We Say: The Free is not designed for everyday running; rather, it was built as a training tool to help strengthen your foot. That said, Nike made this version more stable by both removing some of the segmentation from the midsole and flaring it for a wider base of support. Thanks to the deep forefoot grooves, our lab tests found the shoe to be the most flexible in this guide. We recommend the Free for runners with normal to flat arches who want to strengthen their feet by doing strides on grass or by walking around the house in a superflexible shoe.

Wear-testers Say: "They are light and comfortable but not breathable."--Jim Warrenfeltz, 25, Allentown

"They were very lightweight with a snug fit."--Lindsay Wieber, 21, East Lansing

Average Reader Rating: 4.5 stars (4 reviews)

5 stars
I love the Nike Free shoes! I have four pair in all different colors and I run both long and short distances. They are lightweight and easy to break in. The bad thing is that they should be used for road or flat surfaces because the rocks and obstacles in the road can become a nightmare..
Submitted by: Spanican, Bagram, Afghanistan,

4 stars
I agree that the shoe is great for speed work, but when running out doors such as in gravel or on trails there is not enough cushioning to protect the feet. A great track shoe and i use them often for my speed work outs, but I shy away from them on long distance runs. Great shoe and would recommend to any runner looking to improve the speed aspects of their running. .
Submitted by: Matt, Bristol,

5 stars
I got them a couple weeks ago they seem to be good shoes so far. i havent done any long distant runs in them yet just around the neighborhood. They are very light, which feels nice..
Submitted by: matt, omaha,

4 stars
The shoe only took me about a day to get used to from my 360s. It is light weight and I use it everyday for cross country practice and meets..
Submitted by: Ryan, New Port Richey, FL