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Bought some anyway as I can't resist a bargain
As far as I can see:
- The consensus is that these shoes definitely feel different
- That most of the people seem to love em
- That quite a lot of people have had problems with ripping and tearing :-(
- That the Nike mailorder is a bad option.
- That the big sports chains are doing special offers on them at the moment.
[Suspect that last point has decided it for me - what a fickle person I am!]
Can I just ask: what are you Nike Free runners using these shoes for? Are you saving them for specific sessions and/or races? Or are you using them for all your sessions? If they don't rip, then what lifetime are you expecting from them?
Anyone seen any cheap frees available online?
I was going to take the plunge with a pair of 4.0s but they didn't have any size 11s. if anyone else knows where I can get 4.0s online I'd be keen to hear.
Ordered in early June, caught up in the manufacturing mess, at last told that they had been "sent to the distribution centre between the 11th and the 15th". Two weeks later, still no sign, so one more e-mail to the nice people at NikeID, threatening to cancel the order - got the following reply:
---
Dear Customer
We are pleased to confirm that your Nike iD order has completed the
manufacturing process and has been shipped to the distribution centre.
You will receive a final email confirming shipment from the distribution
centre complete with courier information and package tracking
number in approximately 5 days.
Thank you once again for ordering Nike iD.
Kind regards,
Nike Customer Service
---
They seem oblivious to the customer satisfaction issue - one might expect at this point to receive a slightly more personal response, e.g. using my name would be a good start...
When I started running, I naively went and got myself a pair of Frees from Nike Town and a month later I was probably 1 run away from a real injury. It still hurts now.
(My gripe isn't with the shoes per se, but no way should Nike Town have sold a pair of shoes like this to a 12+ stone overpronator - without the customer even being asked if they intend to run in them.)
As I say, probably an obvious point but if it helps someone avoid an injury...
Follow the advice on the leaflet that comes with the shoes (I am assuming there is still a leaflet). Start off by wearing them around the house for short periods first. Keep progressing step by step as the muscles in the feet gain strength.
For the record, I am a 15+ stone ex-overpronator. That's right, I used to overpronate, but having strengthened the muscles in my feet, the overpronation seems to have disappeared. I now wear my Free's almost all the time for running, including half marathons, etc. I hope to wear them at the FLM next year, should I be lucky enough to get in.
Anyway, finally a knock at the door and a wizened old delivery boy (he was young when he first set out from the factory) delivered the shoes. I hope that the slowness of transport from factory to customer is not reflected in my 5k pace wearing them!
I was foolish enough not to have read this thread before placeing my order just three weeks back, so heres hoping santa brings me a pair, judging from your experience thats when they will arrive and not in the 5 weeks they tell you at time of ordering.
fingers crossed!!!!!!!
I used them as a beginner (against the advice of a running shop that wouldn't even let me try them on) and haven't looked back.
I would suggest that you do need to be prepared to build up slowly in them and 'listen' to your body's own requests for you to slowly change your running style.
startfitness.co.uk have the 4.0 in size 11-alternative colour to the silver ones too!
Took my Frees on holiday with me and the right pocket ripped!!!! Left one holiding up, but still.....
I wear mine as recreational shoes to help my feet (and to get used to them in the first instance), and then wore them for short training runs, occasionally wear them in the gym if I think I may do a bit of running, and have raced a couple of times with them. I am a mild to moderate overpronator (though off to buy new shoes next week so will see if 5 Free months have changed that at all). I definately think I want more pairs of them though - just for training/racing and just for leisure. Been thinking about what to put on the iD bit.... Have had "Just done it" suggested to me and think that would be a good one!
I am planning on keeping using the Frees despite ripped-ness (I figure they won't take them back at this stage anyway!) - I don't imagine it causes too many problems (other than stray small stones finding an easy access route...... already experienced that one!).
Plus, we know there is this fault, yet we want more..... am I a fool to go and buy more even though I know they will fall apart?????
I am really hoping that the heel pockets are stronger than the on the 5.0s. I'll report back in due course :-)
From anyone's experience is this good or bad and can I believe what I am seeing or is this what people have been complaining about???
Ummmmm, do the sandwich maker test with new shoes and the old shoes (try and bend the toe to the heel). Then tell me you reckon the 4's are less flexible.
I've got both types too, and there is no way the 4.0's are less flexible than the 5.0's. They've got way deeper flex grooves, and less midsole material. Also, try and bend both shoes laterally (through the midline) - the 4.0 flexes significantly - the 5.0 doesnt.
They have arrived. Ordered on the 14 August delivered by UPS just and exactly as ordered. Now it is just a case of getting use to them (first ever pair)so not sure when it would be wise to first run in them.
It's worked out quite well I think, I alternate between the Frees and my lightweight racers and (touch wood) my injury has been fine. I wore my old 'normal' trainers the other day for circuits, and couldn't believe how heavy they were - like wearing bricks on my feet!! With the frees on I feel like I am flying!
Not sure I would say they are like running in bare feet though.
One thing I would say is that they are good shoes to wear when you are feeling lazy, you just can't run in them and plod along - not without some discomfort (I think), so you are forced to be more efficient - which is great!!
Knee problems are often alleviated by strengthening the leg muscles, particularly the quads and the VMO (vastus medialis obliquus).
Your feet muscles will have undoubtedly benefitted from wearing the free's, but probably your leg muscles need strenthening with some specific leg exercises other than running.
Going back to your old shoes probably will alleviate the problem, but you will also notice that your feet lack the freedom of movement found in the free's. Prevention is better than cure, so my suggestion would be to strengthen the leg muscles and try to not have to resort to the Asics too often, but obviously don't run in pain. If that means wearing the Asics or not running at all, then there would be no harm wearing the Asics.
My original pair have done in excess of 500 miles now and feel as good as new (with the exception of the heel pocket which is long gone). Doing a 54 mile ultra in them a week on Sunday so that should put the little blighters to the test!