Details
Brand
Nike
Heel To Toe Drop
11mm
Breathability
7.5/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Dual Density Phylon foam technology• Nike Flywire cables provide a well structured upper• Non-synthetic engineered mesh• Reflective materials incorporated throughout the shoe for safety at night
Upper
The Nike Dual Fusion X 2 sports a very breathable mesh upper. Mesh consistently proves to be a top-tier dependable material when it comes to constructing running shoes. This shoe has a very breathable upper complimented by a wonderful custom-like fit thanks to the mesh used throughout the shoe. In addition to the mesh, Nike also uses its signature Flywire to assist the mesh with a midsection foot security. Nike has also taken users of the Dual Fusion X 2’s safety into consideration by adding reflective hits all throughout the shoe. The reflective material on the upper will catch and reflect whatever light can be found in the darkness, making you visible especially on night runs.
Midsole
The midsole is where the Nike Dual Fusion X 2 draws its name from. Nike displays that they have a thorough understanding of what runners need in a shoe. Competitive sneakers marketed toward the same audience often lack the complexity of blending more than one material to make a better shoe, especially for a shoe strategically aimed at sticking to a budget. At first thought, the mixture of materials instantly means more, which in turn would mean more money, but Nike has managed to mash together a denser foam for stability while utilizing a softer foam for comfort. The blend of foams will give the runner the best of both worlds, proving to not be too flimsy, or too stiff, which could cause discomfort.
Outsole
The Nike Dual Fusion X 2 borrows the same outsole from the previous generation. The outsole is primarily parallel with flat surfaces, lacking any type of personality aesthetically when it comes to many other outsole molds that Nike produces. Towards the back heel region of the outsole, layered groove indentations form around a Nike logo branding to provide a basic foundation for flexibility and grip. As you move slightly forward towards the mid outsole section, you will find a Nike logo check encompassed by a segmented tri-ringed grip pad. The final piece of the outsole towards the forefront you will find a flexible semi waffled area that will provide the necessary traction for the user.
Breathability
The Nike Dual Fusion X 2 is wrapped in a breathable engineered mesh material. All around the upper a tightknit, yet still breathable mesh can be found overlaid atop of a Nike trademarked Flywire system. The two components work together closely to bring great breathability to this shoe. Flywire is the base structure and provides stability while the refined, upgraded, and the breathable mesh is draped over top. Nike has done a wonderful job of providing their newest technologies that allow for maximum breathability at a minimum cost.
Comfort
Phylon is the softer of the two foams available in the midsole, and directly responsible for the majority of the comfort you will experience wearing the shoe. Phylon, until the recent introduction of Lunarlon, was the best foam available on the market. Phylon is very light, plush, and comfortable and is in no way discredited as a viable and reliable source of foam material for the midsole. A well-padded inner lining coupled with a Phylon midsole and mesh upper makes way for a sneaker that comfortably cares for your foot.
Style
Style can be easily overlooked when a company focuses on making a product fairly priced as well as functional, but the Nike Dual Fusion X 2 clearly had style in mind while designing this shoe. The shoe is available in many color options with the mixture of colors on most shoes being monochromatic mixes of light and dark blends of the same color. The shoe has an overall flush appearance, very minimalist and subtle. The entire shoe looks streamlined and aerodynamic and while also making the breathable mesh both functional and stylish.
Durability
Durability for this shoe isn’t as long lasting as most runners would like, but given the price point and materials used, the lack of durability is understandable. Phylon is a foam material found in the midsole and although very comfortable and responsive, foam eventually breaks down over time. The idea behind the shoe was to be a daily runner and as often as a runner using it for that purpose, chances are you will have to replace the shoes sooner than you would a running shoe with an alternative midsole material.
Protection
This shoe offers a moderate amount of protection and is best for runners who experience supination, or under pronation, when they are running. This shoe doesn’t go out of its way to promote protection, so not much should be expected by the user. The side effects of the Nike Dual Fusion X 2’s good design and decent materials have created a safe haven for your foot to fall on, and adequate protection for your arch.
Responsiveness
The Nike Dual Fusion X 2 is moderately responsive for a bargain value shoe. Fusing two foams together, a dense and less dense foam, create a conversation between your feet and the concrete that you can understand. The outsole aids in setting the right foundation for your foot to get a feeling of the road. With each step, the midsole is giving responsive feedback and the transfer of energy is returned and not lost during every run. Nike does make more responsive shoes, but the Nike Dual Fusion X 2 does deliver on properly executing the fundamentals of responsiveness.
Support
The support for this shoe proved to be decent and although its design wasn’t specifically aimed at assisting with arch support, there weren’t any complaints of a flimsy structure leading to joint irritation or any other type of discomfort. The dense portion of the foam provides a supportive ride and hold for your foot, while the Flywire in the upper keeps the midsection of your foot intact and not sliding around when you run.
Terrain
This sneaker was specifically designed for road use and that purpose can clearly be seen through the use of materials on this shoe. The outsole was designed with traction in mind, flexible waffle textured grips and segmented impact pads will stick to the pavement allowing fluid motion and comfortable mobility on concrete and other harder surfaces.
Price
The price point proves to be one of the main attractions regarding this sneaker. The Nike Dual Fusion X 2 is an entry-level sneaker with entry-level pricing to match. The shoe originally retailed at just under $100 but can now easily be found for significantly less than that.
Drop
The heel to toe drop for this shoe is 11 millimeters even. It’s a great introductory height for beginners due to not being too high or too low. In terms of drop, the 11 millimeters puts the Nike Dual Fusion X 2 just slightly above average.
Stability
Although this model of shoe wasn’t designed to be a stability shoe, the dense material located in the midsole combined with a cushioned Phylon foam creates the base of a satisfactory, but not outstanding, stable shoe. The cushion fusion system is just the beginning base layer of stability when it comes to the Nike Dual Fusion X 2. The Flywire is the additional complimenting feature that locks down your foot, giving you a solid sense of stability.
Flexibility
The Nike Dual Fusion X 2 leans towards the generous side of the spectrum when it comes to flexibility. The flexibility for this shoe begins with the outsole, multiple groove layering only expands the amount of movement you’re able to experience while wearing these sneakers. Moving from the outsole upward to the upper, the mesh and Flywire keeps everything together while still granting your foot the freedom of flexibility.
Traction
The outsole on the Nike Dual Fusion X 2 is pretty busy in appearance when it comes incorporating features that were designed to adapt to many different surfaces. The entire rear and mid-region of the shoe focus on layering padded rubber that provides flexibility and grip to prevent slip on a wide spectrum of surfaces. The forefront has pronounced flex grooving in a waffled pattern that proves pretty sufficient for traction takeoff. The outsole does well with promoting a wider range of movement while allowing the user to grip various surfaces.
Bottom Line
The Nike Dual Fusion X 2 is a shoe with a purpose, and that purpose was to maximize value while being an efficient shoe. It’s no easy task falling into the wallet-friendly territory, but the Nike Dual Fusion X 2 has crossed enemy lines and has won the war on high prices and heavy costs against your wallet.;This shoe is a solid shoe and executes exactly the purpose that it was designed for. The shoe was not manufactured for experienced runners who have a genuine understanding of their personal needs when it comes to running. This Nike shoe is a model that allows entry-level runners to “test the waters” and get a good feel for running when they first start out. If you’re a new runner that falls into the category of curiosity when it comes to running, the Nike Dual Fusion X 2 may be the shoe for you to pick up.
