Nike Run Reporter Year Reflections

Nike Run Reporter Year Reflections

Nike Run Reporters are part of the Nike running community and the latest group of them are Shamus Eaton, Melissa Freeman, Jena Winger and Stephanie De Souza. Their year reflections are posted and perhaps their terms as run reporters. They have provided great stories about their personal journeys as they relate to their training, running experiences and opportunities to see elite events while interviewing elite performers.  To read these stories click here.



Nike Run Reporters. Image from Nike.com



  Are you interested in what Nike looks for in a Nike Run Reporter? Here is how Nike.com describes the Nike Run Reporters role: “Nike RunReporters always have their kicks laced, hard-hitting questions ready, and personalities on. They're not always running fanatics; but they've always got a great stride and a super-cool personality to vibe with some of the biggest athletes in the game.

  The Nike RunReporters' responsibilities include interviewing big-time Nike athletes, traveling to the country's biggest running events to provide video coverage (on Nike's dime, of course), and blogging about personal athletic experiences. They're cool with getting running tips from world-renowned Nike coach and marathoner Alberto Salazar one day and doing the electric slide at the finish line with long-distance runner Kara Goucher the next. And since Nike RunReporters are an integral part of the Nike crew, Nike provides them with the freshest gear so they can hit the ground running...every day.”

  Checking in on these blogs can keep you motivated and interested in running.  The stories are uplifting to help you reach your set goal or can be inspirational and provide you the mental freedom to reach for your dreams.  Read the blogs to see how people just as “normal” as you in life are implementing running for training, health, happiness and fitness.  Like you, they love Nike products and the feelings they get from running.  The only difference is they have the time and desire to write about it.

By: www.nikeproductreviews.com

Review of Nike Mercurial Victory II FG Men's Soccer Cleat

The Product:

Nike Mercurial Victory II FG Men’s Soccer Cleat

Do the Nike Mercurial Victory II FG Men’s Soccer Cleat benefits exist and perform as Nike describes they should?

Listed Benefits from Nike.com:

 

Mercurial Victory II FG



1)   Soft, supple synthetic leather for stability, ideal fit and  better ball control

2)   Contoured last mirrors the foot shape for a premium fit

3)  Contoured sockliner for a premium, low-profile fit

4)   Innovative cleat configuration for better acceleration especially on firm-grounds

5)   Firm-ground (FG) cleats for use on short-grass fields that may be slightly wet but rarely muddy

Soft, supple synthetic leather for stability, ideal fit and better ball control: 

At Tempo- On a scale of 1-10 on supple, I give this synthetic leather a 5. You do get good ball control.



See the Satin grain look?

The appearance of the synthetic leather looks like satin. It is as though tiny interlocking fibers are the structure of the material providing it the ability to tug and tighten with every movement of your foot. This satin finish makes the cleat soft but ready to connect with the soccer ball.  Like satin, this synthetic leather traps dirt in the fibers of the toes and side of the foot. Also, the material does get creases which are not uncommon for any cleat to develop.  However, these creases are stiffer than a kangaroo leather shoe would develop, which means that the way your foot first dictates to the Mercurial to form and bend to your foot the first outing will be the way the shoe will force it to occur for the rest of the cleats life (Picture of these creases is at the end of this review).  The fit of the cleat around the foot is snug but not uncomfortable. It hugs your foot which allows your foot to feel everything that your foot touches. You know where the ball is touching your foot which allows for the player to know the next type of touch that needs to be taken for ball control.  It is a tight/snug fit so it is important that when you are sizing this cleat that you know exactly what size cleat you are in Nike products. Also be sure to consider if you wear one or two pairs of socks, if you have ankle protectors and anything else that might cause your foot size to be bigger.

Contoured last mirrors the foot shape for a premium fit. 

At Tempo- FYI the “last” is the toe area, contoured is the style of a rounded toe to mimic the foot shape.

  

Toe: AKA Contoured Last



I had to Google what a “Contoured last” is and how it applies to a shoe. I have learned that the “last” area is the toe and the look or style of the toe is defined by the word contoured or other descriptions like Olympic, Laser, Stanford and more. This cleats toe is round and provides just enough room for toes and two pairs of socks to fit into. It does provide a snug fit so be sure your toe nails are well trimmed before playing your match.  The contoured last does provide for a glove like fit for the toes which in turn allows the player to have a great feel on the soccer ball.

