In the past few years Nike has launched a whole bunch of cushioning technologies used by themselves or in tandem with their classic Nike Air. Some of them have gone on to receive rave reviews from runners, like the Nike ZoomX cushioning in the Vaporfly 4% and Vaporfly NEXT%, and Nike React in the Epic React as well as in the Zoom Pegasus Turbo. (However, some of them have quietly gone to the great tech graveyard, like the soles used in the LunarEpic shoes).
This month they’ve launched the Nike Joyride, and I’ve looked around at initial reviews to see how people are reacting to this new cushioning system.
From the press release:
The Nike Joyride joins Nike Air and Nike React as the latest proprietary innovation within the company’s diverse array of cushioning platforms. Joyride is engineered to help keep legs fresh by delivering a personalized underfoot experience with great impact absorption in a surprisingly light, energy-returning package.
The unique sensation is like stepping on bubbles. This state of the art cushioning system is made of thousands of TPE beads that is designed to offer comfort toward any type of movement, whether they be a casual stroll or an intense run.
This latest innovation is the result of intense, iterative trialing. One hundred and fifty materials were tested before landing on a TPE (a copolymer of plastic and rubber) for the beads. The beads are placed within zonally-tuned pods, which allows the foam to expand in all directions (we call this multi-dimensional displacement). This system also creates a dynamic footbed that forms to your foot giving you a more personalized and comfortable fit.
…The Nike Joyride cushioning system offers 14% better impact absorption when compared to some of our most trusted running shoes (tested with the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 and Nike Epic React FK2).
I’ve also seen the ad teasers on Instagram. The Nike Joyride seems to be getting hyped up as the shoe you should run in if you’re just getting into running, or the shoe that will make you fall in love with running. However, I’ve run into several wear tester reviews that say they’re probably best for casual wear and not for serious running.
The Joyride’s first iteration is the Run Flyknit, but Nike will also drop the Joyride NSW and Joyride NSW Kids Nova, Joyride Setter, and women-specific Joyride NSW Optik. These are actually all casual/lifestyle silhouettes.
Should you go and get it? I think the jury’s out on this one right now, but it’s great how Nike continues to push the envelope on cushioning technology. Hopefully in future iterations they get the mix of comfort and performance right.
The Nike Joyride Run Flyknit retails for Php 8,545 and is set to be released this August.
