Nike Free: Nike Free running shoes on sale
Newest Nike Free
About Nike Free
Nike Free is a technology invented by Tobie Hatfield at Nike, Inc. and developed in conjunction with Gerard Hartmann and incorporated into some of their athletic Nike Free shoes. Nike Free running shoes attempts to simulate barefoot running while wearing a shoe. As this shoe allows the muscles in the foot to gain strength by providing less constriction, runners are advised to gradually break into the shoe rather than immediately running long distances as to prevent muscle cramps and other discomforts, such as the notorious shin splints. It was introduced in 2004 after Nike representatives observed some of the track athletes supplied by them were training barefoot. The numbering system indicates the cushioning of the shoe and follows a scale ranging from 1 (barefoot) to 12 (normal running shoe), i.e. Nike Free 3.0 being the least and Nike Free 7.0 being the most cushioned model so far. Nike started the Free series with the Nike Free 5.0 in 2005 and in 2006 released a new version of the shoe, the Nike Free 5.0 V2, that addressed some of the durability issues in the earlier model. Among other changes, the heel and sidewalls of the shoe were redesigned to prevent tearing. Since then, the Nike Free 5.0 V3 (2007) and Nike Free 5.0 V4 (2009) models have been released along with various other models from the Nike Free 3.0 V1 and V2 to the Nike Free 7.0 V1 and V2.
Nike has been sued by Reebok over claims about the patented "flexible sole" design. Allegedly, the shoe was designed by Reebok, but had never been manufactured for a lack of market. With the re-emergence of thin soled shoes in various sports (basketball, powerlifting, and general weight-lifting, etc.), the market has grown considerably.
The Nike Free Run models are better suited for flexibility and comfort, unlike the Nike Free 3.0, Nike Free 5.0, and Nike Free 7.0, which were originally training shoes. The Nike Free Run uses an architectural design and more flex grooves (the grooves that make the sole flexible), making it focused on comfort and bounce. The Nike Free 3.0, Nike Free 5.0, and Nike Free 7.0 are focused on durability, traction, and light weight.