The good news about the forefoot is that it IS roomy, so combined with the low arch, flat-footed people may find this shoe pretty comfy. Despite the single-piece bits of rubber that cover the outsole, the Run Swift is surprisingly flexible. However, there is some stability, on account of the uninterrupted medial outsole piece. The medial side is nearly as flat as the toe area. If you’re looking for arch support, this shoe isn’t it. The forefoot cushion isn’t really that good, though. It’s also a little softer than that model, with a little more bounce in the heel, especially.
Surprisingly, despite the single pieces of outsole that run the length of the shoe, it’s actually more flexible than the segmented Downshifter. It’s not as soft or breathable as the Winflo, but leagues better than the Downshifter.
This model is a step above the Downshifter and a step below the Winflo, and definitely feels like it. Cushlon is pretty much your standard EVA foam, but has a little rubber in it for bounce and responsiveness. The Run Swift utilizes Cushlon ST foam for its midsole, which is shared by the Winflo and even Pegasus. However, given that some people only have a certain budget to work with (or their kids’ feet are growing too fast to invest in pricier models), we wanted to look at less expensive options. These are the types of shoes you’d be more likely to find in a store like Kohl’s than Dick’s Sporting Goods. This week is all about budget running models, so we’re here with one from Nike.