NIKE Women's Downshifter 11 Gymnastics Shoe

Product Information

The Downshifter range is for the entry-level runner, wanting to benefit from Nike’s legacy when it comes to world-class running technology. If you’re not running too many miles each week, and don’t require the latest technology to shave seconds off your PB, the Downshifter 11 could be a great starting point. The upper is a single layer, lightweight breathable mesh, with an almost shiny finish. This upper is constructed in a seamless design with synthetic overlays and ventilated TPU midfoot cage. I’d recommend the Downshifter 11 for anyone looking to run their first 5km, 10km, or even half marathon. If you’re new to training and want to use this in the gym too it’s a great shoe for that. In the next version I’d love to see a few more features on the upper to improve breathability, and perhaps some longer laces.

If you’re the kind of person who looks at runners’ feet as they line up for a race, you’d once have seen a broad range of shoes in use – but not any more. Now, it’s a sea of green and pink, with Nike Vaporfly NEXT% emerging as the go-to option for pros and serious amateurs alike. The only downside of these was they gathered lots of mud and grass on a run and were quite difficult to get clean. If you’re a regular runner, looking to log tons of miles, and run distances of 10km+, I’d look to invest a little more in a running shoe and get something with slightly more support and durability, such as the Nike React Miler. Overall, there’s not much exciting to say about the upper, its low on features to keep costs and weight down. Nike Downshifter 11 Conclusion The midsole on the Downshifter 12 feels soft but it has enough stiffness to create a stable platform to rely on.I took the shoe out for a run mid-Dutch heatwave and it was super breathable. Of course the following day there was a downpour, on a wet run, my feet were soaked immediately. The shoe took over 24 hours to dry. Size-wise, I had gone half a size up in the Downshifter vs the Revolution 5 and I felt the fit on the Downshifter 10 was the same as the pair of Revolution 5’s I have, thus making the Downshifter 10 on the smaller side in both length and especially the width. If you’ve had gait analysis and have been told you overpronate – roll your foot excessively inwards when landing – then you may well need a stability shoe to provide extra support. Nike has a few great options here. If you don’t overpronate, then a neutral shoe is the best option for you. How much do you need to spend?

Given that you’re getting the same high level of performance from the shoe, that’s fantastic news. The Vaporfly pairs Nike’s soft and springy ZoomX foam with a carbon plate to produce a remarkably fast and efficient ride that’s helped runners of all levels set PBs at races of all distances in recent years. There’s no better option for 5Ks and 10Ks, and there’s only one shoe we rate as better than the Vaporfly for long distance races, and that’s Nike’s other carbon racer, below.

It’s very expensive, not exactly good-looking, and feels huge when you first pull it on, but there’s no other shoe we’d rather have on our feet when it comes to racing the marathon than the Alphafly. It takes the best attributes of the Vaporfly – the ZoomX foam and the carbon plate – and adds Nike’s Air Zoom pods under the forefoot for a poppier toe-off that only adds to the speed of the shoe. As for the grip, the outsole has mini 1.7mm lugs, which is great on a road shoe since they normally don’t have this much texture. It should be fine on gravel trails and dirt paths and had no issues on our road tests. Compared to its predecessor, the Downshifter 9, the 10th iteration has updated support and cushioning in the midsole too. If you’re a neutral runner looking for a cushioned running shoe, and you don’t require tons of support when running, this is the shoe for you!