Soft, supple Contoured sockliner for a premium, low-profile fit.  

At Tempo- Helps your feet slip in the cleat easier but the rest is just spin to make this benefit seem more impactful.

Inside shoe liner. Top is inside the tongue the right is inside the cleat.

I picked this Mercurial Victory II FG cleat because it listed this benefit while the other Nike Mercurial cleat I was looking at did not have this feature.  Since it was only $5 more I decided to splurge and it appears this benefit is exactly worth $5 and not any more.  The liner is contoured because it lines the cleat and the cleat is contoured. The liner does not enhance this feature.   I also do not understand how this liner provided for a low-profile fit. The supple synthetic leather that makes the shape of the cleat is what creates the low-profile fit. The liner is soft and not thick which helps your foot fit the cleat size accurately.  Supple seems to be a theme with this cleat but I would argue that it does not apply with this liner.  The liner is more like a thin felt sheet that is to help your foot slip in and out. There did not seem to be any thick seams that would irritate your foot or places from the liner that would cause an annoying point of pressure.

Innovative cleat configuration for better acceleration especially on firm-grounds.

At Tempo- Keeps you on your feet during quick adjustments and provides a quick first step.



Toe Spikes



Bottom showing Cleats



The first aspect of the cleat, or spike, side of this shoe I noticed was the rigid front toe area. Tiny spikes that help provide a quick first step in any direction. They appear to be no longer that 1/8” and cover about 2 square inches of the toe area. The main cleats located underneath the ball of your foot follow the new norm of a soccer cleat pattern. These are not your old standard of just round spikes to grip the ground.  These are long and thin. Each cleat is rounded slightly facing the inside of the shoe. This is to help with quicker turns without losing your footing.  There are eight cleats for the front two thirds of the cleat. There are 4 cleats on the heel area. The cleats in the heel are bit longer than the ones in the front.  They appear ready to dig into the ground and help you hold your ground. Each cleat is about ½” in height and 1” in length and is made of a hard plastic. On a firm soccer pitch you do not feel the cleats when you play but if you are on a hard field like straight dirt then you will feel awkward running in these as the shoe feels uneven in these conditions.

Firm-ground (FG) cleats for use on short-grass fields that may be slightly wet but rarely muddy.

At Tempo- Will perform in most field conditions but the cleats are not long enough for mud.

These are a great all purpose cleat.  If you are just playing in a recreational league or are not able to have multiple cleat styles then this cleat would be a great all purpose tool. This cleat will perform in short to long grass and will function in the rain.  No shoe really “performs” in mud and do not expect this one to.  You probably could expect the game to be cancelled if the conditions are in the muddy category.  In bad conditions, the heel of the cleat will keep you on your feet but you will lose the quick turn and acceleration benefits of the front cleats. In any field condition besides mud these cleats will be able to provide their benefits to some capacity but the ideal is short-grass.

NPR Plus's:

1) Light weight. Only 8 oz

2) The synthetic material appears durable and the cleat well constructed

3) The color choices for this cleat are bright and noticeable for teammates.

NPR Suggested Adjustment:

1) Make the contoured sock liner something worth mentioning.

2) Have the cleat come in a matching shoe bag.

3) Fix the tongue more to the cleat as it likes to drift to one side.

Please email comments to srmath10@nikeproductreviews.com on what you liked about this review and what you did not like. Your suggestions will be read and responded to and taken into consideration.  We want you to enjoy the review and get value from it.  The more you tell us the more we adapt our techniques to meet your satisfaction.

"At Tempo" points are Nike Product Reviews term for our short summary of our opinion on the product.  It’s to provide the reader with a quick overview of the overall message for that section.

Inside foot view and heel.



Creases on synthetic leather



Disclaimer: These cleats were worn for 1 hour of practice and 1 hour of game play. The pictures were taken without the cleats be clean so you can see actual dirt areas and wear.

Mercurial Review to Post this week.

Update: Nike Mercurial Victory II FG Men' s Soccer Cleat review will be posted this week. Today is the photo shoot and tomorrow should be the final edits.


