The Nike Flex Experience 11 is another shoe that we’ll review this week given that we’ve come across a pair recently. This is a budget shoe that has been around for over a decade, being considered a spin off the more known Nike Free series. It is a shoe that is in the same price range under $100 as the Run Swift , the Winflo or the Downshifter. Nike took the idea of a barefoot shoe, made it less technical, more versatile and more appealing to the casual runner, all at a $70 price tag. It is an idea made possible also by using basic materials, a strategy used by most manufacturers to come up with more affordable styles for their buyers. It turns out that not everyone wants to drop $160 for a pair of React Infinity 3 so Nike had to adjust.
How They Fit
We got a pair of these in gray and black which was released in 2022, the year when the 11th version of the Flex Experience was introduced. This colorway is also part of the Next Nature campaign which means that at least 20% of the materials used are recycled. Out of the box the shoes look pretty basic, with a minimalistic design. They fit true to size and they need no time to break them in. If unsure about your size you can check out our Nike shoes size chart here. The upper mesh is quite flexible and it will mold to your feet from the get go making it very comfortable from the beginning. They are very lightweight, yet not as lightweight as the Nike Free Run 5.0.
Upper
The upper of the Nike Flex Experience 11 is made of mesh with a honeycomb pattern. The logo is embroidered and there is a small TPU overlay in the forefront that is there more for design purposes. There is no heel counter which means that you can fold these up easily but it also means that there is not much support in the heel area. This could be an issue if you want to do some exercise with weights in the gym and you would need more stability. It seems like Nike tried to make up for this by adding extra cushioning in the heel area which surely makes it feel more plushy but the heel support still isn’t there. What we quickly realized during our Nike Flex Experience 11 review was that using these for intense activities is not a great idea as they lack support.
Sole Unit
The sole unit setup for the Nike Flex Experience 11 is quite simple. It features a one piece foam that serves for midsole and outsole with a non-removable EVA insole on top. Along with the upper setup, this makes for a lightweight, flexible shoe. However, once again this means less stability and support. With the flex cut-outs just in the front area the foam delivers when it comes to shock absorption and smooth, semi-barefoot transition from heel to toe. This makes it a good shoe to walk around with, wear it at school or even at work. It actually provides some decent arch support as long as you are not an over or under pronator in which case your feet will slide sideways.
Bottom Line
Our Nike Flex Experience review made it clear once again what Nike looks to achieve with this series. It is a great budget athletic shoe that you can wear casually or for light athletic activities. Given that it does not provide much stability and support is limited when it comes to more intense activities but, at its low retail price and when on sale it provides a good value for sure. If still in doubt, however you can have a look at one of the most popular running shoes on the market, the Brooks Ghost 15.
