Details
Brand
Nike
Heel To Toe Drop
N/A
Breathability
10/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Minimalist
Key Features
• Breathable mesh upper• Cored-out design in the outsole• Duralon rubber outsole• Lightweight feel• Rich heritage• Classic Nike Swoosh on the toe box
Upper
The upper is comprised of both mesh and synthetic fabrics. Wearers will find that the combination of these fabrics make the Nike Air Presto Ultra Breathe an incredibly breathable shoe. These fabrics also lend themselves well to this shoe because they’re both ultra lightweight and make walking or running anywhere in these an absolute breeze.
Midsole
The midsole of the Air Presto Ultra Breathe is made from IU foam. It features Nike’s Air-Sole cushioning for added comfort. The Air-Sole technology uses pressurized air in a flexible membrane to add a lightweight cushioned feel to the midsole. The air compresses as you go through the gait cycle and will immediately bounce back to its original shape, ready for the next step you take. There are midfoot overlays in the midsole of the shoe that help add some extra support on every step.
Outsole
The outsole of the Nike Air Presto Ultra Breathe features rubber pods that help to provide grip on nearly any surface. The cored-out design present in the outsole helps to contribute to a lightweight design. One of the main materials that are used in the construction of the outside is Duralon. It is a lightweight and synthetic rubber compound that utilizes small air pockets to help provide wearers with a soft and smooth ride. The Duralon materials help to provide a supportive landing on impact. Because of the softness of this material, however, some users might find the outsole to be less durable than more rigid options.
Breathability
The word “breathe” is right there in the title of the shoe, so one should expect this product to provide wearers with exceptional breathability. The inside of the shoe is lined with spacer mesh that helps to provide a next-to-skin feeling while also boosting the breathability. The upper features a mesh and textile construction that makes them breathable as well, while simultaneously enhancing the futuristic look of the shoe.
Comfort
While these shoes are relatively comfortable, they’re not on the level of other Nike lifestyle or athletic shoes. The insides of the shoe are lined with a spacer mesh material that helps to give users a feeling of a next-to-skin fit. They feature a pull tab at the heel which makes it easy for folks to slip in and out of their shoes, perfect for consumers who hate having to take the time out of their day to focus on getting the shoe to fit just right. One of the negative reviews we read regarding comfort level came from a wearer who purchased them for the sole purpose of running. They were disappointed in how the shoe didn’t fit right and how quickly they developed blisters on their heels. This may be a one-off experience, but we thought it bore mentioning in our review. For folks really looking for comfort in their kicks, they may want to try something like an Adidas Ultra Boost or a Nike Vapormax as these models are known for their extreme comfort.
Style
For Nike aficionados who want a sleek and cool looking shoe that is practically bursting at the seams with athletic heritage, the Nike Air Presto Ultra Breathe is going to be right up their alley. Available in a number of unique colorways like army green, light pink, yellow, green/gray and blue/black, as well as classic colors like white and black, there is sure to be a color option that suits your desires. The shoe features the classic embroidered Nike Swoosh atop the toe box. The streamlined look of the shoe makes it incredibly versatile. You can transition from daytime to nighttime use, from work to the gym and the mall seamlessly with these shoes. They will go with nearly any outfit, especially now when athletic shoes with nighttime attire has become a bit of a trend.
Durability
We’re going to talk about the Nike Air cushioning here again for a moment. This technology is really top-notch and performs so well in many areas. This cushioning in the midsole of the shoe ensures that the overall weight of the shoe is reduced. When wearing a lighter shoe, wearers put out less energy overall. Less energy output generally means that the shoe is going to last longer.
Protection
While these shoes aren’t exceptional in the amount of protection that they provide wearers, they do have a couple of safety features that are worth mentioning. They have a protective toe cap that is fashioned out of a durable and abrasion-resistant rubber. This feature helps to protect your toes if you were to stub the tip of the shoe on something hard. The Duralon rubber outsole provides an excellent amount of grip and helps to protect you from slipping and sliding on certain terrain. They don’t offer much in terms of wetness protection, though, so if you plan on wearing these during any rainstorms, you may want to rethink this decision. The mesh upper we talked about earlier will provide zero protection from the rain and you’ll find your precious kicks soaked in no time. The bonus of this upper material, though, is that it will dry relatively fast if you do find yourself in a surprise downpour.
