Nike Flyknit Available This Friday

Dave-O wrote:Should I be honored or embarrassed that the owner of Fleet Feet emailed me last night to confirm that an 11.5 Flyknit Racer was set aside for me?

$168 well spent! I pick them up Tuesday at the launch party. Woo-Hoo!!!!!

I hear Britt's real happy too - and is headed for Dooney and Bourke on Tuesday.

Dave-O wrote:Should I be honored or embarrassed that the owner of Fleet Feet emailed me last night to confirm that an 11.5 Flyknit Racer was set aside for me?

$168 well spent! I pick them up Tuesday at the launch party. Woo-Hoo!!!!!

Geek.

Dave-O wrote:Should I be honored or embarrassed that the owner of Fleet Feet emailed me last night to confirm that an 11.5 Flyknit Racer was set aside for me?

Both.

$35B in Rev and $9B in profit for the quarter?! Good lord.

Having worked at Nike for a bit I can understand why their %s aren't better.

Ben Z wrote:$35B in Rev and $9B in profit for the quarter?! Good lord.

Having worked at Nike for a bit I can understand why their %s aren't better.

Yeah, I'm betting their SG & A as a % of revenue is just a *smidge* higher than ours.

What happened to Lunar cushioning being the end all be all? I see the Flyknit is using Zoom air.

THEY'RE MINE! ALL MINE!!!!!

Picked them up last night at the Fleet Feet Flyknit launch party. The process is quite unique: from the box they go into a plastic container where they are steamed for 5 minutes; when you put them on, you can feel how warm, soft and pliable the knit is; then you walk around in them for 10 minutes while they cool and form to your foot. They feel like a sock but with a sole equal to that of a Lunar Racer. Really excited to try them out on a run!

Dave-O wrote:THEY'RE MINE! ALL MINE!!!!!

Picked them up last night at the Fleet Feet Flyknit launch party. The process is quite unique: from the box they go into a plastic container where they are steamed for 5 minutes; when you put them on, you can feel how warm, soft and pliable the knit is; then you walk around in them for 10 minutes while they cool and form to your foot. They feel like a sock but with a sole equal to that of a Lunar Racer. Really excited to try them out on a run!

Well, with all that personalized service, they're a bargain!

BTW, to put things in perspective, my son's (Nike) hockey skates were $500. And that isn't even top of the line ($700).

Enjoy, Dave.

Martin VW wrote:

Dave-O wrote:THEY'RE MINE! ALL MINE!!!!!

Picked them up last night at the Fleet Feet Flyknit launch party. The process is quite unique: from the box they go into a plastic container where they are steamed for 5 minutes; when you put them on, you can feel how warm, soft and pliable the knit is; then you walk around in them for 10 minutes while they cool and form to your foot. They feel like a sock but with a sole equal to that of a Lunar Racer. Really excited to try them out on a run!

Well, with all that personalized service, they're a bargain!

BTW, to put things in perspective, my son's (Nike) hockey skates were $500. And that isn't even top of the line ($700).

Enjoy, Dave.

I use that justification all the time for buying running shoes. For me, its the "at least I don't bike..." One decent to good tri bike costs more than I'll spend on running shoes in a lifetime. Its jaw dropping to go to some of these tris and see all of the bikes and gear lined up and calculate in your head how much expenditure you are looking at in that transition area. Even a $200 pair of running shoes would be a complete bargain compared to what the tri loonies spend on their bikes.

That sounds pretty cool, Dave! Hope to see photos and a review soon.

Think I'll steam up a pair of Mizuno... worth a shot, eh?

So are these minimal type shoes then?? They don't look like it on the website. I'm guessing they are a no go for me with my orthotics and all. I already hurt myself trying a minimal shoe.

Michele "1L" Keane wrote:So are these minimal type shoes then?? They don't look like it on the website. I'm guessing they are a no go for me with my orthotics and all. I already hurt myself trying a minimal shoe.

Not minimalist in the sense of heel drop. They are narrow, even for a Nike shoe, so I don't know how your orthotics would fit.

They come in the Trainer and Racer. Trainer is in the 9 ounce range. Racer is very light at 5.6 ounces, only 1,2 of which is attributable to the upper. The result is a very light racing flat that still offers a semi-cushioned sole.