Need a new pair of soccer kicks?

Before you decide wait for the Nike Product Reviews

post coming this month on the Mercurial Victory II FG.



Mercurial Victory II FG Soccer Cleat

Nike Product Reviews will take your suggestions of products to review under serious consideration.  Tell us what you want to review and we will include a quote from you in our post and maybe even more. Email suggestions to srmath10@nikeproductreviews.com.

New Nike Store



Nike Store coming to Little Rock, AR

Opening on October 14 Nike will have a Factory Store located in the Chenal Promenade shopping center in Little Rock, Arkansas.



Nike Factory Store Front at Chenal Promenade in Little Rock, Arkansas

Nike Factory Store Front at Chenal Promenade in Little Rock, Arkansas

  Little Rock, Arkansas is continually striving to bring top brands to the city which will be a benefit to not only Little Rock itself but all of Central Arkansas.  The latest addition is the Nike Factory Store that will be opening October 14, 2011 in the Chenal Promenade shopping center.

  All athletes I am sure are very excited that they will now have the opportunity to get the latest sports performance technology available from just down the street.  Instead of having to go online and just see how a product looks, now you will be able to go into the store and touch, feel, and try on the Nike product you think will be best to make you perform better.  

  If you do order products online but they need to be returned, Nike does allow returns to be taken to the brick and mortar stores.  Any of our military personnel can also benefit from this store.  According to the Nike Biz website,  "All Nike US Retail brick and mortar locations (except Employee Stores) offer a 10% transaction discount to all active/retired/reservist US military personnel and their families. Eligible US military personnel and family members will receive the discount with a valid US military ID."

  I look forward to the Grand Opening and will be there October 14 to check it out. My first place to go in the store will be to the running gear and then the soccer section.  Where in the store would you go first?

Sprint Review of Nike+ GPS App

Sprint Review:

Nike+ GPS APP

Link to Itunes to view the Nike+ GPS App

Background:
This morning at 6:00am I arose to squeeze in a quick 3 mile run before having to prepare for my normally scheduled work day.  I am not a morning person and prefer my sleep, so I usually run after work in the evenings.  I use an IPhone 4 with the Nike+ GPS App and have been using it for about 4 months and overall it is a great tool for runners. The biggest issue the App has is the Nike Tag program. When you are part of a massive tag game or perhaps just a game in general it causes the App to load slowly, freeze, and not function smoothly. 

Pros and Cons:

• When I tried to start my run today with the Nike+ GPS App I had to spend 5 minutes trying to progress through the App selecting the right options.  It took this long because the App was mostly being unresponsive. I had to close out of the App about 3 times to restart my attempts. 

• When I finished my run this morning at about 6:45am and went to sync it to my Nike+ account it would not sync and now 1.5 hours later it still will not sync.  These are little frustrations. It is these types of frustrations with a program like that are the most annoying to consumers like you and me.  Because they are minor and seem simple to fix we get more aggravated when they occur.

Finish:
Nike is continually working on this Nike+ GPS App and the Nike+ website. They even send out emails notifying the users of their plans. I appreciate that because both these tools are 90% Awesome but the 10% that is not awesome are the annoying parts that cause time wasting. 

Scheduled in the future Nike Product Reviews will have an in-depth product review of the Nike+ GPS App that is available. The set time for that review to be released is undetermined.

Featured Guest Review

Interested in Feedback about the LunarGlide+ 2 (LiveStrong Edition) Running shoe?

Click the Featured User Reviews tab to see a guest review written @theGsayeth (Twitter)

Here is part of the review:

The Lunarglide+ 2 I just picked up is definitely lighter weight and more of a minimalist bare-foot running style of shoe. One major difference I noticed was that I was working foot/leg muscles that normally don’t get as much strain or exercise.

Do you use the Nike+ Sportband what do you think of it? How about the Nike GPS APP, what are it's pro's and con's? Which is the best Nike basketball shoe and why? Share your thoughts using Nike Product Reviews.

Submit a review of any length via Twitter to @NikeReviews or email it to Srmath10@nikeproductreviews.com and we will edit it and post it in this section to meet the standards expected by our readers. We will select certain reviews to post on this page.