Responsiveness
Thanks to the Air-Sole technology in the midsole of this Nike Air Presto Breathe, users will find there is a fair amount of responsiveness to these shoes. With each step you take, the Nike Air cushioning in the midsole will not only absorb the harsh impact but will bounce back and return to its original shape before your next step. This helps make any user perform better and harder while ensuring they remain comfortable as well.
Support
The Nike Air Presto Ultra Breathe have a few features that boost the overall support of the shoe. First, there is the effective lacing system that provides support for athletic activities. The moulded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) midfoot cage found in the shoe and the moulded heel counter are designed to add support for physical activities as well. There are overlays in the midsole that are present to provide a supportive fit for wearers.
Terrain
These are perfect for folks who are searching for a shoe that’s built for the road or concrete. They will fair well if you choose to wear them to work or to the mall, too. Users will find that they provide just enough traction on slightly wet terrain, but we didn’t test them in any downpours. We would advise against trying these out in that type of weather, however, as the breathable upper will make your feet entirely soaked very quickly. We also wouldn’t suggest taking these out on any trails as you’ll risk getting the delicate mesh upper caught in any rugged debris you might come across out in nature. While they do provide some support, the Nike Air Presto Ultra Breathe’s definitely aren’t a trail shoe and shouldn’t be taken out on any kind of rugged terrain if you wish to protect the integrity of your feet!
Price
The MSRP of the Nike Air Presto Ultra Breathe is around $180.00. As with most of the product that we review on our site, consumers will be happy to find that they can find this silhouette on third party market websites for a much lower price in most cases. During our research, we found the Air Presto Ultra Breathe on Amazon for as low as $150.00. That said, we did find some of the rarer colorways for nearly twice the MSRP as well. Our recommendation is if you absolutely must have these kicks, keep your eyes on the price on Amazon and you’ll be happy to find you’re able to score it for less than the MSRP. It should be noted here that we were actually unable to find this shoe for sale on the Nike website at all. If you’re hoping to score a pair of these, we highly recommend scouting Amazon to score yourself the best deal or else you can try your luck at a Nike store (though you’ll probably be paying much more that way).
Drop
We were unable to find any information online regarding the drop of these shoes.
Stability
These shoes provide a fair amount of stability thanks to the Duralon outsole and the molded midfoot cage. While you probably won’t want to take them out on any trails or anywhere you’ll be really needing to test the stability capabilities, most wearers will find that the stability provided here is adequate enough for everyday use.
Flexibility
The Nike Air Presto Ultra Breathe isn’t the most flexible shoe on the market, but you’ll find that they’re not the stiffest either. The mesh upper really adds to the flexibility of the shoe but the stiffer outsole could provide a more flexible experience, even taking the flex grooves into consideration.
Traction
As mentioned in the ‘Outsole’ section of our review, these shoes provide a rather adequate amount of traction for most activities. The rubber pods found on the outsole provide traction that most users will find will be enough for the activities they’ll be wearing these shoes for. We wouldn’t suggest wearing these outside during any heavy downpours, though. Aside from the mesh upper not providing protection from this type of weather, you’ll probably find the Air Presto Ultra Breathe’s lacking in the traction department when the ground is extremely wet.
Bottom Line
For the Nike aficionado, the Air Presto Ultra Breathe will definitely be a shoe that they will need to add to their (likely already huge) Nike collection. The unique athletic heritage that this shoe brings to the table coupled with the features that made the OG Air Presto shine really set this shoe apart from other options currently on the market. While this model isn’t new any more by any stretch of the imagination – it isn’t even being sold on the Nike website anymore – its super comfortable ride and incredibly breathable upper make it a solid shoe to add to your repertoire. You probably won’t find the best success in wearing these for long runs or during races, but you’ll be looking fashionable as ever rocking the Air Presto Ultra Breathe’s at the mall or out on the town.