Dave-O wrote:

Michele "1L" Keane wrote:So are these minimal type shoes then?? They don't look like it on the website. I'm guessing they are a no go for me with my orthotics and all. I already hurt myself trying a minimal shoe.

Not minimalist in the sense of heel drop. They are narrow, even for a Nike shoe, so I don't know how your orthotics would fit.

They come in the Trainer and Racer. Trainer is in the 9 ounce range. Racer is very light at 5.6 ounces, only 1,2 of which is attributable to the upper. The result is a very light racing flat that still offers a semi-cushioned sole.

Thanks, I have racing orthotics that are lightweight and really not much more than the regular removable inner sole. and I like my shoes narrow. I wore the orthotics in my old sockracers.

Ritz will be wearing the Flyknits in the 10k on Saturday. Check out this interview and picture:

http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/08/01/brief-chat-dathan-ritzenhein-ready-to-roll/

Chris M wrote:Ritz will be wearing the Flyknits in the 10k on Saturday. Check out this interview and picture:

http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/08/01/brief-chat-dathan-ritzenhein-ready-to-roll/

I'm sure his Flyknit spikes weigh a little less than the regular racer. He did wear them in the Olympic trials in January, though. I think him and Abdi were the only provided with the prototype.

Dave -

Please post a review when you get a chance. I am most curious about the heel drop and cushioning. I've read it's a bit firmer than the original Lunaracers but still more than adequate for high mileage.

Also, some people are complaining with such a minimalist upper your foot kind of slides around a lot on canted surfaces or when turning.

Thoughts?

Ben Z wrote:Dave -

Please post a review when you get a chance. I am most curious about the heel drop and cushioning. I've read it's a bit firmer than the original Lunaracers but still more than adequate for high mileage.

Also, some people are complaining with such a minimalist upper your foot kind of slides around a lot on canted surfaces or when turning.

Thoughts?

How about now?

I wanted to wait a little bit before posting my review because my initial thought was: How can two shoes that weigh the same - the Flyknits and Spiders - feel so different? Now that I have done a tempo run, a progression run with 4 at goal MP, and a 20 miler, I can confirm that's true.

First, the Spiders are true racing flats. Minimal cushioning, minimal heel drop, firm, built for speed work. The Flyknits, on the other hand, are not racing flats. My opinion is that they are designed with the marathon specifically in mind. While they weigh only a touch over 5 ounces, they have the cushioning of a 7-9 ounce shoe. The heel is built up and I would not by any means consider them a minimalist shoe. if you like running in shoes with 0 or 4mm heel drop, these probably aren't for you. However, there is more cushioning in them than any 5 ounce ounce shoe I've ever worn. I do not find them quite as cushioned - or squishy, if you will - as the Lunar Racers. But the profile is similar; just a tad firmer,which I prefer.

The real benefit, though, comes from being so lightweight while providing that cushioning. The upper really fits like a sock. At first, it does feel like your foot slips around, and even a little heel slip. I don't think that's the case though. My first run in them I was worried about it, that my foot was sliding. But I was much more comfortable in them on my long 20. I made it through 20 without any blisters or having to re-tie them.

My final verdict: Best marathon shoe I've ever worn. The amount of cushioning provided with such light weight is fantastic. While I've worn the Spiders in the marathon before, they did beat up my feet and calves. That will not be the case with the Flyknits.

I would not race a 5k or 10k in them. I'll stick with the Spiders for those, and for any track work. Like I said, the heel is too substantial to be a real flat, and I think the Spiders are "faster." For a half-marathon....well, I'm still undecided.

Overall, I am 100% pleased with them and thrilled I have a shoe that I believe is ideal for the marathon. They are pricey at $165, so I am interested to see how many miles I get out of them. I've gone through 12 pairs of Lunar Racers and get 500-600 from those. I expect roughly the same, maybe 100 less, from the Flyknits.

Remind me and I'll post a pic of the Flyknits and Spiders next to each other, if you want to compare the heel lift.

Dave-O wrote:Remind me and I'll post a pic of the Flyknits and Spiders next to each other, if you want to compare the heel lift.

Reminded.