For the second time yesterday I had the opportunity to play some tennis in the Nike Free (5.0) and they’re some damn fine footwear. I really like the lightness and the feeling that I’m more in contact with the ground.
The only problem is that they’re still not what I expected. Every time some revolutionary new shoe technology comes out I get this expectation of what it will be like and I’m consistently let down. It’s not that the shoe itself is bad, but the buildup just leads to disappointment.
Nike wants to me to think that the FREE will simulate running barefoot, which makes me believe it will feel like being barefoot. As someone who’s used to wandering around in worn to the ground sandals it’s not surprising then that to me the FREE feels like any other shoe. A great shoe, but a shoe all the same.
If I had to suggest one improvement, it’d be a reworking of the upper material. I wouldn’t mind something more meshy and ventilated. Other than that, though, I think they’ve taken a really unique idea and executed it almost perfectly.