Inspiration on the Run
Born after Nike representatives saw collegiate runners training barefoot, the Nike Free series was meant to provide all the comfort and natural flexibility of running barefoot on a plush surface, but with the benefit of protection from gravel and debris. Besides running, the shoes equally do well in a hallway, on a carpeted surface, or even while just kicking around the house in something so comfortable it could be mistaken for a sock with a sole.
In 2002, designers Tobie Hatfield and Eric Avar placed pressure sensors on runners and measured every aspect of their stride. They charted every muscle, ligament, and tendon in the foot and mapped the most natural movement from heel strike through toe-off. That meant simplifying a lot of things including the heel-to-toe offset in height, which flattened out that difference compared to traditional running-style construction of the time.
Designers developed a numbering system, on a 0-to-10 scale from least- to most-cushioned. The most popular models were the 3.0 and 5.0. Nike went away from the numbers for a time, settling on a simple “RN” designation, but you can still find select sizes in the Nike Free RN.
The Free RN 5.0 offers a lightweight ride with a stretchy upper that fits like a sock, bending and moving naturally with your foot while wicking away moisture for comfort even in warm temps. And the low-density Phylon lightweight-foam midsole-outsole is light and cushioned and features deep flex grooves strategically plotted along the outsole to flex in anatomically correct harmony with your foot.
No detail went ignored, as an asymmetrical lacing system was designed to take pressure off your instep, embracing your foot in pure comfort.