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• Latest news and information about Nike and their products.
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Update on the Nike Mercurial Victory II FG Cleats.

Update: Due to weather this review may be postponed 1 Week. Rain may be preventing the Futbol match from occuring.

Need a new pair of soccer kicks?

Before you decide wait for the Nike Product Reviews

post coming this month on the Mercurial Victory II FG.



Mercurial Victory II FG Soccer Cleat

Nike Product Reviews will take your suggestions of products to review under serious consideration.  Tell us what you want to review and we will include a quote from you in our post and maybe even more.

 The Product:

Nike Tempo Print 7" Mens Running Short 

Do the Nike Tempo Print 7" Men’s Running Short benefits exist and perform as Nike describes they should? 

Listed Benefits:

1)    Dri-Fit fabric to wick sweat away and help keep you dry and comfortable.

2)    Elastic waist with draw cord.

3)    Built in Compression shorts for support and comfort.

4)    Mesh side panel for breathability.

5)    Zip Pocket at back waist for secure storage.

Dri-FIT fabric to wick sweat away and help keep you dry and comfortable: 

At Tempo- Keeps legs dry but did not evaporate quickly in 100+ temperatures.

Dri-FIT label inside shorts

On average I have run 3 miles in these shorts and my longest was 5 miles. In specific to the Dri-FIT fabric the shorts work to keep my legs dry. You will notice that the material performed when you’re done with your run. The moisture is all on the outside of the short. In the 100+ degree temperatures I ran with these shorts on there was not the ability for the moisture to evaporate. The humidity level I would imagine had a big factor in this as well. 

Elastic waist with draw cord for customized fit: 

At Tempo- Comfortable snug fit that keeps the shorts in place at any pace. 

The shorts I tested were a size medium and they had a true fit. I am a size 32 waist and these fit snug to my hips. I am comfortable saying the elastic band could go to a 34 but anything larger would be tight enough to bug you. The band is comfortable and stays in place. It does not leave scrunch marks on your skin and it has no spots that cause irritation. The part of the band on your lower back is smooth which eliminates small back irritations. On long runs it feels just as good on short ones. The draw string seems worthless to me since there is an elastic band. I suggest to Nike to eliminate the draw cord and charge $1.00 less per short. 

Built-in compression shorts for support and comfort: 

At Tempo- Makes short comfortable and able to run long distances. Best Feature 



Inside-out view of the compression shorts.

When I first started running I would wear running shorts with Nike compression shorts underneath. Then I got the Nike running shorts with the built in briefs. These Tempo Print shorts were the first I have gotten with the built in compression shorts. This benefit is my favorite part of these shorts. The compression keeps my legs warm and the shorts in place. The compression does not ride up and also does not hold in moisture. This is because the compression short is also made of Dri-FIT material.

Mesh side panels for breathability: 

At Tempo- Unnoticeable on the short and in the shorts performance.



Dark strip in the center is the mesh panel.

Until I read these benefits I did not realize that these shorts had the mesh side feature. This can be taken as good or bad. Good that they fit right in with the design of the short and do not detract from the appearance; Bad that the benefit is unnoticeable and unsure if they provide breathability. I am not a scientist but I would credit this added breathability to the success the short has of keeping my legs dry and the compression shorts from getting heavy with sweat. 

Zip pocket at back waist for secure storage: 

At Temp- Perfect for house or car key and eliminates worries on the item falling out. 





The placement of this pocket on the short is perfect if you prefer to have storage at your lower back. For me this is a place to put your car or house key perhaps even a small garage door opener or flip phone. This pocket is secured by a zipper so you do not have to worry about the item in the pocket falling out. I put small items in this pocket and never feel them weighing me down or bouncing around. Although the waist area is a main point of sweating I have not noticed the items in this pocket being damp or wet.

Media-player pocket at back interior waist:

At Tempo- Large enough to hold an IPhone 4 or a phone or MP3 player smaller. 



Media Pocket holding IPhone 4

I do not use a media player in this pocket. I cannot fairly evaluate if this pocket will suffice as I have never used it for a media player. I can say that this pocket is big enough to fit an IPhone 4. The pocket is also made with the Dri-FIT material.

