Move the wa you want
A new minimalist shoe for those who like barefoot running gives Loong Wai Ting the freedom she requires for her dynamic workouts
IN the past year or so, I’ve seen quite a number of clunky-looking sneakers cramming every shelf there is in sneaker stores. From colourful to futuristic-looking ones, these sneakers promise comfort and a few are added with health benefits such as correcting walking posture. There’s a small misconception about running shoes and fixing the way you move, but that’s another story for another day.
Although these clunky sneakers are good to look at, I still feel that a good pair of walking or running shoes should support my heavy weight and feel like I’m walking barefoot. Over the years, I’ve tried various pairs of walking shoes with the similar promise of elevating the pain on my right heel due to plantar fasciitis, but only a couple of them worked their magic. The rest, were more fashion than practicality.
Staying away from the clunky sneaker trend, Nike recently released a new model of running shoes under its popular Nike
Free series: the Nike Free RN 5.0. The shoe is vastly different from the stiff running shoes of the 1990s.
The Nike Free has a more flexible sole, thanks to the innovative material and design, which has changed the way we look at running shoes.
The latest Nike Free is soft, promoting a super comfortable wear throughout long outdoor hours, whether it’s a jog at the park or in my case, spending hours performing high kicks on a flat surface.
The airy design allows me to move the way my body wants to move. Compared to the 2018 model, the current model is flatter and lower (about 2mm lower than the Nike Free 4.0), therefore providing a more “barefoot feel”, almost as if you’re not wearing any shoe.
SOCK-LIKE COMFORT
After walking around in the shoes for a week, I’m beginning to love how my feet feel in these sock-like shoes — yes, that’s how comfortable they are. On days when I decide to do a bit of pad-kicking in my Taekwando class, the shoes allow me to feel the floor just like when I train barefoot.
I can, literally, feel all the edges of my feet as I kick, jump or perform a couple of jumping kicks.
At certain areas of the shoes, like the fold near the toes, the material stretches and bends according to the way I move my toes. For example, if I flex my toes upwards, the soft and cushy material wraps itself around it. Perfect for my jumping kicks. In short, the shoes allow me to flex or splay out the toes the way I want. Because it is designed for a lowermileage run, the foam cushioning in the new Nike Free is firmer, creating a more natural range of motion than the previous model. From the midsole all the way to the back, there are varying depths in the sole to improve grip. However, I don’t really fancy the chunky feel at the back of the sole, which seems to jut out from the bottom.
The overall design is minimalist at its best. I have a black Nike Free RN 5.0 and it looks aesthetically pleasing even with minimal lacing. A thin stretch mesh covers the majority of the shoe upper. I love the smaller Nike signature Swoosh on both sides of the shoe. Mine is green and it’ll be even cooler if it glows in the dark. Not only does it look good but it also provides an advantage for those who run at night.
At RM389 a pair, I’d say the Nike Free RN 5.0 is a good investment if you’re into short distance running. If you love running for longer mileage, you might want to look for other series that provide better support.
But if you want a pair of comfortable, flexible and lightweight shoes for your lowmileage run or workout at the gym, well, you might love the Nike Free RN 5.0 as much as I do.