#ChooseGo With Nike

MANILA, Philippines — It’s totally an epic win for the Swoosh brand’s new shoe innovation: the Nike Epic React Flyknit. With a reported 27,000-plus kilometers worth of testing under its tread (saved you a Google — 17,000 miles to be exact, as per releases), Nike promises a precision-engineered athletic shoe that offers support, flexibility and breathability. Does Nike’s approach to foam hold up? We find out.

Last Sunday at UP Diliman, Nike invited its fans and athletes (shout-out to the Nike+ Run Club) for the Manila edition of their #ChooseGo global running campaign. The company set up a fun run paced by a live DJ inside a party bus, making the rounds of UP’s University Oval. In between paint bombs and foam dashes, the run was a culmination in a series of activities held around Metro Manila. But the absolute best part? People were invited to try the Epic React Flyknit for themselves — YStyle took part in the action. 

Fun run: Paint bombs and foam dashes made for pleasant surprises during the Nike run.

The Epic React comes in a one-piece bootie — it’s a shoe that offers more cushion from the impact of each stride, it’s supposed to give every runner an “energy return” to stay fresh throughout a run. The Epic React is soft, but not too soft. It cushions your feet without any instability (maybe thanks in large part to the smooth sock boot design and the flyknit base). The shoe feels light underfoot and is promised to withstand wear and tear of impact and elements. Having tried it out, you get a definite sense of breathability in the spots where you most expect it.

As for the performance? The shoe definitely offers support and responsive flexibility. The impact of the Nike Epic React Flyknit is the engineered firmness you can feel in your tread. The shoe “cups” around your foot, offering a very supportive base, without overdelivering on the bounce. Overall, it’s a smart, technical shoe for athletes that doesn’t skimp on the style.

Go for gold: #ChooseGo is a global Nike campaign that celebrates movement and innovation.

And the colors are cute, too. Originally available in a solid deep blue with a white sole, the Nike Epic React Flyknit colorways have grown to include Pink Matcha (a clear fave), off-white Alloy and Horizon.

An obvious, and some would say, long overdue contender to their competitor’s boost, Nike React’s foam could bounce up and prove to challenge the sneaker status quo.

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The Nike Epic React is available available at Nike Park Fort, The Athletes Foot Glorietta 2, Nike Park UP Town, and Intersports Vertis.