This week I got my hands on a pair of Nike Downshifter 10 running shoes and had a chance to review its features. The Downshifter is a shoe that Nike released more than 10 years ago in an effort to offer an alternative for their more expensive running shoes. The idea was to come up with a shoe that offers the comfort and support that you’d expect from a Nike product for runners built with materials that keep costs low. This was the case with the Swift Run and the Flex Experience series as well. The style came a long way from its original looks and over the years benefited from the brand technologies becoming more affordable. The Downshifter 7 , released just a few years ago was the first edition featuring a seamless upper and was a major development overall for the series.
The 10’s iteration was released in late 2019 and in my opinion is the best version ever released. With its modern looks and updated features it can easily pass as a more expensive running shoe. The pair I got was the black and red one with white sole, my favorite colorway this year. Out of the box the shoes look pretty impressive given they only cost $60. They are lightweight and first right in, without any need to break them in. They do look a bit narrow, much like many other runners from Nike so if you have wide feet you may want to go a half size up or skip them all together.
Upper
The upper of the Nike Downshifter 10 is made up of a one mesh piece upper with synthetic overlays and TPU midfoot panels. This makes them very breathable and light, molding on the feet much like a sock. The materials used are pretty basic, however with little to no elasticity. The midfoot panels are a great addition to this year’s design as long as you don’t wear this in the rain, something that should be easy to avoid. Wearing them in the gym seems a good idea as long as you don’t do a lot of cross training in which case these may not last very long.
Sole
The sole of this shoe is made of layers of EVA foam molded in a modern shape that puts these in the same line as far as looks with its more expensive counterparts.There is plenty of cushioning with basic support for runners. The midsole is made of all one piece of the same density which makes these optimal for neutral pronators. If you tend to step inwards or outwards these may not work for you in the long run. This is the base for most Nike running shoes that are also engineered for casual wear, something that this shoe is certainly a strong option. The outsole features a more durable rubber that adds much needed traction and durability. The Downshifter runs true to size , however , if you are not sure what size to get you can check the Nike shoes size chart here.
Bottom Line
To conclude my Nike Downshifter 10 review, this is the best sneaker on the market in its retail price range. Build for running, it makes a great casual shoe and with its modern, updated design it certainly worth trying. The reviews have been quite impressive and considering how lightweight and comfortable they are, I am not surprised. I will certainly stick with wearing these for light exercises and casual wear, where I think I get the best out of them. The retail price is $60 and they are available both for men and women in a large array of colors. If you not not mind spend a little more the Winflo is a much more performant shoe that is still priced under $100.
