![]() “It was very hard to work with,” says Hoffer. They called it Lunarlon.Īt this stage though, Lunarlon was nowhere near race or game day ready. Here was the perfect mix of foam and air. In science terms, it was the fusion of lightweight Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) with the bouncy ball-like spring of Nitrile Rubber (NBR).Īt that moment, “we knew we had something special,” says Hoffer. Found way in the back of the Nike Advanced Material Interest Group’s closet, the team unearthed a space-age foam. They realized the task facing them would be challenging, riddled with trial and error, and might require them to look in some unexpected places – including materials previously ruled out.Īfter failing with countless materials, there came a breakthrough. The pair assembled a team of chemical engineers, designers and technicians to help. The astronauts’ weightless, soft and springy movements were exactly what the designers were trying to provide for athletes. They drew inspiration from images of astronauts walking on the moon. ![]() Hoffer and Avar began the search for the right material, an ultra-lightweight foam that was both pillowy-soft and rubber-ball bouncy. “We thought we could literally enlighten people and invent a whole new system.” “We knew if we could blend the best of both attributes, we would create a very unique, ultra-lightweight, responsive cushioning experience that did not exist,” says Hoffer. Hoffer and Avar had a mission: to create a cushioning technology that would give distance runners and basketball players alike soft cushioning and bouncy responsiveness. Meanwhile, elite basketball players needed a shoe to cushion their high-impact jumping and provide quick push-off for explosive changes of direction. Marathon runners typically take around 40,000 steps from start to finish – they needed a shoe to withstand the relentless impact and to put a spring in their stride. Out of all the Nike Inside Access posts, this is my favorite one.Īlmost a decade ago Nike designers Kevin Hoffer and Eric Avar put their heads together to confront a challenge. AND1: The Best Shoes of a Legendary Brand.Best Basketball Shoes for Power Forwards.Best Basketball Shoes for Small Forwards.Best Basketball Shoes for Shooting Guards.Best Basketball Shoes for Ankle Support.Best Basketball Sneakers for Players with Flat Feet.How to Pick the Perfect Outdoor Basketball Shoe.They offer a smooth, cushioned ride, a nearly perfect fit, and are extremely light and breathable. Not only are the Nike Lunar 1 pretty to look at, they’re a great, well-made running shoe. I’ve put over 80 miles on them and they only get better with each run. The Nike Lunar 1 Flyknit are my favorite shoes right now. Lastly, the thinly padded tongue slipped around after a few miles but aside from being annoying, it really wasn’t an issue. But each run stretches the Flyknit upper, freeing up some room and molding to the shape of your foot. Right out of the box, the shoes are very snug, particularly in the forefoot. (Simply wearing socks with a lip will prevent this). I made the mistake of wearing thin, short socks on my first couple of runs which left me with blisters on the back of my heels. I was in disbelief that there could be anything wrong with such a pretty shoe however, I had a couple issues with them. The added rubber lugs along the heel and forefoot offer additional support and protection, so they’re great for long runs. The Lunarlon cushioning (invented by Nike) is much lighter than traditional Phylon so the shoes are still extremely light (women’s size 7 weighs 5.7 oz). The foam padding is light, yet supportive, and encourages a springy step. The shoes are also designed with ample support and cushioning. The knitting is tighter in areas of support and more open in the midfoot and areas that require ventilation. I was worried the snug fit would lessen the breathability, but that wasn’t the case. Since the shoes are designed from one piece of fabric there’s no stitching or extra material to cause irritation. The most impressive aspect of the shoe (and the reason it fits so well) is the one piece upper made entirely of polyester yarn. It seems to mold itself around your foot creating a snug, but comfortable fit. ![]() This shoe is form-fitting throughout from the heel to the forefoot. The look of this shoe caught my eye, but the unique design and fit really won me over. I decided to do a little research before I made the purchase… I was easily convinced (despite the hefty price tag) when I read they were named “Editor’s Choice” by Runner’s World and ordered them online a couple days later. It was hard not to immediately purchase such a beautiful shoe, but I’ve made that mistake before. ![]() I first saw the Nike Lunar 1 Flyknit in a running store on a weekend trip to Philadelphia. ![]()
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