability at the midfoot section. When running, they stabilise the foot relatively well, but with each stride, the breathability suffers. It may not be very obvious when running, yet the feet feel rather hot after a run. Downshifter 11 Women: Price UK Battle of The Brands: Best Brooks Running Shoes ● Best Adidas Running Shoes ● Best Mizuno Running Shoes What to Consider When Shopping for Nike Running Shoes