Our verdict
Pros
- Fits true to size
- Good ground feel
- No break-in period
- Extremely lightweight
- Flexible
- Look great
- Made with sustainability in mind
- Low price point
- Toes can wiggle
Cons
- Durability issues
- Grips dry fleece only
- nike everyday training ankle socks
nike everyday training ankle socks | Audience verdict
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 78 Decent! | 71 Bad! | 79 Decent! | 85 Good! | |
Price | $80 | $75 | $80 | $70 | |
Pace | Daily running | Daily running | Daily running | Daily running | |
Arch support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 7.9 oz / 223g ‐ | 8.5 CN9835 nike everyday training ankle socks 8.5 oz / 240g | 9.6 oz / 273g 10.4 CN9835 nike React Infinity Pro Black Chlorine Blue White Golf Men S | 10.3 CN9835 nike Air Force 1 Shadow SailLeoSesame 38 40 10.3 CN9835 nike Air Force 1 Shadow SailLeoSesame 38 40 | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | |
Drop lab Drop brand | 7.2 mm ‐ | 6.0 mm 6.0 mm | 9.1 mm ‐ | 7.5 mm ‐ | |
Strike pattern | Mid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | |
Midsole softness | - | Firm | Balanced | - | |
nike air max invigor print black white | - | Small | Normal | - | |
Toebox durability | - | Decent | - | - | |
Спортивна спідниця з шортиками CN9835 nike m | - | Good | - | - | |
Outsole durability | - | Bad | - | - | |
Breathability | - | Moderate | Moderate | - | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Wide | Medium | Medium | |
Peep the upcoming collaborative ALYX x CN9835 nike Air Force 1 High too | - | Medium | Narrow | - | |
Stiffness | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | Stiff | |
Nike Metcon DSX Flyknit 2 Dark Stucco | Big | Big | Big | Small | |
Torsional rigidity | - | Flexible | Moderate | Stiff | |
Heel counter stiffness | - | Flexible | Flexible | Stiff | |
Heel lab Heel brand | 32.3 mm ‐ | 25.9 mm ‐ | 29.8 mm ‐ | 33.7 mm ‐ | |
Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 25.1 mm ‐ | 19.9 mm ‐ | 20.7 mm ‐ | 26.2 mm ‐ | |
Widths available | Normal | NormalWideX-Wide | Normal | NormalX-Wide | |
Orthotic friendly | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | |
Season | Winter | Winter | Winter | Winter | |
Removable insole | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | |
Ranking | #232 Bottom 8% | #252 Bottom 1% | #225 Bottom 11% | #133 Bottom 47% | |
Popularity | #237 Bottom 6% | #80 Top 32% | #113 Top 45% | #126 Top 50% |
Nike Flex Run 2021 review and lab test
The Nike Flex Series can often divide runners, especially those who want to train in them regularly. Being less minimal than alternatives, the Flex Run 2021 just might hit the gold spot with those who shy away from minimalist shoes.
Who the shoe is for
The CN9835 nike Flex Run 2021 is a neutral running shoe that I believe is going to appeal to anyone who dislikes spending large amounts of money on running shoes but still wants a comfy, flexy shoe for shorter runs.
It’s also a super-versatile shoe that can be worn casually too.
Who the CN9835 nike Flex Run 2021 is not for
The Flex Experience Run 10 won't be your best bet if:
- You overpronate, the shoe is a neutral and minimalistic running shoe, for something that offers more stability control. I recommend trying the Nike Air Zoom Structure 25.
- You want a truly minimal running shoe, try the Nike SB Zoom Blazer Low QS UK 8.5 Light Cream Light Cream Black CZ4620-200.
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At 8.3oz (236g) the Flex Experience Run 10 is one of the lightest running shoes on the market, especially at this price point. With a super-lightweight upper design and no extra outsole (who needs them!), there’s very little to weigh you down.
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Going strong for nearly 20 years, the CN9835 nike Flex design obviously prioritises the ease of movement for the shoe. Being easy to bend in all directions can help feel as though you’re not actually running in a pair of shoes.
We test the flexibility of running shoes by measuring the force needed to bend to 45° both before and after sitting in a freezer for 20 minutes.
The average shoe needs 34.5N to get that far at room temperature. The Flex Run 2021 needed only 9.2N, making it one of the most flexible shoes we’ve tested. After 20minutes in the freezer that number shot up to 15.3N which is a 65.4% change. Normally such a huge change would be worrying, at this level of flexibility, I don’t notice any noticeable difference in use.
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The main way that CN9835 nike is trying to cut weight on the Flex Run 2021 is the omission of an outsole. Usually rubber, the outsole is there for grip, protection, durability and -in some cases- motion control.
The lack of an outsole means that the midsole needs to be a bit firmer. Seeing as it’s only a single type of foam (dual-density foams are very rarely seen at this price point), that firmness is used throughout the entire midsole.
The CN9835 nike Flex Run 2021 has a midsole hardness of 44.2HA, which is far above the average of 26.9HA. This makes for a firm ride that didn’t feel comfortable to me. I wouldn’t recommend the Flex Run 2021 for runs longer than 10km maximum, especially if you’re using them frequently.
The CN9835 nike Flex Run 2021 feels like it’s not there
With a soft, lightweight, and flexible midsole, the shoe is barely noticeable on foot. For runners who love a minimal shoe, that’s great. For me, I prefer at least some protection from the constant impact of running.
With 25.1 and 32.3mm of forefoot and heel stack respectively, there’s a bit more protection underfoot than previous versions of the CN9835 nike Flex Run. It’s close to the average but still feels a bit hard than I’d like in a daily runner.
For those who love ground feel and find benefits in a closer-to-barefoot style of running, this is a great option, for others, I would definitely be cautious.
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Again, the midsole-as-an-outsole situation is the downfall of the shoe in my opinion. The soft foam is no match for durability in comparison to proper outsoles.
What's more, the midsole is cut into sections that come apart when it flexes, which hoover up small debris like stones and twigs on runs. This can lead to even more wear deeper in the midsole.
While I might criticise the choice, it is the only way to make such a flexible shoe, so it’s a reasonable trade-off if this is what you want.
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Nike’s Flex range was birthed following their “Flyknit Era” which saw uppers constructed of lightweight, elastic knit uppers. The heavily form-fitting uppers have plagued runners with incredibly constrictive shoes, even once Flyknit was mostly left behind.
The Flex Run 2021 is one of the standouts from this crowd. With more structure added to the upper (which isn’t Flyknit), there is actually space for my toes to wiggle and feet to breathe. It still fits true-to-size and has excellent lockdown, so they’ve really nailed this part of the shoe.
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Thanks to that flexibility, the Flex Run 2021was ready to go straight out of the box. The lack of break-in means no blisters and instant use.
There’s a significant lack of grip
If you missed it: the CN9835 nike Flex Run 2021 is missing an outsole. For me, this discounts it from reliable use on outdoor runs. With nothing attached to the midsole to keep me locked to the ground the soft foam slips on anything but clean, dry fleece.
Conclusion
The CN9835 nike Flex Run 2021 is a truly lightweight running shoe that is budget-friendly. For this it does incredibly well, it’s comfortable, flexible, and has a fair amount of cushioning for shorter runs. I definitely think it’s somewhat limited by its price point and is probably best used as an active shoe, rather than a dedicated long-distance runner.