7" inseam based on size medium: 

At Tempo- Stops just above the knee and is comparable to a soccer short. 

Yep it is. I am 5'11 and these shorts with the 7" in seam come to about 1" above my knee. It's a great length for covering your entire thigh but not long enough to catch on your knee during your gate. The 7" inseam makes the short length comparable to soccer shorts. 

Machine wash:

At Tempo- Maintains structural integrity and colors. 

I have washed these shorts approximately 10 times and they show no signs of wear or integrity loss in the colors or structure. The compression shorts are still soft and have no signs of being affected by the heat of the dryer. 

Fabric: Body: Dri-FIT 86% polyester/14% spandex. Mesh: Dri-FIT 100% polyester. 

NPR Plus's:

1) The feel of the material is smooth.

2) "Feel" lite and cool.

3) Light weight.

NPR Suggested Adjustment:

1) Offer more colors

2) More patterns but in the same style family.

3) Remove the draw cord

NPR Note: Please leave comments on what you liked about this review and what you did not like. Your suggestions will be read and responded to and taken into consideration.  We want you to enjoy the review and get value from it.  The more you tell us the more we adapt our techniques to meet your satisfaction.

"At Tempo" points are Nike Product Reviews term for our short summary of our opinion on the product.  It’s to provide the reader with a quick overview of the overall message for that section.





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Coming next to Nike Product Reviews...

Need a new pair of soccer kicks?

Before you decide wait for the Nike Product Reviews

post coming this month on the Mercurial Victory II FG.



Mercurial Victory II FG Soccer Cleat

Nike Product Reviews will take your suggestions of products to review under serious consideration.  Tell us what you want to review and we will include a quote from you in our post and maybe even more.



Nike Tempo Print 7" Mens Running Short Review Coming Soon

Nike Product Reviews first review will be........

The Nike Tempo Print 7" Men's Running Short



The format of the review will be simple in concept.  Nike Product Reviews (NPR) will take the benefits of this product stated by Nike on the http://www.nikestore.com/ website and review if the benefit does exist and to what extent.  For each benefit there will be one sentence providing the general view of NPR. Then a paragraph digging deeper.

At the end NPR will provide other key features the product offers or what key adjustments we think could be made to benefit the user.

We expect this review to be up by the end of this week but perhaps as soon as tonight, so keep checking in.  In the meantime follow @NikeReviews on Twitter to stay in touch with us and provide your suggestions for future reviews.

Getting Started

Whats the purpose of this blog?  That is not only a question that you may have asked but it is one that I am pondering the details of as I setup this blog.

Having new products and getting to implement them in my activities is probably the biggest motivation that keeps me pounding my feet to the earth.  I love running in something new, seeing if the technology in the product really is doing the job it is meant to do. The slightest thread out of place, offset seam, failed moisture control, or anything else failing deeply troubles me.  Because of that I thought I could review the Nike Products I use and share my thoughts about them with you.  There are a lot of shoe review blogs and sites but not many honest apparel breakdowns. Here you will gain insight into if the Nike product performs as promised, if not how does it perform and what can you honestly expect. 

I am here to help people get a firm opinion about the Nike products on the market and if they perform as promised. That is the purpose of this blog!  I'll be honest I like Nike and am an optimist but the review will be honest and fact based. Check back and see what the first product I review is. Options are the Nike+ Website, Nike+ SportBand, Nike Free Run+ 2 Shoes, Nike+ IPhone App, a variety of Nike Running Shorts and Shirts, it could even been a Nike headband or Nike Running Hat.

The idea came about this past Labor Day Weekend when I was enjoying a relaxing trip to Hot Springs, AR where my family had a condo for 4 days on Lake Hamilton.  While sitting pool side I pondered to myself, and to my beautiful fiancée, if I could do something that I enjoyed that was business related what would it be and what would it pertain to.  Recently I have gotten into running and have latched on to Nike Running products. Previously I have had encounters with Nike Basketball, Nike Soccer, and Nike training gear.  Because I love Nike products and thought that blogging about the performance of the product for others to take advantage could be beneficial, I am giving it a try.

PS: Until next time see if you can find anything on the Nike store (http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/?sitesrc=usns) that sparks your interest.