Details
Brand
Nike
Heel To Toe Drop
N/A
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Flywire cables attached to the lacing system• Nike Air Zoom midsole foam• Multiple styles and colors• Rubber tread along the outsole• TPU midfoot wrap for stability• Inner sleeve for added comfort• Suede overlays along upper• Horizontal and vertical treads along underfoot
Upper
The upper of this shoe is designed to provide the athlete with a supportive fit that keeps their foot stable during explosive movements and lots of side to side movement as well. For starters, Nike selected a lightweight mesh upper that uses suede details. The lightweight mesh allows for maximum airflow to reach the shoe, helping to regulate the internal temperature of the shoe. The suede details along the tongue and the on the sides as overlays help to lock the foot in place. This shoe also utilized Nike ’s patented Flywire cables that attach to the lacing system to add support. Finally, a midfoot wrap is added to the upper to ensure that the foot stays in place and doesn’t move around during rigorous activities.
Midsole
Runners were pleased with the traditional Nike Air Zoom cushioning in the midsole. While other Nike shoes that are designed for training provide a sparser midsole, the Zoom Train Command has a plush midsole that makes these a good choice for running or cross-training activities. This midsole foam is highly responsive and absorbs the shock of potentially harmful, high impact movements. Athletes who are prone to injury commented that this midsole material helped to protect their joints and overall reduce their risk of injury. In addition to the Air Zoom midsole foam, runners can expect to see an inner sleeve construction that increased the overall comfort of the shoe, giving it a sock-like feel.
Outsole
The outsole of the Nike Zoom Train Command is designed to add extra traction and grip for athletes who are performing high impact, lateral, and explosive movements. The outsole of the shoe is made using rubber tread in vertical and horizontal patterns to ensure that athletes have a solid base to keep them connected to the ground below them. In addition to gym workouts, this outsole is also designed to protect runners on the road or the trail while they perform their workouts. The outsole is designed to support the athlete through quick, explosive movements like burpees and box jumps.
Breathability
The upper is constructed using a breathable mesh with suede overlays. This material does a great job of ensuring that the foot can receive proper air flow and ventilation. This feature keeps hot spots and blister s at bay. However, some runners reported that they wished the suede overlays and the suede material along the collar and tongue were reduced to increase the flexibility.
Comfort
Runners commented that this shoe is like the Nike Metcon, but for runners too. The key difference is in the level of cushioning afforded to the runner. The midsole of this shoe Nike’s patented Zoom Air Cushioning. This gives the runner plush cushioning and provides a supportive landing pad during the gait cycle. Even though it has more cushioning, it is still a relatively flat shoe which makes it great for Olympic lifts and high-intensity movements. Nike’s thoughtful design elements like the TPU midfoot wrap and the Flywire cables provide support which leads to added comfort for the runner. Finally, runners loved the inner sleeve of the shoe which they described as “glove-like.”
Style
Nike is leading the charge with the athletic/leisure style. This shoe is no different. It is designed to perform like a top-level athletic shoe, but aesthetically, it is designed to look stylish and add a fashionable element to any outfit, workout or otherwise. Although the color options on this shoe tend to be more subtle and subdued, the shoe comes in a variety of sleek, colors and designs. Runners especially loved the classic look of the all-white design.
Durability
There are some elements of this shoe that runners found to provide a high level of durability and some areas that left them wanting. The outsole provides runners with a long lasting shoe. The outsole material is a durable rubber and the tread design helps the shoe to hold up against the tough workouts athlete’s perform in this shoe. Where runners wanted to see more durability was in the upper. Some runners reported that the collar and lacing area frayed too easily.
Protection
In terms of protection, runners will find that the support, stability, and protection against unwanted injury is where this shoe shines. Nike included a variety of support features to help the runner’s foot stay stable during explosive movements and lateral movement as well. The Nike Air Cushioning technology does a great job of absorbing the harmful impact of each footfall. This is key for the athlete performing HIIT workouts or WOD s. Likewise, the near zero drop of the shoe helps to keep the athlete’s foot securely on the ground during Olympic style lifting.
Responsiveness
The Nike Zoom Air Cushioning provides a responsive form of cushioning to athletes. This midsole foam is plush, but it is also thin enough that it enables athletes to feel the ground below them and make appropriate changes to their movement, speed, and direction. This high level of responsiveness is key to athletes that are performing various high impact activities.
Support
Runner raves about the multiple supports that are provided in this shoe. The stand out features is Nike’s patented Flywire cables. These cables attach to the lacing system and help to hold the foot down and in place for a snug supportive fit. Additionally, athletes liked the TPU midfoot wrap. This midfoot wrap helps to stabilize the foot and reduce any unwanted side to side movement.
Terrain
The unique thing about the Nike Zoom Train Command is that it is designed for all terrains. Abrasion-resistant upper and the rubber tread of the outsole make it a good choice for trail running. The Nike Zoom Air cushioning midsole foam provides enough cushioning for road running too. All of the stability and support features, along with the horizontal and vertical gripping design of the outsole make it perfect for explosive, quick movements during WODs and boot camp classes.
Price
The price of this shoe is more than reasonable. Sometimes, Nike shoes can be on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, but this shoe falls right in the middle of the pack. Additionally, runners found that the versatility of this shoe increases the value because it saved them money because they didn’t need to purchase separate shoes for CrossFit and running.
Drop
The heel drop in these shoes is very low. Although they don’t provide runners a zero drop, completely minimalist running experience, they do have a low enough drop that the forward propulsion that is caused from a traditional heel drop is absent in this shoe. This is good for athletes who are performing high intensity, lateral or weightlifting movements. For running, if runners if used to working out in a traditional heel drop shoe, they will need time to adjust to the stark difference offered in these shoes. This shoe is not suggested for runners who like a high heel drop and find running with increased forward propulsion to be necessary.
Stability
This is not a traditional stability shoe in that it doesn’t provide support for runners who are struggling with over or under pronation issues. However, it does offer stability in the sense that it will help the runner’s foot stay stable during difficult Olympic weightlifting moves. Athletes found this heightened stability to be important during heavy lifting, especially overhead lifting because they needed their feet to have a safe, secure base that wouldn’t move during these rigorous movements.
Flexibility
Runners were overall pleased with the level of flexibility but reported that they wished that the upper would have been slightly more free moving. The upper of the shoe is designed with an abrasion resistant material, and it seems that Nike sacrificed some of the flexibility of the upper in an attempt to create a more durable upper.
Traction
Just by flipping this shoe upside down, runners can see that the unique underfoot design has been created to provide added traction on a variety of surfaces. The outsole is made from a durable rubber and is lines with a unique rubber tread system. This system employs both horizontal and vertical lines to increase the grip of the shoe. This makes the Train Command ideal for quick explosive movements and movements that require security like box jumps, burpees, walking lunges, or rowing.
Bottom Line
This shoe is designed for the versatile athlete who has the desire to switch regularly between running, trail running, and training. Nike utilizes a plethora of smart technologies to ensure that athletes can transition effortlessly from running to cross training. The upper of the shoe is made from a breathable mesh with suede overlays that keep the shoe ventilated but still provide support. Along the upper, runners will see features such as the Flywire cables and the TPU midfoot wrap. The midsole features Nike’s patented Air Cushioning technology that provides lightweight, responsive cushioning to runners. The outsole ensures that athletes will be secure and protected while they perform difficult moves from trail runs to box jumps to Olympic style weightlifting. Nike knows how to create a stylish shoe and the Train Command can easily transition from the gym to a night out. The price is reasonable, and although it certainly isn’t the most inexpensive running and training shoe on the market today, it falls right in the middle of the pack.
