MANILA, Philippines - Nike first introduced the Nike Free shoe in 2005, bringing to life the concept of training barefoot to strengthen the feet and legs coupled with the protection and traction of a lightweight performance shoe.
“Not everyone has the luxury of a barefoot training environment like a pristine beach or a soft, grass field to experience the benefits of training barefoot. Nike Free allows athletes to experience these benefits in practically every environment,” says Tobie Hatfield, innovation manager for the Nike Innovation Kitchen.
The changes to the Nike Free shoe since its introduction four years ago have been subtle yet significant to the performance of the shoe. The Nike Free outsole has been adopted across a variety of performance footwear platforms including basketball, training, tennis, and with traditional running products.
The new Nike Free 5.0-specific upper provides just enough support while still allowing the foot to move in a natural, dynamic and barefoot-like manner. Breathable mesh across most of the upper enhances comfort and ventilation while also providing a more barefoot-like fit and feel. Overlays are strategically placed to balance the fit, durability and support of a shoe with the dynamic flexibility of the foot.
“The interesting thing about Nike Free is that it really is for everybody,” said Andreas Harlow, global creative director for Nike’s running footwear category.
The Nike Free 5.0 is available at Nike retail stores nationwide.